Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Sic Semper Pirata


... as it should be done. BZ and many happy returns.
U.S. Special Forces troops flew into Somalia on a nighttime helicopter raid early Wednesday, freed an American and a Danish hostage and killed nine of the kidnappers ... Ahmed Hashi said two helicopters attacked at about 2 a.m. about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the Somali town of Adado where the hostages were being held. ... The Danish Refugee Council confirmed that the two aid workers, American Jessica Buchanan and Dane Poul Hagen Thisted, were freed and "are on their way to be reunited with their families."
Oh, there are some helo pilots out there who are quite green today. What a great mission to be on.
UPDATE: ... and yes, yes, yes to all you nit-pic'rs out there - these were not technically "pirates." That ain't the point. Geezzzzz ....

Hat tip Katharine Houreld via EagleOne.

26 comments:

Byron said...

Re: Update.

Pirates, Kidnappers, Hostage takers; whats the difference? Not a lot when they get under the sights of a SEAL with a mission. End of angst.

The Usual Suspect said...

Well, technically they <span>were</span> pirates.  <span>Now</span>, they're dead pirates.

Grandpa Bluewater said...

BZ to all involved. You made an old man's day, and done us all proud.

MR T's Haircut said...

Well, bye...

DeltaBravo said...

BZ!!!  But wait... what if some of the hostage takers turned out to be teenagers?  What if they shot a tractor?  Take back those huzzahs and write-em up, boys! 

(Just got finished reading a horrible story about a Marine's career issues in AFG for shooting at a fleeing bomber.  Still annoyed.)  

LT Rusty said...

I've said it before, I'll say it again:  play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Guest said...

Did I read correctly that 3 of the "pirates" were taken prisoner?  Or was that just sloppy reporting?

If we did take prisoners, where would they currently be now?

Just curious if anyone other than the rescuees were left alive from the mission.

ewok40k said...

I am pretty sure a forward-deployed mobile floating aviation base (aka WARSHIP) was involved too...
Anyway, great job, hostage rescue is one of toughest mission to pull off out there.

Surfcaster said...

Nice

Byron said...

Ah, no. They probably flew out of Djoubouti where we have JTF 151 base at. Either that or an amphib over the horizon. Almost guarantee that the helo's were from the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) who are the premier rotary outfit for nap of the earth special ops insert and exfil.

Byron said...

Chum?

11B40 said...

Greetings:

As my favorite Platoon Sergeant used to tell us, "Marksmanship will be practiced at every opportunity. Dead is good; deader is better."

Kristen said...

Our heroes!  Excellent news to go with my morning coffee.  I hope that bad guys everywhere are rethinking attacking Americans.

Kristen said...

DB, that is a particularly infuriating story.  I hope that the media attention will make some senior Marines rethink their stupidity.

Byron said...

Fox News is reporting that SEAL Team Six were the shooters and that they HALO'd in, exfil by helo. No mention of prisoners, did mention nine who were foolish enough to threaten a SEAL and who are no longer among the living.

ewok40k said...

Check the range from Djibouti to action place - quite long for even aerially refuelled ?H-60 (I assume the secret version made known by crashing in Osama's backyard). I bet after HALO drop the extraction was handled by 160th helos operating from some warship (probably amphibious with letter H somewhere, but in emergency any DDG would suffice)  off the coast.

Byron said...

Ewok, please see above comment; I corrected that with a report from FOX saying the SEALs parachuted in...and it was probably a HALO given the very quiet nature of the insertion. They DID extract by helo.

As for range, the Spec Ops 'hawks not carry extra fuel tanks, they can also refuel in air. Range was not the deciding factor; stealth was.

Byron said...

"not ONLY carry extra..." Doh

Brendan Doran said...

I'll bite Sailor.  If they're not Pirates, what are they?   What, they didn't sign the Pirate code or fly the Jolly Roger?

What is their status, other than dead?

Byron said...

If they're dead, what difference does it make? Too much angst, not enough "enjoy"

LT B said...

No angst here, I think we can all agree that they were opportunistic douche nozzles that are not dead.  And now is the time on Sprockets when we dance!

LT B said...

The RNC needs to use that story to tell the WHOLE story about the military.  We are not all tier 1 units, and while they are spectacular, they will not exist completely outside the military.  As we deteriorate the whole, it will go down to the tier 1 units too.  The big picture way we handle Afghanistan, for instance, (mixed messages, lack of ferocity towards enemy) prolongs it, reduces intel, etc.  The whole story must be told.

LazyChop said...

Another win for America. Good stuff.

Grandpa Bluewater said...

They are kidnappers and brigands. On dry land. To change them into pirates, just add saltwater. A fine point, admittedly.

Seals are what they are, whether delivered by sea, air, and land.

Grandpa Bluewater said...

Dogfood.  Chum is cast upon the waters.

ewok40k said...

anyway stratfor map from 20th jan  shows LHD-8 USS Makin Island off Somali coast...
http://www.stratfor.com/image/us-naval-update-map-jan-20-2012