12ga shotgun vs. 2 boats of Pirates

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I saw this account of a recent piracy incident off the coast of Yemen on another forum and thought it provided a tremendous example of cool thinking and good tactics under stress.

Two sailboats were motoring off the coast of Yemen when they were attacked by pirates in two motorboats. The pirates had automatic weapons and possibly even crew-served weapons and outnumbered the two sailors by at least 4-1 odds. Despite the fact that there was only a single shotgun between both sailboats, the two managed to sink one pirate boat, disable the second and kill at least 2-3 pirates during the encounter. Just goes to show that the most important defensive tool you own is between your ears...

"We are safe in port of Aden. It‚s been 3 days repairing the damage. 30 bullets holes in deck, cabin house, dodger, and alas, newly varnished mast. Our bow shows evidence of a satisfying crunch. Our new paint job was not meant to be. Dinghy on deck was seriously wounded but in stable condition, much repatched. No wine was hurt.

This is the „official‰ report filed with the Yemen Coast Guard, Yemen Navy, Aden Port Control, US Coalition 5th Fleet, US Embassy and State Department? but not Carol‚s mother. Unfortunately, the poor guy that shoots has to write up the paper work. The one that rams does not engender any paper-work, except sand paper work.

March 11, 2005, written by Rodney J. Nowlin, USN Retired
Pirate Attack off Yemen Coast

On Tuesday, March 8, 2005 at position 13 Degrees 28 North / 49 Degrees 07 East, in the infamous Pirate Alley of the Gulf of Aden, two sailing yachts, Madhi and Gandalf, were moving SW 30 miles off the coast of Yemen proceeding to the port of Aden from Salalah, Oman.

At about 0900 local, two outboard powered fiberglass longboats, about 20 feet long, each containing 3 men, passed off our sterns moving south at about 25 knots into the open Gulf between Yemen and Somalia. An hour later they returned, one coming quite close and looking us over carefully. The second boat passed off our bows but quite a ways away. These boats were obviously not engaged in a normal activity like fishing. At that time we were south of Al Mukalla, Yemen. The area around Al Mukalla is well documented as being a piracy, drug & people smuggling problem area and we maintained a careful watch for anything out of the ordinary.

At about 1600 we observed two different boats approaching us head on from the west with the glare of the sunset in our eyes. These were 25-30 feet long, had inboard diesel engines and higher freeboard. We immediately motored closer together. As soon as they saw us close ranks they started coming very fast directly at us. There were 4 men in each boat. They separated at about 200 yards with one boat coming down Madhi‚s port side, shouting and firing into the cockpit. The other boat, firing automatic weapons came at Gandalf. There were no warning shots. Carol on Gandalf began sending Maydays on every frequency.

The first boat swung around behind Mahdi‚s stern to come up and board us. At that point, I , Rod Nowlin aboard Mahdi and armed with a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot, started shooting into their boat. I forced them to keep their heads down so they could not shoot at us. I am not sure I hit anyone at that point. I could see the driver of the boat crouched down behind the steering console. After firing three shots at them, their engine started to smoke and I swung around to try to shoot at the second boat ahead. At that point I saw Jay Barry on Gandalf ram the second boat amidships almost cutting it in two and turning it almost completely over. I turned back around to shoot at the boat still behind Mahdi. That was when they turned away from Mahdi and headed toward the stern of Gandalf. Gandalf was beside us about 100 feet away. The bow of the pirate boat came right up against Gandalf‚s stern and two men stood up on the bow with guns to board Gandalf. That was a serious and probably fateful error on their part. I shot both of them. That boat then veered away and I shot the driver, although I am not sure of the outcome because they were farther away and I didn‚t knock him down like the other two trying to board Gandalf.

Mahdi & Gandalf kept going at full speed to put as much distance between the pirates and us as possible. As soon as we were out of rifle range, we looked back and both attack boats were drifting and seemed to be disabled.

A merchant ship nearby finally answered our Mayday and diverted course to position itself between the floundering pirates and the fleeing yachts. They said they would contact the authorities‚ by Sat phone and then sailed alongside us for 4 hours after dark to make sure we would be all right. Best speed was made to the Port of Aden 180 miles away.

If Jay on Gandalf had not had the presence of mind to veer over into one boat and ram it, the outcome of this attack would have been totally different. All the guys needed to do was stand off a ways and shoot us to pieces with automatic weapons. We were extremely lucky. We broadcast Mayday calls on VHF 16 and all HF radio frequencies, including two HF frequencies that were supplied by the US Coast Guard near Oman only a few days before. Frequencies which the Coalition Forces Warships in this area were supposed to be monitoring. There was no response. The pirates were well organized and well armed. There were at least 4 boats involved. They had set up a picket line out from the Yemen coast probably covering 75 miles out, so if you transited the area during the day they would not miss seeing you. The two attack boats appeared to have come from the south before positioning themselves ahead of us in the sunset.

There has been speculation in the past that this ongoing piracy problem off Yemen‚s coast was being carried out by Somali pirates. Given the number, the types of boats involved, and the direction the supposed spotter boats were coming from, this does not appear to be the case. The men in the attack boats looked both African and Arab.

There was no evidence that this was a people smuggling operation. There were no men, women or children cowering in the boats. These were not fishing boats with nets or overhead sun protection. They appeared to be purpose-built boats, 25-30 feet long, with wooden splines or poles fashioned above the gunwales to which a plastic tarp or shield was hung chest high for the men to hide behind after shooting. The problem is getting worse and the pirate attacks are getting deadly. One could only expect that the Yemen Government will take more direct action At very least, allow yachts to group in Salalah, Oman and at some point along the NW Yemen coast request an escort until Aden or the Straits.

Rodney J. Nowlin, USN Retire
March 11, 2005

Source

[Daniel Flory]

Tactics

[Horsesense]

Rodney appears to be pretty salty. I wonder why he didn’t have a rifle? I can see that it would have been very heard to hit two guys at 100 feet, while both shooter and target were on rocking and moving boats, with a rifle. It just seems that engaging them with a MBR in 30-06 or 308 at 5 or 600 yards would be the way to go.

On second thought, that may have just encouraged the BG to stand off and use their own long range options, draw them in close and overwhelm them with a sudden and unexpected violent response… yah the old boy did good.

Note to self; get your buddy an 870


Edited to add: the US navy needs to disguise the con tower (?) on a submarine to look like a sail boat and go hunting.

[williegee]

I love stories with a happy ending! It's always nice to see a story where the good guys come out on top.

[Langenator]

Don't use a disguised sub...just use a decent sized pleasure boat (preferably sail, with a nice big diesel engine) manned by some SEALs...with their attendant heavy weapons.

Although most of the SEAL team are probably out hunting terrorists, not pirates, at the moment.

[Dave R]

At that point I saw Jay Barry on Gandalf ram the second boat amidships almost cutting it in two and turning it almost completely over.

"Use enough boat."

[CAS700850]

My grandfather used to do a good bit of pleasure boating down in Florida, and would join other boaters in his marina for long trips down the west coast from Sarasota over to the Keys or the Bahamas. Now, bear in mind my grandfather, a retired dentist, carried a High Standard derringer in his pocket every day of his life ("because the 2nd Amendment says I can!"), kept a 1911 under the seat of his Cadillac, and still abuses me for carrying a "plastic gun" in a "caliber only good for target practice." Anyways, on his first trip, he took his handgun(s), and the group was harassed by some idiots asking to "rent" their boats, miles from no where in the middle of the Gulf. So, upon return, he bought an M-1 carbine, a Mossberg 12 gauge, and a Smith 686. He rigged a mount for the rifle next to the helm, and bought nylon carry gear for the Smith, so he could wear if even if he was on deck in the rain.

Be prepared is kind of a family tradition...

[walking arsenal]

Yarrghhhhh!!!

Man the mossberg!! steady as she goes!! Ramming speed Mr. salty!!!

[Lee Lapin]

Good on these skippers for working together and thwarting the attack, glad to hear that their damage was limited to jangled nerves and dinged property!

Lots of oceangoing pleasure craft carry shotguns, they can sometimes cause less hassle w/the local authorities than other firearms, are cheap to buy, break down for easier hiding, and can be quite effective at repelling boarders. Not for naught do Remington, Mossberg and Winchester produce "marine" versions of their best selling pumpguns.

lpl/nc

[JamisJockey]

Rodney appears to be pretty salty. I wonder why he didn’t have a rifle? I can see that it would have been very heard to hit two guys at 100 feet, while both shooter and target were on rocking and moving boats, with a rifle. It just seems that engaging them with a MBR in 30-06 or 308 at 5 or 600 yards would be the way to go.

Well, you're assuming he's
A) familiar with MBR style weapons
B) has enough time to practice
C) knows he's being approached by pirates at that kind of range.


I think the choice of a shottie was perfect. I'd have loaded the first couple as slugs, though, for better range and penetration. However, I'd say he did pretty damn good.
Also, a shotgun can fire flares, which is pretty handy onboard a private sailing vessel.

[Daniel Flory]

I'd agree that 500-600 yards would be tough on a moving target shooting from a moving seacraft. I think his choice of armament was quite good. If I were able to get my hands on an FA AK variant I would rather have that personally.

[Spreadfire Arms]

i read a story very similar to this about a year ago in Robb Report, which is a magazine read primarily by wealthy folks with nice yachts, cars, homes, etc.

similar story except it was one yachtsman and two crewman in the Indian Ocean off the Southern Coast of India near the Maldive Islands.

they were sailing when they noticed two ships following them from a distance on their sonar/radar (which one is it?) as they slowed down, the ships would slow down. as they sped up, the ships would speed up. when they changed direction, the ships would change direction too.

they knew something was up, especially in this area where piracy is alive and well.

good thing they had three different types of weapons on board: long range rifles, scatterguns (shotguns) for short range, and pistols in the event they were boarded.

they also had pre-positioned bright lighting on the port and starboard sides of the yacht for (1) night docking and (2) defensive night blinding during darkness. evidently it is harder to board at the bow or stern parts of the ship? sorry im not a boat expert, but i think the motors are a bad place to board and the bow is usually too high to board?

anyway they broadcast for assistance and a U.S. Navy vessel reported they could not intervene since it was international waters, they could only respond to rescue them (but not fire upon the hostiles unless fired upon).

The U.S. Navy vessels were too far away to get to for cover so they ended up taking the two ships on. They used the lighting to their advantage so they could blind the approaching ships.

they used the high powered rifles to hit them from afar and were successful...luckily.

the yachtsman reported if they are threatened they go with the lighting if it is at night and shoot with the high powered rifles first to sink the hostile watercraft, disable the engine, or incapacitate the hostiles. if this does not work at a long range, they switch to shotguns to blast the boats before they can board.

if they are boarded then they also use pistols. pretty good combination if you ask me.

i guess when im rich and i buy a yacht ill make sure i go sailing with my M249SAW. that ought to take out a boat pretty quick. nothing like belt fed to disable something!

[ETCss Phil McCrackin]

What was it that Sherrif Brody said in Jaws? "I think we need a bigger boat."? Well, see if this fits the bill!

Go Navy!

[musher]

FWIW, Gandalf is a steel hulled boat. Made me think about the choice of hull materials on a circumnavigation. Nice to have the ability to ram wood and plastic boats w/o sinking yourself!

[trickyasafox]

i wonder how many rounds he fired. . . thats always my biggest concern. if it hits the fan will i have enough ammo on me. ..

[mr.trooper]

Hmmm... maybee its time to armor up the old fishing boat....

Great story. i love to hear the ones where the ad guys get whats coming to them.

if my boat were atualy big enough to sail out on open water, id but him a new shotty. Maybee a Saiga 12 or a Mossy with a heat sield and riot tube/drum upgrade.

i was under the asumption that federal law prohibited mounting weapons ona vehicle? ut i suppose that wouldnt matter in international waters...

[Mannlicher]

I am glad it worked out for the 'good guys', but I still think its a stupid place to be pleasure boating. Almost always, these things work out in the bad guys favor. Down here in Miami, its a common thing, for folks out 'yachting' down to the Islands to just dissappear for ever.

[LaEscopeta]

Any confirmation this really happened? Only thing found with a quick web search was repeats of the same story.

[musher]

Yes, it happened.

Rodney Nowlin is my coworker's brother. My coworker's daughter was on board Mahdi when they were attacked.

[jeff-10]

Anyone remember when a bunch genius pirates tried to attack a Navy fuel ship a few years back?

http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/m...ack/index.html

[Igloodude]

Glad these folks made it through okay, and yeah, tactics and mindset are where it's at.

In my experience, ex-navy people who become small-boat offshore sailors tend to be a little more defensive-minded than "yachties" (although I may be biased because I'm ex-navy and someday am going to get my own boat).

I have no intention of going to sea without a couple shotguns, a good long-range hunting rifle, and several 1911s at least three of which will be hidden/stashed around the boat. If I can get a few grenades so much the better. Now if I was going to be sailing in the lower Caribbean, Red Sea, or anywhere in the southwest Pacific I'd be arming for real.

I carry a concealed firearm because it might be 15 minutes before the cops arrive. If it is likely to be at least 15 hours, I'm going to be my own little floating arsenal.

By the way, it is radar above the surface of the water, sonar below the surface.

[El Tejon]

I'm with Mannlicher. Who the devil goes out adventuring off the coast of Yemen?

Shotgun is a good choice for a boat. However, I like to have something heavy around, like a BAR in .338 or a .416 bolt gun and a bunch of buddies around with rifles firing AP ammo.

[TheLastBoyScout]

Ballistics question...

assuming you and your pursuers were moving at an equal speed in a stern chase (i.e. rate of closure = 0), would you have to lead the target at all?

Would you correct for wind as a result of motion the same way you correct for wind as weather?

[Clean97GTI]

as old and outdated as they seem, the trusty 12ga shotgun always seems to prove its worth.

My choice for a boat would be a Mosin-Nagant, a pump action 12ga and a handgun with a big magazine.

I can lay down long range firepower with easily obtainable AP rounds. The shotgun gives me devastating power up close and the pistol allows me to defend should the above weapons allow a few badguys past. The Mosin Nagant would also be an M44 so as to have a bayonet at hand.

I think a good knife on the belt would be helpful too.

[beerslurpy]

Id just mount a ma deuce or a twin-linked mg42 (anti-air) with every 10th round a tracer. If someone tries to rob you, you just send a few thousand beefy AP rounds their direction and turn their little boats into collanders.