HORSE TRADER SEIZED
Drug smuggler gripped by Terror

With her 5inch gun and .50 calibre machine guns manned and approaching at 25 knots the Tartan Terror — HMAS Stuart — brought to an end the five-day high seas pursuit of the North Korean freighter Pong Su... Photo by Phil Barling

The chart shows the movement of both ships as HMAS Stuart began her 25 knot chase of the smuggler. CMDR Greaves radioed her Master that she was about to be boarded – he understood and stopped.

With her 5inch gun and .50 calibre machine guns manned and approaching at 25 knots the Tartan Terror — HMAS Stuart — brought to an end the five-day high seas pursuit of the North Korean freighter Pong Su, which was suspected of being involved in smuggling heroin, known commonly on the street as ‘Horse’.

The ocean drama began on April 16 after police at Lorne in Victoria seized 50 kilograms of heroin worth an estimated $80 million.

Aerial surveillance of the Pong Su began with the task alternating between the RAAF using Hercules and Orion aircraft and Coastwatch.

The freighter headed east through Bass Strait and on Thursday turned north and headed up the Australian coast.

Civil police launches intercepted but had been unable to board the ship because of heavy seas. The Police approached the ADF; the Navy was tasked to assist.

Operation Tartan saw an extraordinary effort put in by ship’s company and support personnel at Fleet Base East, and HMAS Albatross.

Stuart had been in intermediate maintenance when Maritime Commander RADM Raydon Gates asked the CO CMDR David Greaves how long it would take to get ready for sea? Normally it would take 24 hours.

“We did it in six,” CMDR Greaves said.

“I informed the ship’s company there was a need to go to sea — quickly.

“At the time we were down on numbers as some members had already begun Easter leave.”

People from FIMA/Sydney came aboard including a number of new Seamen Bosuns Mates. Five of them were to stay aboard and get their first taste of rough seas.

The sailors and shore support staff turned to. The 5-inch gun was made operable and other equipment was set to work. By 1800 Stuart was ready for sea.

That night a decision was made to delay sailing until Friday to allow Army specialists and members of the Federal and NSW Police Forces and Customs officers to join the ship. The helicopter joined on the same day.
About 113 of the ship’s company of 155 were aboard. They were bolstered by a PWO and cooks from Kuttabul, a medic from Penguin, an aircraft controller from Watson and six divers and a communicator from CDTONE led by LEUT Nic Martin.

“LEUT Rachel Chambers, a Legal officer from MHQ also joined,” CMDR Greaves said.

Meanwhile, at HMAS Albatross, arrangements were being made for a Seahawk flight to join the ship. These included recalling personnel who had just started Easter leave.

The temporary crew had grown to 203 people and for some this meant sleeping on stretchers on deck. The four-metre high seas and 30-knot winds ensured no one had much sleep.

CMDR Greaves took his ship well out in the Tasman Sea tracking southeast. On Saturday Stuart located Pong Su on radar and then shadowed out of sight over the horizon as she headed north.

By now the seas were slowly abating and CMDR Greaves decided to rehearse the boarding operation. The soldiers honed their fast roping skills. RHIBs were launched and SAS trained to use them.

The frigate made her move at a point 80 miles north east of Sydney, off Port Stephens.

“I decided that we would board the ship at first light on the Sunday, shortly after 0600.

“Our 5-inch gun was manned, the .50 cals were manned and we had people with Minimis. We had to show a military presence.”

As Stuart closed with the freighter at 25 knots CMDR Greaves radioed the captain to stop as he was going to be boarded.

“His English was broken but he understood. He stopped.”

As Stuart circled the freighter, the Seahawk took off with a team of soldiers who fast-roped to the deck and secured the ship. At the same time the three RHIBS, manned by SAS, took the police and Customs officers across.
The Seahawk then returned to the frigate for LEUT Martin and his five divers.

The troops confined the 30-member crew in the ship’s galley and café, while LEUT Martin and his team began a search for possible ordnance. Their attention was drawn to an unusual device, which required a second look.

“It turned out to be a jury rigged battery charger,” LEUT Martin said.

The captain of the Pong Su complained of chest paints resulting in the Seahawk winching an Army doctor and anaesthetist to the ship. He was later taken from his ship on a stretcher.

With the ship secured, LEUT Martin became the nominal Master of the vessel. He restarted the engines and set course towards Sydney.

Meanwhile, a second Seahawk helicopter from 816 Squadron with an Army doctor embarked was airborne in case of a casualty evacuation.

“There were no casualties and the operation was very successful,” CMDR Greaves said.

Pong Su was taken to Garden Island, declared a Federal Police crime scene and subjected to a thorough search by civilian authorities.

Since the operation CMDR Greaves and his ship’s company have received BZ’s from CDF, GEN Peter Cosgrove and MCAUST, RADM Raydon Gates.

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