Speculation on anti-pirates role for Plymouth-based HMS Ocean
DEFENCE chiefs have not ruled out sending Plymouth troops to Somalia to target pirate bases.
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman in Devonport Naval Base yesterday told The Herald that "no decision" has been made to deploy HMS Ocean to the troubled east African region.
-
WARSHIP: HMS Ocean. "No decision" has been made to deploy her to deal with Somali pirates
It follows widespread speculation in the national press that Prime Minister David Cameron has secretly ordered plans for military raids along the Somali coast.
It has been reported that Somali pirates attacked 400 international ships last year, hijacking more than 100 and taking thousands of hostages since 2008.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
The speculation suggests that one of the options being considered to tackle the problem is to deploy Plymouth's helicopter carrier, HMS Ocean, which is manned by sailors and Royal Marines.
Last year the warship hit the headlines after it was successfully used to launch Apache attack helicopters to defeat Libyan targets.
HMS Ocean returned to a heroes' welcome in Devonport on December 9 and was being prepared for a maintenance period in the naval base.
But the vessel is still alongside in the naval base, where she docked in December.
An MoD spokeswoman said: "We have not made any announcements about plans to send her [HMS Ocean] back out.
"It's difficult to comment on speculation. No decisions have been made.
"HMS Ocean was due to go into a maintenance period in Devonport. Work has been carried out on her since she arrived back alongside on December 9."
Yesterday Mr Cameron hosted an international summit in London which was attended by representatives of more than 50 countries and international organisations.
The high-level summit focused on the crisis-stricken state.
During the event Mr Cameron said the world will "pay a price" if it ignores the plight of Somalia and called for further action against the pirates.
He said that it was in the interests of the international community to help restore stability after two decades of turmoil.
"These problems in Somalia don't just affect Somalia," he said.
"They affect us all. In a country where there is no hope, chaos, violence and terrorism thrive.
"Pirates are disrupting vital trade routes and kidnapping tourists.
"Young minds are being poisoned by radicalism, breeding terrorism that is threatening the security of the whole world.
"If the rest of us just sit back and look on, we will pay a price for doing so."
Comments
by noxbox
Friday, February 24 2012, 4:44PM
“I live and work at sea in the middle east,
often down the Oman area, my old boss used to have 2 shotguns and 2 AK47's under his bed and one of his job requirements in the contract was, if boarded or and attempted boarding was happening would you be prepared to use them would you use them? I got the job”
by timplymouth
Friday, February 24 2012, 4:37PM
“They don't fly the Jolly Roger josdave, they are almost impossible to separate from legitimate fishing boats. Just the other day they killed some fishermen who they thought were pirates.”
by noxbox
Friday, February 24 2012, 3:29PM
“My old Captain when I was in the Navy wrote a paper to the Defence Secretary suggesting that we use Albion or Bulwark and send either out there as a command platform,fuelling,feeding station, filling them full of fast patrol boats, couple of helicopters and using a multi national task force just obliterate them before it got really serious and he was laughed at. If they had listened to him then Millions of pounds and countless lives would have been saved. One of the most intelligent guys I've ever met but told to get back in his cage!”
by josdave
Friday, February 24 2012, 2:17PM
“Providing the pirate ships have no hostages on board why don't they just sink them? They don't qualify for human rights.”
by BS_Hater
Friday, February 24 2012, 2:06PM
“Ho Ho Ho, Ha Ha Ha, it will break down before it gets there or more likely the pirates will seize it.”