Watch Out Jack Sparrow - Navy is in Your Waters

My ship, USS Merrill, off Bahrain in the 1990s. "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way." - John Paul Jones Yes, Merrill was a fast ship.

Wow, looks like our Navy is doing some pirate hunting. There has been two stories on CNN the past two days about three USS Arleigh Burke class destroyers chasing and doing battle in the seas off Somalia with pirates. Yesterday racing to the assistance of a civilian Japanese ship and today having a shoot out with pirates that had taken over a North, yes North, Korean ship.

The second story coming out today is here http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/10/30/somalia.pirates/index.html

For some fine points on the Arleigh Burke destroyers one can find some interesting facts and figures here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Arleigh_Burke_(DDG-51) .

A little personal information on these ships. My destroyer tour was on a Spruance class destroyer, a class of ships prior to the Arleigh Burk. But from a "power train" point of view very similar, the Burke class just much better and more modern. These ships can move fast and maneuver as not many other ships can, in fact they would put you in mind of smaller power boats. These pirates know by now what they are up against. Very big ships that can turn on a dime, from full speed stop within it's own length, and kick up to 30+ knots. All the while with enough precise fire power to take engines out and leave "boats" floating without power.

Why are we doing this? Have you noticed how many of your "things" come from sources over seas? Most come to us by way of ships. Something called "freedom of the seas." These pirates are like muggers. We are not the only Navy out there. The UK, the French and every other country in the area that has a navy has in some way attempted to protect their ships from these thugs. Our Navy is just good at it.

Expanding a little on what the US Navy does in this part of the world, if you look at a map and find Somalia then look east across the Indian Ocean you will find Malaysia and Indonesia. Find Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Now that little strip of water between Kuala Lumpur and Medan (Sumatra) running southeast to Singapore is the Malacca Strait or Straits of Malacca. Why is this important? Most oil that goes to Japan, our West Coast and many other Pacific nations transit through this strait. Our Navy, along with others, protect shipping in this area. Who pays for this? Well in the US's case it is the US taxpayers. Ed Wallace http://www.star-telegram.com/104/index.html of the Fort Worth Star wrote an article a couple of years ago including an analysis of what oil companies would owe our Navy (and American tax payers) if they had to pay for this protection. If I recall correctly that would push the price of gas up to a figure that would motivate all Americans to walk to work.

Enough Navy, have a good evening.

CPO Randy Thompson, USN Ret.