Somali pirates 'seize 30 tanks'

Somali pirates 'seize 30 tanks'

news.bbc.co.uk

Pirates off the coast of Somalia have seized a Ukrainian ship carrying T-72 tanks, an official has said.

A report from Russia's Interfax news agency said earlier that the ship had a cargo of about 30 tanks, as well as spare parts for armoured vehicles.

Somali pirates are currently holding more than a dozen hijacked ships in the base in Eyl, a town in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland.

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These are the most dangerous waters in the world, I knew about the rise in Piracy here in recent years, but never knew they were building an Armada!

T72 Tanks and 30 of them, However hopefully they will be of no use to the Somali Militia's or pirates as a lack of trained crew and ammunition support infrastructure and personel.

However I imagine they would command a high price to interested parties. Its not a small number 30 tanks!

However a small Navy, Tanks run by Pirates in a region that is close to the Middle east and with growing Islamic Fundementalism, growing Chinese influence and funding, and also terrible conditions of life for the Somali people.

Not a stable area at all.

Kenya will be a bit upset at this, i wonder if they paid upfront? And its likely they will be seized by Kenya, South Africa or the West, however Somalia is a dangerous place to try and assert control as the USA found out in Mogadishu.

Will be interesting to see how this goes.

Kind Regards,

Elf

news.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)
Edit For broken link

[edit on 26-9-2008 by MischeviousElf]

The US is a destabilizing agent because we have lost control of our military, truly. There is no little oversight for the CIA because the majority of the work the CIA does abroad is completely confidential. In most cases congress and the president have to rely on what a General tells them about a program or operation as the facts.

Long story short: The US has survived too long as a global destabilizer. We systematically destabilized Africa during the Cold War and have refused to clean up our mess, and events like these are just further examples of the shortsightedness of our Foreign Policy motives.

reply to post by Loki


Yes I agree Loki.

The shortsightedness of most foreign Policy by the world powers has been the real cause of most of the regional and state problems we are experiencing now.

Just the USA/Russia with Afghanistan and Iraq/Iran/Kurds etc shows it all, and the Arab Issue.

There is a real upsurge in problems though in the immediate area of Somalia. The Sudan is again undergoing Atrocities, with much Arab/Islamic/Oil/$ and tribal issues, Eritrea and Ethiopia are in constant conflict if Africa becomes a new middle East , well that really is very serious indeed.

Kind Regards,

Elf.

The problem with Somalia is that the USA has rearmed the country in breach of the US imbargo - and supporting the invading Ethopian troops (who the pirates are rumoured to be anyway)

Interesting times.

I can't wait to see the retribution Russia deals out to a bunch of rag-tag pirates. I don't care what type of arms these pirates are packing ... they'd be no match for a Russian armada.

Suppose we can be thankful no munitions were amongst the lot, however on the other side of the coin you can be sure Russia will be wanting to make an example of the pirates who stole their stuff as a warning to anyone else!

Russia sending warship:

MOSCOW — Russia's navy ordered a warship to Somalia's coast, officials said Friday, after pirates seized a Ukrainian vessel loaded with 33 tanks, ammunition, and Russian and Ukrainian crew members.

US monitoring the situation: U.S. ships are in the area and are "monitoring the situation," Lt. Nate Christensen, spokesman for the U,S, Navy's 5th Fleet said, but added he could not go further into specifics because of the security issues involved.

"Obviously, we are deeply concerned," Christensen said. "We have ships in the area and we are monitoring the situation closely. Piracy is an international problem and it requires an international solution."

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman noted that the military has assisted foreign countries in previous instances of piracy.

"I think we're looking at the full range of options here," said Whitman. "A ship carrying cargo of that nature being hijacked off the coast of Somalia is something that should concern us, and it does concern us. And we are monitoring the situation and taking a look at what the options might be."

www.foxnews.com...

Could the story of the somali pirates seizing an arms laden freighter off the coast just be a ruse for an undercover-arms-deal that has been spotted on the radar and spun to make it seem less 'black'?

you know what - IF bush attacks them , with russian special forces as well in the name of the war against terror - he might actually do something useful

Originally posted by princeofpeace


Russia sending warship:

MOSCOW — Russia's navy ordered a warship to Somalia's coast, officials said Friday, after pirates seized a Ukrainian vessel loaded with 33 tanks, ammunition, and Russian and Ukrainian crew members.

Thanks for the update,
It is worrying that they have AMMO to!

I had for a moment the thought of them rolling 30 T72 tanks into a Ferry and sticking the guns out of the portholes,

Captain Jack Stylee!

Seriously though, this is concerning as the T72 is a formidable weapon, especially if you have the shells, I am trying to find out what "Ammo" it was, but no source yet.

Citizen Smith maybe so, but would imagine maybe in this case russian special forces and Intelligence services may have "helped" with this.

Now we have Warships of the Russian Navy going to the East coast of Africa very clsoe to the Iran straits and middle east, with potentially 30 fully loaded T72's and special forces there too.

Making a formidable beachhead and "safe Haven" "port" for any build up/response to Iran/Israel etc.

Interesting stuff indeed!

Kind Regards,

Elf.

[edit on 26-9-2008 by MischeviousElf]

Well, I wonder now if this means the US government won't offer the Somali pirates $10 million to inspect cargo traveling to and from Iran.

Seems like a little conflict of interest if Russia gets involved...

reply to post by princeofpeace

Originally posted by princeofpeace


Russia sending warship:


US monitoring the situation: U.S. ships are in the area and are "monitoring the situation," Lt. Nate Christensen, spokesman for the U,S, Navy's 5th Fleet said, but added he could not go further into specifics because of the security issues involved.

"Obviously, we are deeply concerned," Christensen said. "We have ships in the area and we are monitoring the situation closely. Piracy is an international problem and it requires an international solution."

Ha! Just wait till those pirates get a taste of the Russian version of an "International Solution"!

Well they are busy and Efficient for Pirates, they have seized more ships over the last couple of days;

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Another Greek chemical tanker with 19 crew on board has been hijacked by armed Somali pirates in the notorious Gulf of Aden, a maritime watchdog reported Saturday.

AFP

On September 18 the Greek ship "Centauri," with 25 Filipino sailors on board was attacked off Somalia by pirates in a speed boat, armed with three rocket launchers.

Also

On Friday, Kenyan and Western officials said that an American warship was steaming toward the hijacked ship to intercept it, and the Russian Navy announced that it, too, was sending a warship, the Dauntless. This could lead to a showdown with the pirates in the middle of the Indian Ocean. With nearly two dozen hostages aboard a floating ammunition depot, things could get complicated.

NY Times

Well it appears that the US had warships chasing the Pirates but has had no luck in Catching them!

Now the US, Rusiian and French Navy are all a little bit peeved to say the least,

Captain Jack and his lads have asked for 30 million pieces of Eight or around 35 Million $ for them back.

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Somali pirates demanded a $35 million ransom on Saturday for a Ukrainian ship they had seized which was carrying 33 tanks and other military supplies to Kenya, a maritime official said

Rueters Africa


They have also said they will give the cargo to the Islamic Feudal Chiefs of Somalia!

MOGADISHU, Somalia -- A Ukrainian freighter carrying an arms shipment seized by Somali pirates was headed Saturday for the central coastal city of Harardhere in an Islamist-controlled region, a local official said.

Inquirer Net

They also tried to Attack and take over a US navy supply ship this week but failed, and they seem to be increasing their territory of control;

On September 18 the Greek ship "Centauri," with 25 Filipino sailors on board was attacked off Somalia by pirates in a speed boat, armed with three rocket launchers.

And nearly every group or government monitoring sea piracy believes that number is seriously undercounted. The Australian government estimates the actual number of piracy attacks is 2,000% higher. Piracy is estimated to cost between $13 and $16 billion every year and could cost substantially more in coming years.

Forbes


The Kenyen's because they never accepted the shipment have stated it's a Ukraine problem, I think therefore that the Russian's will in no way allow this shipment not to be recaptured too much money and pride involved.

The thought of US and Russian Navy ships both chasing the same enemy within this already dangerous area is worrying.

Kind Regards,

Elf.





[edit on 27-9-2008 by MischeviousElf]

Russia come steaming in to recapture the Ukrainian equipment will be a big political cookie for russia in dealing with ukraine

reply to post by Harlequin


This is exactly my concern, and how "staged" this may or not be.

The Russian navy is now in a position to prove to the Ukraine that being under their protection is better than any proposed Nato joining.

Kind Regards,

Elf

reply to post by MischeviousElf


the capture of the ships isn`t staged - its being done by the ethopians (using american supplied weapons) the somalian leader who was recently executed had gone into the open about the weapon drops and who/where they were from

I think 30 T-72 tanks is worth a fair amount of money.
I think Ukraine is going to want to go and get them back.
Were they Ukraine's tanks or was it just a Ukrainian ship?

We need to cool down here.

T-72s are an obselete weapon these days.
I am not joking when I say that the Somalis will struggle to even get one started, let alone get them up and running and armed to use.

They will sit in some dock awaiting a buyer and this will fade awy

reply to post by WatchRider


Its not obsolete, its still a capable tank ,provided ,it has Relikt heavy ERA