Angus warship foils attacking pirates
Pirates throw grenade launcher overboard as HMS Montrose comes to North Korean ship's aid.
The HMS Montrose has come to the aid of a North Korean merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden just four days after being deployed from her base at Devonport.
Responding to a distress call from the MV Mi Rae, the Type 23 frigate - which is affiliated to Angus District and her namesake town - dispatched a Lynx helicopter to intercept a group of pirates off the Somalian coast.
The suspected pirates quickly moved away from the MV Mi Rae once the helicopter arrived, and those on board watched as the pirates threw their weapons overboard - including a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.
A team of Royal Marines and Royal Navy sailors were dispatched from HMS Montrose to question the pirates, who were eventually allowed to go on their way.
Commanding Officer, Commander Jonathan Lett, said: “HMS Montrose has quickly and effectively deterred piracy in the Gulf of Aden and I am proud of my ship’s company. As part of the NATO counter-piracy task force, HMS Montrose is providing much reassurance to the merchant shipping community.”
The frigate left port late last week on a NATO counter-piracy patrol to police the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden.
Since her multi-million pound refit at Rosyth in late 2009, HMS Montrose has been undergoing rigorous sea training. She is now, however, fully operational and this deployment to the Gulf of Aden will allow her to conduct maritime security operations and remain ready for any other crisis response tasking.
