Royal Navy on Coastal Watch off Somalia

Eagleone doesn't advertise himself much, actually for someone who runs one of the original Navy blogs in the US - the premier maritime law blog - he is probably the worst promoter of himself in the Navy blogosphere. But Eagleone's work is second to none, and should be a daily read for those who are interested in global maritime security affairs.

If you plan on attending the US Naval Institute History Conference in Annapolis tomorrow, you can shake his hand since he is on the 11:10am panel under his not concealed but rarely revealed real name - CAPT Mark Tempest, USNR (Ret.).

If you didn't catch the activity of the Royal Navy being discussed over at Eaglespeak, it is worth checking out. It adds context to the latest news, which highlights how the Royal Navy has been very busy off Somalia this week. From CNN:

While conducting routine patrols, a helicopter identified a "suspicious whaler towing a skiff," Combined Maritime Forces said in a statement. "The whaler contained a significant amount of fuel barrels and when approached by the helicopter, four of the nine passengers tried to hide themselves from view."

Suspecting the vessel was involved in piracy, the crew of the ship Fort Victoria was allowed to board it. As Royal Marines approached, the suspected pirates attempted to flee for shore but were rapidly surrounded, the statement said. Authorities found they were carrying six AK-47s, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with four warheads and six RPG booster charges along with hand-held GPS units, mobile phones and other equipment, Combined Maritime Forces said.

The nine suspects were transferred to the smaller skiff, and Royal Marines disabled the outboard engine and gave them oars, the statement said. Once they were safely ashore, "the whaler was rigged with explosives and destroyed along with other confiscated pirate paraphernalia."

We are seeing something from the Europeans that is definately worthy of discussion - look how much mileage the European countries are getting from their auxiliary ships. HNLMS Amsterdam just completed an escort of a WFP vessel, and now we have a British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship raiding pirate boats deploying from the coast of Somalia.

It goes to the point that fighting the skiff pirate fleet operating from Somalia isn't about vessel type - which is why building bells and whistles into small ships intended to perform maritime security is an enormous waste of money. This is a gun fight, so the side that brings the biggest guns and the most guns is almost certainly going to avoid a fight or win the fight if it occurs.

This is also why I agree with Bob Work, and see platforms like the JHSV very appropriate as a maritime security vessel in the future. It isn't about the ship, it is about the capabilities that can be deployed - and non-technological capabilities like a platoon of US Marines is a trump card I'll take over any skiff swarm every single day.