Something puzzles me, There are a number of reports in the papers about commercial vessels coming under attack from Pirates. A cruise liner recently was hit by an RPG, courtesy of Somali bandits who were attempting to board the Vessel and fill their boots. On this occasion the pirates were not succesful because the Liner had a special acoustic anti pirate system (?) which was successfully used.
I really cannot understand why these vessels dont a few weapons aboard, under the control of the Captain, or a security team. Having weapons aboard is a far less risky prospect than being totally at the mercy of a band of Pirates who wouldn't think twice about raping and murdering passengers and crew.
Anyone any clues as to why British civilian ships cannot and do not defend themselves properly? Or stories of where they have?
The saddening Sir Peter Blake scenario (where he went for a gun on his yacht and was subsequently shot by bandits) is a brutal example of what can happen when decent people arm themselves, but contrast this with stories of unarmed crews being murdered in the Straits of Malacca by pirates/bandits. Official Government advice is that vessels should not have firearms aboard as this makes them a target for thieves/bandits and the individual could fall foul of local laws.
Piracy is a huge problem in the Malacca Straights. Lived in Penang for 2 years and we only see the tip of the iceberg here compared to what happens on a day to day basis. Ref having weapons on board. Can only go by what a Merchant Seaman friend of mine once said. He often fealt more threatened by his own crewmates than he did in some of the worst ports/waters in the world.
Well in my day Merchant ships did carry firearms, prolly a few old Webley .455s in the Captains safe,that was mostly in case the crew mutinied or canabalism broke out or the cook went insane,(a common occurance) Tiz not that easy to board a Merchant ship under way. As I understood it all merchant ships built in the UK in the fifties and sixties had to have re-enforced decks in various postions to hold a deck gun should war break out.
Surely if the captain felt threatened more by his crewmates, more the reason to have a .455 in his safe?
Tony, what changed then? Any ideas why Captains can't/don't keep the old revolver in the safe anymore? If I were a Captain on a vessel in a dangerous area i'd want one, If I were a passenger on a vessel in a dangerous area, i'd want el Capitan to have one.
What makes you think they can't,? as far as I know nothing to stop blue water merchant ships carrying a firearm or two, prolly those plastic Glocks now though. In my day trouble with Malay Pirates and they would have sent one of these chaps.
They wudda blown said pirates out of the water hanged the entire populations of the villages they hailed from and layed waste to a few hundred square miles of the country said villages stood in. We didn't **** about in those days,and as Don Corleone said,they they will fear you.
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Interesting report here concerning a clash between purported Somali pirates and the US Navy:
Quote:
On Saturday, the US Navy reported an exchange of fire between two of its ships and the suspected pirates.
There are contradictory reports on how the gunbattle began.
Saleban Aadan Barqad said his men returned fire after being attacked by the American warships. But the US navy says the warships were targeted by the suspected pirates.
Foolhardy pirates indeed, if they'd really decided to take on a couple of these...
Wouldn't use Goalkeeper. It's true it is a better system, but Phalanx will still ruin the scumbags' day, and it's a bolt-on system. Mmmmm, might order one for the flat, for when loudmouthed drunks annoy me when I have an early flight
A couple of marksmen with 20mm anti materiel weapons should prevent them getting any closer than 1000m or so. RPG7 effective range around 100-700m, self destruct at 900m odd. Denel build a beaut.
The Peter Blake scenario is a perfect example of why it's a good idea to keep your firearms free from salt water, and not try to use them while you're off your nut on cocaine. Serves him right, Korean red socks, hypocrite.
Loud noises are all well and good, but sometimes there's no substitute for being able to make a hole in someone.
Korean red socks, 
