Somali pirates attack Dutch warship

HNLMS Tromp (F803)

Every so often, someone does something amazingly silly that make you just laugh. This was the case when Somali pirates mistakenly tried to hijack a Dutch frigate today. The HNLMS Tromp is loaded with all kinds of missiles, torpedoes, really large guns and other armaments.

This warship is almost twice the size of another Dutch warship--the HNLMS Van Amstel--that visited Trinidad last year.

We could use a couple of fighting frigates in our Coast Guard.

Dutch Navy ship HNLMS Van Amstel in Trinidad

Below: HNLMS Van Amstel.
Top: The five hiking Dutch weapons engineers.

While driving through a rough neighbourhood today, observed five obviously foreign military men marching on the street. They appeared disciplined and their movement was in wedge formation (one-two-two).
After engaging them, I discovered they were from the Royal Netherlands Navy, the HNLMS Van Amstel, a Karel Doorman class Frigate that was in Operation Enduring Freedom, and also assisted in Hurricane Karina’s aftermath.

They were weapons engineers, and being adventurous types, simply kitted up for a tropical hike-water bladders and all-and disembarked, heading East. I advised them about the area, and they thanked me, turned around and returned to the direction of the ship, hopefully in another, safer, more picturesque direction.

Incidentally, the ship’s weapons are very impressive. See some of the weapons systems here.

AirgunsTT welcomes the Captain, officers and crew of the HNLMS Van Amstel to Trinidad and Tobago, and wishes them a safe journey when they depart on Monday.