WASHINGTON (AFP) – A US warship on Thursday captured five suspected pirates who had opened fire from a small boat in the Indian Ocean near the Seychelles, the US Navy said.

The skiff was no match for the missile-guided frigate USS Nicholas, which returned fire and quickly chased down the boat.

The Americans took three suspects into custody before sinking the vessel, the US Sixth Fleet said in a statement.

Two more suspected pirates were detained from a "mother ship," and that boat was seized, it said.<more>

They didn't think that through.