USS Nicholas frigate captures 5 pirates in Indian Ocean after gun battle
American naval ship the USS Nicholas, a.k.a. FFG-47, captured five suspected pirates Thursday off the coast of the Seychelles after exchanging fire, according to the U.S. Naval Forces Africa.
The Nicholas reported taking fire at 12:27 a.m. local time (8:27pm GMT Wednesday) from a suspected pirate skiff and returned fire before pursuing it and eventually disabling it.
At 1:59 a.m. local time, crew from the Nicholas boarded the skiff, found ammunition and multiple cans of fuel and apprehended three men aboard. Two more suspected pirates were captured on the confiscated mother ship.
The suspected pirates were taken on board the Nicholas and the skiff was sunk. USS Nicholas confiscated the suspected mother ship.
The suspected pirates will remain in custody pending diplomatic decisions.
Pirates have plagued the waters around the Seychelles with increasing regularity in recent years. They are often Somalian and hold crew and vessels for ransom.
Nicholas, an Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate homeported in Norfolk, Va., is currently supporting U.S. Naval Forces Africa. U.S. Naval Forces Africa is the naval component in support of U.S. Africa Command. The ship is named for Major Samuel Nicholas (1744 – August 27, 1790), who was the first officer commissioned in the United States Continental Marines (now the United States Marine Corps) and by tradition is considered to be the first Commandant of the Marine Corps.
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