Pirates Attempted an Abordage on a Danish Frigate Full of Commandos and It Didn’t End Well

Pirates Attempted an Abordage on a Danish Frigate Full of Commandos and It Didn’t End Well

Photo Credit: 1. Konflikty.pl / Wikimedia Commons / Attribution 2. MagisterYODA / Columbia Pictures / MovieStillsDB

In November 2021, the Danish military revealed that one of its frigates engaged in a firefight with pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, resulting in the death of four. A fifth pirate suffered undisclosed injuries.

Sikorsky MH-60R helicopter hovering above the ground

Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk. (Photo Credit: U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
The frigate HDMS Esbern Snare (F342) was sailing in the Gulf of Guinea, south of Nigeria, when her crew spotted a fast-moving motorboat near a cluster of commercial ships. After deploying a Royal Danish Air Force Sikorksy MH-60R Seahawk to get a closer look, it was determined the vessel was carrying eight individuals and had onboard it equipment associated with piracy, including ladders.

The Esbern Snare eventually got close enough to the motorboat to launch rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs), manned by Danish Special Forces personnel. They called for the boat to halt and permit boarding. When their call went unanswered, they fired warning shots.

The pirates subsequently opened fire on the inflatable boats that had been deployed by the Danish frigate. The troops shot back, killing four of the assailants and wounding another. None of the Special Forces personnel were injured. As the motorboat sank, the four pirates still alive were taken aboard the Esbern Snare, along with the bodies of those who had been killed. The one who’d suffered injury was treated onboard the vessel.

Speaking about the incident at a news conference not long after, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the Special Forces soldiers’ actions “probably prevented concrete pirate attacks against vessels in the region” and that the Esbern Snare “made an important and significant contribution to security in the Gulf of Guinea.”

HDMS Esbern Snare (F342) docked at port

HDMS Esbern Snare (F342), 2014. (Photo Credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / Getty Images)
In January 2022, it was announced three of the pirates had been released after the Danish government failed to find a country willing take them. The charges against the trio were dropped, and they were put in a small dinghy with enough food and water to fuel them.

“They have no relation to Denmark, and the crime they have been charged with was committed far from Denmark,” said Danish Justice Minister Nick Hækkerup in a statement. “They simply do not belong here, and that’s why I think it’s the right thing to do.”

The injured pirate subsequently had to have his leg amputated as a result of the injuries he’d suffered in the incident. Unlike the others, he was unable to be released at sea due to his medical condition and was brought to Denmark to face charges of attempted manslaughter.

HDMS Esbern Snare (F342) at sea

HDMS Esbern Snare (F342), 2014. (Photo Credit: Yiannis Kourtoglou / AFP / Getty Images)
The HDMS Esbern Snare had been deployed to the Gulf of Guinea as part of an operation to protect shipping activity in the area, as fears are heightened over the security risks posed by pirates. Just under a month prior to the attack on the Danish frigate, the Russian Navy rescued a container feeder after pirates went aboard the vessel. Just a day after that incident, reports surfaced about yet another ship being attacked by the same group.

Related Posts

“I Still Carry the Guilt”: Vanessa Feltz Breaks Down as She Reflects on the Emotional Toll Her Divorce Took on Her Daughters – and the Painful Truth She Can Never Undo

‘I should have shielded them more’ Channel 5 star Vanessa Feltz opened up about her divorce from first husband Michael Kurer in a new interview. The star, 63, divorced from Michael…

Behind Palace Walls: The Unexpected Name Queen Elizabeth II Was Known By — A Royal Secret Shared Only in Whispers Not Majesty. Not Ma’am. This name revealed the playful heart behind the crown.

The royal family have a lot of nicknames for each other It turns out Queen Elizabeth II had a nickname that only those in her inner circle were ever…

From This Morning to Gogglebox – Alison Hammond’s TV takeover leaves fans conflicted: some cheer her charm, others say ‘enough is enough!’

‘This is long overdue,’ others declared Celebrity Gogglebox fans were not happy last night (Friday, July 4) as Alison Hammond made her debut on the show. The This Morning…

As King Charles Fades from the Public Eye, Prince William Quietly Claims His Crown — While Princess Anne Finally Reveals the Hidden Truth Behind Their Father’s Last, Most Controversial Request

“A Father’s Final Wish: The Silent Moment That Changed the Monarchy Forever” In a hushed room within the walls of Buckingham Palace, time seemed to pause. The…

After years of silence and relentless public speculation, Princess Catherine has finally confirmed the existence of a fourth child—kept entirely hidden from public life. What she reveals about the child’s birth, and the royal family’s chilling response behind closed doors, has left the British public in total disbelief.

“The Secret Catherine Could No Longer Hide: Inside the Heartbreaking Confession of a Future Queen” How Princess Catherine’s quiet yearning for a fourth child revealed deeper truths…

‘It wasn’t my choice’: Penny Lancaster reveals the relationship rule Rod Stewart insisted upon – and how it changed their marriage forever

It’s all about compromising, eh Penny? Penny Lancaster previously revealed the strict rule that hubby Sir Rod Stewart has put in place at home – and its impact on…