Photo: United States Actions To Counter Piracy Off the Horn of Africa

Bureau of Political-Military Affairs

April 17, 2009

A visit, board, search, and seizure team from the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg patrols the Gulf of Aden near a suspected pirate vessel on April 17, 2009. The Gettysburg is deployed as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, a multinational task force conducting counter-piracy operations to detect and deter piracy in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. CTF 151 was established to create a lawful maritime order and develop security in the maritime environment. [Photo courtesy of Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian K. Fromal, U.S. Navy]