Action of 18 March 2006

By 2006, the lack of any government-controlled naval authority along the Somali coast was taking its toll. Pirate gangs controlled by local warlords started to capture passing merchant ships in an attempt to gain funding by ransoming the ships and their crews. As the raids became successful, the pirates became bolder. They began seizing UN aid ships, and even attacked a cruise liner attempting to capture it for ransom. The U.S. and Coalition vessels from Combined Task Force 150 began actively pursuing pirate vessels in an attempt to deter the attacks. ==Battle==

On 18 March the destroyer intercepted a suspicious ship, a large diesel-powered skiff towing two small gasoline-powered "attack" skiffs off the Somali coast. USS Gonzalez first noticed the common pirate profile of a diesel boat towing smaller skiffs and, with closing from away, trailed the suspects until dawn. Shortly before sunrise, the two American ships each sent a pair of rigid inflatable boats with specially trained boarding teams to investigate. A spokesman for the Somali pirate militia in Hardhere claimed there were 27 pirates that had gone to sea to act as "coastguardsmen" for the largely lawless state. Cape St. George received minor superficial damage but no US forces were injured. ==Aftermath==

After the action was over, a Dutch fast-combat support ship, HNLMS Amsterdam, provided medical assistance to the wounded, and the two U.S. ships continued on their mission. ==References==