Sea Tigers

Sea Tigers
கடற்புலிகள்
Active1984 - 18 May 2009
Country Tamil Eelam
BranchLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
TypeNon-state navy[1][2]
RoleAmphibious 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
Size500 - 1,000
Motto(s)கடலிலே காவியம் படைப்போம்
(Tamil: Create History at Sea)
ColorsBlue and White
Anniversaries10 April(Regimental day)
EngagementsSri 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]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Colonel Soosai new LTTE chief?". India Today. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  4. ^ "IPCS | Institute Of Peace & Conflict Studies". Ipcs.org. Archived from the original on 17 April 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Janes article stating; Battles highlight Sea Tigers' capabilities". Archived from the original on 16 October 2006. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Article on LTTE from Energypublisher". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  8. ^ "International Terrorism Monitor - Paper No.13, First Maritime Terrorism Attack of 2006". Archived from the original on 2007-06-07.
  9. ^ "SLAF believes Soosai killed in air attack". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  10. ^ "The fall of Chalai and the death knell to Sea Tigers". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 26 July 2022.