By Cai Zengbing and Li Ding (China Military Online)
The¬†14th¬†escort¬†taskforce¬†of¬†the¬†Navy¬†of¬†the¬†Chinese¬†People’s¬†Liberation¬†Army¬†(PLA) organized¬†its¬†first¬†anti-piracy¬†training¬†participated¬†by¬†a¬†group¬†of¬†helicopters,¬†a¬†specialoperation¬†detachment¬†and¬†three¬†warships¬†on¬†the¬†morning¬†of¬†Feb¬†26, 2013,¬†local¬†time,while¬†sailing¬†in¬†the¬†Indian¬†Ocean¬†on¬†the¬†voyage¬†to¬†the¬†Gulf¬†of¬†Aden¬†and¬†the¬†waters¬†offthe¬†Somali¬†coast¬†to¬†fulfill¬†escort¬†missions¬†there.
The training highlighted coordination between the warships and helicopters as well asthe special operation members during the anti-piracy operation.
At¬†10:00,¬†the¬†”Harbin”¬†guided¬†missile¬†destroyer¬†reported¬†that¬†several¬†suspicious¬†smallspeedboats¬†were¬†spot¬†approaching¬†the¬†taskforce¬†6¬†nautical¬†miles¬†away¬†from¬†the¬†portside¬†of¬†the¬†frigate.¬†The¬†taskforce¬†commander¬†immediately¬†gave¬†the¬†order¬†to¬†initiate¬†theLevel-1¬†anti-piracy¬†deployment.¬†The¬†”Mianyang”¬†guided¬†missile¬†frigate¬†and¬†the”Weishan¬†Lake”¬†supply¬†ship¬†of¬†the¬†escort¬†taskforce¬†received¬†at¬†the¬†same¬†time¬†the¬†orderto¬†quickly¬†adjust¬†formation¬†and¬†draw¬†close¬†to¬†the¬†”Harbin”¬†warship¬†to¬†coordinate¬†the”Harbin”¬†warship¬†in¬†fighting¬†against¬†the¬†”pirate¬†boats”.
The¬†special¬†operation¬†members¬†on¬†the¬†”Harbin”¬†warship¬†entered¬†into¬†battle¬†positions¬†inseconds.¬†The¬†ship-based¬†helicopters¬†carrying¬†several¬†special¬†operation¬†members¬†tookoff¬†immediately¬†for¬†a¬†close¬†reconnaissance¬†of¬†the¬†”suspicious¬†boats”.¬†The¬†”Harbin”warship¬†beefed¬†up¬†observation¬†alert¬†at¬†the¬†same¬†time¬†and¬†moved¬†towards¬†the¬†left¬†sideof¬†the¬†taskforce¬†formation¬†to¬†prepare¬†for¬†driving¬†the¬†”pirates”¬†away.
During the training lasting two-plus hours, the taskforce conducted the drill on multiplesubjects including rapid deployment of tactical units, reconnaissance on small targetsat sea, small arms shooting, special operation members climbing onto and searchingmerchant ships and changing of ship formations in coordinated training.
According the commanding officer of the taskforce, the coordinated training wasdesigned to make the officers and men improve their capabilities in quick reaction anddealing with emergencies. The coordination between the helicopter group and thespecial operation detachment and other combat units of the escort warships has alsobeen further enhanced.
Via: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/
