A Royal Marine from Greater Manchester led a swoop on Somali pirates on the high seas.
The pirates were on board a boat in the Indian Ocean when they were confronted by Corporal Martin Murray and his team of Commandos.
The Marines found the boat packed with ammunition intended for hijacks – and blew it up. (see picture in picture gallery above right)
The pirate crew was later released on the Somali coast.
Corporal Murray, 28, was on duty on the Fort Victoria – part of the Navy’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary – when he was called on to storm the pirate boat.
Cpl Murray and his team scrambled fast boats across rough seas to board the Somali boat. The pirates, who were stranded without food and using a makeshift sail after losing engine power, threw their weapons overboard and surrendered.
Cpl Murray, a former pupil at Breeze Hill School in Oldham, is part of NATO’s counter-piracy mission off the African coast.
NATO forces have been stationed off the Horn of Africa since December 2008 and have been fired upon by pirates.
He said: “In this part of the world there is always the chance that you’re going to encounter pirate vessels, and this one was a few miles from the ship.
“From the alert going out we had 20 minutes to prepare and get ready to go.We were told it was a whaler, which is the kind of boat that pirates often use in the Indian Ocean.
“We approached with our fast boats and were ready for any exchange of fire. Fortunately they didn’t offer any resistance.
“They put their hands up and we were able to come alongside and carry out a search, during which we found ammunition.”
Captain Rob Dorey, Commanding Officer of the Fort Victoria, said: “The combined actions of all on board have saved merchant ships from being pirated and made the area just a little safer. In many ways the pirates were lucky that we found them as they would not have survived indefinitely.
“However, most importantly, we have removed one more pirate group from the Somali Basin and destroyed their whaler so it cannot be used again.”
* Paul and Rachel Chandler, who spent 388 days being held by pirates after their yacht was seized as it sailed from the Seychelles towards Tanzania, have arrived back in Britain.
The couple, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, were released after a ransom of reportedly up to £620,000 was paid.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
The Royal Marines - the bravest of the brave. The NCOs, the backbone of The Royal Marines. Well done that man!
Remarkable.
The Royal Marines are the finest soldiers in the world.
Well done Sir. Pride of Britain.
At last...........'some' good news !!
royal marines the true heroes and are machines the para's not fit enough to clean there boots ...haa bit off banter
Why did they release them though? They could have held them hostage and demanded money for their release,about ten pence would cover it! Oh well,I suppose that they have human rights the same as foreign criminals in Britain! I just hope that they severely injured them though! Well done though lads.
There are some stories you just love to read. More of the same please.
excellent, more of this may prevent more hijackings by these barbarians.
Well Done Corporal Murray and Team.
I am the sister of CPL Martin Murray mentioned in the above article, and I am extremley proud to read this article of both my brother and the commendation that the Royal Marines have been given! Well done boys!!
You see, there are good guys from Oldham too.
should of sank the boat with the occupants still on it,people who show little or no mercy shouldnt recieve any.well done to the marines
A brave & good looking chap. I hate him :)
The Pirate crew were released later? They should have drowned them. What will letting them go teach them?
What? Is my comment too contentious for inclusion? Spineless.
Good for the marines. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for standing up to these pirates.
A breath of fresh air when compared to the Royal Marine officer who surrendered his entire force to the Iranians.
I often wonder if this officer is still serving in the Royal Marines.