The Latest Evolution Of Pirate Tactics

When thinking about NATO and Somali piracy it is important to keep in mind, the ends of strategy at this time is not to fight piracy, rather it is simply to deter piracy. This would be an interesting after action report, one that would probably drive the hawks of piracy batshit.

The Italian warship, Luigi Durand de la Penne, also used its helicopter against the pirates, dispersing their attack, a NATO official said.

"This is probably the biggest multiple, coordinated attack we've seen," the official said, adding that more than 12 pirate boats were involved, perhaps as many as 20.

"There were so many of them, that it was more important to protect the motor vessels than to go after these dispersing boats," the official said, on the sidelines of talks between NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.

"These attacks are more and more brazen," he said, adding: "The bottom line is: this is a busy part of the world."

The vessels under threat were the Hambourg Star, flagged out of Liberia, the Hong Kong registered Overseas Hercules, Iranian flagged Iran Esteghlal, the Sea Queen from Singapore, and the Alexander Sibum flagged in Antigua and Barbuda.

Final score, no hostages taken and no pirates were hurt. In the world of the current NATO anti-piracy campaign, that is total victory. Yes, I agree the evolution of tactics is interesting, but even if pirates swarm with 200 ships and capture 15 ships in a convoy, the problem remains primarily political, not Navy centric.

It will be interesting to see if we can finally get a political reaction when the pirates decide to take on a warship. Given the steady tactical evolution, that action will probably come soon.