Swedish Navy fights Somali Pirates with Saunas, Massages, Nudity, and Fresh Bread

[TheMightyFavog]

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wirestory?id=10746127&page=1

Drops of sweat trickled down the faces of the pirate hunters on the Swedish warship. They conferred in low voices, finally reaching a consensus: Yes, throw another pitcher of water onto the sauna heater.

Pirate-hunting has come a long way since the Knights of Malta battled the Barbary Corsairs four centuries ago.

Floggings, weevils and scurvy are out. Saunas, fresh bread and massages are in — at least aboard the Swedish warship Carlskrona, the flagship of the European Union's force to hunt down Somali pirates, who have hijacked 23 ships this year.

(snip)

Lt. Cmdr. Carl Sjostrand told of a Swedish captain who invited a U.S. admiral to meet his senior officers after a formal ship's dinner. The American was led down to the sauna in full dress uniform — only to end up shaking hands with a line of sweaty, smiling and naked Swedish sailors.

The article goes on to mention that men and women share the same facilites (saunas, showers, bathrooms, etc.)