Mr. Mattis Goes to NATO

The Secretary of Defense does not mince works in Speaking Truth to Eurocrats

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, echoing his boss in Washington, warned on Wednesday

that the amount of American support for NATO could depend on whether other countries meet their own spending commitments.

“Americans cannot care more for your children’s future security than you do,” Mr. Mattis said in his first speech to NATO allies since becoming defense secretary.* “I owe it to you to give you clarity on the political reality in the United States and to state the fair demand from my country’s people in concrete terms.”

“America will meet its responsibilities,” he said, but he made clear that American support had its limits.

In his speech to NATO defense ministers, Mr. Mattis repeated a call made by previous American secretaries of defense, for European allies to spend more on their militaries. His comments on Wednesday give teeth to President Trump’s expressed skepticism about the alliance.

What’s more, Mr. Mattis went further than his predecessors in apparently linking American contributions to the alliance to what other countries spend.

“If your nations do not want to see America moderate its commitment to this alliance, each of your capitals needs to show support for our common defense,” he said.

I think I hear Euro heads exploding - their social welfare spending does not include sufficient defense of their nations - because they long have counted on the U.S. to have the laboring oar. However, the U.S. has carried some of them for over 70 years and that is not how partnerships are supposed to work. I know previous SecDefs have made the same point - but Secretary Mattis, well, he seems to have a way with words.

By social welfare, I include the idea that a primary function of a state is to protect its citizenry.

Next, how about a discussion of those sea lines of communication the U.S. is protecting? How about some load sharing?

That being said, we, of course, properly should thank France for using its carrier and carrier air as an ally.

*Emphasis added

Fighting ISIS: The French Send an Aircraft Carrier

As reported here:

France has deployed its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier against the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) in Iraq, as part of the US-led military campaign, French media report, citing government officials.

"The integration of the Charles de Gaulle in the operation... (in Iraq) begins this morning," a member of Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian's staff told AFP.

The agency reports that the first Rafale fighter jet took off from the aircraft carrier on Monday morning. The warship was sailing about 200 kilometres (120 miles) off the coast north of Bahrain in the direction of Iraq.

Jets sent from the carrier reach Iraq twice as fast as those, flying from their base in the United Arab Emirates.

In apparently unrelated news, France's Dassault Aviation has made an export sales of Rafale fighters to Egypt, as noted by Aviation Week here:

Egypt will take delivery of 3-5 Rafales in the next few months after recently signing a contract for 24 aircraft—marking an unusually rapid sequence of events. Egypt has long been considered a potential customer but such haste between signing and delivery is unheard of, even considering the hostile geopolitical tensions in the region. However, Cairo’s military wants to flex muscles by putting up-to-date combat aircraft into service as soon as possible.
***
. . .(Rafale is more biased to air-to-ground versus air-to-air combat, and may therefore be better suited to most of today’s confrontations). . .

In the fight against ISIS, have additional competent air-to-ground fighters is a good thing.

France seems very interested in taking it to the would-be califatians for some reason. C'est bon!

It should be noted that France and the U.S. have occasionally demonstrated the interoperability of their carrier-based aircraft by landing and taking off from each other's deck. See here.

A Sailor guides an F-1 Rafale, assigned to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, to a catapult for launch on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during carrier qualification integration. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler Caswell/Released)

An F-1 Rafale, assigned to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during carrier qualification integration.  (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler Caswell/Released)

It Is to Laugh: "European Court Condemns France's Treatment of Somalian Pirates"

European Court Condemns France's Treatment of Somalian Pirates

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) demanded Thursday that France pay thousands of euros to the 10 Somalian pirates arrested after they diverted two boats in 2008.

The Court stated that although the French Army was entitled to detain the pirates on the sea, it remained compelled to present them immediately to a judge as soon as they landed on French soil.

Therefore, the court asked the country to pay damages ranging from US$2,000 to US$6,000 to each of the 10 pirates involved in the taking of the French boats Le Ponant and the Carré d'As in the Gulf of Aden in April and September 2008.

You might recall the Russians may have had a different policy at least in 2010. See Russian navy ‘sent Somali pirates to their death’:

Ten captured Somali piracy suspects are thought to have died after the Russian navy released them in an inflatable boat without navigational equipment, Russian media are reporting. An unnamed source told Russia's Interfax news agency yesterday: "It seems that they all died."

Inconvenient that. For the pirates

I would guess the Euro Courts probably don't like the yardarm and rope idea much either.

Somali Pirates: Spanish Navy Ship Takes Out a Mother Ship (with a little help from friends)

Reported at allAfrica.com as "Spanish Warship Reina Sofia Rescues Innocent Somali Crew Held Hostage By Pirates":

EUNAVFOR photo

On Saturday 14 April Spanish warship ESPS Reina Sofia, who is now operating as part of the EU's counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta, stopped a Yemeni dhow that was suspected of carrying armed Somali pirates. The French Air Force Awacs E3F, FS Dixmude and her helicopters, as well as an Australian Maritime Patrol and Reconnaisance Aircraft (MPRA) contributed to this operation. As a result they were able to successfully release 4 innocent Somali crewmen who were being held as hostages onboard.


Spanish Marines boarded the dhow that was believed to have been used as a mother ship and related to several pirate attacks in the area. After transferring the 20 men from the dhow to Reina Sofia, four of the men were quickly identified as innocent Somali crewmembers and they are now being cared for by the Spanish crew. Two Yemeni crew had reportedly already been let go by the suspect pirates after the dhow was pirated in late March.

EUNAVFOR photo

As a result of her actions, Reina Sofia took out the threat of 16 pirates and their use of the dhow as a mother ship to attack merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean. The dhow and the Somali crew can now return safely to the homeport in Yemen.


As neither the crew of the dhow, nor the master of the attacked merchant vessel filed a complaint, the 16 suspected pirates will be released.

Somali Pirates: Send Them Toward Home Without Any Trophies

An EU effort "catches and releases" a Somali pirate team as reported here:

EU Counter Piracy Naval Forces (EUNAVFOR) have tracked down and stopped a group of suspected pirates who were believed to have tried to attack a Hong-Kong flagged tanker approximately 400 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia.

FS Aconit

Luxembourg MPRA (EUNAVFOR photo)

EU Naval Force warship FS Aconit was called to investigate after the tanker came under attack on 26 March 2012. Aconit was directed onto the fleeing pirates by a Luxembourgish Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA), which have recently completed 3500 Flights Hours with EUNAVFOR.

The MPRA quickly located the suspects who were towing a small skiff behind a larger sea going whaler. The MPRA provided imagery showing pirate paraphernalia.

In order to conceal the evidence of their piracy activities, it is believed that the suspected pirates had cut loose and sunk the smaller skiff, containing weapons, ladders and a certain amount of fuel.

Aconit boarding teams investigating suspect whaler (EUNAVFOR photo)

Aconit’s helicopter intercepted and stopped the whaler, which had 10 suspected pirates onboard, by firing warning shots on 27 March 2012. A team from Aconit boarded the whaler and the suspects have been transferred on board the frigate. Two suspects received medical care by the Aconit’s medical service.

As no pirate paraphernalia was recovered the crew of the Whaler were sent back to the Somali coast with only enough water and fuel for a one-way journey.

The French Navy frigate Aconit’s intervention made it possible to hamper the action of a complete pirate action group, thus preventing them from committing new attacks in the area.

Apparently no trophies were awarded to the pirates for the "good effort" or for their "cooperation" in deep-sixing their pirate tools.

We are left to contemplate a long voyage in an open boat . . .

Somali Pirates: The Defense Strikes Back

FGS Koln

Numerous reports of naval vessels and air units from several different navies taking action against Somali pirates.

First, a German frigate and a French aircraft hit them off Tanzania FGS KOELN disrupts and sinks Pirate Action Group:

On 4 November 2011, following a coordinated search and detection by a French Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircraft, the German warship FGS KOELN, operating as part of the EU NAVFOR, disrupted a pirate action group comprising a whaler and skiff, 50 nautical miles off the coast of Tanzania.

Pirates toss RPG over the side (EU NAVFOR photo)

On detection, the suspect pirates jettisoned their pirate equipment overboard and were stopped. They have been transferred onboard FGS KOELN and the two pirate boats sunk, preventing their use against merchant shipping in the area.

Second, a Singapore Navy ship and its helicopter play "Whack-a-Pirate:"

Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) warship RSS Endeavour of the Republic of Singapore, assigned to the mission-based counter-piracy Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, disrupted two separate attacks by suspected pirates on merchant vessels transiting the Arabian Sea south of Oman, Nov.1.

Suspect "Mother Dhow" with skiff (Singapore Navy photo)

RSS Endeavour was conducting counter-piracy operations east of the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden. The Merchant Shipping Industry Best Management Practices (BMP) encourages merchant vessels to register with the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) whilst in the high risk area for piracy. The MV BW BROKER contacted UKMTO at approximately 8:00am and stated they were being chased by a suspicious skiff with seven people on board. A ladder, which is a tool used by pirates to board vessels, was visible in the skiff and this indicated to the crew that it may be pirates. (CTF) 151 Commander, Rear Admiral Kaleem Shaukat, Pakistan Navy, authorized RSS Endeavour to take appropriate steps to respond. RSS Endeavour altered course to intercept the MV BW BROKER and established direct communication with the merchant vessel. RSS Endeavour also launched one of its embarked helicopters to rapidly provide direct support to the merchant vessel.

Somali Pirates Harassed by EU Forces

Nisvose VBS team investigating suspected pirates (ENNAVFOR photo)

Press release of EUNAVFOR, here:

On 5th March, an EU NAVFOR aircraft and the EU NAVFOR French warship FS NIVOSE disrupted a suspected pirate whaler off the Somali coast. The whaler was suspected of leading a Pirate Action Group (PAG) at the time of the incident.

On the morning of 4th March, a merchant vessel reported being chased by one skiff about 350 Nautical Miles south of Mogadishu. In response, the EU NAVFOR warship FS NIVOSE was immediately ordered to locate and disrupt the suspected PAG responsible for the incident. In addition, the EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) which is supplied by Luxembourg and based in The Seychelles was also dispatched to join the hunt. The aircraft located the suspected PAG, consisting of a whaler-type open boat, soon after and guided the FS NIVOSE to intercept. There were no attack skiffs found in the vicinity of the whaler.

Upon finding the whaler, the FS NIVOSE launched its helicopter which was forced to fire warning shots ahead of the vessel to force the suspected pirates to stop. The crew of the whaler had already been filmed by the MPRA throwing equipment overboard. The French warship launched its boarding team to intercept the whaler and 3 suspected pirates were found on board. Apart from a large number of fuel barrels, no pirate related equipment was discovered.

As there was insufficient evidence to pursue a prosecution, the three suspected pirates were returned to the whaler. Most of the fuel was confiscated but they were left with enough fuel, food and water to reach the Somali coast.

I wonder why they just didn't make sure the pirates had some paddles and confiscate their engine while they were at it.

Oh, and Luxembourg? As noted here:

Some might be confused with the mention of Luxembourg providing MPA - they are apparently using modified, leased CAE Aviation Swearingen Merlin III aircraft based in the Seychelles. These aircraft appear to be equipped with the WESCAM™ MX-20 Sensor System

UPDATE: More information on the Merlin III from Bruxelle2, a French language blog devoted to EU foreign policy and European defense. The planes and crews of these patrol are "leased" by the Duchy of Luxembourg (no small expense for a tiny county) to conduct anti-piracy patrols out of the Seychelles.

Somali Pirates: Preventing Attacks by Intercepting Potential Attackers

Another successful interdiction of potential pirates by use of some "street smarts" in recognizing a potential threat, promptly investigating that threat and then acting to neutralize the threat by disarming it before any harm can be done to shipping. In this case, the EU MSC(HOA) reports the the EU NAVFOR Flagship FS DE GRASSE disrupts a Pirate Action Group:

In the early hours of 20 October, while conducting a patrol along the Somali coastline, the EU NAVFOR French Flagship FS DE GRASSE spotted and intercepted a pirate action group comprising of two skiffs and one whaler, thereby averting a future attack.

On spotting the suspect vessels, FS DE GRASSE immediately launched her helicopter to investigate. After several warning shots were fired, the suspected pirates stopped their skiffs and a boarding of the vessels was carried out by a team from the warship.

Shortly after the boarding, the helicopter saw and stopped the whaler, which is believed to have being used to provide logistic support to the pirate skiffs.

In total, twelve suspected pirates were on board the three intercepted vessels as well as large quantities of fuels and food, allowing extend time at sea. Quantities of weapons were seen to be thrown overboard as the boarding team approached.

The absence of flagrante delicto did not make it possible to pursue prosecution. The whaler was destroyed and suspected pirates were sent back to Somalia. This disruption has hampered pirate action and avoided highly probable attacks on merchant and vulnerable vessels.

Identification, interdiction and neutralization - ought to be a mission statement for the anti-pirate forces.

All photos of the counter piracy action from the EU. Enlarge by clicking on them.

Somali Pirates: Nab Japanese Ship and Filipino Crew, Remain Very Active in Indian Ocean

EU MSC(HOA) reports here:

On the afternoon of 10 October, the owners of the Panama-flagged MV IZUMI reported that they had received an automatically released distress signal indicating that the vessel was likely to be under pirate attack.

The Danish warship HDMS ESBERN SNARE of the NATO counter piracy force was dispatched to intercept and investigate.

In the early hours of 11 October the captain of the vessel made contact with the Danish warship, stating that pirates were in charge of the MV IZUMI.

EU NAVFOR French warship FS FLOREAL is now monitoring the pirated vessel which is presently 170 nautical miles South of Mogadishu.

The MV IZUMI, deadweight 20,170 tonnes, has a crew of 20, all Filipinos.

More from the AP here:

The Izumi is operated by NYK-Hinode Line, Ltd and was traveling between Singapore and Mombasa, said Yuki Shimoda, an official at Japan's Transport Ministry. It was not immediately known what cargo the 14,152-ton Izumi was carrying.

Somali pirates now hold 18 ships and 389 crew. The sailors are not usually hurt or killed but can be held for months while their captors negotiate a multimillion-dollar ransom.

In addition to this ship capture, the pirates have unsuccessfully attacked other ships in the Indian Ocean, as is this attack on Sunday, 10 Oct 2010, reported by the IMB here and on the map nearby:

10.10.2010: 1115 UTC: Posn: 04:59.4N – 067:06.4E Around 1300 nm ExN of Mogadishu,(Indian Ocean) off Somalia.

Four pirates armed with AK 47 and RPG chased and opened fire on a bulk carrier underway. The master enforced all anti piracy measures and contacted the 24 hour IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) for assistance. Duty officer at the IMB PRC immediately contacted the relevant authorities requesting assistance for crew and vessel and also broadcast a warning to all ships. Due to effective anti piracy preventive measures onboard, the skiff aborted the attempt. All crew safe. Vessel sustained damages.

NATO Shipping Center information:

SOMALIA PIRACY UPDATE 11 October 2010

October 11 2010
WARNING SOMALI BASIN
Latitude: 09 52 S Longitude: 040 08 E
Alert number 425 / 2010. ---ALERT UPDATE---
Reference previous Alert number 423 / 2010.
At 1848 UTC a merchant vessel was reported under attack by pirates in position 09 52 S 04008 E.
***This vessel managed to evade hijack***
The Pirate action group is still in the area.
----------------------------
October 10 2010
WARNING Somali Basin
Latitude: 01 39S Longitude: 042 05E
Alert number 424 / 2010.
At 1309 UTC a merchant vessel is Hijacked by pirates in position 01 39S 042 05E .
-----------------------------
October 10 2010
WARNING Somali Basin Tanzanian Coast
Latitude: 09 52S Longitude: 04008E
Alert number 423 / 2010.
At 1848 UTC a Merchant Vessel is currently under attack by 1 skiff 5POB in position 09 52S 04008E.
-----------------------------
October 10 2010
WARNING Indian Ocean
Latitude: 04 49 N Longitude: 067 06 E
Alert number 422 / 2010.
At 101134Z a merchant vessel was attacked by pirates in position 04 49 N 067 06 E. Vessel was attacked by 1 skiff with white hull and 4 POB. Shots were fired. All crew is unharmed. Vessel is safe.

And a NATO warning here:

Updated Oct 11th morning

As the monsoon continues to abate in northeast and southwest Somali Basin and the Arabian Sea, the risk of pirate attacks on merchant vessels also increases. Temporarily poor weather, particularly along the central Somali Coast will continue to constrain pirates’ activities in the short term.

In the northeast Somali Basin it is likely that at least one pirated dhow is active in the shipping lanes as evidenced by the reported approach of a suspect skiff on the MV ZIM ATLANTIC approximately 200nm north east of Socotra Island on 05 Oct.

To the east, reporting indicates that a pirate mother ship is operating within an area of 200nm radius from 06 degrees 50 minutes north and 65 degrees 00 minutes east. We assess that this vessel is probably the FV TAI YAUN 227, which is under the control of pirates. Masters should note that the FV TAI YUAN 227 is also a white hulled fishing vessel, approximately 50 metres long, with the registration numbers BH3Z87 painted in large black letters on the hull.

News

Oct 10th MV Kavo Portland was attacked in position 04°49N 067°06E, but luckily evaded the attackers, it is assessed that the pirate action group is linked to the pirates onboard FV Tai Yuan 227. Pirates maybe active in an area of more than 100 NM from the position above, mariners are advised to transit the area with caution.

Somali Pirates: EU naval force blockades pirate group

You can call it whatever you like, but I call it a blockade (look at Section II, Methods of Warfare, Sect 93 to 108).

What am I referring to? This - EU naval force flagship disrupts large pirate group:

On 17 September, while executing a patrol along the Somali coastline, the crew of EU NAVFOR ship FS DE GRASSE located and disrupted a Pirate Action Group comprising of six boats. She thus prevented them from reaching the shipping lanes on the high seas to conduct attacks on merchant vessels.

On 16 September, the helicopter from the EU NAVFOR ship FS DE GRASSE was conducting a routine patrol when it spotted suspicious boats on a beach, loaded with pirate paraphernalia (ladders, fuel tanks…), indicating the imminent departure to sea of a Pirate Action Group.

The following morning, the same helicopter from FS DE GRASSE relocated this same group at sea. This time, the Pirate Action Group comprised of several skiffs and a whaler; a boat of larger size and often used as a refuelling asset without which the skiffs cannot sail far enough to conduct attacks.

A first skiff of this group was quickly disrupted by the boarding team of FS DE GRASSE and was sent back to shore, having removed all the pirate paraphernalia. The French destroyer then steamed at high speed towards a second position provided by her helicopter to intercept the whaler. Once the whaler had been placed under surveillance, the boarding team of FS DE GRASSE chased and successfully disrupted the two remaining skiffs that were still in range.

In total, twelve suspected pirates and four boats (three skiffs and one whaler) were intercepted; two further skiffs fled the scene. As none of the pirates were caught in the act of piracy, it was not possible to proceed with a prosecution under international law. However, all of the equipment which could have been used for an attack was seized and one whaler and one skiff were destroyed.

Despite having to release the pirates, this action by the EU NAVFOR ship FS DE GRASSE has disrupted a pirate group’s action and successfully prevented them from reaching high seas to commit acts of piracy against vulnerable merchant vessels.

You know, when you prevent the bad guys from going to sea to do harm, that's a blockade. And a damn good idea.

EU Photo captions and my comments (top to bottom) (click on pictures to enlarge them):

"The whaler intercepted by EU NAVFOR was used as a logistical asset for the five skiffs."

I guess this is the "whaler" that had to be destroyed. Note the large amount of fuel. The pirates appear to have been ready to engage in some serious "ship hunting."

EU NAVFOR FS DE GRASSE, the whaler, and the warship's boarding team (from right to left)

Note the beach in the background. the De Grasse is not doing high seas patrols . . .

Update: more thoughts on blockading the Somali pirates:

Here, here, and here.

Somali Pirates: French Navy Breaks Up Attack

Reported as FS Nivose saves Merchant vessel Nordneptun from pirates

A helicopter from the EU NAVFOR warship FS Nivôse was launched against a pirate skiff leading to the disruption of a pirate attack against the merchant vessel Nordneptun off Zanzibar, Tanzania on the morning of 25 May.

EU NAVFOR continues to successfully patrol, intercept and disrupt pirate attacks throughout the EU NAVFOR area of operations. The French EU NAVFOR warship Nivôse responded immediately to a distress signal from Nordneptune, a tanker, which indicated she was under small arms attack from a pirate vessel. As a result of the application of ‘Best Management Practices ‘against pirate attack, the Nordneptune was able to evade the attack.

However, within an hour, the Nordneptune was under further more serious attack by two pirate skiffs. In the interim, EU NAVFOR warship FS Nivôse closed with Nordneptun and was now in a position to launch her helicopter. On arrival, Nivôse helicopter fired warning shots and both skiffs gave up their attack and moved into Tanzanian territorial waters where the Tanzanian Coast Guard was alerted to continue the pursuit.

 Lower photo shows some pirates who escaped.

Somali Pirates: EU - "Seek, Disrupt, Destroy"

From MSC(HOA) here:

EU NAVFOR's seek, disrupt and destroy policy continues its success

02/05/2010 09.51 UTC

Following hot on the heels of EU NAVFOR French ship Tonnerre's success, who earlier today (1st May) tracked down and destroyed a mother ship, EU NAVFOR FS Lafayette destroyed another Mother ship and held another 9 suspected pirates for questioning.
A helicopter from the Lafayette spotted a pirate action group (PAG), with one mother ship and one skiff, in the Indian Ocean, between Mogadishu and the Seychelles.
When detected, the suspected pirates tried to escape and threw paraphernalia over board. The helicopter fired warning shots and the mother ship finally stopped.

Lafayette then did an unopposed boarding and found evidence to show the intention of the suspects to commit piracy. Nine individuals were held for further investigation and the mother ship was destroyed. The skiff was taken onboard Lafayette, as evidence.
This is the second successful disruption on the same day which continues to show EU NAVFOR's more offensive strategy is working. The joint action by EU NAVFOR's French warships Tonnerre and Lafayette and Maritime Patrol Aircraft from the Seychelles was evidence of excellent teamwork and a determination to fight these criminal acts.

In another action today, a unit from Task force 508 (NATO) disrupted a PAG and held 5 suspects. EU NAVFOR works closely with other coalition forces in the area (including CMF) and sharing assets such as EU NAVFOR's Maritime Patrol Aircraft, makes for a potent and extremely effective combination in fighting piracy.

Report on the captures by FS Tonnerre.

Somali Pirates: Mistake French Naval Replenishment Ship for Merchant- 6 captured, boats sunk

Reported here:

Pirates attack French Military Replenishment Ship SOMME – 6 pirates captured

21/04/2010 15.56 UTC

During the night of 19th April 2010, 400 nautical miles from the coast of Somalia, French replenishment ship SOMME came under attack from two skiffs with six pirates on board.
FS SOMME had been engaged in a support mission for the EU NAVFOR anti piracy operation Atalanta, replenishing her supplies, when she was attacked during the night of 19th April 2010. The pirates, mistaking the SOMME’s silhouette for that of a merchant vessel, opened fire on the French ship. FS SOMME responded with warning shots, causing the two pirate skiffs to flee. During their flight the two pirate skiffs were separated.
Whilst chasing one of the skiffs, FS SOMME detected another boat which turned out to be the pirate mother ship, the vessel which controls and resupplies the pirate skiffs. The mother ship was captured less than half an hour later with two pirates on board, and her fuel and pirate paraphanalia (weapons and grappling lines) were seized. The mother ship was destroyed and sank.
FS SOMME then gave chase to the skiff which was apprehended with a further 4 pirates on board. The skiff and the six pirates to now being held on board FS SOMME.

Note: FS SOMME was also attacked by pirates on 7 October 2009. The ship’s company then intercepted 5 pirates and their skiff. (see here)

Somali Pirates: French and Iranian Forces Halt Attacks- UPDATE: And theTurkish Navy

First, the French - as reported at MSC(HOA) here:

EU NAVFOR French warship NIVÔSE and Maritime Patrol aircraft continue to intercept and disrupt Pirate Action Groups

05/04/2010 21.48 UTC

EU NAVFOR has continued activities designed to disrupt and destroy Pirate Action Groups (PAGs) with combined sea and air operations in the Somali Basin.
On 4 April, the Swedish Maritime Patrol Aircraft located two suspect ships 270 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, composed of one mother ship and one attack skiff.

EUNAVFOR French warship FS NIVÔSE was vectored onto these craft and intercepted the suspected pirate vessels. NIVÔSE launched its helicopter and additionally sent a boarding party which subsequently apprehended 7 suspect pirates and found small arms, an RPG and ladders. This is the fourth such successful interception by NIVÔSE since joining the EU NAVFOR operation.

See also here, where the pictures of the French investigating the "mother ship" (note all the fuel drums) and a suspected pirate skiff (looks the the shop that prepares boarding ladders does a nice job) came from. Clicking on the pictures makes them bigger.

Now, the Iranians, with a report from Iranian PressTV here:

Iran's Navy has rescued an Iranian oil tanker attacked by Somali pirates in the dangerous waters of Gulf of Aden.

According to Iran's Mehr News Agency, the Iran Faraz oil tanker was sailing from the southern Iranian port city of Bushehr to Izmir in Turkey when it came under attack by four pirate boats.

Pirates fled when Iran's Navy ships in the area started to chase the boats, Mehr said.

Iran Faraz continued its journey towards Izmir after the incident, the report added.

The photograph accompanying the PressTV article is from an earlier (March 5, 2010) pirate investigation by the French vessel Nivose, which was on a suspected pirate nabbing roll at the time:

From 5 to 7 March 2010, joining mission forces from France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Sweden, Nivôse secured its "biggest seizure" so far in the vital shipping lane, with 35 pirates arrested and four mother ships seized in three days off Somalia.

The Swedish Maritime Patrol aircraft has been very busy in spotting and directing EU forces to areas where suspected "pirate action groups" are collecting.

UPDATE: Saturn5 has a report on a Turkish frigate rescuing some Indian sailors, a Danish-flagged merchant ship and forcing Somali pirates to run for cover ashore in Somalia here. Well done to F-493 TCG Gelibolu!

Somali Pirates: French Navy Takes 22 Pirates and Boats

Well covered and with many pictures (of which the one nearby is a sample) at Fred Fry International: French Navy Catches 22 Pirates and Mothership - Photos

For those of yo wondering about the difference between a "mothership" open skiff and a pirate skiff, see the photo. The larger boat carries fuel and food for the pirates in the smaller boats.

Somali Pirates: Attack on French fishing vessel deterred by armed guards, 7 pirates nabbed

Reported here:

In the afternoon of October 27th 2009, 350 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, Somalia a French Fishing Vessel was attacked by pirates in two attack skiffs. The pirates opened fire on the Fishing Vessel. Her embarked military Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) fired warning shots after which the pirates broke of their attack.

The EU NAVFOR German warship FGS Karlsruhe, on anti-piracy patrol in the area, was ordered to set course to the attack position. Simultaneously, the helicopter of EU NAVFOR Spanish warship ESPS Canarias, also on anti-piracy patrol, was launched and relocated two fast attack skiffs trying to flee the area of the attack.

The helicopter fired warning shots to stop both skiffs, after which the pirates stopped and were seen throwing items, presumably pirate paraphernalia, overboard. On arrival of FGS Karlsruhe her boarding team secured both skiffs, and found seven persons on board of the two skiffs. The French Fishing vessel was requested to return to the scene to identify their attackers. Upon their statements the seven suspected pirates were detained on board FGS Karlsruhe.

EU photos.

Somali Pirates: French soldiers defend fishing boats

Reported here:

French soldiers providing protection on board French fishing ships in the Indian Ocean early on Saturday fired on pirates to repel an attack, sources said.

"Three small launches... (which were) nearly invisible and that we had on the radar at the last moment, chased us," a member of the crew of the Drennac, one of two fishing French vessels approached by the pirates, told AFP by telephone.

The soldiers "at first fired warning shots, then they fired at the target," he added.

The incident took place 195 nautical miles (350 kilometres) north of the Seychelles. There were no casualties on the French side.

The report was confirmed by a western source in the same area. He said that the pirate skiffs that came under fire returned to a mother ship some 30 metres (90 feet) long.

It is the first time that the French soldiers, who have been providing protection since July 1 on board about 10 French fishing ships off the Somalian coast, have opened fire on pirates.

"It proves that this measure (having soldiers on board) works," the western source said.

Spanish fishing vessels operating in the same region have called for the same protection measures but Madrid has so far refused.

France has been very aggressive in dealing with Somali piracy.

Somali Pirates: Mistaken Identity Attack

A group of Somali pirates goofed the other night by taking on a French navy ship, as reported in "Pirates hit navy ship 'in error'":

A group of Somali pirates has been captured after attacking a French navy ship by mistake, apparently thinking it was a harmless cargo vessel.

French military spokesman Admiral Christophe Prazuck said the pirates attacked in skiffs late at night some 500km (310 miles) off the Somali coast.

But the command and supply ship, the Somme, repelled the attack and chased the pirates, capturing five of them.
***
Admiral Prazuck told French TV station La Chaine Info the pirates seemed to be surprised that the navy ship fought back.

"Once they realised they were facing a ship that was responding and was heading towards them, they stopped shooting and attempted to flee," he said.

"The Somme gave chase and intercepted one of the pirates' boats. All the weapons had apparently been tossed into the sea and the suspected pirates are now being held on board the Somme."

It's an easy mistake to make from a small boat.

Could happen to anyone - anyone who was out pirating at night in a small boat...

UPDATE: Belgians go pirate fishing:

On the morning of 3 Oct, whilst conducting a patrol in the Gulf of Aden, EU NAVFOR Belgian warship Louise-Marie intercepted a distress call from a merchant vessel transiting in the Gulf of Aden. The merchant vessel reported a skiff, a small boat regularly used by pirates, approaching to 300 meters.

The helicopter of EUNAVFOR Belgian Warship Louise-Marie was immediately launched to investigate and it arrived at the scene, the skiff took off at speed from the merchant vessel. Due to the suspicious behavior of the skiff the EUNAVFOR Belgian warship Louise-Marie was ordered to board the skiff.

The skiff, took off at great speed and refused to stop when ordered to do so by Louise-Marie. The helicopter of the Louise-Marie fired two bursts of warning shots with their on-board machine gun after which the skiff stopped and was subsequently boarded for a thorough search.
Although no weapons or ladders were found, 13 fuel drums were discovered. The skiff’s crew stated that they were fisherman but no fishing material was found. They were warned about high speed approaches to merchant vessels and then released to continue on their way.

No doubt a warning ticket was issued.