10. Navy SEAL Snipers
After pirates failed to seize his ship, Maersk Alabama captain Richard Phillips gave himself over to the hijackers in order to ensure the safety of his crew.
For days the pirates kept Captain Phillips in a lifeboat as they attempted to negotiate with the U.S. Navy. But eventually the lifeboat ran out of gas and the pirates agreed to let the U.S. Navy attach a tow line from the
USS Bainbridge to the lifeboat.
It was a fatal mistake.
The move allowed three Navy SEAL snipers to take position on the fantail of the
USS Bainbridge - just 75 feet away from the pirates.
Seasick and agitated, the pirates became more aggressive. Commanders on the scene worried that the Captain Phillip's life was inimminent danger and gave the snipers the go ahead: Kill the pirates to save the captain's life.
The seals had to choreograph simultaneous shots to take down the three pirates without killing the captain. The snipers were perched aboard a ship moving in the ocean …their targets werein a bobbing lifeboat and there was only one chance to get it right.
The snipers locked onto the heads of two pirates in the cab window. But they were unsure of the third pirate's position. The third sniper waits for a visual.
Once he gets it, they can all fire. Then, an opportunity: Seasick, the third pirate pokes his head out of the lifeboat window.
The third seal communicates - target acquired. All three snipers take their shots.
