An Australian naval boarding party speeds to board and check vessels heading for oil platforms during operations in the Persian Gulf earlier this year.
Posted on 06/21/2007 6:43:10 PM PDT by naturalman1975
AN Australian navy boarding crew in the Gulf of Persia repelled an Iranian gunboat that threatened them a matter of weeks before 15 British sailors were captured in a similar incident, a BBC reporter says.
The capture of the British crew in March developed into a major diplomatic incident before their release was negotiated.
But BBC reporter Frank Gardner, a security specialist, reported the Australians managed to avoid a similar incident - pointing their guns at the Iranians and used "colourful language" before a gunboat withdrew.
"What I've been told by several sources, military sources, (is that) there was a similar encounter, in this case between the Royal Australian Navy and Iranian gunboats, some months ago, or at least some months prior to the seizing of the British sailors," Gardner said on ABC radio today.
"The Australians escaped capture by climbing back on board the ship they'd just searched. I'm told that they set up their weapons.
"No shots were exchanged but the Iranians backed off and the Australians were able to get helicoptered off that ship and they didn't get captured."
He did not mention the name of the Australian ship.
Australians ships rotate through duties in the Gulf, chiefly searching ships.
"What I'm hearing is that it was a pretty robust attitude by the Australians," Gardner said.
"The words that somebody said to me was that they used pretty colourful language but I'm sure that alone didn't make the Iranians back off.
"They reacted, I'm told, incredibly quickly, whereas the Brits were caught at their most vulnerable moment climbing down off the ship (and) getting into their boats."
Gardner said the British should not be embarrassed about the incident, but the issue was whether military intelligence had been passed on.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
Don’t they look like they are having the time of their lives!
See also:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1854274/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1854262/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1854178/posts
Worked with Ausie SAS a few times in RVN, then took an R&R with them in Sydney.
Very Bad Boys
:)
Way to go, Aussies.
The suits were pretty shabby. I hope these sailors remember the humilation when Iran gets reduced to rubble.
Aussies have a whole ‘nother mind set than the Brits.
yes, knew a few aussies at bien hoa. glad they were on our side. very friendly when they got to know you. saw one of the guys in saigon and walked up to him and slapped him on the back and said hello and thought i was going to die when his mates got up and surrounded me. said he knew the yank and we all got quite pissed after that. the aussies were a real treat.
- response of Australian general to British general (think it was Auchinleck) in North Africa, who had commented that the Diggers never seemed to salute . . .
ping
“and used “colourful language” before a gunboat withdrew.”
I’ll bet they did.
Good for them.....
WAY TO GO GUYS!!!!!
Thank you all.
Great men and women. I met quite a few Aussies in Iraq.
Good to know that someone on our side has balls!
"NOW GO AWAY OR WE SHALL TAUNT YOU A SECOND TIME!"
...glad they were on our side...
They are simply the ONLY ONES who have ALWAYS been on our side.
Peace through Strength!
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