Navy officer wins gallantry medal for capturing pirates
January 26th, 2012 - 4:01 am ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS) For the quick thinking and resolute action against pirates in the high seas, a naval commander, who helped capture of 61 Somali pirates in a single operation and rescue of 13 sailors held hostage by the brigands, has been named to receive the Nau Sena Medal for Gallantry Wednesday.President Pratibha Patil named Commander Subhal Nathan, the skipper of fast attack craft INS Kalpeni, for the successful operation against the pirate mother ship on Mar 12 last year.
INS Kalpeni was on patrol when it intercepted Vega-5, a merchant vessel being used by Somali pirates as a mother vessel. When it was fired upon by the brigands, Cdr. Nathan steered the ship away from pirate gun fire and later carried out a hostage negotiation when he asked the pirates to surrender, says his citation for the gallantry medal.
“Despite being under fire, the officer held his nerve to give a graduated response of fire-power on the mother ship, which resulted in a minor fire on board. This decisive action compelled the pirates to surrender and seek help,” it said.
The officer also advised the pirates and hostages to jump overboard from the vessel on fire and swim clear of the vessel, to enable
rescue by the ship.
“This required skilled ship-handling between the floating groups of survivors, while towing life-rafts alongside. Despite the heavy swell, acrid fumes of the burning mother-ship, and darkness of the night, the courage and persistence of the officer and his men resulted in the rescue of 74 survivors from the sea,” it added.
- Pirate ship sunk by navy, Coast Guard in Arabian Sea (Lead) - Jan 29, 2011
- Indian Navy captures 61 Somali pirates - Mar 14, 2011
- Cargo ships may have armed guards to fight pirates - Mar 15, 2011
- Another piracy attempt foiled, 16 pirates held - Mar 27, 2011
- Indian Navy intercepts pirate's ship, nabs 61 pirates - Mar 14, 2011
- Hostages rescued from Somali pirates say they were threatened, tortured - Mar 16, 2011
- Pirates seize Indian vessel with 14 crew off Oman (Lead) - Jan 12, 2011
- Indian cargo ship hijacked by Somali pirates off Oman - Jan 12, 2011
- After anti-piracy mission, INS Cankarso returns home - Feb 02, 2011
- Indian Navy arrests 61 pirates, rescues 13 sailors - Mar 14, 2011
- Apprehended pirates to be interrogated in Mumbai - Jan 30, 2011
- Navy, coast guard ships sink pirate mother-vessel - Jan 29, 2011
- Indian Navy captures 28 Somali pirates near Lakshadweep islands - Feb 07, 2011
- Crew of hijacked Chinese cargo ship rescued - Apr 07, 2012
- Indian Navy saves Chinese ship from pirates (Roundup) - May 06, 2011
Tags: attack craft, brigands, burning mother, decisive action, fire power, gallantry, gun fire, high seas, hostage negotiation, hostages, ins, life rafts, merchant vessel, minor fire, mother ship, naval commander, navy officer, president pratibha patil, sailors, somali pirates