More good Libya NFZ gouge from our new favorite AFA cadet Patrick Casey via the "Tell DT" link. (Use it early and often, folks.)
The Information Dissemination blog reports the following:
A U.S. Navy P-3C Maritime Patrol aircraft, a U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft and guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG-52) engaged Libyan Coast Guard vessel Vittoria and two smaller crafts after confirmed reports that Vittoria and accompanying craft were firing indiscriminately at merchant vessels in the port of Misrata, Libya, during the evening March 28, 2011.
The P-3C fired at Vittoria with AGM-65F Maverick missiles after multiple explosions were observed in the vicinity of the port rendering the 12-meter patrol vessel ineffective and forcing it to be beached.
Two small crafts were fired upon by an A-10 using its 30mm GAU-8/ Avenger gatling cannon, destroying one and forcing the other to be abandoned.
Barry provided situational awareness for the aircraft by managing the airspace and maintaining the maritime picture.
So along with being a no-fly and no-drive-your-armored-vehicle zone, Libya is also a no-sail-your-combatant zone. Not judging; just wanna keep track of the picture as it develops.
Oh, and Military.com is reporting that the rebels are now losing Misurata, but that's probably okay because Adm. Stavaridis (EUCOM) has indicated that some of the rebels have ties to al Qaeda. (Are you getting all of this?)
-- Ward
