Russia warship heads to Africa after pirate attack (We're chasing too)

MOSCOW (AP) -- A Russian warship on Friday rushed to intercept a Ukrainian vessel carrying 33 battle tanks and a hoard of ammunition that was seized by pirates off the Horn of Africa -- a bold hijacking that again heightened fears about surging piracy and high-seas terrorism.

A U.S. warship is tracking the vessel but there has been no decision about intercepting it, U.S. Defense Department officials said.

''I think we're looking at the full range of options here,'' Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
<snip>
Russian navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo told The Associated Press that the missile frigate Neustrashimy left the Baltic Sea port of Baltiisk a day before the hijacking to cooperate with other unspecified countries in anti-piracy efforts.

But he said the ship was then ordered directly to the Somalia coast after Thursday's attack.

According to the British-based Jane's Information Group, the Neustrashimy is armed with surface-to-air missiles, 100 mm guns and anti-submarine torpedoes.
<snip>
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-EU-Russia-Somalia-Piracy.html

Arrrgh! This could be interesting. I hope the ships in the area know who is doing what!

Are pirate jokes really appropriate? ;)

But I'll be damned if I'm going to sail all the way out there and back.