USS Farragut (DDG-99) - Engagements

Engagements

On 21 February 2010, a SH-60B Seahawk helicopter from Farragut disrupted two attempts by Somali pirates to attack the Tanzanian vessel MV Barakaale 1. The helicopter then stopped the pirate skiff as it attempted to speed away, by firing warning shots across its bow. A Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team from Farragut boarded the vessel and the eight suspected pirates were taken aboard Farragut.

For the majority of her 2010 deployment the CENTCOM AOR, Farragut served as flagship of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), on an anti-piracy mission. On 1 April 2010, three suspected pirate boats fired on a Sierra Leone flagged tanker, MV Evita, north-west of the Seychelles. The Evita was fired on, but managed to escape, in part by crew firing flares at their attackers. They reported the attack to CTF-151, and Farragut responded. After boarding the pirate skiffs, and moving the pirates to the smaller, less capable skiffs, Farragut destroyed the pirate "mother" skiff.

Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported that the U.S. Navy has now confirmed that the guided missile destroyer USS Farragut emitted radiation from its radar that injured crew members on board the Norwegian Coast Guard vessel KV Nordkapp while both were taking part in exercises in the Arctic in August. "The American authorities have confirmed to us that they are responsible for what happened," Arne Morten Grønningseter of the Norwegian military's operational headquarters in Bodø, northern Norway, told NRK.

According to Scandinavian media reports, the radiation that hit the Norwegian vessel knocked out its instruments and several of the crew members felt their skin become warm from radiation. Coast Guard chief Lars Saunes told NRK at the time that "we sent medical personnel on board the KV Nordkapp, to examine the health of the crew. Several complained of headache and other symptoms after they were exposed to radiation from an American vessel."

The Nordkapp returned to Tromsø from the exercises off Finnmark, known as "Northern Eagle," and some crew members were later admitted to hospital. A report from a committee investigating the incident has now concluded that the crew was exposed to electromagnetic radiation by radar operating in the frequency band 3-4 GHZ. Initially, the U.S. Navy had said that the Farragut was equipped with a radar system that shuts itself down when other vessels are nearby.

However the Navy launched an investigation into the incident. "I'm quite sure they wanted to write a thorough report of the incident and therefore haven't come out with their information before now," Mr. Grønningseter told NRK. "The information now revealed is in line with our observations." Source : MarineLog

Reprinted from issue 294 of DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2012 published by http://www.maasmondmaritime.com/