Home in Triumph – submariners mark successful Libyan mission

THE Jolly Roger – the submariner’s traditional battle ensign – flies HMS Triumph as she returns from helping to neutralise Colonel Gaddafi’s air defences.

Six small tomahawk axes on the flag signal that the hunter-killer took part in half a dozen cruise missile strikes during three separate nights of firings.

Triumph fired the very first shots of Britain’s involvement in the international effort to curb government forces in Libya under UN Security Council Resolution 1973, targeting military objectives far inside Libya.

After the initial launches – around 7pm on Saturday March 19 – the boat subsequently paved the way for a successful RAF bombing raid on an underground ammunition dump at Sebha, 300 miles inside Libya.

Tomahawks fired by Triumph – and other Allied forces – eliminated air defences at Sabha (the local air base is home to two squadrons of MiG-25 fighters) allowed a deep strike by RAF Tornados and other coalition bombers which pulverised the site.

That was the T-boat’s final strike. She returned to Devonport on Saturday having spent the entire period on Operation Ellamy – the British codename for the mission to enforce the UN resolution – undetected by land, sea or air forces.

Triumph’s Cdr Rob Dunn, pictured here on the left of the fin wearing a submariner’s trademark jumper beneath his jacket, praised the actions and resolve of his 120-plus crew.

“They went about their duty and carried out all I asked of them in the most professional way,” he added. “They are naturally satisfied that they carried out an operational tasking using our Tomahawk missiles – which does not happen very often – but for which they are highly trained and prepared for at any time.

“This was a short-notice mission for which Triumph and her ship’s company were perfectly ready for in terms of their training and the boat being at a the peak of combat readiness and at sea. We received our orders and made at high speed to our location to carry out our duty as only the unique capabilities of a Royal Navy submarine can do.”

It’s the first time the Jolly Roger has been flown since operations against Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003. The tradition dates back to the opening days of World War 1 and legendary submarine pioneer Max Horton who ordered his men to craft the flag after a successful mission – a snub to dead hands at the Admiralty who considered submariners as little better than pirates.


Source : http://www.navynews.co.uk