Russian and U.S. navies fights pirates in the Gulf of Aden

13.02.2009
The Russian and U.S. navies joined forces today in the Gulf of Aden in an extraordinary display of counter-piracy cooperation and high-seas diplomacy. The Russian destroyer Admiral Vinogradov and the U.S.-guided missile cruiser Vella Gulf launched a coordinated military response to a distress call from a Panamanian cargo ship, which reported it was about to be attacked by pirates.

The U.S.-guided missile cruiser Vella Gulf was on pirate patrol in the northern gulf when it first encountered the Admiral Vinogradov.

The Admiral Vinogradov was providing armed escort for four civilian cargo ships through the notorious "Pirate Alley." As the commander of the American task force, Rear Admiral Terry McKnight engaged in a "bridge-to-bridge" radio exchange of information and courtesies with the captain of the Russian warship, the crew on the Vella Gulf suddenly launched into action when the Panamanian ship called for help. Within minutes, captain Mark Genung, Vella Gulf's commanding officer called back to the Russians and asked for helicopter support to counter what sounded like a pirate attack.

"The Russians responded immediately," said Mark Genung. From the Admiral Vinogradov a Helix combat helicopter was immediately launched. For about an hour, the two former cold war adversaries closely coordinated their every move on the water and in the air.

In the end, both the Russians and Americans ascertained that the small boat the Panamanians thought was manned by pirates was no threat. As the heavily armed Russian helicopter did a close "fly-around" of the Vella Gulf on its way back to the Admiral Vinogradov, both the Americans and Russians waved.

"This is extraordinary," said Mark Genung. "In my 27 years in the Navy, including serious tensions between the two [U.S. and Russian navies], I’ve never seen anything like it."

U.S. Admiral McKnight and the crew of the Vella Cruz will host the commanders of the Admiral Vinogradov for lunch tomorrow.

The Admiral Vinogradov is currently escorting a convoy of four civilian cargo ships through the Gulf of Aden. This is the fifth convoy since January during the escort of which the Russian ship had to engage in actions to ensure safe seafaring in the Horn of Africa.