WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two U.S. Navy ships returned fire on Saturday on a group of suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia, killing one and wounding five, Navy officials said.
The incident occurred in the Indian Ocean about 25 miles
off the coast of Somalia as the USS Cape St. George, a guided missile cruiser, and the USS Gonzalez, a guided missile destroyer, conducted maritime security operations.
A vessel was seen towing two smaller skiffs, the officials said. As boarding teams prepared to conduct a routine boarding, the Navy ships noticed the suspected pirates brandished what appeared to be rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
The suspected pirates then opened fire on the Navy ships. The two ships returned fire with small arms, the officials said.
One suspected pirate was killed and a fire ignited aboard the main vessel. The boarding teams took 12 other suspects, including the five who were injured, into custody, they said.
The boarding teams also confiscated a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and automatic weapons, the officials said.
No U.S. sailors were wounded in the incident.
Somalia's waters have become among the most dangerous in the world since warlords ousted military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Typically, armed pirates use speedboats to attack and board ships, including oil tankers.
