More stupid pirate tricks

[RocketMan]

Somali pirates attacked another US warship Saturday.  Once again, they got themselves sunk for their efforts.  Six pirates captured.  The USS Ashland, an amphibious dock landing ship, suffered no damage in the attack.
That makes three stupid Somali pirate tricks in three weeks.

The story is here.

[zxcvbob]

Why do we capture them?    Why not just sink their boats -- and its mothership -- and let them swim back to shore?  Hopefully a few make it back (to spread the word), but most drown or get eaten by sharks.

[vaskidmark]

As a former Marine it pains me to say it, but "Way to go, swabbies!"

stay safe.

[Perd Hapley]

Is there a Stupid Olympics we didn't know about?  'Cause they're breakin' some world records for Stupid.   

[RaspberrySurprise]

You'd think they'd have learned to avoid the gray ships with guns on them by now

[RocketMan]

Even if it's a case of attacking targets at night, you'd think they would figure out that is a bad idea.  It makes target acquisition and identification a bit of a challenge...

[kgbsquirrel]

You'd think they'd have learned to avoid the gray ships with guns on them by now

Well nobody ever accused the pirates of being smart. In this case, the ship they attacked can, kinda, sorta, be confused with other ships (if you're blind in one eye with cataracts in the other and have the IQ of a bar of soap), like ocean going tugs, salvage ships, or certain kinds of large comercial fishing vessels.


ETA: THIS IMAGE will show you the similiar superstructure form between an LSD and a Fleet Tug  (tug  is top most vessel shown), of course there's still the issue of the LSD being about 5 times larger than the tug.    Of course it would have been kinda amusing if they had made it on board. "Congratulations, Sparky. You and your twelve friends have successfully boarded a ship with 300 sailors and 500 marines on board. What are you going to do next?" 


This is the ship they attacked....

[sanglant]

my guess is this that this is what they were planing. only thing that makes any sense at all.

[RevDisk]

my guess is this that this is what they were planing. only thing that makes any sense at all.

Uhm.  They're Somali pirates.  Not suicide bombers?

Never ascribe to malice that which can easily be explained as stupidity.  I've heard of dozens of boats being attacked for ransom.  I've yet to hear of a single "suicide bomber dhow".  Well, attacking a Navy boat from a dhow is indeed suicidal, but you know what I mean.

[Viking]

Even if it's a case of attacking targets at night, you'd think they would figure out that is a bad idea.  It makes target acquisition and identification a bit of a challenge...

I'm thinking that all of them where probably high on khat, and probably other things as well. Judgement is probably not at a high level then...

[sanglant]

they can see the US's ships are going to stop there activates. you only need one or too people that know there on a suicide mission to have one. do you really think there smart enough not to try attacking America?

[kgbsquirrel]

Uhm.  They're Somali pirates.  Not suicide bombers?

Never ascribe to malice that which can easily be explained as stupidity.  I've heard of dozens of boats being attacked for ransom.  I've yet to hear of a single "suicide bomber dhow".  Well, attacking a Navy boat from a dhow is indeed suicidal, but you know what I mean.

Yup, it's kinda hard to collect a ransom when you've blown a hole in the item of value that you were trying to ransom in the first place. :)

[280plus]

As a former Marine it pains me to say it, but "Way to go, swabbies!"

stay safe.

As a former swabbie let me be the first to say "THANKS Jarine!!" 

[TechMan]

I'm thinking that all of them where probably high on khat, and probably other things as well. Judgement is probably not at a high level then...

That would probably explain it all.  Do drugs, attack a US Navy ship and your day is screwed.