Stuff January 15, 2003
Te Kaha ready to assist in action against Iraq, captain says
New Zealand's frigate deployed to the Gulf, Te Kaha, stands ready to assist in any action against Iraq, says the ship's commanding officer.
Te Kaha's Captain John Martin yesterday said the threat of a war in Iraq had been constantly in his thoughts during the first two months of his mission to intercept terrorists in the Gulf of Oman.
"I am always looking at the (possible) war in Iraq.
"There are a large number of news clips we are getting which indicate that things are reasonably set up there. It doesn't look as if the United States is going to slow down its preparation for a war."
Capt Martin said war would have a strategic impact on the patrol mission.
"There would be a greater focus on any terrorist threat to forces operating up here and therefore al Qaeda might want to move people around."
If New Zealand chose to make a military contribution to the war, Te Kaha was ready to assist.
"We are ready to do whatever the Government wants us to do," Capt Martin said.
In a naval confrontation with Iraq, Te Kaha would be more than capable of holding her own against an Iraqi navy devastated during the Gulf War and operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
According to the globalsecurity.org website, Iraq's most powerful vessel is the frigate Ibn Marjid, reportedly damaged during Desert Storm.
The rest of the Iraqi navy is made up of five coastal patrol craft and about 150 small boats with a total manpower of 600.
Capt Martin said his crew had been kept on their toes since arriving in the Gulf by numerous fast oncoming vessels, all of which were potential terrorist threats.
"Those go-fasters are the sort of things we are worried about - the fast-closing boats which may or may not contain terrorists.
"You have to figure out whether they are a threat or not and it is always an interesting time to be in command. Perhaps nine of these things can come at you at one time.
"In almost every case they are a traditional smuggler trying to make a buck between Iran and the United Arab Emirates but the fact they are coming towards you at great speed and not knowing whether the boat contains the bomb that is going to have a go at you is always interesting."
Capt Martin said the usual response was to send up Te Kaha's helicopter to examine the oncoming vessels from above.
Te Kaha, which has a top speed of 27 knots, has used its helicopter, which is in the air five and a half hours a day, and inflatable boats to intercept numerous vessels travelling as fast as 35 knots.
"We have queried and investigated well over 500 vessels and boarded a reasonable percentage but we have not found any al Qaeda or Taleban.
"We have found smugglers with all sorts of things but our role is not to be customs officials so we just ignore it."
Copyright © 2003 Independent Newspapers Limited.
