Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wordpress-seo domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/historicalrfa/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114
Royal Marine team from RFA Fort Victoria boards and destroys pirate ship - Historical RFA

Welcome to the Historical RFA

Supported by the RFA Association

Historical RFA

RFA Honour

RFA History

RFA Ships

Royal Marine team from RFA Fort Victoria boards and destroys pirate ship

Return

Fort_Victoria_4_Jul_05RFA Fort Victoria deployed as part of an international naval task force operating in the Somali Basin, has located, boarded, and destroyed a pirate vessel found to be carrying assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.

 

 

RFA Fort Victoria deployed as part of an international naval task force operating in the Somali Basin, has located, boarded, and destroyed a pirate vessel found to be carrying assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.

 

Fort_Victoria_4_Jul_05

 

RFA Fort Victoria, under the command of Captain Rob Dorey RFA, and part of Task Group 151.2, was conducting routine counter-piracy operations off the Somali coast with its embarked 820 Squadron Merlin helicopter when a whaler with a skiff in tow was spotted at anchor.

When the helicopter approached the whaler, four of the nine persons onboard tried to hide, leaving the remaining five in view. This and the fact that there were 12 barrels of fuel onboard and the whaler was towing a skiff aroused suspicion that these could be a group of pirates

Permission was granted by Rear Admiral Sinan Ertugral, Turkish Navy, the Coalition Task Force Commander, to close the whaler and board. Royal Marines from the Fleet Protection Group, who provide the boarding teams for the current counter-piracy surge (Operation CAPRI), took to their boats and, with the helicopter and Royal Marine snipers in support, approached the whaler.

The whaler attempted to make a break for shore when they saw the approaching boats but, being no match for the high-powered rigid inflatable boats and armoured offshore raiding craft was surrounded within seconds.

Once aboard the suspected pirate whaler, a search revealed six AK47 assault rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher with four warheads and six RPG booster charges. Also found were two hand-held global positioning systems, three makeshift ladder sections and four mobile phones.

The decision was made to destroy the whaler and permanently disable the brand new outboard motor on the skiff. The nine suspected pirates were transferred to the skiff and dispatched towards the shore with oars.

The whaler and other pirate equipment were rigged with explosives and lit up the night sky in a loud explosion as a Royal Marine NCO blew the pirate boat to smithereens, witnessed by RFA Fort Victoria ship’s company.