America's North Shore Journal

USS Peleliu and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU) stopped a pirate attack of a civilian merchant vessel Aug. 8 approximately 80 miles north of Somalia while conducting Maritime Security Operations. Under the direction of Combined Task Force 51, Peleliu responded to a call for help from the merchant vessel Gem of Kilakarai at approximately 7 a.m. when the ship reported it was under attack from armed pirates in two small boats with weapons and rifle-launched grenades. Operating approximately 10 miles away from the merchant vessel when the distress call was received, Peleliu altered her course to intercept the suspected pirate vessels and launched three helicopters. The two suspected pirate vessels then fled the scene. Gem of Kilakarai reported one grenade landed on the ship’s bridge wing during the attack, but failed to … Read entire article »