We’ve got some details trickling in about the specifics of the SEAL sniper shots on the pirates holding the Maersk-Alabama’s captain, Richard Phillips.
The Combat Operator’s Jake Allen — not a former SEAL, but a Marine infantry officer and private military contractor and security consultant with sourcing in the Teams — had no detailed information on the actual shot, but described the overall techniques used by the SEAL team.
First of all, multiple sources indicate this was conducted by SEAL Team VI, aka Naval Special Warfare Development Group, aka “DevGru.” This is the naval equivalent of Delta Force.
Allen says the team likely were on the intel of the incident very soon after news hit the wires about the capture and were already well in advance of developing a plan to rescue Phillips before they deployed to the USS Bainbridge.
It’s unclear why the team decided to parachute onto the scene under cover of darkness from a C-17 with rafts. One possibility is that this was a far more covert entry than simply landing on the destroyer via helicopter, or Allen says it could have been due to range restrictions…did the DevGru guys travel straight from Little Creek, Va.? Probably.
There was no rest and relaxation or getting rid of the jetlag for the team, Allen estimates, they were planning and rehersing shortly after arriving aboard the Bainbridge. Delay is, however, in their favor, Allen said, since food was running out, sleep was short and the weather was worsening for the ill-trained pirates who probably were beginning to realize they bit off more than they could chew.
Whether it was luck or planning, clearly the idea to tow the life boat behind the Bainbridge and reel it into closer range made a sniper takedown much more of a reasonable possibility than any other tactic, sources say. A shot of 80–90 feet — even at night and in rolling seas — is a cakewalk for DevGru SEALs.
“These guys can put three rounds onto the head of a quarter at that range,” Allen told me.
And let’s not get carried away with the sea state, says DT contributor Joe Buff. A multi-thousand ton destroyer is a pretty stable platform in any but the most tumultuous sea states and makes dialing in a shot on an admittedly tossing life raft more doable — a smart platform for the Team to operate from.
We also have some information — unconfirmed, though we’re working on it — about how the shots were taken and what was used. Our firearms expert Eric Poole who writes for Tactical-Life posits that the snipers were using the MK-11 .308 sniper system manufactured by Knights Armament Co. This weapons is awesome, by the way (I’ve shot it a few times myself) and, if this is indeed what the shooters used, would mark a major, high-profile departure from legacy thinking about sniping which holds bolt-action rifles as the Gold Standard or marksmanship.
Poole figures the DevGru frogmen removed the “overpowered” standard-issue Leupold scopes and opted for the Aimpoint CCO augmented by the PVS-14 night vision monocular. Though the SEAL version of the MK-11 Mod 0 is issued with supressors, it’s unclear whether the operators used them, but I’d bet a million bucks they did.
One other question (among many) remains open…were there three shots or four? Poole reasons, and Allen and I agree, that someone had to shoot through the lifeboat window first, then fire the kill shots. My limited knowledge of ballistics leads me to believe the snipers could not rely on the effectiveness of the one window shot to actually strike the target where it was aimed based in the potential deflection of hitting that probably plastic (glass) window.
Poole, Allen and Buff agree that this operation was meticulously planned and flawlessly executed. The DevGru SEALs developed the situation (with their interagency partners in the FBI and other OGAs), planned an attack and executed when the opportunity presented itself (and I don’t buy this “the captain was in danger” line the Pentagon and White House is trying to sell here…you mean to tell me Phillips hadn’t had a gun pointed at his back anytime before this?)…It was a kick butt operation carried out by one of the best counterterrorist units in the world and they deserve a huge HooYah from all of us…
– Christian
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
HooYah
A USAF Special Tactics Team Parachuted in with the SEALS. Any knowledge about that. It was mentioned by a USN 3 Star during a press interview. Not sure which network. CNN?
My, oh, my, just what do we have here?
A wannybe with a key board killer commando?
A ” Combat operator aka Jake Allen, who is not a former Seal” is quoted as giving us information that is ” not detailed” especially about the overall techniques.
However to go on with the story we are informed that “Deg Gru” might have, or, might have not been around the area.
When this sort of crap is written, especially when it is probably all written by a couch potatoe WRMF dork, it becomes an insult to the men that did the job.
Wacsog, get a grip. The author is noty as cool as you. He gets paid to write about defense tech. He’s trying to put together a story about the defense tech used in this case. Not too many details out there so yes, he’s written an article based on a bunch of guesses. Best he could do. And when (if) the details come in, they won’t really be all that amazing – basically some guys got shot in the head with rifles – so if you don’t care then skip the article. Unless posting insults just makes you feel better about yourself?
And Polaris… Try Googling “Law Enforcement Tech” or “Rational Choice Theory Among the Desperately Poor Tech” if you want to read articles about the root causes of crime. The name of this website should be a hint that you won’t find those articles here. This is mostly articles about defense tech.
But just in case you are too busy posting snotty comments, let me save you some time: the root causes of piracy are the same as the root causes of all crime – the benefits outweigh the costs. The solution is the same too – make the cost outweigh the benefit. If that’s too expensive (or distasteful), then put up with the crime.
Reader update: ALI DDG line back up……
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4037141&c=AME&s=TOP
Ok why dont they just update the burk line with the Zumwalt tech?
“In fiscal 2011, the Navy plans to order another ship for Northrop, DDG 114, and a ship for Bath, DDG 115. The three Burkes will be delivered with an advanced new upgrade of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system, having been designed with “open” systems that can accept regular software upgrades without the need for new computers.
The Navy’s arrangement provides “significant stability” for the shipbuilding industrial base, Doss said, and ensures the U.S. will keep alive two shipyards that can build big surface combatants. The shipyards’ representatives in Congress praised the arrangement last week, although lawmakers must still approve the Navy’s plans in this year’s budget.”
@Renaldo: My understanding is that it’s fairly common for USAF STS teams to insert with Seals, Army Special Forces, or Delta. They just don’t normally get the cool news coverage that Delta or the Seals tend to get. I don’t think any combat controllers they brought in would be calling in airstrikes on the lifeboat, but they are also trained at air-traffic control and comms, both of which would have been useful skills to have in the situation (would the Bainbridge have had ATC-trained sailors on board since it isn’t an aircraft carrier?). If they had pararescue jumpers, then I can imagine that a PJ was angling to be first on the lifeboat to provide medical assistance if necessary.
The root cause for the ongoing piracy crisis is that there are no consequences for piracy. Shoot enough pirates, and there is no piracy problem.
The entire point in inventing international law was to put a shiny happy face on executing pirates. When the world returns to first principles and starts shooting pirates, piracy will go away.
Polaris – why don’t you help them You seem to be so concerned about the criminals over there. I’m sure they’d “love” to have you ;-)
Polaris,
You make a good point. I was thinking the same thing. How long would it take for Americans or any other nationality living in the same conditions to do exactly the same thing? There used to be European pirates as well.
Polaris IS a troll and possibly one of those E-jihadist/American hater/Eurotrash commentators that float to the surface, like a turd in a cesspool. Seems like he/she/it has nothing better to do than to try to get Americans wound up.
Polaris, if you REALLY want to do something for your cause, take a trip to Iraq, strap on some Semtex and go paint an Abrams with yourself.
Have a nice day.
This is more of a statement than a response… did we need to send in our boys in chutes? why not? did we need to snipe em? sure why not… It seems the costs involved outweigh a normal rational response… and i think thats exactly what they wanted to show, and say.
Could the MV-22 Osprey have landed on a standard LAMPS III helo deck? Are the Ospreys useful for VERTREP, or are we just stuck with the H-60′s?
Also, has this incident changed anything in terms of procurement? People mention buying a few extra Burkes, but aren’t the LCS designs meant for this kind of work? Has anybody thought about building some corvettes or patrol craft using off-the-shelf designs (e.g. Saar V)? More Coast Guard cutters? Anything being brought out of mothballs, like that minesweeper fleet we got laid up somewhere?
Polaris was just asking a question.
Actually it was Renaldo. Polaris, don’t you know it is the Age of Aquarius!
Actually it was Renaldo. Polaris, don’t you know it is the Age of Aquarius!
The next hijacked ship will not be so lucky. The “pirates” have an extreamly humane record. Look it up before declaring them evil terrorist animals. I think they have focused solely on the cargo and ransom in the past. This is not an ideological issue, it’s business. Do you think they will play nice anymore? The next sailors may be pre-emtively killed, there would be no need for rescue, DevGru… or whomever. just a cargo ship at sea. No media story, no glory no hostage = safer hijacking. Obama just condemend some future sailors to death by showing off his machismo. He will learn eventually that you can never quench the American reichs thirst for blood.
And btw just because we may not agree with you doesnt give you the right to call us rednecks……plus you shouldnt be like that im a redneck most rednecks i know are perfectly nice ppl.
:)
Maybe if the pirates die in increasingly large numbers each time a US flagged vessel is jacked they will conclude it might be a good idea to let those be. I don’t think we’ve arrived at that point yet, unfortunately. It’s probably going to take another major incident followed by some bombing. Dunno if Obama will do that but I expect the question to be answered.
Polaris
you are a troll. your also a pretty uneducated guy it seems. how does designing subs show you anything in the real world other than blue prints. Go back to the books dude, you got no place here.
The US Navy has been battleing piracy since the 1800′s. These guys had a choice and they chose the “easy” route and became theives. All this crap about they haven’t killed before etc..is retarted. Just because they didn’t kill before doesn’t mean they wouldn’t have killed sooner or later.
DEV did an excellent mission and the marksman who took the shot’s is a master of his craft.
“(and I don’t buy this “the captain was in danger” line the Pentagon and White House is trying to sell here…you mean to tell me Phillips hadn’t had a gun pointed at his back anytime before this?)…It ”
Hey tighten up those lips. With our new peace-love-&-happiness leader in charge this is the best we can expect so lets not lose our last straw. Weak standard cop out orders can be made to function as long as we keep the storyline and have aggressive commanders in the field willing to put their a*s on the line in case it goes south (in which case of course pres would blame all on overzealous commander and the “he authorized twice” talk would have been denied”.
It is sad not having leadership willing to put their balls on the block but it is what we got.
“you are a troll. your also a pretty uneducated guy it seems. how does designing subs show you anything in the real world other than blue prints. Go back to the books dude, you got no place here”
Hey “theboogyman” (does anybody still say “dude” anymore ?) jesus – you are a serial idiot. I’d like to know what qualifies an obviously low-information moron like yourself to be an expert on strategic defense issues like this.
I thought this was a defense-related site, not a red-neck militia page. FYI I’ve been around the world watching some pretty tense “situations” that you and your couch wouldn’t believe.
Basically, how about F*ck off.
@Polaris
Suuuuure, designing subs is the most adventurous job in the world, im pretty sure in the next bond movie they are ditching him in favor of a ass faced sub designer who is a closest homo obsessed with long thick phallic black objects… why? because it is the most exciting and adventurous job in the whole world. Everyone knows that all deltas and PJ’s once wanted to get in to the high stakes world of sub design, but blew it during selection and had to go do on the ground work instead.
Go shove a sub where the sun don’t shine you American hating, inelegant, redneck obsessed freak.
You’re all dorks who have no idea what they’re talking about