The British Navy Is Not What It Use To Be

Paul Chandler and his wife Rachel: a British ship was yards away
as they were taken hostage by pirates Photo: AFP

Royal Navy Watched Helpless As Pirates Kidnapped Yacht Couple Paul And Rachel Chandler -- The Telegraph

The crew of a Royal Navy vessel watched helplessly as a British yachting couple were taken hostage by Somali pirates just yards away from them, it has emerged.

The 100-strong crew of the RFA Wave Knight were under orders not to open fire as Paul and Rachel Chandler, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, were taken from their yacht for fear that the couple could be executed by the pirates.

With the nearest warship, HMS Cumberland, two hours away, the lightly armed Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, which was carrying a helicopter crew and 75 merchant seamen, was forced to play a high stakes waiting game, the Royal Navy said.

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More News On The Kidnapping Of A British Couple While The Royal Navy Watched

Royal Navy witnessed Somali pirates kidnap British couple -- The Independent
MoD vessel 'watched yacht hijack' -- BBC
UK navy ship watched as pirates took 2 Britons -- AP
Royal Navy failed to open fire as pirates seized Britons -- Times Online
Navy 'looked on helpless as pirates took Brits -- The Sun