Here’s a neat little news item I caught this morning. Twenty-four Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, attached to the amphibious warship U.S.S. Dubuque boarded and seized control of a German ship which had been comandeered by pirates. From a Wall Street Journal online entry about the operation:
Courtesy of US Navy via WSJ.com
U.S. Marines early Thursday boarded and seized control of a German-owned commercial vessel that had been commandeered by pirates, in what appeared to be the first American-led military boarding of its kind amid a recent surge of attacks in the Gulf of Aden and along the east coast of Africa.
A raiding party of 24 Marines boarded the ship about 85 miles southeast of Mukallah, Yemen, in the Gulf of Aden, according to the U.S. Navy. Pirates had captured the vessel, which was carrying steel chains, in the same vicinity the previous day, the Navy said.
In a statement, the Fifth Fleet said 24 Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, attached to the amphibious warship U.S.S. Dubuque, boarded the German-owned M/V Magellan Star, after pirates attacked it the previous day.
There were no casualties, either among the Marines or the German ships’s crew. Heck, not even one pirate was harmed – nine of the scallywags were taken into custody. Club Gitmo, anyone???
Go (U.S.S.) Dubuque!
Update 9/9/10 3:37 PM CDT
Here’s another photo of the USS Dubuque in action today, compliments of UK Telegraph (link to article HERE):
Courtest of EPA via UK Telegraph
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
That is my Son’s ship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chris, tell him thanks for his service! Let this serve notice to the pirates and other trouble makers that the US still gets it done! Pretty impressive no casualties, had to have been one very professional operation from beginning to end.
that is my grandson on the ship, well done guys
My Grandson-in-law was on the USS Dubuque during this time. THANKS to all the Marines and Navy for doing a GREAT JOB!!!! LOVE YOU a PROUD Nana
i was on the SCAT team, on the dual m240 mounts on the o4 level watching this go down. it was the longest 2 days in the Gulf. but was again very professionally executed. yes the marines did a wonderful job securing the vessels, but the real thanks goes out to the USS Dubuque naval boarding team who actually went in and took the pirates into custody. Hats off to you fellas.
This is really cool. I was on the Dusbuque in Veitnamin 1973. Go team!