Maritime Raid Force Retakes Hijacked Ship
The Gulf Of Aden - At approximately 5 a.m. local time, Sept. 9, 24 U.S. Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force (MRF) aboard USS Dubuque (LPD 8) operating under Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), boarded and seized control of Antigua-Barbuda-flagged, German-owned vessel MV Magellan Star from pirates who attacked and boarded the vessel early Sept 8.
The TCG Gökçeada, a Turkish frigate responded to a distrall call from the Magellan Star, Sept. 8. 2 US warships, USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Princeton (CG 59) later arrived on the scene to provide support.
At dawn the next morning, the Maritime Raid Force set off from the USS Dubuque in Rigid Hull Inflatable boats. USMC AH-1 helicopters provided cover for the operation. The MRF boarded the vessel and retook ship. The pirates surrendered and the crew were released without a shot fired.
The core component of the Maritime Raid Force is the MEU's Force Reconnaissance Platoon. MRF Marines train in ship boarding techniques including hook and climb methods and fast-rope / rapelling down from helicopters. These techniques, as used in standard vessel board, search and seizure (VBSS) have been tailored to counter-piracy operations.
Photos : US Marines Retake Hijacked Ship
