THIS is the moment when HMS Liverpool destroyed a craft suspected of laying mines for the Gaddafi regime off the Libyan coast.
The Type 42 destroyer fired its 4.5 inch gun across the bows of three rigid hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) which were spotted acting suspiciously while the ship was patrolling the waters off the besieged city of Misurata.
The warning shot forced two of the RHIBs to make a quick retreat to Zlitan harbour, while the crew of the third ran ashore, beached their craft, and fled on foot.
HMS Liverpool then fired a second round at the beached boat, scoring a direct hit and destroying the RHIB.
The small craft were initially spotted by a US Military Patrol Aircraft (MPA) as they left the pro-Gaddafi held Zlitan harbour. It was feared the craft could pose a threat to the civilian population of the rebel held coast if left unchecked.
To begin with warnings of increasing severity were read to give the three RHIBs an opportunity to return to the harbour. But when these were ignored, HMS Liverpool fired a warning “shot across the bows” of the three vessels.
