THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Pirate Action

Indian Ocean (March 18, 2006) - Evidence of small arms fire impact is visible on USS Cape St. George’s (CG 71) hull after suspected pirates opened fire on USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) and Cape St. George. The ships were conducting maritime security operations in international waters off the coast of Somalia and prepared to board a suspicious vessel towing two skiffs. The suspected pirates opened fire on the U.S. Navy ships and the ships’ crew members returned fire. One suspect was killed and 12 were taken into custody. Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations to ensure security and safety in international waters so legitimate mariners can operate freely while transiting the region. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

Indian Ocean (March 18, 2006) - Evidence of small arms fire impact is visible on USS Cape St. George’s (CG 71) hull after suspected pirates opened fire on USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) and Cape St. George. The ships were conducting maritime security operations in international waters off the coast of Somalia and prepared to board a suspicious vessel towing two skiffs. The suspected pirates opened fire on the U.S. Navy ships and the ship's crew members returned fire. One suspect was killed and 12 were taken into custody. Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations to ensure security and safety in international waters so legitimate mariners can operate freely while transiting the region. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

Indian Ocean (March 18, 2006) - A suspected pirate vessel ignites in flames before burning to the waterline. USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) and USS Cape St. George (CG 71) were conducting maritime security operations in international waters off the coast of Somalia and attempted to perform a routine boarding of the suspicious vessel towing two skiffs. The suspected pirates opened fire on the U.S. Navy ships and the ship's crew members returned fire. One suspect was killed and 12 were taken into custody. Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations to ensure security and safety in international waters so legitimate mariners can operate freely while transiting the region. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

Indian Ocean (March 18, 2006) - Rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and other armaments lay on the deck of USS Cape St. George (CG 71) after being confiscated during an early-morning engagement with suspected pirates. Cape St. George and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) were fired upon while preparing to board a suspect vessel operating in international waters off the coast of Somalia. One suspect was killed and 12 were taken into custody. Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations to ensure security and safety in international waters so legitimate mariners can operate freely while transiting the region. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

Indian Ocean (March 18, 2006) - Confiscated weapons lay on the deck of guided missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) following an early-morning engagement with suspected pirates. Cape St. George and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) were fired upon while preparing to board a suspect vessel operating in international waters off the coast of Somalia. One suspect was killed and 12 were taken into custody. Coalition forces conduct maritime security operations to ensure security and safety in international waters so legitimate mariners can operate freely while transiting the region. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

INDIAN OCEAN (Jan. 21, 2006) - The U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) follows a suspected pirate vessel in the Indian Ocean Jan. 21. After receiving a report of an attempted act of piracy from the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur on the morning of Jan. 20, the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and other U.S. naval forces in the area located this vessel controlled by suspected pirates and reported its position. After some aggressive action by Churchill, US Sailors later established communications and boarded the vessel. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Information Systems Technician Kenneth Anderson (RELEASED)

INDIAN OCEAN (Jan. 21, 2006) - A boarding team from the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), approaches a suspected pirate vessel to conduct a boarding and inspection at sea, Jan. 21. After receiving a report of an attempted act of piracy from the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur on the morning of Jan. 20, the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and other U.S. naval forces in the area located this vessel controlled by suspected pirates and reported its position. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Information Systems Technician Kenneth Anderson (RELEASED)

INDIAN OCEAN (Jan 21, 2006) -- Crew members assemble on deck aboard a dhow suspected of piracy after being intercepted by the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81). After receiving a report of an attempted act of piracy from the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur on the morning of Jan. 20, the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and other U.S. naval forces in the area located this vessel controlled by suspected pirates and reported its position. After some aggressive action by Churchill, US Sailors later established communications and boarded the vessel. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Information Systems Technician Kenneth Anderson (RELEASED)

INDIAN OCEAN (Jan 21, 2006) -- Crew members assemble on deck with small boats in tow aboard a dhow suspected of piracy, after being intercepted by the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81). After receiving a report of an attempted act of piracy from the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur on the morning of Jan. 20, the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and other U.S. naval forces in the area located this vessel controlled by suspected pirates and reported its position. After some aggressive action by Churchill, US Sailors later established communications and boarded the vessel. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Information Systems Technician Kenneth Anderson (RELEASED)

INDIAN OCEAN (Jan 21, 2006) -- Small boat under tow by a dhow operated by suspected pirates later apprehended by U.S. naval forces. After receiving a report of an attempted act of piracy from the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur on the morning of Jan. 20, the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and other U.S. naval forces in the area located this vessel controlled by suspected pirates and reported its position. Churchill later established communications and boarded the vessel. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Information Systems Technician Kenneth Anderson (RELEASED)

INDIAN OCEAN (Jan. 21, 2006) -- Dhow controlled by suspected pirates intercepted by the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81). After receiving a report of an attempted act of piracy from the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur on the morning of Jan. 20, the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and other U.S. naval forces in the area located this vessel controlled by suspected pirates and reported its position. After some aggressive action by Churchill, US Sailors later established communications and boarded the vessel. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Information Systems Technician Kenneth Anderson (RELEASED)

Coast of Somalia (Nov. 7, 2005) - Engineman 1st Class Kelly Franz, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight (EODMU-8), Detachment 4, prepares to board the cruise liner Seabourn Spirit to dispose the remnants of a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) that struck the cruise liner during a Nov. 5 attack by pirates near the coast of Somalia. The technicians determined that the object in question was actually the remains of a rocket motor and not the warhead from the RPG, which had detonated on impact. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kristine Smedly (RELEASED)

Coast of Somalia (Nov. 7, 2005) – The remnants of a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) shown after striking the cruise liner Seabourn Spirit during a Nov. 5 attack by pirates near the coast of Somalia. Personnel assigned to the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight (EODMU-8), Detachment 4, boarded Seabourn Spirit while at sea to remove the RPG. The technicians determined that the object in question was actually the remains of a rocket motor and not the warhead from the RPG, which had detonated on impact. U.S. Navy photo by Engineman 1st Class Kelly Franz (RELEASED)