Fieldcraft what weapons did the SEALs us on the pirates?

Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

Email I received from a friend that I found interesting. I have no way to confirm or deny but thought others might find interesting as well..for what it's worth.


Forwarded message:

Hi,

I received this from my cousin who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy
at West Point, taught field grade officers, and retired as a colonel. He
has excellent sources for G-2.

Fran

Subj: The Rest of the Story


Hiall, I just got this from a classmate. He forwarded it to me from our
classmate who is still on active duty at 70-years of age!!! Good for him I
say!!! LOL Here is his message (italics are mine):

The Rest Of Pirate Hostage Story

Got this from a retired RADM - Admiral --. Gotta give a lot of credit to
the ship's C.O. for having the fortitude to act when action was needed. --
and obstructed by CYA negotiator inexperienced CinC -- aka the president.

"'Having spoken to some SEAL pals here in Virginia Beach yesterday and
asking why this thing dragged out for 4 days, I got the following:

1. Barrack Hussein Obama wouldn't authorize the DEVGRU/NSWC SEAL teams to
the scene for 36 hours going against OSC (on scene commander)
recommendation.

2. Once they arrived, BHO imposed restrictions on their ROE (Rules of
Engagement) that they couldn't do anything unless the hostage's life was in
"imminent" danger

3. The first time the hostage jumped, the SEALS had the raggies all
sighted in, but could not fire due to RO E restriction

4. When the navy RIB came under fire as it approached with supplies, no
fire was returned due to ROE restrictions. As the raggies were shooting at
the RIB (Rigid-hull Inflatable Boat), they were exposed and the SEALS had
them all dialed in.

5. BHO specifically denied two rescue plans developed by the Bainbridge
CPN and SEAL teams

6. Bainbridge CPN and SEAL team CDR finally decide they have the OpArea
and OSC authority to solely determine risk to hostage. 4 hours later, 3 dead
raggies

7. BHO immediately claims credit for his "daring and decisive" behavior.
As usual with him, it's BS.

So per our last email thread, I'm downgrading Ohbaby's performance to D-.
Only reason it's not an F is that the hostage survived.

Read the following accurate account.

Philips' first leap into the warm, dark water of the Indian Ocean hadn't
worked out as well. With the Bainbridge in range and a rescue by his
country's Navy possible, Philips threw himself off of his lifeboat prison,
enabling Navy shooters onboard the destroyer a clear shot at his captors - and
none was taken.

The guidance from National Command Authority - the president of the United
States, Barack Obama - had been clear: a peaceful solution was the only
acceptable outcome to this standoff unless the hostage's life was in clear,
extreme danger.

The next day, a small Navy boat approaching the floating raft was fired on
by the Somali pirates - and again no fire was returned and no pirates
killed. This was again due to the cautious stance assumed by Navy personnel
thanks to the combination of a lack of clear guidance from Washington and a
mandate from the commander in chief's staff not to act until Obama, a man
with no background of dealing with such issues and no track record of
decisiveness, decided that any outcome other than a “peaceful solution” would be
acceptable.

After taking fire from the Somali kidnappers again Saturday night, the
on-scene-commander decided he'd had enough.

Keeping his authority to act in the case of a clear and present danger to
the hostage's life and having heard nothing from Washington since yet
another request to mount a rescue operation had been denied the day before, the
Navy officer - unnamed in all media reports to date - decided the AK47 one
captor had leveled at Philips' back was a threat to the hostage's life and
ordered the NSWC team to take their shots.

Three rounds downrange later, all three brigands became enemy KIA and
Philips was safe.

There is upside, downside, and spinside to the series of events over the
last week that culminated in yesterday's dramatic rescue of an American
hostage.

Almost immediately following word of the rescue, the Obama administration
and its supporters claimed victory against pirates in the Indian Ocean and
[1] declared that the dramatic end to the standoff put an end to questions
of the inexperienced president's toughness and decisiveness.

Despite the Obama administration's (and its sycophants') attempt to spin
yesterday's success as a result of bold, decisive leadership by the
inexperienced president, the reality is nothing of the sort.

What should have been a standoff lasting only hours - as long as it took
the USS Bainbridge and its team of NSWC operators (Navy Surface Warfare
Center - read as Special Ops guys) to steam to the location - became an
embarrassing four day and counting standoff between a ragtag handful of criminals
with rifles and a U.S. Navy warship.

Larry



 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

Personally, I can't see ANYBODY from DEV going around yapping about this to anyone,regardless if they were there or they weren't there even if this source is a retired RADM. I personally know quite a few folks over there and they don't say NADA about anything to anyone. All I have to say is great job by those involved and I hope that more skinnys get dumped. There isn't any excuse for that sort of nonsense and they got what they got. Feed them some more lead....and a lot of it!! I do agree with a few of the others...afterwards, they probably ate, grabbed a bunk for a few hours, then went wherever else they were needed. Some of these posts have become comical to say the least. Nothing wrong with wanting to know what was used though, IMHO. Great shooting with whatever platform that they used. Bottom line is they got the job done and Phillips went home safely. Some of you really need to get a grip!!

Chad
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

OK, I forget an R and your lack of tact is all better now. Oh that's right, you and ArmaHeavy have been on this site forever and a day so that makes you both more experienced than anyone who hasn't. Sorry, my bad.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

Glad you know Rogue and so much else.....that means there are two idiots on here who can't shut their sucks. If you truly had the experience you speak of you might remember a code of conduct and how you step right to the edge of breaching integrity. I could give a shit for details...that wasn't my interest here as was BIG MOUTHS using a whole paragraph of an attack to send a message that could have been much simpler and dignified for all parties. Grow the F up...you might be somebody one day.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

Who really cares what kit they used. I dont , they did the job, thats all people should care about...

Anything else is nobody's fucking business. There is a wise old saying ove here in ireland..

" YOUR REALLY SHOULDNT INTERFERE IN SOMEHTING THAT YOU KNOW FUCKING NOTHING ABOUT "....
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LNO1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">+1, hoorah </div></div>

dont +1 your own post... its bad form. if you want to reply to a certain post specifically use a quote or something, otherwise your shit is confusing, as i dont feel like taking the time to go back and read the other posts and figure it out.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

I don't know that I can explain it but this thread has pretty much made this site exposed to the real world in a way not good for it. For some, another day at work. For others, "intensive scrutiny" of a "special" operation. I am not kool or hard. I just read and write stuff. CYA.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

i myself could care less if they used trapdoor springfields to do the job.

but i could also care less if somebody else wants to ask the question. i mean, for cryin' out loud, look at the JFK assination thread that ran here a while back. WTF is the problem here except for one new guy that should go back under his bridge?
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

beating_a_dead_horse.jpg
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">with a little effort this could go as long as the "hot girlfriend" thread!
</div></div>

Yes but at least that thread has good looking girls on it.

Now to get back on topic, there have been several people that have given there opinion on what was used by the Seals. One of the guys that posted here about what he knows I think is in the know on what happen. He has posted several times on the subject. It would be nice to know what they used, but I am sure for OPSEC it is NOT going to be posted on the internet. Let move on.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hardin284</div><div class="ubbcode-body">50 cals? .308s? M4s?

I'm betting they had thermal imaging (FLIR)scopes on whatever they used </div></div>

None of the above. It was 2 bb gun's and a sling shot with a mean ass time hack.

Lw
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Megacab</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I thought they HALO'd in and gutted them with the knives they carry in their teeth...

confused.gif



</div></div>

RGR, they did that after the bb gun's and sling shots took their eye out.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">have you noticed........the more astute are silent....they know........i know they know.......they are not unaware .....the silence is deafening....... </div></div>

I noticed.

I also noticed the skinnies are dead, and that's about all I need to know. Rocks, knives, sharp sticks, harsh language, beating them in the head with SIMRAD caps, whatever works
laugh.gif


I also noticed someone above made the 'you haven't been here very long' argument. Neato
wink.gif


For that special someone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onCPJH6swoY





 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JLM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I also noticed someone above made the 'you haven't been here very long' argument. Neato
wink.gif


For that special someone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onCPJH6swoY





</div></div>


That should be required viewing for membership....
wink.gif
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cheese</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As quoted from a Team member.
The unofficial response to your question is.
"F-N whatever bro"
Those of you that have dealt with a Team before would really expect nothing less of a response.

GTG </div></div>
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

WOW.. Just WOW.. I havn't been on here in awhile and this thread sounds like something on a board I never visit... As to the original question: No Comment!
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ROGUE7A</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Actually they would be... see, WE all chip in. And your apparant lack of command of the english language and being able to compose a sentence in above <span style="color: #FF0000"> grammer</span> school text is what keeps us coming back </div></div>
LOL

Most people who have "been there and done that" don't have such a huge chip on their shoulder about it. If your resume is half as impressive as you seem to think it is, then you have nothing to prove here and should quit acting like an assclown because it cheapens your accomplishments.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

Gosh,
I just wanted to join the sight and learn a little, be more informed of the art of the sniper. I am a newbie who aint a sniper and have been to a sniper school. If I take there course here to become more informed am I a stoopid f>>ing loser.
Is this sight for "Real Snipers" only? It did not say I had to be to join.
I love shooting, like some people love hotrods. How many horses they have is educational. Learning different powder loads bullet wieghts, all part of driving a gun.
If somebody doesn't like a post don't read it. No one is forcing you.
If the newbie non expert real sniper isn't welcome here, post it before we sign up.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: arsh1055</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Gosh,
I just wanted to join the sight and learn a little, be more informed of the art of the sniper. I am a newbie who aint a sniper and have been to a sniper school. If I take there course here to become more informed am I a stoopid f>>ing loser.
Is this sight for "Real Snipers" only? It did not say I had to be to join.
I love shooting, like some people love hotrods. How many horses they have is educational. Learning different powder loads bullet wieghts, all part of driving a gun.
If somebody doesn't like a post don't read it. No one is forcing you.
If the newbie non expert real sniper isn't welcome here, post it before we sign up.
</div></div>

Man up, take the pain, it only hurts for a little while.

Your post is not the issue, its just fun to fuck with FNGs.

always has been, always will.

welcome to the hide.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

Ah I will take the pain ,
thanks for the welcome. And thanks to all of you who do put your self in harms way. I'll be there to patch up any holes you might get.

Trauma RN here.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chpprguy</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JLM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I also noticed someone above made the 'you haven't been here very long' argument. Neato
wink.gif


For that special someone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onCPJH6swoY


Quite possibly the best thing ever posted on youtube.


</div></div>


That should be required viewing for membership....
wink.gif
</div></div>
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tell me which one of you fuck tards is the following

1. NAVSOF
2. USASOC
3. SOCOM

Or for that fucking matter even hold a fucking Sniper MOS twith operational experiance (outside of what ever retard "Adventure" school you paid for)

Fuck!</div></div>

Do you hold said MOS?

 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: koolnhard</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> its just fun to fuck with FNGs. </div></div>
Coming from the guy who has been here a grand total of 6 months. New members are not a problem, I actually like it. I like to think that it shows the community is growing. Hell, I still consider myself a newbie.

The problem that I (and many others) have is when a newbie (or anyone) acts like they know their shit when they don't. You do not have to be an operational sniper to be on this site, but there are a lot of former and current ones on here. This is a great place to get info and learn.

In the end, it does not matter how long someone has been on here. If they know there shit, they can be learned from. If they don't know shit, it wont be long before you will pick up on that.

There are people on this forum that DO know the specifics of the operation in question. They are not going to tell you. But, it does not bother me that people are currious. It is human nature to wonder about things that they find interesting. I am glad this is interesting.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gugubica</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: koolnhard</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> its just fun to fuck with FNGs. </div></div>
Coming from the guy who has been here a grand total of 6 months. New members are not a problem, I actually like it. I like to think that it shows the community is growing. Hell, I still consider myself a newbie.

The problem that I (and many others) have is when a newbie (or anyone) acts like they know their shit when they don't. You do not have to be an operational sniper to be on this site, but there are a lot of former and current ones on here. This is a great place to get info and learn.

In the end, it does not matter how long someone has been on here. If they know there shit, they can be learned from. If they don't know shit, it wont be long before you will pick up on that.

There are people on this forum that DO know the specifics of the operation in question. They are not going to tell you. But, it does not bother me that people are currious. It is human nature to wonder about things that they find interesting. I am glad this is interesting. </div></div>

beautifully said!
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

God damn. This primer shortage is worse than I thought. Some of you older guys need to get out to the range and let out some frustration.
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

I thought this to be a good read!

Subject: Pirate Saga Details



Forwarded FYI. This sounds like the real story as it fits with other accounts but makes more sense.
Your "Real" story is not exactly the way I heard it, and probably has a few political twists thrown in to stir the pot. Rather than me trying to correct it, I'll just tell you what I found out from my contacts at NSWC Norfolk and at SOCOM Tampa.




First though, let me orient you to familiarize you with the "terrain."



In Africa from Djibouti at the southern end of the Red Sea eastward through the Gulf of Aden to round Cape Guardafui at the easternmost tip of Africa (also known as "The Horn of Africa") is about a 600 nm transit before you stand out into the Indian Ocean. That transit is comparable in distance to that from the mouth of the Mississippi at New Orleans to the tip of Florida at Key West-- except that 600 nm over there is infested with Somalia pirates.



Ships turning southward at the Horn of Africa transit the SLOC (Sea Lane of Commerce) along the east coast of Somalia because of the prevailing southerly currents there. It's about 1,500 nm on to Mombassa, which is just south of the equator in Kenya. Comparably, that's about the transit distance from Portland Maine down the east coast of the US to Miami Florida. In other words, the ocean area being patrolled by our naval forces off the coast of Somalia is comparable to that in the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River east to Miami then up the eastern seaboard to Maine.



Second, let me globally orient you from our Naval Operating Base in Norfolk, VA, east across the Atlantic to North Africa, thence across the Med to Suez in Egypt, thence southward down the Red Sea to Djibouti at the Gulf of Aden, thence eastward to round Cape Guardafui at the easternmost tip of Africa, and thence southerly some 300 miles down the east cost of Somali out into the high seas of the Indian Ocean to the position of MV ALABAMA is a little more than 7,000 nm, and plus-nine time-zones ahead of EST.



Hold that thought, in that, a C-17 transport averaging a little better than 400 kts (SOG) takes the best part of 18 hours to make that trip. In the evening darkness late Thursday night, a team of Navy SEALs from NSWC (Naval Surface Warfare Center) Norfolk parachuted from such a C-17 into the black waters (no refraction of light) of the Indian Ocean-- close-aboard to our 40,000 ton amphibious assault ship, USS BOXER (LHD 4), the flagship of our ESG (Expeditionary Strike Group) in the AOR (Area Of Responsibility, the Gulf of Aden). They not only parachuted in with all of their "equipment," they had their own inflatable boats, RHIB's (Rigid Hull, Inflatable Boats) with them for over-water transport. They went into BOXER's landing dock, debarked, and staged for the rescue-- Thursday night.



And, let me comment on time-late: In that the SEAL's quick response-- departing ready-alert in less than 4 hours from Norfolk-- supposedly surprised POTUS's staff, whereas President Obama was miffed not to get his "cops" there before the Navy. He reportedly questioned his staff, "Will 'my' FBI people get there before the Navy does?" It took the FBI almost 12 hours to put together a team and get them packed-up-- for an "at sea" rescue. The FBI was trying to tell him that they are not practiced to do this-- Navy SEALs are. But, BHO wanted the FBI there "to help," that is, carry out the Attorney General's (his) orders to negotiate the release of Captain Phillips peacefully-- because apparently he doesn't trust GW's military to carry out his "political guidance."



The flight of the FBI's passenger jet took a little less than 14 hours at 500-some knots to get to Djibouti. BOXER'S helos picked them up and transported them out to the ship. The Navy SEALs were already there, staged, and ready to act by the time POTUS's FBI arrived on board latter that evening. Notably, the first request by the OSC (On Scene Commander) that early Friday morning to take them out and save Captain Phillips was denied, to wit: "No, wait until 'my' FBI people get there."



Third, please consider a candid assessment of ability that finds that the FBI snipers had never practiced shooting from a rolling, pitching, yawing, surging, swaying, heaving platform-- and, target-- such as a ship and a lifeboat on the high seas. Navies have been doing since Admiral Nelson who had trained "Marines" to shoot muskets from the ship's rigging-- ironically, he was killed at sea in HMS VICTORY at the Battle of Trafalgar by a French Marine rifleman that shot him from the rigging of the French ship that they were grappling alongside.



Notably, when I was first training at USNA in 1955, the Navy was doing it with a SATU, Small Arms Training Unit, based at our Little Creek amphib base. Now, Navy SEAL's, in particular SEAL Team SIX (The "DevGru") based at NSWC (Naval Surface Warfare Center) at Little Creek do that training now, and hone their skills professionally-- daily. Shooting small arms from a ship is more of an accomplished "Art Form" than it is a practiced skill. When you are "in the bubble" and "in tune" with the harmonic motion you find, through practice, that you are "able to put three .308 slugs inside the head of a quarter at 100 meters, in day or night-- or, behind a camouflaged net or a thin enclosure, such as a superstructure bulkhead. Yes, we have the monocular scopes that can "see" heat-- and, draw a bead on it. SEALs are absolutely expert at it-- with the movie clips to prove it.



Okay, now try to imagine patrolling among the boats fishing everyday out on the Grand Banks off our New England coast, and then responding to a distress call from down around the waters between Florida and the Bahamas. Three points for you to consider here: (1) Time-Distance-Speed relationships for ships on the high seas, for instance, at a 25-knot SOA (Speed Of Advance) it takes 24 hours to make good 600 nm-- BAINBRIDGE did. (2) Fishermen work on the high seas, and (3) The best place to hide as a "fisherman" pirate is among other fishermen



Early Wednesday morning, 4/8/2009, MV ALABAMA is at sea in the IO about 300 miles off the (east) coast of Somalia en route to Mombassa Kenya. Pirates in small boat start harassing her, and threatening her with weapons. MV ALABAMA's captain sent out the distress call by radio, and ordered his Engineer to shut down the engines as well as the ship-service electrical generators-- in our lingo, "Go dark and cold." He informed his crew by radio what was happening, and ordered them to go to an out-of-the-way compartment and lock themselves in it-- from the inside. He would stay in the pilot house to "negotiate" with the pirates.



The pirates boarded, captured the Captain, and ordered him to start the engines. He said he would order his Engineer to do so, and he called down to Engine Control on the internal communication system, but got no answer. The lead pirate ordered two of his four men to go down and find him and get the engines started.



Inside a ship without any lights is like the definition of dark. The advantage goes to the people who work and live there. They jumped the two pirates in a dark passageway. Both pirates lost their weapons, but one managed to scramble and get away. The other they tied up, put tape over his mouth and a knife at his throat.



Other members of the crew opened the drain cocks on the pirates boat and cast it adrift. It foundered and sunk. The scrambling pirate made it back to the pilot house and told of his demise. The pirates took the Captain at gun point, and told him to launch one of his rescue boats (not a life boat, per se). As he was lowering the boat for them, the crew appeared with the other pirate to negotiate a trade. The crew let their hostage go to soon, and the pirates kept the captain. But, he purposefully had lowered the boat so it would jam.



With the rescue boat jammed, the pirates jumped over to a lifeboat and released it as the captain jumped in the water. They fired at him, made him stop, and grabbed him out of the water. Now, as night falls in the vastness of the Indian Ocean, we have the classic "Mexican" standoff, to wit: A life-boat that is just that, a life-boat adrift without any means of propulsion except oars and paddles; and, a huge (by comparison) Motor Vessel Container Ship adrift with a crew that is not going to leave their captain behind. The pirates are enclosed under its shelter-covering, holding the captain as their hostage. The crew is hunkered down in their ship waiting for the "posse" to arrive.



After receiving MV ALABAMA'S distress call, USS BAINBRIDGE (DDG 96) was dispatched by the ESG commander to respond to ALABAMA's distress call. At best sustainable speed, she arrived on scene the day after-- that is, in the dark of that early Thursday morning. As BAINBRIDGE quietly and slowly, at darkened-ship without any lights to give her away, arrived on scene, please consider a recorded interview with the Chief Engineer of MV ALABAMA describing BAINBRIDGE's arrival. He said it was something else "... to see the Navy slide in there like a greyhound!" He then said as she slipped in closer he could see the "Stars and Stripes" flying from her masthead. He got choked up saying it was the "...proudest moment of my life."



Phew! Let that sink in.
Earlier in the day, one of the U.S. Navy's Maritime Patrol Aircraft, a fixed wing P3C, flew over to recon the scene. They dropped a buoy with a radio to the pirates so that the Navy's interpreter could talk with the pirates. When BAINBRIDGE arrived, the pirates thought the radio to be a beaconing device, and threw it overboard. They wanted a satellite telephone so that they could call home for help. Remember now, they are fishermen, not "Rocket Scientists," in that, they don't know that we can intercept the phone transmission also.



MV ALABAMA provided them with a satellite phone. They called home back to "somebody" in Eyl Somalia (so that we now know where you live) to come out and get them. The "somebody" in Eyl said they would be out right away with other hostages, like 54 of them from other countries, and that they would be coming out in two of their pirated ships. Right-- and, the tooth fairy will let you have sex with her. Yea, in paradise. The "somebody" in Eyl just chalked up four more expendables as overhead for "the cost of operation." Next page.



Anyway, ESG will continue to "watch" Eyl for any ships standing out.



The Navy SEAL team, SEAL TEAM SIX, from NSWC briefed the OSC (Commander Castellano, CO BAINBRIDGE) on how they could rescue the captain from the life boat with swimmers-- "Combat Swimmers," per se. That plan was denied by POTUS because it put the captain in danger-- and, involved killing the pirates.



The FBI negotiators arrived on scene, and talked the pirates into sending their wounded man over for treatment Saturday morning. Later that afternoon, the SEAL's sent over their RHIB with food and water to recon the life boat but the pirates shot at it. They could have taken them out then (from being fired upon) but were denied again being told that the captain was not in "imminent danger." The FBI negotiators calmed the situation by informing the pirates of threatening weather as they could see storm clouds closing from the horizon, and offered to tow the life boat. The pirates agreed, and BAINBRIDGE took them under tow in their wake at 30 meters-- exactly 30 meters, which is exactly the distance the SEALs practice their shooting skills.
With the lifeboat under tow, riding comfortably bow-down on BAINBRIDGE's wake-wave ("rooster tail"), had a 17-second period of harmonic motion, and at the end of every half-period (8.5 seconds) was steady on. The light-enhanced (infra-red heat) monocular scopes on the SEAL's .308 caliber Mark 11 Mod 0 H&K suppressor-fitted sniper rifles easily imaged their target very clearly. Pirates in a life boat at 30-meters could be compared to fish in a barrel. All that was necessary was to take out the plexiglass window so that it would not deflect the trajectory of the high velocity .308 round. So, a sniper (one of four) with a wad-cutter round (a flaxen sabot) would take out the window a split second before the kill-shot-- no change in sight-picture, just the window blowing out, clean.



Now, here's the part BHO's "whiz kids" knew as well as the Navy hierarchy, including CO BAINBRIDGE and CO SEAL TEAM SIX. It's the law in Article 19 of Appendix L in the "Convention of the High Seas" that the Commanding Officer of a US Ship on the high seas is obligated to respond to distress signals from any flagged ship (US or otherwise), and protect the life and property thereof when deemed to be in IMMINENT DANGER. So, in the final analysis, it would be Captain Castellano call as to "Imminent Danger," and that he alone was obligated (duty bound) to act accordingly.



Got the picture?



After medically attending to the wounded pirated, and feeding him, come first light (from the east) on Easter Sunday morning and the pirates saw they were being towed further out to sea (instead of westward toward land), the wounded pirate demanded to be returned to the lifeboat. There would BE NO more negotiations-- and, the four Navy SEAL snipers "in the bubble" went "Unlock." The pirate holding Captain Philips raised the gun to his head, and IMMINENT DANGER was so observed and noted in the Log as CO BAINBRIDGE gave the classic order: WEAPONS RELEASED! I can hear the echo in my earpiece now, "On my count (from 8.5 seconds), 3, 2, 1, !" POP, BANG! Out went the window, followed by three simultaneous shots. The scoreboard flashed: "GAME OVER, GAME OVER-- NAVY 3, PIRATES 0!"



I hope you found the above informative as best I know it-- and, please excuse me in that after more than 50 years the Navy is still in me. I submit that AMERICA is going to make a comeback, and more than likely it'll be on the back of our cherished youth serving with honor in Our military. So, let's Look Up, Get Up -- and, Never Give Up!



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Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

I am not curious about what kind of gun was used seems like several cats have lost all nine lives for asking that. I am going to risk one of my nine lives and ask what kind of glass was used maybe some james bond image stabilizing real time infared ha?
 
Re: what weapons did the Seals us on the pirates?

I read the same story as LN01 posted, sent to me from Bill Edwards, an member here I believe. Bill used to teach the SEALs to shoot. Ive seen the rifles they gave him when he retired. i think this story accurate.