The 11th naval escort squadron sent by the Chinese People's Liberation Army navy to Somali waters returned home Thursday after completing its mission.

The fleet, including the destroyer Qingdao, the frigate Yantai and the supply ship Weishanhu, has arrived at a port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province.

The ships left the Qingdao port in February this year and reached the Gulf of Aden on March 15.

During the 200-day mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters, the flotilla escorted and protected from pirates 184 vessels, checked and drove away 126 suspicious ships, rescued three ships from pursuits by pirates and provided aid to four Chinese and foreign crew members.

Prior to the fleet's return, the team also visited Ukraine, Romania, Turkey, Bulgaria and Israel.

China sent its first convoy to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters in December 2008.