[XTR]

I think that the nasty pirate types may have unintentionally discovered its meaning.

Raiding the occasional tramp steamer and luxury yacht will get you press and an occasional flyover and some impotent support for the local coast guard, this action will get you gray ships loaded with serious (i.e. lethal) equipment and the capability to effectively utilize it.

 

[merlin2375]

I think your link is broken:

Somali pirates hijack Saudi oil tanker with Britons on board - Times Online

 

[merlin2375]

More info:

Pirates hijack Saudi 'super tanker' - CNN.com

 

[AjariBonten]

Dumb and Dumberer

:gunner

 

[CGMojo]

.50

The economic and environmental impact of a super tanker falling into the wrong hands is enormous. We may soon see onboard security teams with .50 Barrett rifles fore and aft.

YouTube - Barrett M107 .50 Caliber sniper rifle

 

[XTR]

Yea, my linky is broken but that is the story.

 

[XTR]

The economic and environmental impact of a super tanker falling into the wrong hands is enormous. We may soon see onboard security teams with .50 Barrett rifles fore and aft.

YouTube - Barrett M107 .50 Caliber sniper rifle

No I'm thinking more like USNavy Destroyer patrols/escorts. Radar aimed, rapid fire 5" guns make a really unhealthy environment for small pirate boats.

 

[Idiens]

I wonder how those pirates get on board a supertanker. Do they leave the pilot boarding ladder down?

 

[XTR]

Threaten an unarmed tanker with an RPG or two and the pilot ladder comes down.

It seems that China, Russia/USSR, Korea et al. dumped about a gazillion of the things into the region.

 

[Idiens]

Some ships defend themselves with water canon (fire hoses). A rib fills up pretty quick.

 

[bubb2]

Some ships defend themselves with water canon (fire hoses). A rib fills up pretty quick.

not to be a smart a-- but would you man a fire hose against live fire?

 

[jrd22]

The Somali pirates have been paid somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 million US this year in ransoms. They are well equipped, and well armed, this isn't going to go away anytime soon unfortunately.

John

 

[Idiens]

Well, there's enough bravado here about carrying firearms and defending against pirates. Defending must look a lot easier when the pirate is faced with climbing up several stories of steel wall.

Additionally, the pilot usually asks the ship to slow down for safe boarding. If the ship holds 20 knots, that's one bumpy ride down there in the pirates rib, so it will be difficult for them to aim straight.

 

[Idiens]

The Somali pirates have been paid somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 million US this year in ransoms. They are well equipped, and well armed, this isn't going to go away anytime soon unfortunately.

John

So the pirates caught by the British are a poor example? They were in a stolen dhow. For 30 million they could have afforded something better, - only this operation is being run by the guys with gold on their shoes.

Anyone know an official web site with pirate attack statistics?

 

[tommays]

It is becoming pretty clear that these pirates are not county bumpkins as it takes a heck of a lot of logistics to board a ship 400 + miles off the coast

I have to think when your sitting on a 2m barrel fireball self defense becomes a problem when there allowed to get within firing range much like the perimeter and aircraft carrier matinees at all costs there going to have to make big changes in how there defended

 

[Idiens]

Found this, but I think it was posted before:-

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fullMaps_Af.nsf/luFullMap/6F7A9682B19148DCC12574D7004439A6/$File/unosat_SEC_som081002.pdf?OpenElement

27 this year plus lost of other events....

 

[XTR]

My point here is that they have now touched the US oil supply. That tanker was bound for the US. In doing that they just changed categories from "nuisance" to "threat to US security" and that gets you a whole different level of attention. A dozen predator drones and a couple of destroyers out there makes piracy a lot higher risk operation. Nobody fishes with 6 or 8 guys in the boat. The birds will have an easy time picking out targets, and there is no surrounding village to wail and scream. They just vanish at sea.

 

[sailingdog]

An AC130 gunship would do nicely too.

 

[travler37]

This was taken 450 miles out at sea.
Last i heard it was being taken to there port...Someone help with the name here.Where all the said pirates..operate out of.No government to go after.Conveinent me thinks.

Now to the solution.Light it up with 130mm white pozzies.
Wait till it is offshore,hook down and burn it.Even better if the bring it into harbor.Tide just about to turn so they get 2million barrels of burning oil in there harbor.Keep hitting it with WP as the oil leaks out.Minimal harm to marine life versus letting the stuff go to the sea bed.And pretty much burns out there base to.....Nope,Grandpa never taught me to play nice nice.

My final thoughts on them
Mark

 

[jrd22]

and the 25 crewmembers of the tanker?