Monday, March 7, 2024

USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) Has Secret Specialists?

As most of you have heard by now, on Sunday the USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) rescued a ship that was attacked by pirates. This is a result of best practices being implimented by the ships crew and the crew being able to hold out until naval forces responded. Navy public affairs has the story, including something I want to highlight.
Bulkeley, assigned to CMF's counter-piracy mission Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 was directed to intercept Guanabara, supported by the Turkish warship TCG Giresun of NATO's counter-piracy Task Force 508.

Following confirmation from Guanabara's master that the suspected pirates were aboard and his crew had taken refuge in the ship's 'citadel,' Bulkeley's specialist boarding team, supported overhead by its embarked SH-60 helicopter, secured the Bahamian-flagged vessel and detained four men.

There was no exchange of fire at any time during the operation to release the MV Guanabara.
Emphasis mine. What is Bulkeley's "specialist boarding team?" I am not familiar with this new term. Is this Navy Special Warfare Command? SWOs in VBSS? SOF? Marines?

Who are these mysterious pirate fighters of the Indian Ocean? Inquiring minds would like to know.

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