NAVY NEWS, MAY 2010

21

Freedom

THIS is the reason why.

Indian sailors clasp the hand of HMS Chatham’s Commanding Offi cer

the Vishvakalyan in the eastern Gulf of Aden. The pirates held the crew at rifl e point, determined to use the dhow as a mother ship for further attacks on merchant shipping off Somalia.

They used it as the launchpad for one unsuccessful nighttime attack on a vessel on April 6.

sailors and marines freed them from pirate hell. The frigate gave chase after the Somali brigands seized

, Cdr Simon Huntington, after his

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.” It’s not the only good deed performed by the Devonport-based frigate – although it’s probably the one which has earned it the most headlines. A few days before the Vishvakalyan chase, Chatham could be found in Salalah in southern Oman.

News of that failed attack reached the ears of HMS Chatham, heading a fi ve-strong NATO task force in the region. She launched her Lynx immediately and found the dhow. For the next three days, Chatham shadowed the Vishvakalyan, buzzing her with Royal Marines in the frigate’s sea boats and helicopter. When the dhow ran out of fuel, the Brits brought the

frigate’s close-range weapons to bear while commando snipers kept the pirates in their sights.

At that point, the Somalis – armed with AK47s and

rocket-propelled grenades – gave up and fl ed for their homeland in a small skiff. The master and 14 other crew members of the Indian dhow were released and received medical assistance, water and fuel from Chatham before resuming their disrupted journey. “We’ve 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,” said Cdr Huntington. “I am extremely pleased that due to the actions of

The frigate’s sailors and commandos spent two days at the British School Salalah... not brushing up on their spelling or times table but sprucing up the establishment. The work ranged from painting the gates and computer room to emptying,

sorting and re-packing a large store room. The volunteers also enjoyed a kickabout with youngsters during break times.

The British School Salalah was founded 40 years

ago, providing education for youngsters up to the age of 11 based on the National Curriculum in England and Wales.

“The men and women from Chatham helped us

incredibly over these two days,” said head teacher Chris Peedell.

“They ploughed through tasks that would have taken us months to do, in just a couple of days. We are extremely grateful.”

Lt Alistair Crawford, who organised the party, added: “Everyone who volunteered to take part really enjoyed

meeting the children and helping to improve their environment.”

When Lt Simon Bailey took over as the Type 22’s operations offi cer, he found that older HODs prevailed. The four Heads Of Department – ops officer, logistics

And at the other end of the age spectrum (well, almost)...

officer Lt Cdr David Johnston, weapon engineer officer Lt Cdr Mark James and marine engineer officer Lt Cdr Steve Austin – are all Senior Upper Yardmen (SDs in old money) who, combined, have served their nation for 112 years. “It is like any other Wardroom except for Horlicks in the

coffee boat and cod liver oil behind the bar, although I do wish they would secure their walking sticks for sea,” explained Executive Offi cer Lt Cdr ‘Young John’ Patterson. “I am not sure if the HODS union should be described as the Wise or the Grumpy Old Men, but at least in their company I get to feel like a young offi cer again.” Young or old(er), the ship’s company have now passed the half-way point in their seven- month deployment as fl agship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 under the command of Chatham’s former CO Cdre Steve Chick. From the Type 22 he and his staff direct the mission of USS Cole, Turkey’s TCG Gelibolu, the Greek HS Limnos and Italy’s ITS Scirocco to protect merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden, the Horn of Africa and the Somali Basin.

● Main image: three sea boats leave Chatham at dusk in a show of force to corral the pirate-held dhow Vishvakalyan as a dolphin leaps out of the Gulf of Aden

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