Somalia Pirates

[robpage]

Maybe I live with false memories , but I feel sure that forty years ago when I first was at sea the Grey Funnel Line would have appeared and the pirates had second thoughts and gone home . Was that true , or just a view through rose coloured glasses . I understand from an ex RN guy that even the slightest skirmish requires communication to whitehall and a decision back before action can take place , Didn't the RN Skippers of old have a chance to make their own decisions .

Just a thought !

[robpage]

Thinking about it its time these Scottish politicians , Blair , Brown and the rest went home and ran Scotland , Lets have home rule for England !!!! Jimmy you must be short of a few politicians there , take them back Please !!!!!

[jimmys]

No,no,no,no,no......... a thousand times no,no,no,no...... and a thousand time more!!!!
We have enough problems up here without sending that pair up, and you can keep Darling as well.

Hell slap it into them all for voting Labour. You may like to note I do not vote SNP either. Blair a graduate in law and Brown a graduate in history. What expertise wonderful, wonderful!!!! Lets hope they are legal history. The country is in ruin.

regards
jimmy

[happy daze john in oz]

A U.K. based medical team have established than in many cases some patients thought to be brain dead were in fact still alive. Aparently the equipment normally used only works on brain waves and does not account for body function. The one question I have is could these tests be conducted on politicians with the same results?

[robpage]

No it wouldn't work , anyone who has the vivid imagination shown by UK politicians when claiming expenses must have a very active mind . It is us the electorate that must be brain dead to endure them . They need Charlie Banks , ex Clan Line / Union Castle personnel in St Mary's Axe office , to vet their expenses , he once told me that two suitcases on the tube from St Pancreas station to Commercial Road and Walk to the docks was a far better way for a young man to travcell than using London Taxi's , and DONT claim one again . But back to the Thread , I do not understand why no one reacts . Where is the SAS , is the boat special Boat Squadron on holiday I know the Navy is in Portsmouth to save Fuel . Lets just call this place Britain and drop the Great , before some comedian takes to the European Court for Misrepresentation .

Why can't we get the guys in to Somalia and shoot this scourge !!!!!

[robpage]

It is actually a Democracy Alf , but not to worry , I see reading the Portsmouth News thart the Navy are fighting back
Navy saves hostages after pirates
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A NAVY warship captained by a former Portsmouth officer has secured the release of 15 people from a vessel hijacked by Somali pirates.

Commander Simon Huntington led a three-day pursuit with HMS Chatham before the dhow - named Vishvakalyan - ran out of fuel.
Nato said the pirates, armed with rocket propelled grenades and AK47 rifles, fled in a skiff after leaving the dhow east of the Gulf of Aden.
A Nato spokesman said the Indian crew were unharmed and added the operation, launched on April 6, was overseen by Royal Marine marksmen.
Cdr Huntington, whose last job was at Whale Island in Portsmouth, where he put together Prince William's training package, said: 'We have actively disrupted a group of pirates who had hijacked this dhow, taking the crew hostage, and they were obviously intent on seizing a larger merchant vessel and its crew, for criminal means.'I am extremely pleased that due to the actions of my ship's company, HMS Chatham quickly found and intercepted them, forcing them to abort their mission.'But what is most rewarding for all of us involved in this operation, is that we have secured the release of this dhow and her crew unharmed and without the need for an escalation in violence.'

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Royal Navy guns down pirate shipsPremium Article !Your account has been frozen. Published Date:
20 May 2010
By Clare Semke
This is the stunning moment the navy took out a pirate ship.
A massive cloud of fire and smoke could be seen above the Gulf of Aden as HMS Lancaster struck pirates off Somalia.

The Type-23 frigate entered Somali waters and seized two pirate vessels at anchor near the shore.

They were towed out to sea and destroyed using HMS Lancaster's 30mm gun.

A third 'mothership' was also discovered and had more than 10 tonnes of fuel destroyed using sugar poured into the barrels.

The dramatic image was taken in April as she carried out patrols off the African coast.

She is now due back home in Portsmouth next Thursday.

Commanding officer, commander Rory Bryan said: 'HMS Lancaster has demonstrated during the past few months that the Royal Navy is willing and able to take direct action to disrupt and prevent maritime criminal activity in those areas of the world where safety and security of navigation is threatened.'

HMS Lancaster set off on deployment in mid-October - marking her consecutive Christmas away from home - to work with two multinational naval task forces in the Indian Ocean, Coalition Task Forces 151 and 150.

HMS Lancaster maintained security across the wider region including the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and Indian ocean where the ship boarded several vessels suspected of breaching international laws.

The Red Rose also visited ports including Gibraltar, Souda in Crete, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

HMS Lancaster's homecoming to Portsmouth from its successful seven-month deployment will take place at 10am next Thursday.

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[Les Woodard]

Just as a thought. We know that navy's from most countries hold exercises to keep their skills up. Why not a combined effort from all nations to have one all mighty naval exercise around the Somali coast. It would then be a win win for all concerned not only would the money that governments fork out for these exercises be used for good. It would have a devastating affect on the pirates as well. I am sure they would think twice before trying to attack any of the naval force then.

[happy daze john in oz]

Les mate that will not work for two very good reasons.
Reason 1. A sensible idea and as we know from experience governments do not do sensible.
Reason 2. Some daft basket case will brng up some politicaly correct reason why such an act could be described as an act of aggression.
I know it might sound stupid but the more I hear the polis and PC people talk the more I begin to understand how mad the world has got in recent times.
Back to the fog locker for me.

[robpage]

to be honest , I thought the Royal Navy was doing nothing , so I am pleased to see the above reports that tell me they are there trying to provide some protection to Merchant Ships gong about their lawful business .

[jimmys]

This thread opened in 2008 concerning Mr and Mrs Chandler.
As far as I know they are still in captivity.
There is now a new government in place let us hope they are better than the last inepts. You would have thought a supposed major power could have negotiated or forced the release of its nationals before now.

regards
jimmy