Royal Marine Snipers Disable Drug Smuggling Skiff from Wildcat Helicopter
Royal Marines took aim at the engine of a boat suspected of drug smuggling while flying in HMS Lancaster's Wildcat helicopter over the Gulf of Oman.
Three skiffs were identified by the Wildcat helicopter’s crew after launching on an early morning patrol from Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster.
- The ship has been deployed to the Middle East with rotating crews since 2022.
- A Peregrine rotary wing uncrewed aerial system (RWUAS) was deployed to track the skiffs undetected.
A Maritime Sniper Team from 42 Commando joined the helicopter, which then closed in on the skiffs, spooking the operators into increasing their speed and ditching cargo.
The skiffs’ operators increased their speed to over 40 knots and ditched parts of their cargo in an attempt to escape.
Author's summary: Royal Marines disable a suspected drug smuggling skiff from a helicopter.