RAF Tornados Bombs Libyan Frigate

Major General Nick Pope, the Chief of the Defence Staff’s Communications Officer, said:

"UK aircraft have again been in action over Libya during recent days, as part of NATO’s mission to protect civilians at risk of attack from Colonel Qadhafi’s former regime.

"In the early hours of Monday morning, Royal Air Force Tornado and Typhoon aircraft conducted precision strikes on an ammunition and vehicle depot, and a military communications facility, both near Zlitan. An armed reconnaissance patrol over Brega, in the east of the country, identified and destroyed two armed pick-up trucks.

Libyan frigate"Overnight 8/9 August, RAF jets successfully bombed a Libyan frigate in Tripoli harbour. The ship had been damaged previously by NATO air strikes, but careful battle damage assessment indicated that the ship retained an offensive capability. The RAF strike inflicted further serious damage and left the vessel taking on water. Our aircraft also attacked a command and control node and a weapons depot in Bir al Ghanam in the Djebel Nafousa, and a staging post in Zlitan. On Tuesday night, an RAF patrol returned to Zlitan and conducted a precision strike on a barracks and military staging post.

"Yesterday, an armed reconnaissance patrol identified and destroyed an armed truck at Az Aziziyah, near Tripoli. And last night, Tornado GR4s launched from RAF Marham in Norfolk. Supported by VC10 and Tristar tankers, they flew south across Europe and the Mediterranean to launch a large salvo of Stormshadow precision guided missiles at command bunkers near Sebha, 700 kilometres south of Tripoli, out in the Sahara. They landed at Gioia del Colle after a mission lasting seven hours, and will in due course recover back to Marham.

"These and other NATO operations were supported by a large force of essential support aircraft, including RAF VC10s, Tristars, Sentries and Sentinels, and the Fleet Air Arm’s Sea King ASAC helicopters."


Source: MOD news - 11 August 2011 - www.raf.mod.uk/news

Photo Story: Two Royal Air Force Tornados strikes a pro-Qadhafi force frigate in Tripoli harbour, Libya.Video shows the aircraft using a Paveway IV bomb to carry out the strikes, destroying the targets but leaving the surrounding area intact. Paveway IV is a highly accurate bomb which uses laser and GPS guidance to ensure minimum collateral damage. [www.raf.mod.uk]


(13.08.2011)