| Sea Tigers | |
|---|---|
| கடற்புலிகள் | |
 | |
| Active | 1984 - 18 May 2009 |
| Country |  Tamil Eelam |
| Branch |  Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam |
| Type | Non-state navy[1][2] |
| Role | Amphibious warfare Arms trafficking Bomb disposal Clandestine operation Close-quarters battle Fire support Force protection HUMINT Irregular warfare Jungle warfare Maritime patrol Naval boarding Naval warfare Piracy Raiding Special operations Suicide attack Tracking Underwater demolition |
| Size | 500 - 1,000 |
| Motto(s) | கடலிலே காவியம் படைப்போம் (Tamil: Create History at Sea) |
| Colors | Blue and White |
| Anniversaries | 10 April(Regimental day) |
| Engagements | Sri Lankan Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Colonel Soosai[3] |
| Notable commanders | Colonel Soosai †, Lt.Col Gangai Amaran†, Lt. Colonel Cheliyan † |
The Sea Tigers (Tamil: கடற்புலிகள் Kaţaṛpulikaḷ) was the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the Sri Lankan Civil War. It was founded in 1984.[4] The Sea Tigers had a number of small but effective suicide bomber vessels.[5] During its existence it had gained a reputation as a capable adversary for the Sri Lankan Navy.[6] During the civil war, the Sea Tigers had sunk at least 29 Sri Lankan small inshore patrol boats, 20 Dvora-class fast patrol boats, 3 gunboats, 2 Large surveillance command ships, and one freighter.[citation needed][7]
The Sea Tigers were led by Soosai, with their main base at Mullaitivu, on the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka[8] and their last base was taken when the Sri Lanka Army captured Chalai in Mullaitivu in February 2009.[9][10]
- ^ Murphy, Martin N. (1 December 2012). "The abundant sea: prospects for maritime non-state violence in the Indian Ocean". Journal of the Indian Ocean Region. 8 (2): 173–187. doi:10.1080/19480881.2012.730751. ISSN 1948-0881. S2CID 154409915.
- ^ "From the East India Company to Disney to the Cola Wars: A Brief Collection of Non-State Navies". USNI News. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Colonel Soosai new LTTE chief?". India Today. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "IPCS | Institute Of Peace & Conflict Studies". Ipcs.org. Archived from the original on 17 April 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Asia Times Online :: South Asia news - civilian boatyard. The attack on the boatyard comes amid fierce fighting, which has". 21 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-21. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Janes article stating; Battles highlight Sea Tigers' capabilities". Archived from the original on 16 October 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Article on LTTE from Energypublisher". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "International Terrorism Monitor - Paper No.13, First Maritime Terrorism Attack of 2006". Archived from the original on 2007-06-07.
- ^ "SLAF believes Soosai killed in air attack". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ^ "The fall of Chalai and the death knell to Sea Tigers". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 26 July 2022.