Pirates eat lead. U.S. Captain freed!

[Gary M]

I've heard this before, usually I hear Brovo Zulu but I haven't figured out what it means.

Gary

[Amgine]

Flag hoist signal indicating "Well Done".

[Neil Gordon]

I've heard this before, usually I hear Brovo Zulu but I haven't figured out what it means.

Gary

It's from the official U.S. Navy signal book, which technically speaking, is confidential. BZ, or Bravo Zulu phonetically, is the signal for "well done." It can be sent by flaghoist, flashing light, semaphore, radio or whatever.

We routinely sent signal book messages by flashing light, because it was the easiest way. If we put flags up, sometimes we'd need to signal by flashing light that they should look at our flaghoist.

[bottomscraper]

The flags:




Some history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bravo_Zulu

[Neil Gordon]

It can be combined with the "negative" signal, spoken or written NEGAT, to say "NEGAT Bravo Zulu", or "not well done".

[Sea Hunt]

I, for one, am very uncomfortable with our military leaders and the press providing so much of the operational and tactical details of what took place Sunday. It ill serves our interests for the bad guys to know when the SEALs (and others) got aboard the USS Bainbridge, how the SEALs got aboard, where they set up their sniper positions, how many spotters were involved, and possibly what types of weapons were employed, etc.

The next time a group of these thugs takes a commercial or non-commercial ship or sailboat, one of the first things they will do as soon as a Navy warship approaches is look to the skies for parachutes and look in certain locations on the back of the Navy ship for signs of snipers. Are there other ways to do what was done Sunday Yes, several. But we do not need to be advertising how they do what they do.

In years past (many years past) this never would have happened. The phrase "lose lips sink ships" comes to mind along with others. Today, it seems military commanders and former/retired special ops personnel want their "Andy Warhol 15 minutes of fame" and our 24/7 news cycles and reporters are all too eager to give it to them. One former SEAL, who was a legitimate hero in his day, discussed on CNN the details of tactics and methods of chain of command communications between various personnel and how a shoot/no shoot sequencing would take place. It is a shame. The only thing the military (or any retired military) should have said about this operation is a simple two sentence statement: "On Sunday afternoon, various elements of the United States military rescued the captain of the Maersk Alabama. In the process, three pirates were killed and one is in custody". Period, end of briefing. The American people do not need to know any of the details. It places future operations in jeopardy. Let the bad guys wonder how it happened. Don’t hand it to them in a 2 minute news clip.

I will now get off my soapbox and find my meds.

I had hoped to go sailing today. Not gonna happen. 22-24 kts SSE. Too strong for me even to think about motoring S/V Tadpole to the club dock to do some maintenance.

[Troy Scott]

The tadpole makes sense. I'm often amazed at how much our press tells the enemy. I understand that they feel a responsibility to get the facts out to the public. But I don't think they really understand when they have a responsibility NOT to.

[Duncan]

I will now get off my soapbox and find my meds.

Perhaps the Board could use a Soapbox section

[M. R. Bober]

I, for one, am very uncomfortable with our military leaders and the press providing so much of the operational and tactical details of what took place Sunday. It ill serves our interests for the bad guys to know when the SEALs (and others) got aboard the USS Bainbridge, how the SEALs got aboard, where they set up their sniper positions, how many spotters were involved, and possibly what types of weapons were employed, etc.

The next time a group of these thugs takes a commercial or non-commercial ship or sailboat, one of the first things they will do as soon as a Navy warship approaches is look to the skies for parachutes and look in certain locations on the back of the Navy ship for signs of snipers. Are there other ways to do what was done Sunday Yes, several. But we do not need to be advertising how they do what they do.

In years past (many years past) this never would have happened. The phrase "lose lips sink ships" comes to mind along with others. Today, it seems military commanders and former/retired special ops personnel want their "Andy Warhol 15 minutes of fame" and our 24/7 news cycles and reporters are all too eager to give it to them. One former SEAL, who was a legitimate hero in his day, discussed on CNN the details of tactics and methods of chain of command communications between various personnel and how a shoot/no shoot sequencing would take place. It is a shame. The only thing the military (or any retired military) should have said about this operation is a simple two sentence statement: "On Sunday afternoon, various elements of the United States military rescued the captain of the Maersk Alabama. In the process, three pirates were killed and one is in custody". Period, end of briefing. The American people do not need to know any of the details. It places future operations in jeopardy. Let the bad guys wonder how it happened. Don’t hand it to them in a 2 minute news clip.

I will now get off my soapbox and find my meds.

I had hoped to go sailing today. Not gonna happen. 22-24 kts SSE. Too strong for me even to think about motoring S/V Tadpole to the club dock to do some maintenance.

You have failed--perhaps-- to consider the possibility that the news, as released, was not exactly a true record of the activity. While I agree that we should not be giving out "trade secrets," there is some gain--IMHO--in letting the world know that punishment can be delivered on our terms.

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster (where if you've got 'em, flaunt 'em,)VA

[John Vigor]

You have failed--perhaps-- to consider the possibility that the news, as released, was not exactly a true record of the activity. While I agree that we should not be giving out "trade secrets," there is some gain--IMHO--in letting the world know that punishment can be delivered on our terms.

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster (where if you've got 'em, flaunt 'em,)VA

Exactly, Mitch. Here's Churchill on the subject:

"In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies."

John V.

[Jim Davis]

Mitchell Bober wrote

You have failed--perhaps-- to consider the possibility that the news, as released, was not exactly a true record of the activity. While I agree that we should not be giving out "trade secrets," there is some gain--IMHO--in letting the world know that punishment can be delivered on our terms.

I fully agree. Also since there doesn't appear to be any media present, the details provided are just what is needed for the story, no more, no less. Also the Navy CO is to be commended for "assisting the pirates" by towing them during negotiations.

As to the talking heads on TV, if DOD was worried about them, a hint to shut up would be the end of their chatter. Since they aren't in the loop anymore they probably add more to the enemy's confusion than giving anything away. I know a couple of them and envy their ability to get well paid for slinging fine bull.

Now to Andy's idea. Don't think any merchant ship crew would allow it. Just think about the repainting that would have to be done after each shot. The backblast from a Reckless Rifle is almost as exciting as the shot itself. On the other hand a couple MA DEUCEs could even be handled by the normal crew and deter at ranges well beyond what the pirates in their small craft can use.

[Sea Hunt]

Still can't find my meds so I remain on my soapbox

Simply announcing that 3 pirates are dead and 1 is in custody is more than sufficient to "Let [ ] the world know that punishment can be delivered on our terms". We do not need to give the bad guys the detailed minutia of exactly how the punishment was delivered.

Mr. Vigor, I am a big fan of Prime Minister Churchill. His quote makes sense and has been used effectively by armies going back further than Caesar, Napoleon and Genghis Khan. However, Mr. Churchill's quote was said in the 1940s (or there abouts). Today, with 24/7/365 live TV coverage, I believe "loose lips sink ships" (also coined in the 1940s) remains a good standing order.

Suggesting that a hint from DOD to a "talking head" to not report something would be sufficient to end their chatter is, respectfully, naive. In 1993 Geraldo Rivera was "embedded" with the 101st Airborne. He and all reporters were under strict DOD orders about what they could report, etc. In addition to other security measures, they were not allowed to give their positions or relative positions during reports. Rivera, being the egotistical idiot he is, drew an accurate map in the sand detailing where elements of the 101st were at that time and where they were going the next day. He should have been charged with treason and/or aiding and abetting the enemy in time of war. Instead, he was simply expelled. There were other similar acts of stupidity by reporters wanting to get a "scoop" or "face time" on air and done at risk to American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

I respectfully stand by my previous observation.

I promise to actively resume looking for my meds and will take a double dose when I find them.

[Amgine]

IMO, as both former navy and former journalist, the 'details' we're hearing about are more likely fabricated to get a specific message out there than they are likely to be factual. There is a single, specific source for all of these details, and it is not an objective reporter.

And that's as it should be.

Anyone hearing about this - if they believe it is absolute truth - must believe the US Navy has the ability to exert exactly as much influence as it wishes where it wishes. And if they don't believe it, then they know they have no idea how the US Navy accomplished what it accomplished. Especially if they happen to be Somali pirates.

And both responses help the US to exert influence in the region it is barely engaged in. I have no problem with USA giving these supposed details and getting, quite literally, millions to billions of dollars worth of free advertising and image building. Saves on my taxes.

[Joe Myerson]

As a former journalist (maybe I'm still one, if a boating magazine counts), I've got to agree with Mitch, Amgine and others:

Members of the press didn't necessarily cross the line in disclosing any particular strategies here--if only because they were not given a chance to. And what they did reveal should help send a message to these seaborne thugs: Don't mess with American- (or French-) flagged vessels and crews.

And, of course, the Navy did itself proud, as did the Administration, which kept its cool while giving the commander on the scene the ultimate authority to act when needed.

--Joe

[Ben Thomas]

A fitting end for the thugs holding Captain Phillips, our military did a stand up job IMHO. All pirate acts should have a similar outcome.

Backstory: After the Somalian government collapsed in the 1990s, the region has had little government authority to oversee its coastal regions. Other countries have exploited that fact.
Foreign vessels have illegally dumped barrels of toxic waste material off their shores, foreign fishing boats have relentlessly overfished the waters causing more food shortages for the local fishermen,
These fishermen are now probably part of the cadre of Rovers that are commiting the acts of piracy.
As always the double edged sword cuts both ways. Justice should be brought to the greedy and the polluters.
But the focus remains on the group that has gone rouge, not the underlying causes.
Where is the media coverage of that?

I could really use a good day of SAILING!
Milagro is now de-winterized, and ready to go. This weekend is forecast to be in the low 70s-- I can't wait..
God I love the spring!!