Brittania rules the waves!

[under the bar]

Thank God for Naval Commandos!  They've been keeping us safe by killing suspected terrorists all over Iraq & Afghanistan for 6 years and now they are taking on the suspected Pirates and their jolly rogering! 

http://www4.u.tv/news/InternationalNews/index.asp?id=140911&sel2=3&sel=1&local=0

Commandos kill suspected pirates

British commandos killed two suspected pirates who tried to seize a Danish ship in the Gulf of Aden in an unprecedented operation involving a Royal Navy and a Russian warship, it was revealed yesterday.

The suspected pirates were shot after the Royal Marine commandos, in rigid inflatable boats launched from the frigate HMS Cumberland, were fired at from a Yemeni flagged dhow, the Ministry of Defence said.

It said the Cumberland was conducting routine Nato security operations in the Gulf of Aden when a number of its crew boarded the dhow, which was towing a skiff. The British crew "had reason to believe" the dhow had been involved in an armed attack on the Danish-registered vessel, the MV Powerful, earlier on Tuesday, the day of the gunfight.

"Various non-forcible methods had been used in an attempt to stop the dhow but they were unsuccessful", the MoD said. The inflatables were launched to circle the dhow in an attempt to encourage it to stop. People on the dhow fired at the British commandos, who returned fire in self-defence, the MoD added.

It said that the dhow crew subsequently surrendered and a boarding followed. Two of its crew, believed to be pirates, had been shot and killed. The MoD said the boarding operation, which took place south of the Yemeni coast, was conducted in accordance with British rules of engagement.

A Yemeni national was found injured and later died, despite receiving emergency treatment. The MoD said it was unclear whether his injuries were as a result of the gunfight or a previous incident.

This year at least 32 ships have been hijacked in the area.