The act of fighting pirates sounds like a scene out of a movie but for a San Diego-based Navy ship and its crew, it was realty.
According to the U.S. Navy a Panamanian flagged merchant vessel was in international waters in the Gulf of Oman last week when it reported pirates were attempting to board the ship.
USS Bunker Hill, based at Naval Base San Diego, came to the rescue of the vessel in distress.
Dramatic images show the guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill and guided missile destroyer USS Momsen fighting off the pirates.
The small boats were alongside the commercial oil tanker with ladders against its hull when the ships arrived.
Navy officials say Momsen and Bunker Hill coordinated a rescue and assist effort in which the two pirates skiffs were destroyed.
Momsen and Bunker Hill are now deployed supporting security operations in the U.S. 5th fleet area of operations.
