Comments on: How should the crew have responded?

By: sirius_sir

sirius_sir — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:16:55 +0000

JWT@69, Don’t presume to know my estimation of our former President based on your inability to read sarcasm.

Next time, for your benefit, I’ll include the obligatory scare quotes around “mistake.”

By: 907ie

907ie — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:45:26 +0000

Just arm a few merchant ships with some heavy weapons, and let them go hunting the motherships.
I’m sure all kinds of hardware is available at many of the ports they visit, and them loading some heavy crates wouldn’t arise any attention. And there isn’t a shortage of trained operators for the weapons if you have money to spend.

After they are done, just roll the cannon over the side, take a clue from the Dems, “there is no evidence of wrongdoing”.
To hell with all the stinking governments.

By: exhelodrvr

exhelodrvr — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:02:50 +0000

It’s up to the shipping owners, and they will do whatever they deem to be the most cost-effective.

I doubt that they will arm the crews; most likely some companies will hire Blackwater-type guards and some will continue paying ransom.

I expect that there will also be some sort of limited preemptive military activity, which will probably not be strong enough to address the problem.

By: Quelle

Quelle — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:24:03 +0000

Piratates have to climb over the rails of the deck…usually from a ladder attached to the ship? Electrify all frickin’ climbing ladders. Zap the sons of bitches with 100,000 volts when half way up, sending them into the drink. No firearms needed.

By: Cheapshot911

Cheapshot911 — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:25:57 +0000

‘Back again. ‘Did some poking into ancient anti boarding techniques and tools.
It seems that the first of he most successful steps usually include the use of grapeshot, parrot rifles and short range firearms.

There’s an awesome selection weapons around, but when I consider 1/knockdown 2/reliability 3/ fire superiority and 4/damage to downrange objects, The old Trench Broom our Fathers loved, the humble Thomson .45 might fill most all the requirements with style and ease.
The ball ammo bounces off most bulkheads and pipes, increasing hit probability while reducing downrange puncture damage a bit.
No point in having more than a deck swab and a few paint touch ups to face after that kind of ordeal.

Of course, the first weapon to be deployed when they breach the gunwale should be a hot blanket of 00 buckshot.
I expect that the combined noise of the semi auto shotguns and the distinctive clatter of the Tommy would give any survivors something to tell the rest that would give them pause to consider another career.
Not a bad choice if big belt fed swivel mounted stuff doesn’t fit the budget or decor.
I personally favor the particle beam and energy projection weapons.
They can be pricey if you don’t have a coupon tho’..

By: Tom in CA

Tom in CA — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:02:13 +0000

Just wondering what the administrations response would be to a group of let’s say KKK or Neo-Nazi lads hijacking some vacationing minorities off the coast of Florida – just to gather funds for a new clubhouse or beer money?

By: Cheapshot911

Cheapshot911 — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:47:10 +0000

Lawyers will operate in their own interest.
If pirates were killed outright, the trials, appeals, book deal spinnofs, negotiating contracts etc. would be removed from the market area.
“Givea man a fish,and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish,and you lose a wonderful business opportunity.” K. Marx

By: peterike

peterike — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:02:33 +0000

Whoops! Three more ships hijacked! Seems fearless leader, the Greatest Military Hero since World War II, has not had quite the deterrent effect on things in that neck of the woods.

Hell, the hijackers are probably hoping they find someone to surrender to, since that means a free ticket to court in America, probably no more than a year or two in jail, and then release right into an American street. Jackpot!

By: JWT

JWT — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:42:06 +0000

@Nahncee – “I have this lovely mental image of a couple of US submarines lurking submerged in the waters off Somalia. They can track boats that are leaving land, and then time it to come up for air exactly when said boats are right above them. Boats are crushed, Somali’s are drownded, submarine goes back down.”

Or, affix harpoon to sub nose and ram ‘em down, Capt. Nemo style.

By: toad

toad — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:40:50 +0000

Our real enemies aren’t the Somali Pirates. It is the lawyers. As long as lawyers are immune from the death and loss that they cause the more uncivilized the world becomes.