Destroyer Farragut stops another pirate attack - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Destroyer Farragut stops another pirate attack

The destroyer Farragut foiled an attempted pirate hijacking early Friday when its helicopter warded off a skiff carrying seven pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

Pirates attacked the bulk cargo carrier Thor Traveler with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades for about 10 minutes, trying to force the ship to heave to, according to an announcement from 5th Fleet. The ship’s master did not stop, called for help from the international counter-piracy task force, and the Farragut responded at flank speed.

Still in early-morning darkness, Farragut’s SH-60B Seahawk helicopter — from Helicopter Light Anti-Submarine Squadron 42, the “Proud Warriors” — spotted the pirate skiff as it tried to escape.

“The helicopter used spotlights and smoke floats to warn the skiff to stop and witnessed the skiff throw items overboard,” said the 5th Fleet announcement. “A boarding team then confiscated further items of pirate paraphernalia. To prevent the suspected pirates from conducting any more attacks, the skiff was instructed to head back to the Somali coast.”

Singapore Navy Rear Adm. Bernard Miranda, the current commander of Combined Task Force 151 — Farragut is his flagship — said the incident shows that merchant vessels are never out of danger off the Horn of Africa.

“This attack took place at 3 a.m. on a moonless night. It simply shows that the pirates do not take a day off and they are always looking out for opportunities to attack. The quick response from Farragut is testament to the operational readiness of the [Combined Maritime Forces]. The alert lookouts and prompt reporting from Thor Traveler also contributed greatly to the successful disruption.”

The master of the Thor Traveler, Capt. Nakrob Ngoenmuen, also praised the U.S. sailors’ reflexes in the 5th Fleet announcement.

“I am impressed by the quick response, and I really appreciate USS Farragut’s kind assistance to help my ship in the piracy attack.”

Farragut’s intervention was only its latest counter-piracy exploit. The ship gained renown March 31 when it sank a pirate “mothership” after its crew tried to hijack an oil tanker. A photo of the destroyer passing the smoking, burned hulk of the pirate vessel was circulated around the world.

Miranda, whose tenure in command of the counter-piracy task force is up April 21, said that the attempt on Thor Traveler was typical of the recent trends:

“The attacks have increased recently, but the overall rate of success has dropped. This is due to intervention by coalition warships and shipping following recommended guidelines to help prevent successful pirate attacks. I am sure that after I hand over command to the [South Korean] navy, they will continue to achieve even greater success in their fight against piracy.”

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