Pirate resurgence - wolf packs?

A Turkish ship came under fire from pirates an incredible 1,150 miles from the coast of east Africa. That represents a significant expansion of the zone of attack and an increase in the sophistication of pirate attacks.

To launch an attack so far from a home base, pirates not only need boats that are more seaworthy but also a more sophisticated supply system. Attacks boats can't make it that far out without food, water, and fuel so mother ships that supply them are moving farther out as well.

We should take a look at how the Germans managed their U-boat attacks during WWI and WWII. Wolf packs trawled the Atlantic supplied by "milk cows", massive u-boats that provided fuel to U-boats and allowed them to stay out at sea for much longer.

We may be seeing this kind of evolution off Somalia. And if we are, this will make the situation much more complicated for both shippers and the various navies that are plying the waters off east Africa.