Sea Tigers
| Sea Tigers | |
|---|---|
| கடற்புலிகள் | |
| Active | 1984 - 18 May 2009 |
| Country | Tamil Eelam |
| Branch | Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam |
| Type | Non-state navy |
| 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 |
| 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. The Sea Tigers had a number of small but effective suicide bomber vessels. During its existence it had gained a reputation as a capable adversary for the Sri Lankan Navy. 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.
The Sea Tigers were led by Soosai, with their main base at Mullaitivu, on the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka. Their last base was taken when the Sri Lanka Army captured Chalai in Mullaitivu in February 2009.