Hijacked US Crew "Retake Vessel"

[Seraphim]

How do you retake a cargo vessel from heavily armed gunmen? Are these 20 American "sailors" actually Navy Seals? That would be a nice setup.

Story

[Arrogance]

I've been following this as well. This nonsense has been going on for too long. I'm surprised there hasn't been a more concerted effort between nations for a decisive plan.

[stock_post]

Looks like Obama paid very fast.

[Seraphim]

I've been following this as well. This nonsense has been going on for too long. I'm surprised there hasn't been a more concerted effort between nations for a decisive plan.

On the bright side, the pirates don't seem to harm the hostages. Stability in Somalia should be a global priority, otherwise problems in various forms will always spill over.

[Arrogance]

On the bright side, the pirates don't seem to harm the hostages. Stability in Somalia should be a global priority, otherwise problems in various forms will always spill over.

I agree, its been miraculous that the majority of incidents have not resulted in fatalities. But on the other hand, its only a matter of time until things get more out of hand. Very volatile situations.
It should be a top international priority for a stable government in Somalia. But since the UN seems unwilling to condemn anyone or anything, this seems unlikely. Probably will get worse before it gets better since Ethiopian troops pulled out, which were largely responsible for propping up the weak central govt.

[Seraphim]

I agree, its been miraculous that the majority of incidents have not resulted in fatalities. But on the other hand, its only a matter of time until things get more out of hand. Very volatile situations.
It should be a top international priority for a stable government in Somalia. But since the UN seems unwilling to condemn anyone or anything, this seems unlikely. Probably will get worse before it gets better since Ethiopian troops pulled out, which were largely responsible for propping up the weak central govt.

The pirates are smart, and fully understand that loss of life is a game over scenario. Keep it strictly a commercial issue, and they know a solution will be temporary at best. The fact that there hasn't been any casualties (or very few) in such high stakes ransom environments (hundreds), is really impressive if you think about it. That would indicate to me that these guys are highly organized, level headed, and have a comprehensive understanding of action and reaction, and at gunpoint to boot.

I concur though, just a matter of time before things get ugly. The UN won't do anything as usual, they're impotent even on a good day. Mexico is in meltdown at our own border, no solution on the horizon there, so no way Somalia will even hit the radar screen in the US.

[Focus]

Don't these idiots have high powered rifles onboard? wtf? get close to the ship..bang.

[south]

Don't these idiots have high powered rifles onboard? wtf? get close to the ship..bang.

I agree completely. You're what, 50-100 feet over them, you have the strategic advantage. Blow them away!

But I read none of the crew were armed. I have no idea why anyone would go NEAR Somalia without weapons.

This raises another point though. So many people are unemployed, and lots of people with miliatry experience, you'd think someone with a brain would form a mercenary/security company to defend these ships. Buy/build some PT Boat type vessels, mount some 20mm/40mm cannons, rocket launchers, etc on the deck, and charge the crap out of the merchant ships owners. Surely there would be a great profit to be made. Hell the insurance companies for the frieght lines might even pay for the escort service.

Anyway...

[Seraphim]

I know a sailor, and he mentioned that most cargo ships do have weapons on board. Question is are you going to fire a hunting rifle or 9mm pistol at an ex Somali soldier holding a rocket propelled grenade? Outside of civilian weaponry, good luck adding military grade weapon systems to civilian vessels, and then getting permission to enter international ports.

Armed escorts would be expensive as hell, and just trickle costs back on to consumers. If the tax funded allied navies of the world can't deal with this problem in one swift move, then what in the hell are we all funding?

[draggar]

I know a sailor, and he mentioned that most cargo ships do have weapons on board. Question is are you going to fire a hunting rifle or 9mm pistol at an ex Somali soldier holding a rocket propelled grenade? Outside of civilian weaponry, good luck adding military grade weapon systems to civilian vessels, and then getting permission to enter international ports.

Armed escorts would be expensive as hell, and just trickle costs back on to consumers. If the tax funded allied navies of the world can't deal with this problem in one swift move, then what in the hell are we all funding?

They don't need to aim the RPG at people - a nice hit on the hull right on the water line...

Didn't a cruise ship fend off pirates last year using a sound-based weapon?

[Seraphim]

Didn't a cruise ship fend off pirates last year using a sound-based weapon?

That is what the media reported, but to be honest I often wonder if they aren't killing these pirates, and then just saying "oh looks like they got hit by a major storm 2 hours after the ransom was paid." I kid you not, that story ran on the BBC several months ago.

[Arrogance]

That is what the media reported, but to be honest I often wonder if they aren't killing these pirates, and then just saying "oh looks like they got hit by a major storm 2 hours after the ransom was paid." I kid you not, that story ran on the BBC several months ago.

I remember that story as well. I believe ransom money was found washed up on the coast next to the bodies of the pirates.

Would be tough to arm merchant vessels, and a task to provide training to the crew to operate imo.. not impossible, but it would open up another conversation entirely (SS Lotus case).

[Focus]

Well when I go out in my 35' boat anywhere more than a few miles off the coast my 7.62 x 39 mm chambered (AK-47 round) semi-auto AR-15 with a handful of 30 round banana clips goes with me...a small boat with obvious armed "bad guys" would'nt stand a chance once they got within my sights. First goes their outboard engine with about a dozen high powered FMJ rounds through it's block, then next would go the little pirate bastards with some soft point hunting rounds through their chest, neck, & heads. There is always the stainless 12 gauge pump pistol grip "defender" shotgun if that fails. Or my Ruger Mini-14 stainless carbine ranch model with a bunch of 50 round banana clips in .223 with a few thousand rounds of armor piercing military ammo laying around including a sniper scope that is very accurate out to at least 500 yards minimum, 700+ on a good day. Pirates on my boat? lmao..they would all be dead before that ever happened. Mariners rule is you don't ever let any pirates or strangers for that matter on your boat, period. They try, they die. International waters is martial law & that means shoot first ask questions later!

[Arrogance]

Well when I go out in my 35' boat anywhere more than a few miles off the coast my 7.62 x 39 mm chambered (AK-47 round) semi-auto AR-15 with a handful of 30 round banana clips goes with me...a small boat with obvious armed "bad guys" would'nt stand a chance once they got within my sights. First goes their outboard engine with about a dozen high powered FMJ rounds through it's block, then next would go the little pirate bastards with some soft point hunting rounds through their chest, neck, & heads. There is always the stainless 12 gauge pump pistol grip "defender" shotgun if that fails. Or my Ruger Mini-14 stainless carbine ranch model with a bunch of 50 round banana clips in .223 with a few thousand rounds of armor piercing military ammo laying around including a sniper scope that is very accurate out to at least 500 yards minimum, 700+ on a good day. Pirates on my boat? lmao..they would all be dead before that ever happened. Mariners rule is you don't ever let any pirates or strangers for that matter on your boat, period. They try, they die. International waters is martial law & that means shoot first ask questions later!

That is some serious weaponry. Some of these cargo companies should hire you bro

[Focus]

lol, thanks I'll pass.

[Gerry]

Our first two shipments of medical supplies and equipment surprisingly made to Ethiopia.

We are in the process of sending a third container out of a Port in Florida.

This whole effort is so risky.

[Focus]

The more I read this thread the more it makes me want to go get that Barrett semi-auto .50 my cop buddy is selling lol

http://www.barrettrifles.com/rifle_82.aspx

You can take out tanks & dinosaurs with that thing!

[Gerry]

it would be awesome to set up at piracy at sea where the entire crew were seals.

And have some of those containers rigged up to house seal teams inside. When the pirates open it up, there is a big surprise waiting for them.

[Focus]

Word up, they need to Rambo style their b*tchasses!

[Seraphim]

Must I mention Chuck Norris? I spent my entire childhood watching Chuck kick ass, no reason he can't take care of this problem.