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NAVY NEWS, MAY 2009 5
● The Band of HM Royal Marines perform
during ceremonies marking the handover
of command in Basra and (left) a balloon –
RFA saves the day
and a smile – for dad. Delight for one Royal
and his daughters as 3 Commando Brigade
return to Exeter airport
TANKER RFA Wave Knight was at the heart of an anti-piracy
Pictures: LA(Phot) Caroline Davies, FRPU East,
operation which freed 13 hostages and thwarted a second attack in the
and Cpl Adrian Harlen
Gulf of Aden – on the same day.
The fleet tanker is providing fuel and support to Allied vessels east
of Suez, but she carries an armed boarding party – a party called into
action around breakfast time on April 18.
The auxiliary picked up a mayday from tanker MV Handytankers
Magic, under attack from Somali brigands.
The pirates broke off their attack when the 31,000-ton RFA
appeared on the scene and fled in their skiff – which was followed by
the Brits.
That led Wave Knight to a dhow, the pirates’ ‘mother ship’, where 13
Yemeni fishermen had been held hostage for almost a week.
Under the guns of the RN boarding party and RFA’s own weapons
team and Dutch frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provincien, the pirates
released their hostages, who have been returned to Yemen.
As the seven suspected pirates were not actually captured in the act
of piracy, they were released – but their weapons were destroyed.
Barely had Wave Knight submitted her reports following the rescue
mission than another distress signal came in, this time from the MV
Front Ardennes.
The merchantman reported she was under attack from a skiff – an
attack still under way when the RFA arrived on the scene.
Wave Knight was forced to fire several warning shots before the
pirates broke off their attack and fled.
The tanker gave chase again, aided by helicopters from the USS
Halyburton and HMCS Winnipeg. A team from the latter ship
eventually boarded the skiff and disarmed the pirates.
“This is a clear demonstration of how cooperation between more
than a dozen international naval forces can successfully disrupt piracy,”
said Cdre Tim Lowe RN, Deputy Commander of Combined Maritime
Forces in Bahrain – the central command which directs security
operations by two dozen navies in the region.
“In one 72-hour spell, the coordinated efforts of six different nations
resulted in the release of 49 innocent mariners held hostage by armed
pirates.”
● Seven pirates and 13 hostages on a dhow traced by RFA Wave
Knight; the hostages were freed
xtraordinary results’
‘THE GREEN SHOOTS OF RECOVERY ARE
OBVIOUS EVERYWHERE...’
THE first act in Britain’s handover of
the Iraqis to defeat the militia.
power in Iraq was a formal, military
“By October and November, we could see a big
affair.
difference. Ramadan and Eid were celebrated – the
people of Basra had not experienced such freedom
Less-well-publicised, but far more human, was
for 30 years.
an event 24 hours later on the lush lawns of Whale
Island in Portsmouth
“We have built a foundation for Basra and
A swoop in by three Sea Kings, a quick daisy chain
its children to look to a much more stable
to remove all the kit, and then the men and women
future.
who transferred that power could finally be back in
“The green shoots of recovery are obvious
the arms of loved ones again.
everywhere – but there is a lot of hard work to do.”
Since last summer the sailors and marines, headed
Maj Richard Mears, one of the general’s staff
by Maj Gen Andy Salmon RM, had been in charge
officers, added: “It was noticeable that the security
of British forces in southern Iraq.
situation improved and people had a more positive
Their eight months at the helm saw the situation
attitude.
in Basra substantially improve. The people of that city
“The Iraqi forces are taking responsibility and
can now, says the general, look forward to “a more
showing they can do the job.”
stable future”.
Among those Iraqi forces are the Basra-based
The staff’s return was the first step in the withdrawal
14th Infantry Division who have received substantial
of British forces in Basra throughout the
training and guidance from British troops.
spring.
Their commanding general, Major
By the end of July, the 4,000-plus sailors,
General Mohammed Huweidi –
soldiers and airmen currently deployed in
Commander of Basra – invited many of
the country will have fallen to around 300.
those responsible for the transition over
Until the last day of March, those 4,000-
the past six yth ears to a feast alongside the
plus Britons were led by Maj Gen Salmon
Shatt Al Arab, Basra’s artery to the Gulf.
and the staff of the Commander UK
“I would like to thank the British nation,
Amphibious Force, normally based on
through General Andy, for helping rid us
Whale Island in Portsmouth.
of a dictator,” the Iraqi commander told
In the staff’s eyes, there is no doubt
the 250 guests.
that their mission has been worthwhile.
“The Iraqi Army – and people – will
“Being the ‘last shift’ out there, we
remember the sacrifices of the British for
can look at the balance sheet and say ‘yes, we
many years to come.”
have achieved something’,” said Maj Rembrant
With the general and his staff back in the UK, the
Posthumus, a Dutch Marine on exchange with Gen
principal RN presence left will be the training team
Salmon’s staff.
working with the Iraqi Navy and Marines in Umm
“During my time there, around US $50m was
Qasr, and sailors looking after the Phalanx guns
spent on essential services – schools, electricity,
defending Basra airbase.
water.
For those men and women, and those who have
“This is what the Iraqis want: they want electricity
gone before them, there were words of praise from
24 hours a day, clean water, sewage systems which General David Petraeus – the senior US officer in
work.” Iraq between January 2007 and September 2008
Maj Posthumus said key to any success in Iraq was and a man generally regarded as the most respected
ensuring the Iraqis themselves took charge of their military fi gure in the world.
own destiny – and decided how reconstruction and In a letter to all three Services, the general writes:
rebuilding of their country took place. “On behalf of the American service members who
“Being military men we want to go in there and have served proudly alongside you in Iraq, I would
sort things out. But you cannot do that. You have like to thank you for your hard work and sacrifi ce over
to see things through Iraqi eyes – otherwise you are the last six years.
pumping money into things which the Iraqis don’t “You and your comrades in arms have helped
want. produce important achievements,
“Let’s not forget that many of the changes have “Your expert assistance has been instrumental in
been made by the Iraqis – you could see the steady building and professionalising the new Iraqi Navy and
rise in the ability of their forces. Marines.
Registered Charity number 1120920
“But the British forces also made a huge difference. He continues: “Our shared experiences in Iraq
They did a good job.” have brought our militaries even closer than they
Maj Gen Salmon – known to Iraqis as ‘General were before the operation in Iraq was launched.
Andy’ – told Navy News that the situation in Iraq’s “As we look together beyond Iraq, your American
second city had improved substantially during his comrades are heartened that we will continue to serve
staff’s tenure of command. together in Afghanistan. Thanks to each of you for Charity No. 226446 Charity No. 1117794
“Last summer, security was not guaranteed, but your commitment, your sacrifi ce, and your skill.
for a few months we worked hard hand-in-hand with “Congratulations on a job well done!”
004-005_NN_May.indd 2 22/4/09 19:23:23
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