1 destroyer 1 cruiser 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2017 The action of 18 March 2006 occurred when two United States naval vessels were attacked by pirates.

[7] Shortly before sunrise, the two American ships each sent a pair of rigid inflatable boats with specially trained boarding teams to investigate.

The pirates chased the boarding team, then opened fire upon the Navy ships with rocket-propelled grenades and other small arms.

[7] Too close for major weapon systems, the two American ships returned fire with small caliber guns.

[5][6] The U.S. government chose not to prosecute the captured men for piracy and repatriated them over a period of several months, some requiring advanced medical care aboard U.S. and Coalition warships due to the injuries they received during the action.