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Irish Army Rangers to take on Somali Pirates

  • 18-09-2012 12:32pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,014 ✭✭✭


    THE Army's elite special forces unit, the Ranger Wing, has been mobilised for its toughest mission yet – tackling Somali Pirates in the Indian Ocean.........................................
    Such is the international reputation of the Ranger Wing that the EU made a formal request to the Government to provide the troops several months ago.
    The unit has been secretly training for the mission all year, working closely with the Navy and Air Corps.


    Looks like the lads are going to get a chance to put all that training to use.;)


    http://www.independent.ie/national-news/armys-elite-to-take-on-somali-pirates-in-aden-3233271.html


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,456 ✭✭✭✭Mr Benevolent


    No doubt they'll stop at the first pub on the way. They they'll get lost and claim they were deafened by the sound of complaining, demanding compensation. Then when their boat sinks they'll claim for wetness compensation.

    TL;DR: They won't get anywhere near anything dangerous.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,946 ✭✭✭✭Zebra3


    Irish Army Rangers to take on Somali Pirates

    Sounds like an American football match.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 885 ✭✭✭Sappa


    THE Army's elite special forces unit, the Ranger Wing, has been mobilised for its toughest mission yet – tackling Somali Pirates in the Indian Ocean.........................................
    Such is the international reputation of the Ranger Wing that the EU made a formal request to the Government to provide the troops several months ago.
    The unit has been secretly training for the mission all year, working closely with the Navy and Air Corps.


    Looks like the lads are going to get a chance to put all that training to use.;)


    http://www.independent.ie/national-news/armys-elite-to-take-on-somali-pirates-in-aden-3233271.html
    It's a support role but let's hope they cam take one or two of those pirates out of their trade.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,391 ✭✭✭✭mikom


    We got all the pirates in Moyross did we?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 203 ✭✭MHalberstram


    mikom wrote: »
    We got all the pirates in Moyross did we?

    No, they are still rooting out the hordes in Dublin and other areas of the country :rolleyes:


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,080 ✭✭✭✭Micky Dolenz


    Looks like the lads are going to get a chance to put all that training to use.;)


    http://www.independent.ie/national-news/armys-elite-to-take-on-somali-pirates-in-aden-3233271.html


    The Rangers are on active duty in a long list of countries.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,028 ✭✭✭✭SEPT 23 1989


    Do they have to wait to be fired on to open up on these pirates?


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,933 ✭✭✭Logical Fallacy


    Confab wrote: »
    No doubt they'll stop at the first pub on the way. They they'll get lost and claim they were deafened by the sound of complaining, demanding compensation. Then when their boat sinks they'll claim for wetness compensation.

    TL;DR: They won't get anywhere near anything dangerous.

    Or it will be more like Liberia, where they get the job done and no one dies.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,111 ✭✭✭✭ejmaztec


    I understand that some of them don't want to go now, after they discovered it wasn't anything to do with pilates.:(








    :o


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭Mr_Roger_Bongos


    Confab wrote: »
    No doubt they'll stop at the first pub on the way. They they'll get lost and claim they were deafened by the sound of complaining, demanding compensation. Then when their boat sinks they'll claim for wetness compensation.

    TL;DR: They won't get anywhere near anything dangerous.

    I realise this is after hours, but your stereotyping is SO lazy!

    These lads signed up to the army, worked to get into the ranger core and will now use their training (paid for by the tax payer) to protect naval freight and more importantly civilians from piracy.

    They might never encounter pirates, but it'll be because they're positionned in or around frieght and the pirates won't attack vessels under their protection.

    The compensation thing is done and dusted, in some cases there were false claims but you try standing beside an artillery gun with no ear defenders. I'm not even in the army! Nor do i know anyone in it.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,881 ✭✭✭JohnMarston


    Do they have to wait to be fired on to open up on these pirates?

    They're very much acting as an armed escort for humanitarian cargo thats going through the indian ocean. I doubt Somalis will try their luck against highly trained Rangers.
    Its not an assault against Somali pirates, though they will attack if provoked i reckon


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭Uriel.


    http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0918/defence-forces-rangers.html

    They have been asked to help. They are not "about to be mobilised"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,417 ✭✭✭griffdaddy


    How come they don't just arm the biggest / most valuable ships with rocket launchers and a trained soldier or two and blow the **** out of anything that comes near them?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Whatever the piss taking about the other defence forces, I would never doubt the skill or the professionalism of the Rangers. Slagging them just makes yourself look silly because you clearly know nothing about them.

    I wouldn't say these are very high-risk missions. The Somali pirates are largely just exceptionally poor armed gangs in small boats. They'd **** themselves and run at the first sight of any miltary escort.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,689 ✭✭✭Tombi!


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    How come they don't just arm the biggest / most valuable ships with rocket launchers and a trained soldier or two and blow the **** out of anything that comes near them?

    Because generally speaking firing rockets on ships that may or may not be filled with pirates isn't the nicest thing in the world. :pac:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    How come they don't just arm the biggest / most valuable ships with rocket launchers and a trained soldier or two and blow the **** out of anything that comes near them?

    On an oil tanker?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 33,733 ✭✭✭✭Myrddin


    If Ross Kemp couldn't sort them out, nobody can


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,015 ✭✭✭CreepingDeath


    A spokesman said approaches had been made several months ago for a group of Rangers to serve with the EU Naval Force

    So they'll play table tennis on some French/German ship and only get into a small rigid hull inflatable boat after the Navy guys with the serious guns have shot up the pirate boats.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,196 ✭✭✭CardBordWindow



    Even better than the Irish Rangers!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,881 ✭✭✭JohnMarston


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    How come they don't just arm the biggest / most valuable ships with rocket launchers and a trained soldier or two and blow the **** out of anything that comes near them?

    I believe they're starting to cop on and are arming more and more ships as a deterrant against pirates.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 885 ✭✭✭Sappa


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    How come they don't just arm the biggest / most valuable ships with rocket launchers and a trained soldier or two and blow the **** out of anything that comes near them?
    Actually they do,my mate was in th BA for several years and now works security on these boats,they have a two man security crew with fixed machine guns and handheld weapons.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,417 ✭✭✭griffdaddy


    Sappa wrote: »
    Actually they do,my mate was in th BA for several years and now works security on these boats,they have a two man security crew with fixed machine guns and handheld weapons.

    Seems like the best thing to do really. A few pirates full of holes washing up onshore would be a good deterrent. I'm surprised the insurance companies don't insist on it actually.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,689 ✭✭✭Tombi!


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    Seems like the best thing to do really. A few pirates full of holes washing up onshore would be a good deterrent. I'm surprised the insurance companies don't insist on it actually.

    It's not like they do it for fun. They really have feck all of a choice and piracy is one way to make money for them.


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,193 ✭✭✭✭Kerrydude1981


    Ross Kemp did a good series on Sky One about these Somali Pirates,this is part one of it below,well worth watching.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,417 ✭✭✭griffdaddy


    It's not like they do it for fun. They really have feck all of a choice and piracy is one way to make money for them.

    I'm not sure I see your point? Should we just let them do it then?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,363 ✭✭✭✭rossie1977


    Confab wrote: »
    No doubt they'll stop at the first pub on the way. They they'll get lost and claim they were deafened by the sound of complaining, demanding compensation. Then when their boat sinks they'll claim for wetness compensation.

    TL;DR: They won't get anywhere near anything dangerous.

    when you don't have a clue what you are talking about you shouldn't post on the topic, some of these guys have been involved in missions in some of the biggest and most dangerous sh*tholes on the planet http://www.independent.ie/world-news/africa/crack-troops-rescue-hostages-from-gunmen-in-daring-raid-187696.html

    thats wikipedias section on the training involved
    Selection for the ranger wing lasts 3 weeks, plus on success of completion, another 6 months continuation where basic skills such as LRRP, parachuting are taught - which takes place annually, usually in October. Course candidates must be serving members of the Defence Forces, but are not subject to an age limit. The 3 week course is organised into 2 distinct phases. Selection is open to females, although none have passed the initial training course. Any and all serving personnel from the three branches of the Irish military are allowed to enter.

    In the first phase, instructors demonstrate the basic requirements to become a Ranger and candidates must pass a number of initial physical tests - including: water confidence training, assault course training, individual navigation tests as well as a 10 km combat run test. If a candidate fails more than 3 out of the 9 basic tests they are returned to their home unit.A selection course may only be attempted three times by any candidate.

    In the second phase, candidates are taught special forces tactics such as long range reconnaissance patrolling, surveillance, intelligence gathering, search tactics, and ambush organisation. The course culminates in a 45 km group march which must be completed in a set time.

    In all, candidates must complete assessment in the following areas:

    Abseiling - Assesses a student's confidence when working at height.
    Bridge jump - Tests confidence in water.
    River crossing - Evaluates ability to work in a team.
    Claustrophobia - Tests a student's ability to work with their equipment in confined spaces.
    Gym tests - Assesses muscular endurance and strength while performing a set number of exercises.
    10 km run - Tests cardiovascular endurance over a set distance and time.
    Mountain walk - Tests endurance over a set uphill march, while carrying a medium load.
    Hill circuit - Assesses stamina and strength over a set cross-country course, while carrying a light load.
    Forced march "cross-country" - Assesses stamina and strength over a set cross-country course and time while carrying a medium load around 15 kg.
    Forced march "road" - A group test to assess the student's tolerance of pressure over a set course and time, while carrying a medium load, the distance is between 35–40 km.
    Route march - A group test to assess overall stamina, endurance and strength during a forced march over the mountains while carrying a medium load.

    Of the 40 to 80 candidates that start the annual Ranger selection course, only 15% remain at the conclusion. All candidates who successfully complete the Ranger course are presented with the Fianóglach shoulder flash.

    If a student passes selection at this stage, they are sent on a further six-month ranger skills course. This course includes long range reconnaissance and survival training, unarmed combat, counter-terrorism, close protection, advanced driving, combat diving, boat handling, sniping, explosive intervention, advance navigation, and close quarters combat skills, advanced first aid, advanced combat shooting and parachuting. Upon passing this selection course and probationary period they then earn the right to wear the prestigious Green beret Some parts of the combat diving training course are done under the supervision of the Naval Service's Naval Service Diving Section.

    The ARW also has its own purpose built tactical training facility, including "shoot houses", training ranges and various urban settings. The facility is known as "Tac town".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,438 ✭✭✭davetherave


    Just in time for international talk like a pirate day tomorrow...yarr!

    Also, press office says no.
    http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0918/defence-forces-rangers.html


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 794 ✭✭✭bluecode


    It's not like they do it for fun. They really have feck all of a choice and piracy is one way to make money for them.
    Ah well, that's OK fair play to them. I need money too. I think I'll become a pirate.:rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,689 ✭✭✭Tombi!


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    I'm not sure I see your point? Should we just let them do it then?

    No but deciding to just shoot at any boat on the sea just incase they're pirates isn't a good thing.
    bluecode wrote: »
    Ah well, that's OK fair play to them. I need money too. I think I'll become a pirate.:rolleyes:

    And you missed the point completely.
    But have fun being Blackbeard.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    I'm not sure I see your point? Should we just let them do it then?
    The point is that these don't really qualify as your run of the mill scumbags who are doing this because they couldn't be bothered getting a real job.

    In most cases these are people who have nothing but a boat and sailing skills, but their waters have been devastated by a number of things including waste dumping by other countries, oil, and so forth. So they can't make a living from fishing.

    So they've no other means of income and no education and see piracy as the only way of making a living, as well as being a form of retribution for the damage that other countries have done to their waters (they don't give a crap what country any ship is from).

    The fact that piracy has produced very few casualities is evidence of this. If they were your normal scumbag criminals, they'd just board the boat, gun everyone down and throw them over.
    That's not to say that the hostages are treated to breakfast in bed and a happy ending, but they're not typically tortured or otherwise treated very badly by the pirates.

    The know the risks but they do it because they don't really have any other choice. So there's little deterrent in a show of strength without addressing the root cause of the problem.

    Piracy is inherently risky, there's a reason why it had practically disappeared until the Somali pirates emerged; because nobody in their right mind would do it unless they had no other choice.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,750 ✭✭✭iDave


    Cant get image of Eric Cartman taking over the Somali pirates out of my head now


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,417 ✭✭✭griffdaddy


    No but deciding to just shoot at any boat on the sea just incase they're pirates isn't a good thing.

    I'm not talking about opening fire on Stenaline ferries, I'm talking about preemptively shooting at boats that get too close to valuable cargo ships. There could be a rule that once they get within a certain range they are fair game. There could even be a warning shot fired first. (I suspect there probably already is)


  • Registered Users Posts: 813 ✭✭✭working fool


    Rangers v pirates
    Sky sports will have the rights to the away game for sure


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    I'm not talking about opening fire on Stenaline ferries, I'm talking about preemptively shooting at boats that get too close to valuable cargo ships. There could be a rule that once they get within a certain range they are fair game. There could even be a warning shot fired first. (I suspect there probably already is)
    A sure way to kill some innocent fishermen or have your cargo ship RPG'ed by a panicking pirate.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,417 ✭✭✭griffdaddy


    seamus wrote: »
    The point is that these don't really qualify as your run of the mill scumbags who are doing this because they couldn't be bothered getting a real job.

    In most cases these are people who have nothing but a boat and sailing skills, but their waters have been devastated by a number of things including waste dumping by other countries, oil, and so forth. So they can't make a living from fishing.

    So they've no other means of income and no education and see piracy as the only way of making a living, as well as being a form of retribution for the damage that other countries have done to their waters (they don't give a crap what country any ship is from).

    The fact that piracy has produced very few casualities is evidence of this. If they were your normal scumbag criminals, they'd just board the boat, gun everyone down and throw them over.
    That's not to say that the hostages are treated to breakfast in bed and a happy ending, but they're not typically tortured or otherwise treated very badly by the pirates.

    The know the risks but they do it because they don't really have any other choice. So there's little deterrent in a show of strength without addressing the root cause of the problem.

    Piracy is inherently risky, there's a reason why it had practically disappeared until the Somali pirates emerged; because nobody in their right mind would do it unless they had no other choice.

    Although I take your point that they are desolate and are driven to piracy, it in no way mitigates what they are doing, and you can't take a half-arsed, softly-softly approach to something like this. Otherwise you're sending out a message that SOME piracy is ok but other piracy isn't. Whatever about trying to fix Somalia as a country, the open seas is not the place for that to happen, and stealing and kidnapping are the not right ways for that to happen.
    seamus wrote: »
    A sure way to kill some innocent fishermen or have your cargo ship RPG'ed by a panicking pirate.

    Not really, I'm sure a safe enough system could be developed where eventually they'd realise not to come within a certain distance of the ship.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,869 ✭✭✭asherbassad


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    How come they don't just arm the biggest / most valuable ships with rocket launchers and a trained soldier or two and blow the **** out of anything that comes near them?

    I know....why not just nuke Somalia? That seems to be the solution to everything. Nuke Libya after an ambassador gets killed. Nuke Afghanistan. Nuke Yemen. David Cameron slags off Romney...nuke England.

    :rolleyes:


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,869 ✭✭✭asherbassad


    Maybe if they stopped illegally overfishing Somalia waters and illegally dumping toxic waste into these waters that kills of what's left of the fish stocks these former Somali fishermen turned pirate could go back to making a living with their nets rather than their guns.

    But of course that would take rationality.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,417 ✭✭✭griffdaddy


    I know....why not just nuke Somalia? That seems to be the solution to everything. Nuke Libya after an ambassador gets killed. Nuke Afghanistan. Nuke Yemen. David Cameron slags off Romney...nuke England.

    :rolleyes:

    WTF are you talking about? 'Attack someone in open water who is trying to rob all your shít or kidnap you and hold you hostage' is not the same as 'nuke a country.' There's nothing political in my sentiments whatsoever, I'd feel the same if they were Irish pirates.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,190 ✭✭✭✭IvySlayer


    And how much is this going to cost Ireland?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,869 ✭✭✭asherbassad


    griffdaddy wrote: »
    WTF are you talking about? 'Attack someone in open water who is trying to rob all your shít or kidnap you and hold you hostage' is not the same as 'nuke a country.' There's nothing political in my sentiments whatsoever, I'd feel the same if they were Irish pirates.

    Have you even questioned why these guys are pirates?
    There's a reason for everything.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,417 ✭✭✭griffdaddy


    Have you even questioned why these guys are pirates?
    There's a reason for everything.

    Ok, let's stop tackling crime and get to the root of everything.

    Why is a rapist a rapist, a murderer a murderer, a junkie a junkie? Let's just let everyone get away with everything for a while and we'll sort out the root problem of everything. Unfortunately we don't live in a utopia and while I agree the Somalian problem needs to be addressed, I don't think taking a soft approach to piracy is in anyway the answer.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,355 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    Have you even questioned why these guys are pirates?
    There's a reason for everything.

    Cos they live in the worst hellmouth of a Country on God/Q from Star Trek's green / sandy coloured earth and that's how life is.

    Doesn't mean they shouldnt be perforated with .50 cal when they start getting all cheeky.

    Hard to understand how the Indo's story is so detailed and yet so wrong according to the DF. Maybe they performed those exercises in the course of normal Ranger training and somebody speculated on a mission.

    A sea based mission seems a bit odd for them, you'd sorta feel any Navy big enough to deploy ships in the EUFOR would have a decent seaborne special service of their own.

    I dont know whether Navy's still use them but a bunch of WWII e-boat type patrol vessels would be the ideal tool. Probably call them iBoats these days......


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,456 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manic Moran


    I doubt Somalis will try their luck against highly trained Rangers.

    The idiots have been known to attack honest-to-God warships which are painted haze gray and have lots of pointy things sticking out of them.

    http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/01/navy-captures-pirates-gun-battle-indian-ocean/
    Suspected Somali pirates fired on a U.S. Navy warship off East Africa early Thursday in what appeared to be a ransom-seeking attack on an American guided missile frigate, officials said.

    The USS Nicholas returned fire on the pirate skiff, sinking it and confiscating a nearby mothership.

    That's not the only Naval vessel they've tried to attack either, but certainly the most stupid.

    Anyway, if they can't determing a frigate from an oil tanker, I don't think they'll be able to identify a cargo ship with Rangers aboard.

    NTM


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