Somali Pirates

[tec0]

LRAD has been used against pirates and has not worked. It works very well with normal crowd control.

Please allow me to introduce the Phalanx CIWS. This thing will turn anything "almost anything" into Swiss-Cheese!

It is deck mountable and has a effective range of 3600 meters (depending there are more powerful versions out) so you have a 2000 meter safety zone!

Now if anything comes your way you will be able to sink it before they are in range to use their weapons of choice. An example would be ever-popular RPG (distance of 930 meters)

So if the LRAD fails to keep them away then option B (Phalanx CIWS) will be a bid more persuasive

[Blurock]

I agree that we are too civilised. That was why the Iraqi war dragged on for so long and that is why Afghanistan is still in turmoil. You can not kill and kiss at the same time. Decide what you want to do and get the job done in the shortest possible time.

Although I despised them, the Nazis perfected the blitzkrieg. Strike hard and fast and then put your own structures in place. This way there is less collateral damage and everyone knows who is in charge.

I can not believe that the superpowers of this world can allow themselves to be stuffed around by a bunch of terrorists in powerboats. They know exactly what they have to do, they just do not have the resolve and the will to face the problem. These animals have no human rights, just blow them out of the water!

[tec0]

I honestly don't think you will resolve the problem with massive bombings "delay it perhaps" but it will not solve anything.

Consider this: recolonization...

If each of the UN countries establishes an active base and sea port they can bring in food and equipment to purify water for agriculture thus creating a massive foundation for jobs and economic stability.

This way you can encourage the people to work with the UN and thus allowing for much more manpower… Once living conditions improves the UN can create a special council to act as a permanent Custodian.

This way the people also win, they get security, agriculture, and improved living conditions. The UN gets valuable resources.

[gac]

I know it sounds simple and shallow but cant the Somali and adjacent waters not be patrolled by NATO or some other organisation and random "water" blocks be set up to check all vessels. Those with weapons get dealt with accordingly although I suspect a boat with weapons could also claim to be carrying weapons for self-protection. If they're identified to be Pirates simply turn them into fish food.

[Dave A]

As I've been following this thread I've been thinking much the same thing, gac. What is needed is a strong navy presence in the area.

Merchant marine vessels are sitting ducks, and I don't think anyone who hasn't been in the military, or perhaps through a serious military roadblock with heavily armed vehicles in attendance, has any appreciation of the gulf between a military force (which is what these pirates are) and an armed civilian crew.

[Blurock]

There will be pirates for as long as everyone wants to fool around on the high seas and ignore the cause of the problem. Capturing them and taking them to court does not work.

Everyone knows where the pirates have their bases. Just go in and take them out!

[wynn]

If I had a fleet of illegal taxis some of which were used for bank robberies and I kept them in a particular village (loksie) where there were other illegal taxis and a lot of innocent civilians.
I could not be surprised if the authorities came in and destroyed all the illegal taxis in the village, even those belonging to non bank robbers, they can't claim innocence if they don't report the presence of the criminal element.

The rest of the population would be unharmed by this action and in the case of Somalia just donate enough fish to make up the shortfall of genuine fishermen, who loses? It will be a lot cheaper than patrolling the gulf and surrounds.

[tec0]

Arming the cargo ships with ranged weapons sounds a bit Rambo but it will work. If the Pirates can't get close enough to deploy their weapons then effectively they cannot continue with their campaign.

Setting up heavily armed bases along the coastline will aid the gathering of intelligence and you will have a much higher response time to identify Pirates.

As a Pirate they have all their bases covered:
1. Civilian shield
2. Ease of Access to Petrol
3. Ease of Access to Boats
4. Ease of Access to Military grade Weapons.
5. They are random and have a massive coastline to operate from.

In short it is a naval nightmare… So how do one deal with this?

Long range weapons "none lethal and lethal" will discourage Pirates.
Patrols as they are now are ineffective having more patrols will also be ineffective for the simple reason "it is a big piece of ocean.

Perhaps one can limit their range via a fuel boycott?

[Phil Cooper]

Was reading an article on this by someone who studied the issue.

Nearly all attacks come from the rear of the boat being attacked.

Drag thin, but strong, wire cables behind the boat. It tangles up the screws of the attacking boats, and suddenly they can't go anywhere.

[Justloadit]

We are missing the point here, you are trying to stick a band aid strip on a gash/slashed wound. Its not gonna work, you are still going to bleed to death, maybe a while longer.

The only way that aircraft hijacking was cleared was when the authorities started taking out the hijackers, instead of negotiating.

It's simple, the problem will continue as there is no danger to the perpetrators. If they get taken out, it serves as a lesson to others. Look back in history, the reason that there were heinous punishment, was to serve as a deterant to others.

If the Somali's get away with it, then every band of hooligans with AK47s will start doing the same thing, as it is highly profitable with a very low risk.

[tec0]

If one Google the subject one would find many Videos and Photos of Pirates being shot/killed or badly wounded. Long range weaponry means the ship being attacked can shoot first with none lethal/lethal weaponry well within in a "safe" distance.

Will this stop the ships being attacked? No… Sadly a large container ship is a slow moving target with many vulnerabilities. Thus in that respect one must consider how one can disable the Pirate rather than protect the ship.

The simple truth is some ships will get big guns others will not. Some ships are easy targets others are not. One will never be able to protect them all unless one removes the problem.

One can try diplomacy, if that fails one can continue taking harsher steps…

[Just Gone]

ONE should just shoot them ............ when they climb aboard !

[tec0]

ONE should just shoot them ............ when they climb aboard !

If they are close enough to get onboard they are close enough to use a RPG and sink your ship and the crew becomes shark snacks…

[Just Gone]

If they are close enough to get onboard they are close enough to use a RPG and sink your ship and the crew becomes shark snacks…

Now why would they do that when they want to capture a ship and people for ransom ? which is what is happening at the moment ???
They have no interest in sinking a ship !

[tec0]

Like a highjack scenario they come with a gun and say they will use it if you don’t do as they say. Well the RPG has the same intimidation power as it will sink a ship a 9mm or AK47 will not sink a ship of that size.

With the RPG they can force the people to allow them to board the ship "some ships are actually very difficult to board otherwise. So basically with the RPG they have no option because the chances are that the criminals will use the RPG.

So it is within the realm of probability that they will sink the ship if their demands are not met.