- Defence Policy
- Equipment and Support
- Modernising Defence
- Aviation
- Marine
- Land Vehicles
- Security
- HR and Training
- Defence Estates
News updates
Email
Print
Digg
reddit
StumbleUpon
Facebook
DeliciousHMS Chatham destroys pirate boats
Wednesday, May 19, 2010Royal Marines aboard HMS Chatham have destroyed two boats belonging to Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
The Type 22 frigate's Lynx helicopter spotted a larger vessel towing two attack boats 150 miles off the coast of Tanzania on Friday 14 May.
Currently deployed as NATO's counter-piracy flagship, HMS Chatham launched a dawn raid on the boats involving the ship's Lynx helicopter and detachment of Royal Marines.
The suspected pirates were forced to surrender, and the Marines found ten Somalis and a large amount of fuel on board the larger craft. The Somalis had been seen throwing weapons and equipment into the sea before the raid.
The two smaller attack boats, which were said to contain a considerable amount of fuel, were destroyed, and the Somalis were left with the larger craft and enough fuel to return to Somalia.
Commander Simon Huntington, the Commanding Officer of HMS Chatham, said: "I am extremely pleased that we have again successfully disrupted a suspected pirate attack group operating in the Somali Basin and prevented them from mounting attacks against merchant shipping. This clearly demonstrates NATO's determination and commitment to continue the fight against piracy in the region."
HAVE YOUR SAY
well done to hms chatham keep up the good work my daughter is a writer on board the ship.
mrs maria roberts - uk
I prefer the Russian approach to 'releasing' pirates.
UK - Laskovar
Revised rules of engagement, a more proactive Northwood or no political interference. I wonder which? However, its good that the RN is back on track!! Well done.
Norman - UK
Good result.
The pirates though should be executed on sight, as use to be done in days gone by. You don't need RPG's and AK47's for fishing! Now we disarm them, sink their boat and return them to land to restart the vicious cycle.
The RN led the anti-piracy efforts in the past, if only the politicians let the military do their jobs properly this latest scourge would have been dealt with quicker.
Shaun - Ex-RNZN
Well done HMS Chatham and thanks for showing us around the ship the day before the action in Dar es Salaam
Alice
Well done HMS CHATTHAM. a lot of people don,t get to hear about the work you,re doing. My son is a member of the ships crew, and I am very proud of him, and all his shipmates.
Barbara Cherry