INS TALWAR
Posted on 11/19/2008 12:03:56 PM PST by libh8er
NEW DELHI: In dramatic action on the high seas, an Indian warship with its armed helicopter and elite marine commandos repulsed in quick succession attempts made by different bands of gun-toting pirates to hijack a Saudi and a Mumbai-based merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia on Tuesday morning.
INS Tabar, a Talwar-class guided-missile stealth frigate, was cruising in the Gulf of Aden at about 10 am when it got a frantic distress call from Saudi Arabian chemical and oil carrier NCC Tihama.
Tihamas call said two to three high-speed boats, with several armed men, were trying to hijack the ship which was headed westwards. An armed Chetak helicopter, with four marine commandos, was immediately launched from INS Tabar, said a senior Navy officer.
Even as the Chetak hovered over Tihama, the marine commandos opened fire with their automatic weapons at the pirates trying to board the Saudi tankship after surrounding it. Deterred by the fire, the pirates promptly turned tail and fled in their speedboats into Somali waters.
It was around this time10.30 am or sowhen the Chetak was still in the air, that INS Tabar received another SOS call. This time, the message was that Indian merchant vessel Jag Arnav — which is owned by the Mumbai-based Great Eastern Company and was eastward bound after transiting through the Suez Canal a few days earlier — was being ambushed by another band of pirates in two boats about 60 nautical miles east of Aden.
The Chetak was then diverted towards Jag Arnavs position, about 25 nautical miles away from INS Tabars location, with instructions to Tihama to follow the Indian frigate for safety.
There was no need to fire even warning shots this time. Seeing the helicopter approach Jag Arnav, which had a 25-member crew, the pirates promptly jettisoned their hijack plans and sped away, said the officer.
INS Tabar then escorted the 38,265-tonne Jag Arnav — which was carrying a consignment of barley from Odessa (Russia) to Jubail (Saudi Arabia) — to safety. Many of the crew members on board Jag Arnav are from Mumbai.
When the master noticed a couple of boats following the ship, he sent an SMS to INS Tabar, which immediately swung into the rescue act, said Anjali Kumar, corporate communications chief of Great Eastern.
Lauding the near-simultaneous operations carried out by his force, Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said, Piracy is a crime which all men of war are required to combat at all times.
Indian naval ships operating in piracy-infested areas are always in a high state of alert and have the capability to intervene by air and ship-borne weapons. Their mandate is to ensure that the safety of our sovereign assets is maintained, he added.
Indian warships, as reported earlier by TOI, have been patrolling the Gulf of Aden since last month to protect Indian merchant vessels transiting through this vital trade route and strategic choke-point from pirates.
The decision to deploy warships in the region was taken by the government after Somali pirates hijacked Japanese-owned Stolt Valor on September 15. The fate of the 18 Indians on board Stolt Valor, however, still hangs in the balance, with the pirates demanding a ransom upwards of $2.5 million to free them.
Operating mainly from the Somali ports of Eyl and Hobyo, pirates have created havoc for international shipping, having attacked 83 ships since January andhijacking 33 of them.
Despite increased cooperation among different navies, with even taskforces from the US and the European Union operating in the region, the pirates have continued their attacks with impunity. In the latest incident, a Philippines chemical tanker was seized near Somalia on Monday.
India, too, is contributing its might to deter piracy by patrolling the normal route followed by Indian flagships during passage from Salalah (Oman) to Aden (Yemen) as well as by coordinating with other foreign navies. The problem, however, is that while Indian warships can patrol the Gulf of Aden, they cannot enter the territorial waters of Somalia, where the 18 Indians are being held hostage, since it would contravene UN Security Council resolution 1816 as well as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The UNSC resolution 1816, adopted on June 2, authorises only states cooperating with Somalias transitional government to enter its territorial waters—for a period of six months—to repress acts of piracy and armed robbery by all necessary means. India, at present, has no such agreement with Somalia.
The Gulf of Aden provides access to the Suez Canal through which a sizeable portion of Indias trade flows. Effective measures to counter piracy have become crucial since as much as 90% by volume and 77% by value of Indias foreign trade transits the seas, said an officer.
INS TALWAR
They need to switch weapons if pirates are surviving to flee. I'd suggest at least one hellfire or other guided missile into each speedboat and as many as needed into the mother ship, although napalm is nice too. We shouldn't give pirates a "do over".
Here’s what I don’t understand...
You have oil freighters with billions of dollars of oil on them (esentially a floating bank) and they can be taken over by a dozen guys in tiny boats who come along side, climb up a ladder, and point guns at the crew. Can’t the Saudis afford security guards with rocket launchers to take out any rubber raft getting close to their ships? My local bank has better security and a lot less money!
Doesn't that say it all.
I bet the Somalis are being paid by the Saudi’s insurance company to drive up rates...
http://www.dailygut.com/
TUESDAY’S GREGALOGUE: PIRATES
So each new day brings word of another ship taken hostage by pirates. Today, it`s a Saudi supertanker with over 100 million bucks in oil – a prize that`s pushed global oil prices up by a buck.
Now I hear they`ve also grabbed a Danish ship – an attack that`s also driven up the price of Lars Ulrich.
So far, over 70 ships have been hijacked in 2008 – which begs the question: why is there so much pirating lately?
I`ll tell you why: it works. Many ship owners prefer dealing one on one with pirates, forking out millions – making pirating a far safer financial risk than knocking off a 7-11 or dating Star Jones.
But there`s another reason why pirates are bigger than ever.
Johnny Depp.
With his gorgeous haircut, his sinewy muscles and his ample mascara, he`s made pirating into a glorious occupation – one filled with heart-stopping action, delightful romance and wondrous cosmetics. He`s made pirating palatable – even sexually arousing – so much so that I`ve bought a parrot, replaced my left limb below the knee with a table leg, and returned to wearing see-through genie pants around the house.
Predictably - Mr. Depp has been silent on this issue. And so has Disney, which also perpetuates the charm of pirating through their insidious “thrill” ride, which - after the initial 15 foot drop - is hardly thrilling at all. It`s more like a conveyor belt snaking through a museum of drunken uncles. You know - the ones that touched you after three drinks.
The fact is, we live in a society that finds evil far more interesting than those who fight it– with the killer being cool, the Christian always the punch line. So, as this chaos continues offshore, and oil prices shoot up – remember who to thank: it`s that little fella from 21 Jump Street – the man who broke Winona`s heart and made eyeliner for men cool again: Mr. Depp.
Next time you see him, yank off a nipple ring for me.
And if you disagree with me, then you sir are worse than Hitler.
The problem, however, is that while Indian warships can patrol the Gulf of Aden, they cannot enter the territorial waters of Somalia, where the 18 Indians are being held hostage, since it would contravene UN Security Council resolution 1816 as well as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).I'm not sure who is more stupid here. The Indians worried about breaking a UN law that obviously protects the taking of hostages or the UN for enforcing such a law when that law, among others, has obviously been broken by the hostage takers.
Hellfires are too expensive to use on the “speed boats.” They’re rubber dingies with outboards (like zodiacs...). Just sink the mother ship, hose down the speed boats and let the sharks have a nice meal...
That is really GREAT asset management! That captain was on the ball!
>>>>>Can’t the Saudis afford security guards with rocket launchers to take out any rubber raft getting close to their ships? <<<<<<<
Six Blackwater operators at $1,000 per day for 20 days = $120,000.
Surely that’s affordable insurance for a $250 million cargo?
I for one won’t monday morning quarterback the Indian navy. At least *they fired* the weapons they carried. Our navy only issues press releases, and aggressively follows them. (presumably giving them los of stern looks)
But we beat the british,, they give asylum and welfare to captured pirates and let iranians capture their boarding parties withing sight of a british “warship”.
I believe you nailed it.
Could be the Indians don’t want their people being held hostage executed, so they are showing some restraint.
Should have shot them anway. As a warning to others.
I agree,, Col. Jeff Cooper a few years ago said a few Browning .30 and .50 cal machine guns mounted in standard deck mounts shouls easily be able to repel boarders.
Imagine manning a gun on a large relatively stable ship, vs pitching motorboats?? The boats are generally doomed.
This is very close to the maxim that ships should try to avoid duels with land-based fixed guns at all costs.
That tanker deck is waaaay more stable than a motor whaleboat.
The cost of a small security squad should be reasonable compared to losing a ship and cargo.
I think a few fifty caliber rounds to sink the boat with a few interspersed rounds that dispense blood into the water would finish the job. Think cheap!
The Indians did recently sink one “mothership”. Why is it called a mothership, when these theiving Muzzies are so anti-woman?
Does mounted weapons change the classification of a ship from a Merchant Ship to a War Ship?
What is the deal with the Merchant Marines? What are they and how do the work?
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