Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden

Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden
Part of Piracy in Somalia, Operation Ocean Shield, Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa
South Korean commandos raid the chemical tanker, MV Samho Jewelry, during Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden.
Date January 18, 2011 – January 21, 2011 Location Arabian Sea, near the Gulf of Aden Result South Korean victory All 21 hostages safely rescued
Belligerents
Republic of Korea Navy  Royal Navy of Oman  United States Navy	Somali pirates
Commanders and leaders
Captain Cho Young-joo	Abdi Risqe Shakh Suti Ali Harut
Strength
1 destroyer 1 military helicopter 30 ROKNSWF	1 chemical tanker 17~20 pirates
Casualties and losses
January 18 3 wounded January 21 none	January 18 4+ killed or missing January 21 8 killed 5 captured
1 civilian wounded
Approximate location of rescue operation

South Korean victory

January 18

January 21

January 18

January 21

Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden (Korean: 아덴 만 여명 작전) was a naval operation by the Republic of Korea Navy against Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea. The operation was spurred by the pirates' seizure of the South Korean chemical tanker Samho Jewelry. In response, the South Korean government sent a destroyer and 30 naval commandos to retake the ship and rescue its crew. After trailing the tanker for several days and fighting a preliminary engagement that neutralized four of the pirates, the South Korean forces retook the ship by force on January 21, 2011 in a successful boarding action that resulted in the death of eight and the capture of five out of thirteen pirates.

On January 15, 2011, the Norwegian-owned chemical tanker Samho Jewelry was sailing through the Arabian Sea from the United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka when it was attacked by a group of Somali pirates 350 nautical miles (600 km; 400 mi) southeast of the port of Muscat, Oman. Tanker captain Seok Hae-gyun changed the ship's course to keep in international waters as long as possible. The pirates eventually seized the tanker and used it as a base from which to launch attacks on other ships. The South Korean operator of the vessel, the Samho Shipping Company, was facing huge losses because it was obligated to continue paying Norwegian investors under its charter even while the vessel was held by pirates. However, the Norwegian government had no military presence in the area at the time. Eight South Koreans, eleven Burmese, and two Indonesians were among the 21 crewmembers being held hostage.

On January 16, South Korean president Lee Myung-bak issued an order to "comprehensively deal with" the crisis. The Chungmugong Yi Sun-shin-class destroyer ROKS Choi Young (DDH-981) was dispatched under Captain Cho Young-joo, commander of the Cheonghae Anti-piracy Unit. The unit included members of the Republic of Korea Navy Special Warfare Flotilla. The 30 commandos aboard the Choi Young could be deployed with several small boats and a Westland Super Lynx helicopter. Additionally, warships from the United States and Omani navies were nearby. In contrast, the pirates were outnumbered with only 17 men aboard the tanker. They were also outgunned by the Koreans, possessing only assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades.