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Africa Horn
US uses unmanned drones to hunt Somali pirates
2009-02-16
ABOARD THE USS MAHAN (AP) - American warships off the lawless Somali coast are using unmanned drones to hunt pirates threatening one of the world's most important shipping lanes. Sailors aboard the USS Mahan told The Associated Press they have been using the spy flights daily to spot potential pirate mother ships.
All of our manned drones are being used for other stuff. Secret stuff we can't tell you about.
For years, the U.S. has used drones to track potential terrorists among Somalia's warlords, but the Navy said more and more of the planes are now being used to fight piracy. The drones can fly more than 3,000 feet above sea level and relay pictures detailed enough to recognize the flags flown on fishing boats that Somalis use to avoid detection.
Wait til these puppies can launch a Hellfire ...
The drones take still photos and videos that are instantly relayed to the American ships. The Americans can then send this material to other nations in the international anti-piracy coalition that may have ships near the suspicious vessel.
... to await decisions from the resident legal teams.
On Thursday, pictures taken by the drones, some of which also are equipped with night vision, helped apprehend nine pirates after a night flight relayed pictures of a skiff with a ladder onboard. A skiff had fired a rocket- propelled grenade at a merchant vessel in the area earlier. The American warship dispatched helicopters to provide surveillance and air cover, and it deployed a boat with a search and seizure team. Automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades were found and the nine men onboard were detained, although they had thrown the ladder into the sea. Still, the pictures of the ladder taken by the drone can be used as evidence, as the coalition steps up efforts to pursue the pirates through the courts as well as the waves.
Were they read their rights before the photo was taken? Tusk tusk. Let them go.
"We have a unique capability in which we have an (unmanned air vehicle) that helps us detect the pirates and makes it hard for them to hide," USS Mahan Capt. Stephen Murphy said, pointing to the images the drone relayed to the bridge of the destroyer. "The UAV ... can stay airborne all day and cover thousands of miles (kilometers) of the ocean and be able to spot pirates."
Posted by:Steve White

#9  How about refurbing the Kitty Hawk and have its home station be Djibouti? The Kitty can operate as the launching/landing station for the Predators, and since it is no longer active duty Navy for manned carrier duties, no big feathers get ruffled if it becomes the first drone carrier.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2009-02-16 19:28  

#8  Why not just sink the skiff with its weapons, taking no prisoners? Capturing pirates and having no legal jurisdiction to do anything about them is another waste of our time and tax dollars.

Because, unless the pirates attacked naval forces, (which a counter-attack would be self-defense) the Navy needs approval from National Command Authority to do so. Such approval would only come if there was a clear causus belli.

Keep in mind that the actions of the much cited Decatur were taken because the Barbary States attacked and captured American ships and sailors. Same for Operation Praying Mantis against the Iranians.

The Somali pirates have not attacked American-flagged or American-chartered shipping.

It also wouldn't hurt to take several of the old Fletcher-class DDs out of mothballs, refurbish and modernize them, and use THEM for patrolling.

1. There are no or few Fletcher-class left in mothballs.

2. The money spent to overhaul, modernize and train crews to run its propulsion plant and weapons systems is counter-productive. It'd be far easier and cheaper to use the remaining FFG-7 ships or subsidize a Euro or African ship(s) deployment.
Posted by: Pappy   2009-02-16 13:54  

#7  Kinda hard to launch a Predator with a pair of Hellfire missiles from a destroyer. IIRC, it takes about 600 feet for a loaded Predator to get airborne. The drones the Navy uses can be launched from any vessel, down to Frigates, and possibly even from the Navy's new Littoral ships. I guess Djibouti nixed our using armed Predators from their territory. It's a bit out of the way, to boot. What's needed is an LHA - good-size flight deck, 20+ helicopters (including AH-1 Cobras) and some carry AV-8B Harriers. There are also landing craft of varying types and 1500 Marines on board. It also wouldn't hurt to take several of the old Fletcher-class DDs out of mothballs, refurbish and modernize them, and use THEM for patrolling. Nothing says "stop" quite like four dual-mount 4.5"/50 turrets.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2009-02-16 13:01  

#6  Why not just sink the skiff with its weapons, taking no prisoners? Capturing pirates and having no legal jurisdiction to do anything about them is another waste of our time and tax dollars.
Posted by: Thealing Borgia 122   2009-02-16 10:38  

#5  How long have we been fighting the pilates of Somalia anyway?
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2009-02-16 10:11  

#4  Go to your room.

I kinda wish they hadn't released this information. It's not like the pirates can do much to counteract, but you don't go public with your advantages.

Another case of law-enforcement mentality .
Posted by: Pappy   2009-02-16 09:48  

#3  Pirateless Drones?
Posted by: Barney Franks   2009-02-16 07:25  

#2  I'd feel better if the drones were armed with Hellfires.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2009-02-16 07:10  

#1  That's more like it! Follow the ba$+ards home, wait 'til all their worthless friends come over, and nuke their hut.
Posted by: gorb   2009-02-16 04:53  

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