Pirates IRL

[Hammerfist0]

Well, with the recent Somali Pirates thing, I assumed that they were after the normal thing: Selling weapons to Africa and making a few 100 million.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/world/africa/01pirates.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

After reading that, I almost feel sorry for the Pirates.

Weird. o.O

[SnottySnitch]

Our native media has more interesting things to say on how "they" (that is, the "people in charge") expect things to be solved. Namely, that they are waiting for the Russian frigate to get there so that the Russians can sort it out.

When the Russians do get there, considering the Russian track record, I would not for any amount of money in the world want to be a Somali pirate aboard that Ukrainian ship.

[JackOfSwords]

I don't feel sorry for anybody that threaten to kill innocent people unless their demands are met.

[dragonfire9000]

That is morally confusing, to be sure. However, the Russians are going to end it, one way or another.

[efuincarnate]

I would think the Russians will use the oppertunity to show the world even more of there military might, I would expect it to be bloody, to be quick, and unmerciful. A very bad day to be a Somali Pirate, or their hostage.

[Hammerfist0]

I would think the Russians will use the oppertunity to show the world even more of there military might, I would expect it to be bloody, to be quick, and unmerciful. A very bad day to be a Somali Pirate, or their hostage.

Nuke + Boat = Glory to mother Russia? >_<

[SnottySnitch]

More likely: "Attack Helicopters + Frigate main cannons + russian assault troops". I can't find the Wikipedia article on the Frigate, but supposedly she is one of Russia's newer creations (post-Soviet era), with attack helicopters, about 200 men, and some serious heavy-duty firepower.

[SnottySnitch]

Thar she be me hearties, yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neustrashimy_class_frigate

[SnottySnitch]

Though maybe we are wrong in our assumptions regarding Russian negotiation techniques:

http://www.redorbit.com/news/international/1574965/neustrashimy_wont_rush_to_fight_pirates_in_somalia__navy/

Looks like they're trying a new approach! Well, best of luck to them!

[Hammerfist0]

Holy crap. That thing almost looks like a callback to the Battleship days.

Poor, soon to be vaporized, pirates.

[SnottySnitch]

Well, I don't think it is as heavy-duty as some of the things the US has down there - but yes, I would definately think that the Russians hold the upper hand in the negotiations.

[efuincarnate]

USNSPECWAR can take this ship down in about 20 minutes, using a small team. No need to blow the ship up.  They could board it at night, and kill every pirate there in under 20 minutes.  I assume the russians have a version of our Navy Seals.  The only diffrence I see is how expendable they would view hostages. They have not  been very discriminateing in past ops.

[SnottySnitch]

Yep. They do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spetsnaz#Russian_Naval_Spetsnaz

EDIT: Though considering the secrecy regarding Russian forces, and the fact that we don't really know whether or not the Russian Frigate actually had these lads on board, it's not entirely certain that they have them on site. Personally, I am a bit undecided on whether their presence would be likely - the Frigate left before the "incident" began, and before there was an urgent need for forces with any special skillsets such as the Spetsnaz. I am not a naval man, however, so don't know whether or not frigate-equivalent ships-of-war normally carry boarding detachments - and if so, I have no idea whether the "naval Spetsnaz" would be the normal force selected for the job to serve as such a detachment.

[efuincarnate]

All they need is a helipad on the Frigate, and they can have them onboard..those teams, Russian or otherwise, are extremely moblle, and can ride any platform into a scenario. Subs, Frigates, Destroyers, C130's, or schoolbus's, thats one of there strengths. They travel light, hit hard, and leave even quicker.

[SnottySnitch]

Well, yes - with one big "if"; that is, "If you are american". While I am sure the Russians do have the necessary infrastructure/units to facilitate a transport down there, it would probably take a little bit to get clearances and actually get a unit down there if they aren't already on the vessel, and considering how much media coverage the whole operation is recieving, the Russians might not want to commit their "hushy hushy speeeeeciaaal fooorceees" in what will (that is, would, if they do decide to commit such forces and do it) inevitably be a rather high-profile boarding operation. That is especially if they had to bring in those forces from elsewhere (a large military transport operation would likely generate some buzz).

Just speculation from my side, though. The bottom line is that we have no idea how those guys think, and that it seems they are (for whatever reason, perhaps a lack of "naval spetsnaz" or equivalent) taking a different approach from previous occassions; which, when it comes to Russia, imho definately serves as an indicator that anything can happen.