SEALs & the Maersk Alabama: AR15, M-14, or bolt action .308?

[Dr_2_B]

So the good guys took out 3 Somali pirate skinnies. What would the snipers have used in this situation? AR15, M-14, or bolt action .308, or something else?

(By the way, anyone could guess... hoping to hear from someone who has some first-hand knowledge of this kinda thing)

 

[Retro]

Navy prefers M14, although I am sure the snipers probably used a bolt-action .308.

 

[BlackHand1917]

I heard in the news it was a less than 100 yard shot. A lot of things would have worked.

 

[Dr_2_B]

Yeah, if in fact the boat was being towed 25 meters behind the Bainbridge, it would've been a 30 yard shot at worst. Not too tough for these guys.

 

[Eightball]

I thought the boat was being towed AFTER the shot--it wouldn't make sense for the pirates to have threatened the Americans, and then asked them for a lift? :?:

Since it was guys in the navy, on a boat taking the shot, I would venture to say probably some flavor of M-14. It would make sense, at the very least--you're moving, on a moving shooting platform, at another moving object on a different moving vehicle, on a fluctuating surface; it would seem to make sense to have a semi-auto.

Anyhow. I'm still waiting to hear, as well.

Though, I've heard several stories, some of which say he jumped out a second time; if that was the case, one could hope that the navy used that peashooter on the bow of the destroyer on those pirates--just like the old days

 

[HorseSoldier]

Since it was guys in the navy, on a boat taking the shot, I would venture to say probably some flavor of M-14.

Not a really safe bet, I'd say. Crane builds the Mark 11 (SR-25) for the SEALs, plus the SPR (Mk 12) 5.56mm sniper rifle, .338 bolt guns and other exotica. Something M14 based may have been involved, but it's hardly guaranteed these days -- maybe a decade ago, but times are a-changing and such

 

[H2O MAN]

Chances are real good at least one enhanced M14 was in the mix, but I've
not yet seen any confirmation on what weapons were used to fire the shots.

Regardless of what weapons were used... those were some nice shots!

 

[husker]

i dont care what platform they used. they did what needed to be done. and they got it done 100% PS i never thought i would thank Obama for anything. so hear goes= thanks MR president for giving our guys the green light. THAT WAS HARD!!

 

[Dr_2_B]

it wouldn't make sense for the pirates to have threatened the Americans, and then asked them for a lift? :?:

Eightball, as odd as it sounds, that is precisely what happened:

As soon as the shots were fired, Navy Seals "scurried down" a tow line attached to the lifeboat, and were the first to get to Phillips.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/12/navy-seals-kill-pirates-rescue-american-hostage/

Never said they were the sharpest pirates in the fleet. This is one for the Darwin awards.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Actually, the SEALs tried the Mk 11 in the 90s and were suitably unimpressed with it that they still had the Mk 14 developed. The two rifles aren't completely oriented to the same use, but of the two the Mk 14 is the more versatile, as well as being more robust and reliable so between the Mk 11 and the Mk 14, my uneducated guess would be that the Mk 14 had more of a chance of being involved.

Regardless, from the sounds of things, I would expect more play at these ranges from SOPMOD M4s and MP5s.

 

[Rmac58]

I also am interested in the rifles used, and agree with H20 MAN, tremendous shots!

 

[Medusa]

One story tells about the marine scout-sniper platoon, also dispatched to the area for counter-piracy role, these guys use Mk.11 and SASR. But as for the SEALs, unless they tell us we have no idea about the weaponry. But I'm sure the sea/airborne action does prefer semi-autos.

 

[Realbigo]

The Talking head covering the story for ABC just assured Charlie Gibson that the SeALS "were most likely using Gyroscopicly stabilized rifles". Are there any small arms w/ Gyroscopes to anybodys knowledge?

 

[Rembrandt]

....The Talking head covering the story for ABC just assured Charlie Gibson that the SeALS "were most likely using Gyroscopicly stabilized rifles"

That blows my image of Snipers using elevation and windage calculations.....you're telling me that's taken care of with a gyroscopicly fitted rifle?

 

[CoRoMo]

T'was a 30 yard shot FWIH, but I thought they'd be using the MK14 Mod 0.

 

[Realbigo]

I don't think there are any Gyroscope rifles. She probably Googled Navy Rifle, and found data on Naval Cannon

 

[rbernie]

Yeah, if in fact the boat was being towed 25 meters behind the Bainbridge, it would've been a 30 yard shot at worst. Not too tough for these guys.

'Cept it was in the dark, with both the shooting platform and target bobbing up and down in the chop and with the lifeboat being towed in the wake of the destroyer. Two of the targets were visible from the shoulder up, and the third target was visible thru a windscreen of the lifeboat.

According to the Navy - three shots, three kills.

 

[farmallmta]

Okay, nobody else has said it yet, so here goes...

Could somebody please explain to me why:

1) ship crews are not fully armed at all times and especially off the coast of Somalia? Wouldn't armed crews be able to repel pirates without an entire national NAVY having to get involved?

2) What took the Navy so long to git 'er done? Why didn't they just show up and pop the pirates immediately. What's all this "no violence unless the captain's life is in imminent danger" crap?

3) ***? That's it? A $500BB defense budget and it's deployed to endlessly sweet talk a bunch of Third World thieves in a skiff smaller than I use for carp fishing on my farm pond?

I know, I know. We signed the @##%# Law of the Sea Treaty, like a bunch of idiots, and now we only do what the New World Order says we can do. Excuse me, Mr. UN Secretary... but can I pretty please have my cajones back for a few minutes to take care of these pirates? Extra pretty please, Mr. UN Human Rights Secretary? Extra pretty please with a cherry on top, Mr. French Prime Minister?

Jeez. What a crock of Shi'ite. :banghead:

 

[Dr_2_B]

'Cept it was in the dark, with both the shooting platform and target bobbing up and down in the chop and with the lifeboat being towed in the wake of the destroyer.

O sure! Make em out to be heroes whydontcha.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

They did what they were trained to do. Thank God they were able to take care of the situation without any harm to the Captain.

 

[Slinky]

in response to farmallmta

I did a small amount of Counter-Piracy durring my six years so i'll try to answer your questions.

1) A ship's crew must abide by the laws of any country whos water's they enter. Most of the ships crossing the Horn of Africa are coming from or on thier way to Europe. (via the Suez)

In short It would be illegal for them to be armed.

2) Politics, pure and simple.

3) We spent all that money elsewhere. (Missile Defense, and Presidential Helicopters are expensive)

It may be stupid and bass-ackwords, but thats life.

 

[Gunfighter123]

I would think that because they are Pirates , some kind of hollow points would be used.

 

[jeff-10]

I would think that because they are Pirates , some kind of hollow points would be used.

Somehow I doubt the pirates would have been able to tell the difference.

 

[rfwobbly]

I would think that because they are Pirates , some kind of hollow points would be used.

I'm sure some dufuss White House lawyer is checking right now to see if "the pirates" signed onto any of the pertinent "rules of war" charters.

 

[Beagle-zebub]

Bet they used that fancy new DRT ammo!