Navy bids adieu to 12 valiant SBS braves

The progress of the 53, 58 and TF-8 troops have been hit by seasonal extremities in Vellamullaivaikkaal. Marching from north of Mullaitivu to south of Mullaitivu is a particularly difficult choice for the infantry.

Experienced officers know that the Mullaitivu coast is particularly harsh during the months of May, June and July when the winds raise dust storms and the sun beats down on you whenever there's a break from the heavy downpour.

Given these harsh conditions, troops marched and gained control of a 50m2 area by last evening. The sand and heavily mined beaches make the progress tedious. But the Army is preparing a new strategy against the Tigers; one that is quite different to the first phase of the rescue mission.

With the LTTE's back against the wall, the group has called on the Sea Tigers to take over its escape strategy. The seas off Mullaivaikkaal have been the scene for bitter battles between the Navy and the Sea Tigers with the Navy gaining the upper hand in many of the face to face skirmishes.

Today, however, was a bad day for the Navy, particularly for the Navy's elite Special Boat Squadron. 12 men from the SBS including the SBS' 2nd in-charge (2IC) were killed when they were lured into a trap laid by LTTE Sea Tigers.

The valiant officer and his SBS men, having successfully engaged a flotilla of Sea Tiger boats had observed a fast moving boat off the Mullaitivu coast and approached it with the hope of capturing the boat. Surprisingly, this particularly large vessel had been unmanned.

By the time they realized what it was, it was too late for the gallant officer and men. The remote controlled vessel packed with explosives exploded, killing the 2 IC, a Lieutenant Commander (Posthumously Commander) and 11 other men.