Navy’s battle to save the troop carrier
Tigers, not the first non-state group to launch air attacks on state
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) carried out its sixth air attack, hitting the Sri Lankan military’s main naval base in the eastern port city of Trincomalee late on Tuesday night. Besides housing the main eastern naval base, Trincomalee is also a major point in the supply route to Jaffna for the military which has no road access to the north from the south.
The initial defence ministry reports indicated that there were no casualties following the surprise enemy air attack. But later it admitted that four sailors were injured in the raid. The military spokesman said that both the Sri Lanka Air Force and the naval base had activated their anti-aircraft guns on the ground, and due to this the LTTE aircraft had changed course and dropped their bombs on the dockyard area of the naval base.
The next day, Navy added six more figures to the casualty number of the LTTE air raid which saw LTTE dropping four bombs of which three had exploded.
Tuesday’s attack was LTTE’s sixth in the series of attacks which also included a strike on the air base in Anuradhapura in October last year and another targeting the oil storage facilities in Colombo in April 2007. The last was a bombing run on a military forward operating base in Welioya which occurred in April.
On Monday night the Air Force radars had detected from time to time an unusual movement of an unidentified object over the skies of the eastern coastal belt. It was around 8.45 pm when the skies were cloudy. They were two of LTTE’s Czech-made Zlin-143 two-seater light aircraft which were proceeding towards the south via Mullaitivu coastal belt towards the Trincomalee port. It was ideal weather conditions for the light aircraft, as they could fly without being detected on the radars. Further the air threat from the Sri Lanka Air Force was minimal due to the heavy clouds over the skies.
Reports indicate that the rebels have about five Czech-made Zlin-143 aircraft that had been smuggled into the country in pieces initially and re-assembled thereafter. The two-seater plane is small enough to avoid radar detection when flown low to the ground and in most cases has not been in the air long enough for jets to give a chase.
The obvious target of the LTTE this time was the Sri Lanka Navy’s largest troop carrier – Jet liner- which has capacity to transport more than 3000 security personnel and has been operating between Trincomalee and Jaffna. Several previous attempts by the LTTE to attack this fast troop carrier - while it was sailing with thousands of troops onboard in the mid sea and also when it was anchored at the eastern port – had been aborted.
When the two planes were about to enter the boundary of Trincomalee district, the air force was able to detect them and the entire area was placed under full alert. The LTTE planes were proceeding towards the port, targeting the Jet Liner where it was anchored. At 8.45 pm the Air Force informed the Navy about the imminent attack.
The Commanders of the eastern port immediately knocked off electricity in eastern areas so that the enemy would find it difficult to identify strategic locations in total darkness.
Minutes after the detection of the LTTE planes the Air Force activated its air defence systems and the Navy at the base was placed on high alert. Orders were given to fire at the skies using almost all weapons at the base including the anti-aircraft guns. Even the war ships that were in the harbour opened fire. The sky in the area was illuminated with gun fire so that a confused intruder would find it difficult to enter the area.
Just past 9 pm, the two light aircraft passed over the fences of the southern part of the highly fortified naval base. By this time however, due to the heavy fire from the ground, both enemy aircraft had changed their course and turned back.
However, both craft had at least four bombs onboard and realizing that it was difficult to accomplish their targets, they just dropped the four improvised bombs into the Dockyard area, where there was a patrolmen’s mess located and then fled from the base within a few minutes.
The troop carrier Jet Liner, which was scheduled to leave for Jaffna next day, was thus protected due to the heavy resistance from the Navy on the ground.
While the attack was going on in Trincomalee, supersonic jets- Mig-27 and F-7 were air borne from Katunayake air force base and PT-6 Chinese- made interceptors were also airborne from Vavuniya in order to trace the enemy craft. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) too were deployed over the Kilinochchi skies.
However, by then the LTTE light aircraft using the cloudy weather condition had safely returned to their hideout in Kilinochchi.
Several initial media reports said that at least four sailors were killed due to the LTTE attack but the navy denied it at the onset.
Trincomalee hospital said at least eleven sailors and four civilians were admitted to the hospital. Later seven of the sailors were transferred to the Colombo General Hospital for further treatment. The condition of several of them was reportedly critical. Most of the injuries reported were caused due to the collapse of the roof of the building.
The next day, the Navy Chief Wasantha Karannagoda visited the base and inspected the damage. He praised the officers and other ranks for minimizing the damage and successfully repulsing the attack.
Investigations commence
Two special teams were appointed by the Navy and the Air Force to inquire into the incident separately. The teams would inquire among several other issues how the enemy aircraft arrived at the area by-passing all safety nets. They would also focus on why the proper anti-aircraft system was not in place in the area. The Sri Lanka air force has a sophisticated IGLA type anti-aircraft missile system. The system is designed for destroying low flying aircraft and helicopters. The missile can be launched to either follow or meet an enemy aircraft.
Purpose of the LTTE air raid
The LTTE issued a statement late Wednesday claiming that the Air Tigers carried out a successful air strike on the Eastern Headquarters of the Sri Lanka Navy on Tuesday at 9:15 pm. It also said that at least four sailors were killed and heavy damage inflicted on the base.
It also said that “the aircrafts safely returned to their base after carrying out their mission.” The LTTE also issued photos of the Air Tiger fighters with LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
For the LTTE, the air strike is a rather desperate attempt to boost the morale of its cadres and also its own fading image in the international arena. Its forces are being hard pressed by the security forces, particularly in the north, where it has lost a significant amount of territory. The army maintains that it is engaged in a final push to seize control of the LTTE’s remaining northern area. Troops are now operating in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts, which are last territories, occupied by the LTTE. On a daily basis the LTTE is losing an average of more than ten LTTE cadres on the ground. Recently, the military captured several LTTE-held strategically important areas, such as Thunnukkai and is about to capture the last sea Tiger base in the west coast – Nachchikudah.
During the past few months the LTTE had been maintaining a carefully cultivated silence and has avoided making any official statements on the attacks from both sides.
The latest strategy of the LTTE had been to launch surprise attacks to divert attention and destabilize the rear sector of the battle field as they did some time ago by an attack on Yala, in the south. Witnessing its own downfall day by day the LTTE also appears to be bent on creating an impression among the government hierarchy and the public that it’s still capable of carrying out surprise attacks, a display of its fire power. The fall of Wanni will see the LTTE restricting its activities drastically.
The military is of the opinion that there is a likelihood of the LTTE carrying out a few more air attacks before the security forces gain full control of the Wanni area. The ability of the LTTE craft to operate without proper air strips is one of the biggest advantages the LTTE enjoys right now. They are capable of taking off in any open space such as a playground or a road.
Sir Lanka Air Force is yet to acquire the ability to intercept the rudimentary aircraft of the LTTE and all Air Force craft need regular airfields for take-off. Besides, it is only the Katunayake air port that can operate super sonic jets.
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