british special forces
2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007
british special forces » news » royal marines capture pirate mothership
▼ share this page

Royal Marines Capture Pirate Mothership

21.10.2011

The latest in a series of counter-piracy operations by the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary has taken place off the coast of Somalia. In this most recent incident, a suspected pirate mothership - a hijacked fishing dhow thought to be the launching pad for last week's hijacking of the Italian ship, MV Montecristo - has been raided by Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel.

On this occasion, on October 14th, forces from HMS Somerset, a Type 23 Frigate and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, RFA Fort Victoria, intercepted a fishing dhow which had been taken over by Somali-based pirates for use as a 'mothership' to launch smaller boats in attacks on merchant shipping in the region.

It is reported that the pirate vessel was located by the Merlin helicopter based on HMS Somerset before being approached by both HMS Somerset and RFA Fort Victoria. The helicopter fired several rounds from its .50 caliber HMG door gun across the pirate ship's bow before a Royal Navy / Royal Marines boarding party from RFA Fort Victoria approached and boarded it. No resistance was offered by the suspected pirates aboard the dhow. 4 suspected pirates were arrested and later handed over to Italian authorities. The dhow's crew, who had been kept as hostages, were allowed to go on their way.

This is the third such action by British maritime forces this month, following on from the recent storming of a hijacked Italian merchant vessel and another operation against a pirate mothership.

Merlin - HMG fire at pirate ship
HMS Somerset's Merlin fires a spread of .50 HMG rounds across the bow of the pirate vessel during the operation to intercept and board it. During such actions, a Royal Marines Commando door gunner and marksman with the Maritime Sniper Team (MST) will be aboard the Merlin in order to provide overwatch as the boarding party goes about its work. In many cases, the arrival of a helicopter above a pirate ship is enough to cause the pirate crew to throw their weapons overboard and surrender.
Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Dave Jenkins, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011


FPGRM - pirate ship
RFA Victoria' s Royal Marines / Royal Navy boarding team secure the pirate dhow. The Royal Marines were specialists from the Fleet Protection Group who are experts at compliant and non-compliant ship boarding operations.
Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Dave Jenkins, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011

more info, further reading:

« news index

advertisements
 CONNECT
facebook facebook youtube
 NEW PHOTOS
RM Green Team
Green Team
Royal Marines Boarding Team
view: RM Green Team
42 Commando Vikings
SFSG Marksman
SFSG soldier armed with HK417 rifle
view: SFSG Marksman
SRT
539 ASRM SRT
Squadron Reconnaissance Team (SRT)
view: 539 ASRM SRT
 UKSF HEADLINES


advertisements


Share this page:


not endorsed by or affiliated with the ministry of defence | all information is non-classified & sourced from public domain |

all images are for educational purposes and sourced from the public domain where possible - image policy | privacy policy