Sulu Sea

The Sulu Sea is a large sea in the southwestern area of the Philippines. It is separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan, and from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago. Borneo is found to the southwest and Visayas to the northeast.

Sulu Sea contains a number of islands. The Cuyo Islands and Cagayan Sulu are part of the province of Palawan while Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi and the Turtle Islands are part of the province of Tawi-Tawi. Sulu Sea is also where the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, one of the World Heritage Sites is located.

Star Trek character Hikaru Sulu was named after the sea.

Naval Battle at Sulu Sea

Sulu Sea
Date 2004 Location {{{place}}} Result Decisive Filipino Victory Abu-Sayyaf and Al-Qaeda retreat back to Mindanao
Belligerents
Philippine Navy United States Marines	Abu Sayyaf boats al-Qaeda	MILF boats File:NPA.png NPA attack boats Pirates
Strength
Philippines: 6 patrol crafts, 2 corvettes, 2 S-76 attack helicopters Americans: 3 UH-60 Blackhawks, 2 Apache helicopters, 1 Frigate	6 Abu Sayyaf speed boats, 4 Al-Qaeda speed boats	6 MILF Machinegun boats, 3 NPA boats, 2 Pirate boats

Philippine ships with assistance from US forces attacked Abu-Sayyaf and Al-Qaeda boats crossing the Sulu Sea from Mindanao to Palawan. 4 hours into the attack Pirate boats crossing was also attacked by Philippine ships. NPA and MILF boats renforced the Pirate vesseles crossing during the battle. As soon as the Philippine navy was distracted by NPA and Pirates Abu-Sayyaf and Al-Qaeda boats tried to pass through but were attacked by US helicopters and fired upon by a US ship so had to retreat back to Mindanao

8°25′06″N 120°19′10″E