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2010-04-30 Africa Horn

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Posted by 3dc 2010-04-30 13:30|| || Front Page|| [11125 views ] Top

#1 Yesterday at around 13.30 CET the Dutch frigate HNLMS Tromp has rescued the crew of a German freighter from a pirate attack. At 9.45 CET the Tromp received a distress call from MV Taipan. The onboard Lynx was sent to asses the situation and saw the freighter dragging along two of the pirates skiffs. Meanwhile the crew of the frighter had retreated into a safe room on the ship, after disabling the propulsion of the ship -in line with the MSCHOA 'best practises'.

After consultation with the Dutch authorities in the Hague -effectively bypassing EU command- it was decided to free the freighter. While approaching, the frigate's crew detected a mothership on its way to the MV Taipan. When communication with this ship led to no result, the Tromp fired warning shots with its 127mm canon, sending the mothership running.

After the Tromp failed to establish communication with the pirates onboard the MV Taipan the CO of the Tromp, Captain Lodder, gave the order to retake the ship.
At first the pirates fired on the approaching Lynx, but that fire stopped when both the Lynx and the Tromp started firing into the bridge of the Taipan -no equipment has been damaged, so the Taipan can still sail on its own. During this suppression fire, which was aimed at the windows to stop the pirates from seeing what went on, a team of the Unit Interventie Mariniers (Dutch Maritime Special Operations Forces) fast roped onto the ship.

Once onboard they took the pirates without any resistance and all 15 crew members from the Taipan were found unharmed and have given their statements.

Posted by No I am the other Beldar 2010-04-30 14:59|| 2010-04-30 14:59|| Front Page Top

#2 -effectively bypassing EU command- CO of the Tromp, Captain Lodder, gave the order to retake the ship.

Professionals at work. Bravo to the Dutch for the action and also for the political brass ones to bypass the Euro bureaucrats and act.

Posted by No I am the other Beldar 2010-04-30 15:01|| 2010-04-30 15:01|| Front Page Top

#3 Feel good story of the day.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2010-04-30 15:28|| 2010-04-30 15:28|| Front Page Top

#4 This should be interesting.
The Somali pirates are now in Germany awaiting trial.

Posted by tipper 2010-04-30 15:53|| 2010-04-30 15:53|| Front Page Top

#5 Cooooool.

Interesting that the command to "show your hands" was in English.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2010-04-30 16:06|| 2010-04-30 16:06|| Front Page Top

#6 It's so easy to forget the Dutch maritime tradition. For years they were the primary threat to British seapower, not the French or Spanish.

Posted by Lemuel Spoluting9650 2010-04-30 16:13|| 2010-04-30 16:13|| Front Page Top

#7 Professionals at work. Bravo to the Dutch for the action and also for the political brass ones to bypass the Euro bureaucrats and act

In other news:
The Commander of the USS Eisenhower (CVN69) apparently watched an Iranian Navy F27 maritime surveillance jet with 'guarded apprehension' last week after threatened leaks forced the US Navy to admit that the aircraft approached within 1000 yards of the carrier.

Confirming the April 21 incident, said Adm. Gary Roughead, the top Navy officer, "The Iranians were not provocative or threatening. As long as they are professional and not threatening or reckless, it's international space,".

However, reports are that persons in 'military circles' amazed at the passivity of American military forces threatened to leak the story, reported that the Iranian craft was as close as 250 meters and 900 meters altitude.

Additionally, speculation persists that "This striking restraint indicates that the US Gulf and Arabian fleets are under orders to take no action - certainly not to open fire - against Iranian naval or air units, with first obtaining permission directly from Washington.".

Said Adm. Roughead in a Feb. 2008 'media roundtable' interview, when quesitoned about a carrier's 'airspace':
"ADM. ROUGHEAD: We do not specify any ranges around the ships, nor would we want to have specified ranges around the ships as we interact with them. That said, we train our commanding officers and our sailors to be able to take in all aspects of what's going on and then make decisions from that. It's very easy to say, you know, give me a black and white space or a clear line. When we're operating in three-dimensional space, whether it's in the air or below the water or on the water, there are many factors that come into play and take everything --

Q Sir, just a -- excuse me. Given what you know -- you mentioned that you visited Kuwait and Iraq, the Central Command area. Given what you know about Iran activities, how -- what can you tell us about your maritime security operations in the Gulf?

ADM. ROUGHEAD: What I can say about our maritime security operation in the Gulf is that the presence of our forces and coalition forces in the Gulf are enabling and allowing the flow of that very important commerce that takes place -- the energy resources coming out, the goods that are going in. And it's that naval force, the coalition naval force that's there that is guaranteeing that free flow and the safety and security of those very precious commodities. That's what navies do. And the fact that we're operating in concert with our friends in the region and other nations who contribute to that coalition speaks to the essence of our maritime strategy, which is one of cooperation and collaboration."

Methinks we'll see some losses under the so-called leadership of Adm. Roughead...as noted, BRAVO DUTCH!

Posted by logi_cal 2010-04-30 16:33|| 2010-04-30 16:33|| Front Page Top

#8 I doubt Dirk Struan would of let his ship be boarded

Posted by Cheaderhead 2010-04-30 19:37|| 2010-04-30 19:37|| Front Page Top

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