A tribute to our Navy SEAL snipers
Captain Richard Phillips paid tribute to the Navy and the SEAL snipers who shot and killed three pirates during rescue operations today.
Here’s a video clip from a recent documentary on Navy SEAL snipers. God bless ‘em:
The Navy SEALs page is here.
***
Details from Bloomberg News:
Sharpshooters firing from the fantail of a U.S. Navy destroyer killed three pirates holding an American cargo-ship captain in a lifeboat, ending a five-day ordeal that unfolded amid a surge in piracy off Somalia’s coast.
Richard Phillips, 53, captain of the Maersk Alabama, was untied, pulled from the lifeboat and brought unharmed aboard the USS Bainbridge, said Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
The Navy acted because Phillips’s life was threatened by pirates who were aiming weapons at him, Gourtney said. The on- scene commander “had seconds” to make a decision, he said.
…The Bainbridge had the lifeboat under tow shortly after 7 p.m. local time, roughly an hour after sunset, according to Gortney and a Navy press release. The vessel was 25 to 30 meters away when special forces commandos opened fire, Gortney said.
“We pay a lot for their training,” Gortney said of the snipers. “We got a good return on their investment tonight.”
***
WaPo reports on how the SEALs mission unfolded.
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I have not seen a definitive report that the snipers (if that is the correct title in this instance) were part of the SEALS.
They are as good as you get and we are blessed to have them.
Most of the things they do will never be known or even discussed. They are the men who walk the walls with guns so we can sleep peacefully at night.
Do not be surprised if you never do. But…they were. This was a job for the first string, not the junior varsity.
Details from Bloomberg News:
And may ALL our young people learn to be good shots–we need more Triggernomatry classes.
lgm: do you teach Triggernomatry?
Yes, it was the Seals.
Here’s the story…
Our company is also proud to have a former Seal as an employee, too.
Well, from the article:
See what happens when you decide to take a few days off!
May God Bless and keep our US Navy, all of our men and women under arms and our Great Country. Thank you Seal teams.
CNN now reports “U.S. Navy snipers”
The tugboat post really needs to be fixed – the photo is of the French yacht and we now know that the tugboat is not owned by any American concern.
No, the entire article cannot be cut and pasted, but I find the following usefull, “Obama had given standing orders for a rescue effort if Phillips’s life was in danger . . .”
I suppose this addresses many of the things (mostly not positive) that were said about Pres Obama.
Everyone who had a hand in the successful rescue of Capt Phillips should be thanked.
So glad the Captain is safe. So glad men like these serve in the US Navy! Three shots, three kills! From 25 to 30 meters on from the rolling deck on a ship out to sea no less! It is hard enough to put three rounds on target at a shooting range that isn’t bobbing up and down.
I hope these 3 pirates discover their “72 virgins” are amorous boars!
Unless a person has ever been out on the open seas it is impossible for them to understand how difficult it is to hit what you are aiming at from the deck of a ship that is moving up and down as well as some pitching side to side while your target is doing the same thing some distance away …
I remember trying to shoot skeet from the helo-pad of a ship while embarked a couple of times and it was not easy …
Congrats to the shooters … whomever they were and from whatever unit they came … Well Done …
Semper Fi …
Capitalism demonstrated!
WarEagle82 … looks like we were on the same page there …
Our very own former Governor, Jesse Ventura was a Navy Seal. Minnesota has a lot to be proud of. Yes, he is a character, but he did a lot for our state, believe it or not. And yes, I did vote for him!
I know we give Obama a lot of guff, and rightfully so…but I do have to give him some credit for this. He apparently gave the go ahead to shoot to kill, and he did it early on. He was instructed not to make a statement…that is why we hadn’t heard from him. So I, for one, am sorry I criticized him for not speaking out. Now, back to my regularly scheduled rants against him and his congress…they all suck.
It’s a good thing that the Admiral was looking through the binocs and calling the shot and not the Big O. Otherwise he’d still be questioning whether or not the scumbag pirate really pointed the AK at the captain.
BTW when asked what he felt when he took out the stinking pirate the sniper replied, “Recoil.”
I suppose the next thing we will hear is that the shooters were not Navy SEALS but ACORN volunteers who happened to be on-board to help register sailors to vote and get assistance for their mortgages…
BWAAAHAHAHA
The only thing ACORN can shoot off is their mouths.
*And Jessie Ventura begat Al Franken; Thanks Minnesota.
*I don’t mind paying for that training; Would rather invest in that than AIG, GM, Chrysler, etc.,etc., any day of the week.
Never underestimate a community organizer…
I recently watched the Top Sniper show on the Military Channel. It was very interesting and educational. These guys are not only great shots, they are in top physical condition. I don’t know where we get these guys, but I am glad they are on our side. God speed, Captain Phillips and our US Military!
Minnesota deserves the blame for voting for the idiot Al Franken but had the GOP stuck to principles while they were in power we would not be facing the prospects of Senator Al Franken.
Reason 9,786,859,045,848,478 why I am not a Republican any longer.
No they were ACORN volunteers training for the Civilian National Security Force. /sarc off
Way to go USN Seals. It is about time we show the these pirates that their actions have consquences to them. The money isn’t any fun to spend when you are dead.
Mr. Obama get ready for more of these decisions. Maybe a few Seals need to be riding shotgun on our vessels to prevent the “revenge” attacks these wackos are saying they will now attempt. These “brave” pirates that attempt to board one of our ships again need to join their 3 comrades in the afterlife.
Also, Kudos to Capt. Phillips for his cool head and bravery.
According to Willie Cunningham these terrorists were relieving themselves at the time of their deaths.
A job well done! Good show!
Flyoverman is right. Thanks to men like the SEALS, me and my family are secure.
Thank you -
Does anyone here know what other countries have special forces as good as, or, close to ours?
I’m assuming China, Russia, Great Britain all have excellent special forces. Are they equal to ours in skill and equipment? Close?
God Bless those Aemrican Heroes!
Well, like they always say, “when you gotta go, you gotta go!”
American …
It’s about time.. Phillips could havce been home days ago..
Better late then never though..
Perhaps this will make these Somali morons think twice about screwing with America..
On April 12th, 2009 at 11:10 pm, ThunderHawkk said:
Does anyone here know what other countries have special forces as good as, or, close to ours?
Israel has some of the best desert fighters in the world.
The ROC Army used to be fearsome, I don’t know as of late?
I wonder if Eric Holder won’t bring charges against somebody for denying these poor defenseless Somalis their civil rights. After all nobody read them their Miranda Rights.
Terrorism is a criminal issue, you see…
There are some SAS chaps that are quite good…
Glad it’s over. We can be proud of the men and women involved. I’m glad BO did something I can agree with. I hope for the right reasons. God bless
Slight issue: The SEALS are not special forces.
I’m sure the Snipers of the US Army and Marine Corps will appreciate your slight. JV indeed.
Splitting hairs, yes – if you want to limit the term “special forces” to the Green Berets. The fact is that the Special Operators of all services could rightly be called “special forces” – because that is what they are, being outside the typical structure. How would you classify members of Delta? Special Operators, most certainly, as well as special forces.
The only thing I have heard personally is that the Seals, Special Forces and others fall under a Special Forces Command. It is to develop similar SOPs so they don’t get in each others way. I am told the Secret Service and Diplomatic Security are both trained under that Command too-not that I know what that means.
Israel definitely. Their commandos are _at least_ on par with ours, like their air force pilots, and not just in deserts. Entebee is a benchmark our SEALS and Delta Force really have yet to (publicly) equal.
James Greenidge
Queens, NY
And we read about it in our newspapers on our Bicentennial – July 4, 1976. Today, Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009, marks another very special day.
“Raid on Entebbe” was a great movie with Charles Bronson – I have recommended it to several young C-130 crew members at airshows, who were unaware of the story. Now I’m waiting for “The Rescue of the Maersk Alabama.”
If Superman was real he would be a seal!Go Teams!!
(In the voice my favorite baseball announcer Vin Scully)
After 5 innings (days) of play the game has been called by the men in blue; its Navy Seals 3, Somali Pirates 0 and Obama 0.
Todays game has been brought to you by the United States Navy-Accelerate your Life!, The USS Bainbridge and her illustrious crew, and the annymous snipers from the Navy’s Premier Parachuting Team-The Leap Frogs. I am Vin Scully and thanks for watching.
GSP
“This is Sparta!”
To the Seal team: Bravo Zulu!
I always heard a SEAL didn’t pass till he ate a live chicken. Any truth?
Never had any doubt. Turn ‘em loose and watch out.
You know who should be nervous today? Those 4 punks who killed Marcus Luttrells dog. Here is an example of SEALS can do and they weren’t particulary mad or pissed off.
Kudos to the operators involved in this. Even though the distance was short trying to shoot anything from a ship that is bobbing up and down is hard enough.
Now we have to continue to playing hardball because the pirates have made it clear they are going to target French and American ships now.
Anad they don’t have a UN resolution either.
I would still like to know how they found their targets who were ostensibly inside a closed life boat — And missed the captain.
Its over 100 degrees in that part of the gulf, the three skinnys had their heads outside the boat.
#16 On April 12th, 2009 at 10:25 pm, happyscrapper said:
Who instructed him Happy, MO or Pelosi or Axlerod or Rahm ? Let us know so we will all know who is really running the country. Since when do we need a president who takes instructions?
An interview on FOX this morn said that the pirate on the Bainbrige was waving to the ones on the life boat. So they stick thier heads up to wave back and……
Nice shootin’ seals. I would pay real money to see the look on the survivor when the shots rang out.
That’s all this presidency is.
So I guess we should also thank the pizza and beer
they were served?
Well shall see who has the stones. I guess the Premier of Italy is upset we did not rescue his tug while we were there. I guess it never occurred to him to send his own people in harms way.
still in question whether they were SEALs – this report (note the source) says they weren’t
Our local paper headlined it as a “Brief Firefight”. 3 rounds, 3 kills is hardly a firefight. personally, I couldn’t care less if the snipers were Seals, or whatever. They did good.
3 shots, at night, in choppy seas.
It should go without saying, but these were incredibly difficult shots. 25-30 meters = 82-98 feet. Remember that both the lifeboat and the Destroyer were bobbing in the water (2-5 feet max vertical displacment, maybe?), and a fantail is a windy place. Even with vastly superior weapons, it’s a heck of a shot.
These men should be admired, though they would probably say there were doing their job (they were).
And it’s SEAL, not seal, or Seals, or Seal. It stands for Sea, Air, Land. It’s an affectionate appelation for Navy Special Operations Group. SOGs can include SEALs, EODs, SWC-Cs, and SPECWARs.
The shooters were almost certainly SEAL snipers, and they are second only (and not always) to Marine Snipers.
Huffington Post: “One man’s pirate is another man’s coast guard.”
It was hillarious to read complaints from the Somali pirates this morning. One of them was interviewed by the press complaining that American aggression in this hostage resolution ,will mean that the pirates will not be so nice in the future.
Dr. Sanity did a wonderful post this morning on fight vs flight behavior. The Somali being interviewed here is an aggressive beast who cannot control his impulses. The sophisticated and cultured press, on the other hand, promote a fear and cowardice. The CNN story titled-”Pirates vow to kill US, Frech sailors” implied that we were too hasty in killing these people and that we will risk greater violence in the future.
From my perspective, both the press and the interviewed Somali are insane. I look forward to more stories of untimely death bestowed on Somali pirates, and of CNN reporters enjoying Somali comfort accomodations.
A match made in heaven; enraged violent psychopaths and cowering slobbering liberals.
Or, maybe not so heavenly but nevertheless an appropriate match.
vinny: Perhaps a few days with one of the slobbering, breathless reporters as the captives and we would get a little more “balance.”
Nah, probably not, these guys are already in the “Stockholm Syndrome” mode and kissing up to the pirates or anyone else who wants America to look bad.
I’m guessing in relationship to firearms no. Possibly, if it relates to Roy Roger’s horse, maybe. But I don’t see him as a fan of western heros in his youth.
They are the men who walk the walls with guns so we can sleep peacefully at night.
Nice work SEALs – nice work Obama!
Oh, I understand all the competition of what organization has the best snipers and all. Really, I do. But, let’s agree that any one who puts on a ghillie suit and is willing to crawl 1,000 yards in three days to acquire and dispatch his target…. ya gotta respect them all. But, I’ll just offer the name of GySgt Carlos Hathcock USMC…… I know that he is smiling and bursting with pride up there in Heaven beside Chesty and Manila John at the work his Navy counterparts achieved.
I still have the mantra ” crack, bang…. counting 1 through 5 in one second.”, in my head.
let God sort the heathens out.
Nice work SEALS!!! I know I am the first to find fault with B. HUSSEIN, but I have to give him KUDOS on this one!!! Hope this gives the rest of the world the BALLS to stop this extortion on the high seas… As to MN, and their former GUV, a NAVY SEAL turned wrestler, turned actor, turned GUV, turned TRUTHER??? Yeah, that’s something to be proud of… OH, and don’t forget AL FRANKEN… Walk TALL MN…
Not to argue too much but, Ventura was UDT not a SEAL. One SEAL team made him honorary, but he never was SEAL. He got in a lot of trouble over shooting his mouth off that he was. Deserved every bit of the grief, in my opinion. Oh, and I AM walking tall as a MN… I’m conservative and proud and will fight.
Obama or not, we have just demonstrated to the world’s globalists that flags and sovereignty are important (ask the hostages of that Italian-flagged tug boat) and that American Exceptionalism is not dependent on who is president. Let’s keep it that way.
Nice work Obama? Ilovemycountry seems to think Obama should get some credit for signing off on a military operation that was a no-brainer for any officer.
After all, ilovemycountry, what was the alternative? Wait until the sixteen-year-old pirate negotiator, who shought medical treatment for a handwound aboard that Navy ship, could figure out what to do?
And now you think “the smartest man in the world” should get some credit for letting the military do their job.
Nice work Obama?
Mr. Minimalist? He and the Bushs should personally go to Somalia and attack the pirates-take that Arkansas white trash and her husband with them.
I picked up on something at the tail end of that video. It was the pat on the shoulder that kept being given. At first I thought it meant, “We’re moving out. Let’s go.” But then I noticed it was always the last man in line as he passed the next person still in position. I realized there was an element of, “I’m the last man. There’s nobody behind me. You’re the last man now.”
Next.
Cool video. We should employ these guys more often.
I’m glad our Idiot in Chief voted “present” again, and put the decision in the hands of men who knew what they were doing.
Thanks socky (#58) for the huff-po link, although I feel dirty now that I read it. As for those pirate apologists, they make me laugh! Pirates as environmental activists – ha,ha! Except that Phillip’s ship was carrying humanitarian aid, among other things. Ya think that sixteen-year-old pirate negotiator (who sought medical treatment for a handwound aboard that Navy ship) was more concerned about the environment or the millions he could extort for his exploiters?
I’m proud of those snipers and I would imagine that they are quite happy that they got to DO what they were trained to do. Could you imagine working so hard to develop all that talent and not being allowed to use it?
Good job!
Great post!!!
Obama – HEH!
I worked with the SEALs in the 1980s. They are remarkable and often quite well educated men. Their physical capabilities approach the superhuman. They are the best of the best. They deserve every accolade for this rescue and for sending scum to the bottom.
The only unfortunate thing is that the 4th pirate will almost certainly be brought back to America – and probably tried as a minor or a person who is mentally disabled because of the lack of nutrition. The idiot progressives will fall all over themselves to turn this young pirate into some type of cult hero, and to make the SEALs into bullies. Obama, of course, will either be above the fray or actually made into some type of sage who was forced into the “shoot to kill” order by an over aggressive Bush era military.
Know exactly what it’s like. I was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal tech in the Navy and got out because I was tired of always practicing and training and not actually employing my skills.
I was stationed at EODMU2 in Little Creek, VA and deployed with a group of SEALS from SEAL Team 2 on a Med cruise aboard the USS Teddy Roosevelt in ’93. Great bunch of guys. No bravado, no arrogance. Quiet, confident, professionalism.
Need help: I recall seeing reports that Captain Phillips dove overboard (again) trying to escape. Was this before the shots?
Well, DerKrieger thank YOU for your service and for your patience.
I hope you are now in a field (or endeavor) where you are accomplishing what you have ‘set out’ to do.
Thanks again!
FYI..my dad was an ‘EOD’ during WW2. He was in the Army so I don’t know what the real name for it was. He’s a sharp guy too.
Considering that our UN membership dues are 100′s of millions of dollars and that this pirate problem wouldn’t exist if the UN actually did the job it is chartered to do – shouldn’t we, (and any other country forced to take action on it’s own), deduct a portion of our membership dues as credit for the cost of our Navy having to resolve the issue?
Dances….
works for me.
happyscrapper said (#16):
So is most of the country. AP writes, quoted here,
Love it. Shoot first. Negotiate with the “moderate” pirates later.
I’m assuming the pirate that was off-ship at the time, regardless of his initial thoughts, was instantly transformed into a “moderate” pirate.
Aaar!
Why should anyone benefit politically?
As a nation we will benefit because pirates and their ilk will learn from the mistake of “messing with the nation” who can and does actually fight goons and thugs — except when the White House is occupied by spineless wimps like Carter (Iran) and Clinton (Somalia).
If I were in Capt Phillips’ shoes I would refuse any invite to go to the White House (no matter who the current occupant was) and would instead insist the CNO go to represent the SEALs — who wouldn’t go in order to preserve their anonymity — and accept the honors due them.
What took so long.
This is the kind of mission that the Navy Seals and Delta Force train for all the time.These guys can make head shots at over a mile all day long.
Once given the go a ahead, they did their job well.
“the American crew of the Maersk says that they waited too long before they had help from the U.S. Navy”
I think Barry Soetoro should learn from India how they take care of the Pirates that threaten their vessels here.
Not only did they sink the pirates vessel, they chased them all the way back to port.
They did not wait a week trying to talk to the terrorists from keeping the captain.
Yes! Way to go SEALs!
Yes! Way to go SEALs!
Salutes to every SEAL for a fantastic job. I’m sure they said, “Hey, on our lunch hour, let’s take out that pirate scum!” Met a couple of them during my AF time – quiet, confident, professional, just like DerKreiger said. Thanks SEAL Team and Navy!
Thank God we have people serving under our flag like these SEAL snipers.
I’m grateful that we got Capt Phillips back.
It was interesting and I felt it was under-reported that part of the ship’s cargo was carrying food aid for Catholic Relief Services intended for poor Rwandans.
This in the holy week that our President made his historic first Presidential visit to a house of worship to a mosque (the O’s hadn’t been to church since the election?), declared that we are not a Christian nation, and appointed a man to his faith-based and neighborhood (ACORN?) initiative who’s referred to the Pope as a “discredited leader”.
Nice.
The author of the AP piece that lgm references is Jennifer Loven.
Arrrrrrgh, no pieces of eight but only pieces of lead for yeeee matey!
Um…don’t lump Jesse Ventura in with Al Franken. They have completely different political views. Jesse is a Libertarian with some strange views and a big temper. Franken is a moron, that’s all. Just a moron. Big difference!
You are absolutely right! Jesse Ventura ran against “Skip” Humphrey and Norm Coleman, our illustrious Senator from this great state, who has voted on the wrong side of many important issues. I had no choice but to vote for Jesse. I guess a lot of Minnesotans felt the same way. Jesse did a decent job for Minnesota, but was very touchy and HATED the press (a good thing, in my opinion).
You are right, of course! Point taken.
I do walk tall as a Minnesotan…thank you very much. Oh, and Pueblo, is there some compelling reason why you feel the need to use so many capitals in your posts? They distract from your message and lose their potency when used too much. Just a friendly suggestion from a proud Minnesotan.
Errah, I think the Navy Seal Snipers are now going “Green”!!!! Returning Pirate scum back to the ground from which they came since April 2009″. Pieces O’ Lead instead of Pieces O’ Eight. Put that last remaining SOB in the life raft with his commrades and give him a paddle to return home with.