LTTE Sea Tigers sneak attack craft and midget subs

[Gibbs]

I highly doubt.

Funding initially through India.. But that was at a very nascent stage, India withdrew thier support after Rajiv Gandhi was blown to pieces but Tamil Nadu remained the main financial and political support base.

By the time they developed these machines they had a comprehensive global network, from Tamil diaspora in the West, to human, arms and drug smuggling network.. . A fleet of foreign flagged merchant ships etc.. At thier height of power the LTTE was the richest terrorist org ever existed according to the CIA

 

[Sliver]

they did have some innovative designs. I have to give it to them for the heart to try those out as well. In a corner of my mind, I wish SL captured these designers alive. they can be a powerhouse of midget submarines.

 

[cloud4000]

Funding initially through India.. But that was at a very nascent stage, India withdrew thier support after Rajiv Gandhi was blown to pieces but Tamil Nadu remained the main financial and political support base.

By the time they developed these machines they had a comprehensive global network, from Tamil diaspora in the West, to human, arms and drug smuggling network.. . A fleet of foreign flagged merchant ships etc.. At thier height of power the LTTE was the richest terrorist org ever existed according to the CIA

They also extorted money from Sri Lankan Tamils by threatening their relatives in Sri Lanka. LTTE was back then what ISIS is now.

 

[muhammadali233]

Funding initially through India.. But that was at a very nascent stage, India withdrew thier support after Rajiv Gandhi was blown to pieces but Tamil Nadu remained the main financial and political support base.

By the time they developed these machines they had a comprehensive global network, from Tamil diaspora in the West, to human, arms and drug smuggling network.. . A fleet of foreign flagged merchant ships etc.. At thier height of power the LTTE was the richest terrorist org ever existed according to the CIA

Why India wanted to destabilise Sri Lanka?Best friends?Eh?
If Sri Lanka's Forces hadn't taken quick action against LTTE they would have come up with indigenous fighters too .

 

[Gibbs]

Why India wanted to destabilise Sri Lanka?Best friends?Eh?
If Sri Lanka's Forces hadn't taken quick action against LTTE they would have come up with indigenous fighters too .

SL/India were never best friends.. The destabilization was due to cold war politics at that time.. The Indira Gandhi regime saw an opportunity in SL Tamils and their grievances to interfere and destabilize the country because of it's leanings to the West particularly the US..

The main impediment to a more healthy relationship have always been Tamil Nadu and it's Tamil supremacist politics.. As long as India respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of the island i dont see why a strong Indo/Lanka bilateral relationship wont be possible.. In a globalized world it will be mutually beneficial

 

[GR!FF!N]

Why India wanted to destabilise Sri Lanka?Best friends?Eh?
If Sri Lanka's Forces hadn't taken quick action against LTTE they would have come up with indigenous fighters too .

well,they had indigenous bombers...

it did some damage as well....

 

[Indika]

Tamil Nadu remained the main financial and political support base.

Nope, it was europe , canada and south east asia where LTTE got most of the finance from. Politicians in tamil nadu only benefitted from LTTE's money.

y the time they developed these machines they had a comprehensive global network, from Tamil diaspora in the West, to human, arms and drug smuggling network.. . A fleet of foreign flagged merchant ships etc.. At thier height of power the LTTE was the richest terrorist org ever existed according to the CIA

True they had a well oiled financing machine in the west. Most of the western intelligence agencies either collaborated or turned a blind eye to their activities.

 

[Hamza913]

The Narco-sub connection

There has been speculation that LTTE provided semi-sub and low profile vessel (LPV) knowhow to the Colombian drug Cartels c2006-9. On at least one occasion Tamil crewmen were captured aboard narco-subs operating between Colombia and Mexico. Circumstantially a transfer of ideas and design details is plausible but overall narco-sub and LTTE semi-subs are definitely not 1-1 copies. In particular steel plate is rarely used in narco-subs, and outboard motors almost never.

A large narco-sub from 2007 (top) and a roughly similar LTTE semi-sub from 2009. Both are twin engine with similar propeller and rudder configurations. The Sea Tiger craft is unusually large for the LTTE and may have been designed for smuggling supplies, much like a narco-sub.

Although the narco-sub shown is a more elaborate design, both craft have an integrated senor/snort mast designed to allow it to operate completely submerged except for the mast. Additionally, both are built in two halves with the main join running horizontally along the sides.

Sri Lankan Navy Special Forces: SBS

In response to the Sea Tigers the Sri Lankan Navy began to experiment with Special Forces. Initially an unsanctioned group formed around Lieutenant Commander Shanthi Bahar and conducted reconnaissance and raiding in LTTE territory. The death of Bahar during an operation delayed official recognition of the unit, but the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) was formed in 1983. The SBS was largely modelled on their British namesake and adopted the Swimmer Canoeist model. The unit soon developed inshore and brown water capabilities, as well as air mobility and jungle tactics. Home http://www.navy.lk/special-unit.html

@Gibbs @jhungary @Penguin @Irfan Baloch @Nilgiri
The LTTE is probably one of the few terrorist organizations that experimented this far. Although most designs are not that practitical their suicide attacks were definitly extremely effective.

Clever b@stards.

Who provided them ??

India.

 

[asad71]

In an asymmetric war, the weaker party needs to innovate Tactics, Strategy and Eqpt to meet the challenge from the larger party. Nations like BD, faced with a massive potential foe,, need to prepare themselves mentally and prepare the basic infrastructure to manufacture the innovations needed. Further, higher institutions of mily studies need to constantly explore newer tactical and strategic options to adopt.

 

[Indika]

SL/India were never best friends.. The destabilization was due to cold war politics at that time.. The Indira Gandhi regime saw an opportunity in SL Tamils and their grievances to interfere and destabilize the country because of it's leanings to the West particularly the US..

The main impediment to a more healthy relationship have always been Tamil Nadu and it's Tamil supremacist politics.. As long as India respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of the island i dont see why a strong Indo/Lanka bilateral relationship wont be possible.. In a globalized world it will be mutually beneficial

Sri lanka is no saint either beginning with disenfranchising tamils then went on to committing one atrocity upon another. Activities of parties like JVP are very well documented.

But what pissed off India is the sri lanka's support to pakistan during 1971 war. (remember LTTE was not even started then )
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world...in-1971-war/story-UpZWXd0fFX5eDPac0KMIYL.html

"We in Pakistan cannot forget the logistical and political support Sri Lanka extended to us in 1971 when it opened its refueling facilities for us," she said.

During the 1971 war, Pakistani aircraft refueled at the Bandaranaike airport while on way to East Pakistan, which later became Bangladesh. Because Pakistani aircraft couldn't fly over India, the planes had to stop here to refuel.

Interestingly, during the same time when Pakistani aircraft were filling their fuel tanks inside the airport, a limited contingent of Indian army troops were deployed to guard airport's periphery against an attack by extreme Left insurgents.

Sri lanka created a conducive situation in their own country for terrorism to fester which India took advantage of. If Sri lanka had been neutral India would have had no good reason to support LTTE. There would have been some emotional support from minority in tamil nadu but state support certainly would not have been available.

As the saying goes when two elephants fight its the grass that gets destroyed. It would be wise for Sri lanka not to get involved or show partiality with any of the Asian heavy weights.

 

[Danish saleem]

amazing research by LTTE!

 

[Sliver]

SL/India were never best friends.. The destabilization was due to cold war politics at that time.. The Indira Gandhi regime saw an opportunity in SL Tamils and their grievances to interfere and destabilize the country because of it's leanings to the West particularly the US..

The main impediment to a more healthy relationship have always been Tamil Nadu and it's Tamil supremacist politics.. As long as India respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of the island i dont see why a strong Indo/Lanka bilateral relationship wont be possible.. In a globalized world it will be mutually beneficial

IN 1977 SL elected a Pro US govt. At that time, India had cold ideas about the US (support to adversary Pak in 1971).
In 1971 (and many such examples) SL allowed Pak to refuel in its land in a war against India - which effectively means that you were friends of the enemy.

Personally, I do not see them as provocations by SL, but I do see why India would take it in a bad taste.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Perhaps one of the few organisations in the world which had a well established forms of governance with military R&D spending. It was later documented, that LTTE which emerged as a guerilla force, began to fight like a conventional army leading to its defeat.
Even before when SL forces, marched upto the north, LTTE would employ guerilla tactics, hitting them hard at their weakest time, paving victories. Fighting like an conventional army means you should have the best of equipments which they dont have.
Their naval innovations, air wing (only terror org to have one) is pretty impressive.

 

[Thorough Pro]

the big question is where were they made? and who financed all that?

Micro-LPVs
Some Low Profile Vessels were very small and fitted somewhere between Human Torpedoes and Explosive boats. Note the vents and T-shaped outlet over the forward hull, key indicators for LTTE LPVs.

5. Semi-subs

Taking the low profile considerations a step further, semi-submersibles run almost completely submerged. However, the cockpit, air intakes and engine exhaust are usually above the surface. They have to be built more strongly than LPVs, with the most elaborate versions running completely submerged except for the snort masts – these are called ’snorkel subs’.

First large steel semi-sub
This craft was found in shallow water along the Vellamullaivaikkal coast in June 2009. Although described as a submersible, the twin snort mast (air in, exhaust out) and single propeller suggest that it is a semi-sub. Additionally the access hatch is square which is not ideal for true submersibles. It does have large ballast tanks running along the sides however so would have had the ability to control its operating depth. The mild steel craft was 7.3m (24ft) long (without rudder or warhead on nose) and 1.2m (4ft) across.

from www.defence.lk/


Steel semi-sub #2 Gokulan-24
Another steel semi-sub, this time captured in 2008. The forward and aft hydroplanes are visible, as is the small rudder. It was 5.4m (18ft) long and 1.5m (5ft) across. The writing is a male name, Gokulan (கோகுலன்), although the meaning is unclear.

from eelavarkural.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/

 

[Moon]

well,they had indigenous bombers...

If you mean, taking another bird and improvising it, yes.
It's a Czech Z-143.

Perhaps maybe this one, as upon research LTTE operated 2 of them.