Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Critical four hours and 58 minutes … all captive crewmembers rescued

Eight pirates shot dead and five captured after a running fight and two rescue operations
Splendid feat of careful planning and simulation exercise with no victims

Kidnapped Samho Jewelry came to a happy ending in 146 hours and 16 minutes.

Kidnapping, a running fight and two rescue operations. The pre-dawn mission in the Gulf of Aden was a real cliffhanger and makes us get rid of bitterness. Here is the reconstructed mission, perfectly-operated without a single victim, by situation.

A special assignment to protect the life and property of the people

On January 15, 2011, at 7:40 a.m. local time. Cargo ship Samho Jewelry, departing from UAE for Sri Lanka, faced a pirate ship. Pirates from two small motorboats from the pirates’ main ship were on even board with Samho Jewelry. The pirates, armed with AK rifles and RPG-7 rocket guns, climbed up a ladder to get on the ship and threatened Korean crewmembers.

At 7:30 p.m. on the same day, Choi Young Ham of the 6th Cheonghae unit went off on a special assignment to protect the life and property of the people while shipping military supplies at Djibouti port, Ethiopia.

The fleet rapidly pursued the pirate under the cooperation of the antipiracy operation unit (CTF-151), a subordinate force of Combined Forces Maritime Component Command (CFMCC). And on January 17, at 11:00 p.m., Samho Jewelry was on the Choi Young Ham’s radar.

It was about 450-500 kilometers south of the kidnap point and 600 kilometers away from Salalah port, Oman. The traveling distance of the fleet reached as much as 2,000 km.

When Cheonghae unit caught up with the pirates after long, tireless sailing for 52 hours, it kept a distance and waited for an opportunity, not letting the pirates know of its presence.

Then, suddenly, at 2:44 p.m. on the 18th, an unexpected situation happened. The pirates brought down a cockboat to additionally capture a Mongolian ship that was sailing northeast of Samho Jewelry.

The unit developed a two-front warfare, watching for the pirates’ attention to be distracted. Lynx made a sortie to where the Mongolian freight vessel was, and at the same time, UDT/SEAL approached Samho Jewelry.

At 2:51 p.m., UDT/SEAL members prepared to conduct the hostage rescue operation while the Lynx was firing warning and threatening shots in order not to make the pirates approach the Samho Jewelry again.

At 3:24 p.m., the pirates raised a flag of truce and surrendered. When it seemed to be a successful end, they fired back. Major Ahn Byeong-Joo, the team leader, Master Sergeant Kim Won-In, the commander of the sniper platoon, and Staff Sergeant Kang Jun, 2nd operations squadron, were injured on a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB). Although the unit couldn’t rescue the hostages, they weakened the enemy’s fighting strength, putting emotional pressure on the pirates.

Sniper‘s One-Shot-One-Kill … a flare of successful operation

On January 21, at 4:43 a.m., the commander of Cheonghae unit Cho Young-Joo, the –Colonel at that time, reported Naval Operations Command an operational readiness. After 15 minutes, the first overseas lifesaving operation since the foundation of the armed forces had started.

At 5:17 a.m., three RIBs were on the sea, and Lynx, with a sniper on board, took off as well. Choi Young Ham call out Samho Jewelry in Korean using radio communication in 12 minutes.

”Sailors! We are going to attack the pirates to save you. Take shelter in a place as safe as possible and don’t come out.”

At 5:40 a.m., Lynx approached Samho Jewelry. The sniper disarmed a radar and antenna for communication, and defeated a pirate by firing an aimed shot at the deck and bridge. It was a flare of successful pre-dawn operation in the Gulf of Aden.

At 6:09 a.m., the attacking team of UDT/SEAL climbed up to the stern deck. A pirate appeared when the team was coming up the narrow stairs to seize the fourth bridge during the internal maneuver. One of attacking team fired and the pirate had gone to the wall.

Carry out the mission surely … a play with no body

At 6:30 a.m., the team seized the entire bridge, moving in perfect order. And when they found Captain Seok Hae-Gyun had a wounded knee and belly, they stopped the bleeding and requested a rescue.

After administering first aid, the team divided into two groups to conduct a search operation. They killed four pirates and their boss near the captain’s cabin.

At 6:45 a.m., the attacking team saved 13 sailors on the bridge. Five of them were Korean. At this time, Lynx made an announcement, saying, “Sailors! Don’t be afraid. We are the Korea Navy Cheonghae unit. Now, the ship is under the control of Cheonghae. Step out on the deck, please.”

At 7:57 a.m., they resumed to search to find the rest of the hostages and kill the pirates. Choi Young Ham kept announcing warning messages using a sound transmitting apparatus. Two pirates surrendered and five sailors came up on deck.

At 8:16 a.m. on a bright sunny day, 18 crewmembers including eight Korean sailors were rescued. Now only five pirates and three Myanmar crew were left. The attacking team marked compartments in red paint where they had finished searching and finally rooted out the entire pirates. They had rescued all 21 sailors safely.

“9:56 a.m. All 21 hostages rescued. Killed eight and captured five pirates. No damage to our side. Mission success.”

The operation was finished in four hours and 58 minutes. It was a moment when numerous efforts to save the life and property of the people and a careful operational plan and simulation exercise were sublimated into a play with no body.

By Byeong-No, Yun < trylover@dema.mil.kr >
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