American Crew Regains Control of Hijacked Ship,

[kimberly]

has anyone heard about the captain? is he ok?

[Fantasy Chaser]

If threatened ships blast oncoming pirates with “precise beams” of warning messages, sirens, etc., it could be enough to cause “absolute agony” to any ambitious pirates, according to APMSS chief executive Nick Davis, and could make them turn back.

I'm skeptical of the effective range of this, especially if the pirates wear hearing protection (and since this thing is public knowledge and they have loud weapons themselves, why wouldn't they?).

[Bucks]

I don't understand why ships don't have weapons aboard to counter pirates.

On second thought, maybe they fear socialist liberals in Spain and other countries who think their courts should rule the world.

.

[Blackwell]

I don't understand why ships don't have weapons aboard to counter pirates.

On second thought, maybe they fear socialist liberals in Spain and other countries who think their courts should rule the world.

.

I figure there is some type of liability and/or insurance issue as to why they don't arm themselves.

[Bucks]

I'm skeptical of the effective range of this, especially if the pirates wear hearing protection (and since this thing is public knowledge and they have loud weapons themselves, why wouldn't they?).

More info;

A variety of nonlethal acoustical weapons have been proposed and evaluated. Some of these are little more than fancy loud-speakers, while others involve more subtle or sophisticated processes and truely deserve the designation of acoustic weapon.

Simple high-intensity sound causes the inner ear to generate nerve impulses that register as sound. Since the inner ear also regulates spatial orientation, saturation of the inner ear by high-intensity sound may cause spatial disorientation. For example, loud music was used by American forces to drive Manual Norriega from the Vatican Embassy in Panama in 1990.

High-intensity low-frequency sound may cause other organs to resonate, causing a number of physiological results, possibly including death. Acoustic weapons pose the hazard of being indiscriminate weapons, potentially imposing the same damage on friendly forces and noncombatants as on enemy combatants or other targets.

Accoustic Weapons

[Fantasy Chaser]

I could see such weapons complicating pirate attacks, but not preventing them. The range of conventional weapons combined with the pirate boats being equipped to shield against it (my guess is that it wouldn't take a lot) until the speakers could be taken out are what I suspect will be the dominant factor. I'll admit I haven't looked into this stuff, though.

What I would like to see are some good old-fashioned "mystery ships;" innocuous-looking freighters armed to the teeth (concealed), operated by military crews, and helicopter-equipped. That would sort them out.

[samspade]

U.S. crew of vessel hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia regain control

One pirate is reportedly in custody. A U.S. official said the status of the other pirates is unknown but they were reported to "be in the water."

FOXNews.com - American Crew Regains Control of Hijacked Ship, One Pirate in Custody - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

Don't mess with Americans.

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Listening to the news today on this subject I thought they should start to kill these guys and give no quarter to the pirates. I wonder how long this would go on if deadly force was used against these guys.

Perhaps the shipping companies should arm these ships and when one of these pirates show up just kill them.

[Emperor Dragon ARX]

Count me in for a PMC! :P

(Btw, FC... hearing protection never completely prevents you from hearing noise.)

Looks like they are going high tech.



.

I could see it now.

Hijacker Commander: ALL ATTACKS CONCENTRATE ON STARBOARD SIDE!
Hijacker 2: Sir, what did you just say?
Hijacker Commander: ...
Hijacker 2: What? You want us to attack the starboard side?
Hijacker Commander: ATTACK THEIR STARBOARD!
Hijacker 3: I think the commander wants us to attack our port side?
Hijacker 2: This a new strategy?
Hijacker Commander: DAMNIT! LISTEN TO ME...
Hijacker 2: Huh!?
Hijacker 3: I think he wants us to look damaged so we can board their ship.
Hijacker 2: Oh...
Hijacker 4: Attack our own engines!? What the hell??
Hijacker 3: ....
Hijacker 2: ...what?
*Hijacker 4 puts a C-4 explosive on the engine, detonates it minutes after*
Hijacker Commander: DAMN FOOLS!!!!!

[Lipstick Republican]

Count me in for a PMC! :P

(Btw, FC... hearing protection never completely prevents you from hearing noise.)



I could see it now.

Hijacker Commander: ALL ATTACKS CONCENTRATE ON STARBOARD SIDE!
Hijacker 2: Sir, what did you just say?
Hijacker Commander: ...
Hijacker 2: What? You want us to attack the starboard side?
Hijacker Commander: ATTACK THEIR STARBOARD!
Hijacker 3: I think the commander wants us to attack our port side?
Hijacker 2: This a new strategy?
Hijacker Commander: DAMNIT! LISTEN TO ME...
Hijacker 2: Huh!?
Hijacker 3: I think he wants us to look damaged so we can board their ship.
Hijacker 2: Oh...
Hijacker 4: Attack our own engines!? What the hell??
Hijacker 3: ....
Hijacker 2: ...what?
*Hijacker 4 puts a C-4 explosive on the engine, detonates it minutes after*
Hijacker Commander: DAMN FOOLS!!!!!

[Fantasy Chaser]

Count me in for a PMC! :P

(Btw, FC... hearing protection never completely prevents you from hearing noise.)



I could see it now.

Hijacker Commander: ALL ATTACKS CONCENTRATE ON STARBOARD SIDE!
Hijacker 2: Sir, what did you just say?
Hijacker Commander: ...
Hijacker 2: What? You want us to attack the starboard side?
Hijacker Commander: ATTACK THEIR STARBOARD!
Hijacker 3: I think the commander wants us to attack our port side?
Hijacker 2: This a new strategy?
Hijacker Commander: DAMNIT! LISTEN TO ME...
Hijacker 2: Huh!?
Hijacker 3: I think he wants us to look damaged so we can board their ship.
Hijacker 2: Oh...
Hijacker 4: Attack our own engines!? What the hell??
Hijacker 3: ....
Hijacker 2: ...what?
*Hijacker 4 puts a C-4 explosive on the engine, detonates it minutes after*
Hijacker Commander: DAMN FOOLS!!!!!

As you yourself noted, hearing protection isn't soundproofing. Hearing protection often makes it easier to communicate; like when gunfire would be temporarily deafening you otherwise.