A fishing vessel set adrift by the tsunami in Japan has sunk in the Gulf of Alaska after a cutter fired at it, the Coast Guard said.
Petty Officer David Moseley told MSNBC.com that the vessel caught fire and took on water after the Coast Guard cutter Anacapa fired its 25mm cannon at the derelict ship on Thursday, aiming to sink what it called a threat to shipping.
The ship sank to the bottom of the ocean after it was pummeled at by high-explosive ammunition. Explosives were fired at the stricken vessel in a “slow and deliberate” manner to ensure accuracy, Coast Guard public affairs officer Veronica Colbath said.
Click here for the full report with video of the bombardment.
