Smack, bang, gone
North Korean drug ship sinks to a watery grave after being destroyed by laser-guided bombs from two F-111s

By Michael Brooke
Volume 48, No. 5, April 6, 2006

North Korean drug ship Pong Su destroyed

North Korean drug ship Pong Su destroyed

North Korean drug ship Pong Su destroyed

North Korean drug ship Pong Su destroyed

* The Pong Su was a North Korean ocean freighter that was intercepted in territorial waters in April 2003, after being suspected of smuggling almost 150kg of heroin into Australia. After police seized 50kg of heroin at Lorne in Victoria, the Australian Government ordered Pong Su into harbour, but the ship attempted to escape into international waters. After a four-day chase by HMAS Stuart, known as Operation Tartan, the Pong Su was captured when an Army Special Forces team stormed the ship in a Seahawk landing. Four Pong Su officers pleaded guilty to drug charges and were jailed, with the remainder of the crew members deported to North Korea. The Pong Su was destroyed to send a strong message to international drug smugglers.

WITH a bang and a flash it was all over – the smoking hull of the ship was all that was left to slip beneath the waters when two F-111s were put to task for the Australian Federal Police (AFP) last month.

Sinking the North Korean drug ship Pong Su provided No. 82WG and No. 1SQN personnel with training opportunities in the planning and execution of maritime strike missions.

Two F-111s from No. 1SQN, based at RAAF Base Amberley, sunk the Pong Su some 140kms off Jervis Bay using laser-guided bombs.

Video captured by an AP-3C aircraft showed two 2000lb laser-guided bombs hitting Pong Su with such destructive power that sections of her hull literally disintegrated before the ship rolled over and sank beneath the waves.

GPCAPT Gavin Davies, Officer Commanding No. 82WG at Amberley, told AIR FORCE News that they assisted in the disposal of the vessel following a request from AFP.

Pong Su was apprehended in 2003 trying to smuggle 150kg of heroin into Australia.

GPCAPT Davies said a scenario was developed to maximise the training benefit for all the crews involved.

“As a result, the crews conducted detailed planning to counter this scenario and achieve the objectives,” he said.

GPCAPT Davies said conducting, planning and executing the mission provided the crews of No. 1SQN’s F-111s with an excellent opportunity to test their training, aircraft, and weapons systems in the maritime strike role.”

“On the maintenance and support aspects, it gave the squadron and numerous other units on the base the opportunity to test their skills at providing aircraft, weapons, and systems support to ensure the aircrew were provided with the ‘tools’ they needed to complete the task,” he said.

GPCAPT Davies said a total of four F-111s from No. 1SQN participated in the exercise, but only two F-111s served as the primary strike assets.

He said that in the unlikely scenario the ship was not sunk by the primary strike aircraft, a third F-111 was on-hand to provide back-up weapon support to ensure the ship would not become a hazard.

The fourth aircraft performed the range and laser safety duties as well as imagery support.

GPCAPT Davies said No. 92WG provided an AP-3C aircraft to conduct strike support as well as range clearance and environmental clearance tasks.

In addition, the range was monitored by No. 92WG to ensure no civilian shipping strayed into the range and that all environmental considerations were adhered to.

The images found on this page are stills taken from video footage.

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