Guns on ships are't enough to stop a pirate attack

[Reneage Riot]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517955,00.html

ROME — An Italian cruise ship with 1,500 people on board fended off a pirate attack far off the coast of Somalia when its Israeli private security forces exchanged fire with the bandits and drove them away, the commander said Sunday.

Cmdr. Ciro Pinto told Italian state radio that six men in a small white speed boat approached the Msc Melody and opened fire Saturday night, but retreated after the Israeli security officers aboard the cruise ship returned fire.

"It felt like we were in war," Pinto said.

None of the roughly 1,000 passengers and 500 crew members were hurt, Melody owner Msc Cruises said in a statement issued by its German branch.

Domenico Pellegrino, head of the Italian cruise line, said Msc Cruises hired the Israelis because they were the best trained security agents, the ANSA news agency reported.

More at link,

seem that a little resistance was enough to quickly make them change thier minds.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

You did not copy and paste the entire article. But the link is good, anyhoo.

It goes on to state that Unemployed young Israeli soldiers are finding security work for money popular as a chance to travel and to maintain thier skills in weaponry.

The Italian ship did drive off the pirates with weapons fire.

The Pirates are showing reach 500+ miles, getting further out and catching these ships.

I say it's good that we have trained people aboard to return fire and blast these little rowboats and pirates out of the water.

It's time these ships fight back. That is the only thing these pirates understand. Firepower, applied properly.

Im leaning towards a nice little SMAW or shoulder fired missile capable of wiping out the skiffs that these pirates use.

 

[Matrix187]

Mounted M2's at different points sounds appropriate. It might make the ship look "evil" though.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Evil? Nah.

Just a little tropical plant sitting on deck planted into or around the mount and a canvas cover signed "Employee use only"

Being able to sell the cruise with the sinking of the bad guys to assure your entertainment and security will be a plus.

I cannot think of anything more twisted than a shipload of fat american tourists cheering as the simple somalis provide simple targets and a bit of shooting before they get killed at distances reasonably assured not to upset too much with blood and gore.

I have even better idea...

Put Congress on the ship, send them into Somali coast for a fact finding mission. When they get attacked and all cower in the center of the ship, one of the Naval Warships showing up to save the day will be enough to provide the Marines and Navy with all of the budget needs for the year.

Oh and make sure that the Speaker of the Purse gets a VERY Good view of the whole thing.

 

[Titan6]

Mk-19s make a much better compliment for a large vessel. Greater range, more destructive.

I am confused by your title though. Why would having guns aboard stop an attack? Especially if the pirates don't even know about them.

 

[bikerdoc]

Is Common sense is dead when only the Isreali's have a solution?

Is the problem any different than a burglar coming into your home? - No? then what is the problem in arming merchantmen and criuse ships.
Lawyers in suits are ruining the world and politicians need to grow a pair!

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Did anyone watch the History Channel Last night of grabbing the trawler that was stealing the local fish inside the three mile zone?

 

[Titan6]

Did anyone watch the History Channel Last night of grabbing the trawler that was stealing the local fish inside the three mile zone?

I did not see it but this supposedly how pirates got started off Somalia. The facts are there have been pirates there for most of recorded human history. Lots of trade in a narrow area.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

The show indicated a group of merc's sending a RIB and some equiptment plus a ship from the UK to Liberia (Spelling?) and had to hunt for the RIB and get that thing into service. Once they got settled and organized to go hunt pirates, they see a big trawler with nets in water breaking law stealing from the local fishermen.

So they target to capture that trawler and bring it to justice with Government assistance. Gangs in the harbor docks were a big problem as well. The whole show is worth watching to see how a few people with the right... stuff and some coordination got things done that a government could not or will not do.

In that show they did indicate other pirate attacks onto unarmed merchant ships and in particular how one Engineer was able to scare off pirates by making a simple radio call (To which no one responded) while hurt and bleeding with a dead captian killed by gunfire aboard the ship.

Nah, sink them pirates and rejoice. It was that way 220 years ago and should still be that way today. They didnt give a *&^%^ for you then and they dont today.

 

[chris in va]

What wasn't mentioned in the article is the security team just fired in the air as a warning.

 

[EmGeeGeorge]

pirates suck...

Part of the problem is AIS... AIS shows exact positions of every ship falling under STCW req's, US and foreign... so Somali businessman in Lagos, Nigeria has shipping connections... his buddy who has access to AIS (also a UN mandated program in a sense) says, "Hey, Ishmal, the MV Cargopig will be heading thru these waters at this time on this date..." Ishmal calls buddies in Mogadishu on satt phone, they relay info to their buddies, and thats how guys in a leaky fishing boat can find cargo ships offshore 500 miles off... These arent random... nobody in power wants to acknowledge this but its how it is... get rid of the AIS, or secure it better... plus give the crews guns...

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

What wasn't mentioned in the article is the security team just fired in the air as a warning.

That's not like the Israelis I've come to know and love - to waste good ammo just to scare pirates away and let them live and raid another day. I'm disappointed.

Woody

 

[runrabbitrun]

Maybe we need to ban boats?
(Memo to Pelosi et el)...
Then the pirates wont have the
tools they need to get out to the ships. LMAO

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Or better yet, the cruise lines can provide what is like the old Teddy train cruises. Pack a cruise ship in a US port full of gun toting vactioneers and take them to the big gunrange off Somali waters using thier portholes as firing platforms.

Prizes to the top 10 shooters by lottery.

 

[AirplaneDoc]

Here is a novel approach, Start shooting the pirates, Somolia has no recognized functioning government, so there is really no one to complain when the pirates don't return to Somolia. Bringing them to the US for a trial is hardly going to slow them down. If I was a Somali I would become a pirate just to get captured and brought to the US for trial.

In the kinder gentle US prison system you get deloused, 3 meals every day, a bed, and heat and air conditioning. How is this worse than living in Somolia? US prison is a huge step up for a Somali pirate.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Already doing that with a 16 year old pirates.

But now only the lawyers are dusting off books to bring charges not used in over a century against someone for that activity.

I just hope that the pirate in question is put into the general population so that he can be broken in properly.

 

[Old Fuff]

I don't know if the "security guards" fired at the pirates or up in the air, but knowing what the Isreali's usually do I suspect the "up in the air" business is an attempt to avoid B.S. from the "peaceful solution" left-wing crowd in various European governments, not to mention our own.

But the important point is that the pirates quickly quit as soon as they met any armed resistance, feeble as it was.

Unless the ship owners want to continue to lose ships and crews, and end up paying millions in ransom, they should take a hard look at this example and stop pussy-footing around. Small rubber boats provide little or no cover for those in them, and make great targets.

 

[AirplaneDoc]

My point exactly. I think that the punishment for piracy in the US is hanging.

The Navy should have put him in a life raft and left him behind, after they bandaged his hand.

 

[bikerdoc]

Takeing no prisoners sends a better message.

Or better yet, the cruise lines can provide what is like the old Teddy train cruises. Pack a cruise ship in a US port full of gun toting vactioneers and take them to the big gunrange off Somali waters using thier portholes as firing platforms.

Pure genius, lets do the same at the border!!!
Sorry if any one is offended Im in one of my kick butt modes.

 

[daorhgih]

Does someone have a problem with fat, rich Americans??

. . . . . quote: "I cannot think of anything more twisted than a shipload of fat american tourists cheering as the simple somalis provide simple targets and a bit of shooting before they get killed. . ." If I am fat, and American, and have the $$$, what is wrong with YOU that you don't like me on a cruise ship? The main ingredient in the piracy is greed. These pirates don't care about VirginsInTheSky. They want money. There is no honor among thieves either, as they sometimes shoot each other for their jackpot. If they get close enough to try to board, then drop a few jugs of petrol in the boat and put a flare into the mess. The ammo around their necks will take care of the rest of the ops. No survivors permitted. End of piracy. Amen.

 

[Titan6]

I wonder when the last time an American tourist went on a cruise in the Indian Ocean?

 

[Hungry Seagull]

daorhgih half of the people in schools of all grades in my county are overweight or borderline obese. And these are children.

Alot of Westerners have gotten fat.

The Somalis dont have any fat, in fact they need nutrition or they waste away. SO they see us western ships as plunder and loot.

I stand by what I said. Looking at the young ladies today aint the same as looking at them 30 years ago when they were within thier weight/height standards without even trying because of all the activities they understake.

Go to a mall today, any mall that is still alive and look at the rats. They too are getting pudgy.

For fun checkout... www.deadmalls.com

They even have a walmart served by light rail from Baltimore where people apparently ride up there to Hunt Valley cheaply to do a bit of crime.

I dont mind parking a pax train down past Elpaso for a bit of shoot either. That is a great idea.

I myself expect to pack on some strudel and roast beef as I age and it's expected. But it is duty to try and stay fit so that you dont have a big cardiac attack when considering really drawing on that badguy who is targeting YOU. He might then retrieve your weapon and finish you off.

 

[Gerald in Ga]

Howdy daorhgih,
You do not have enough posts to complain.

 

[nwilliams]

delete

 

[Sir Aardvark]

Someone needs to re-instate the "Q-Ship" program like the British had in WWII.

Send out normal looking ships, which in fact are crewed by soldiers and armed to the teeth.