Petraeus: Shippers should consider armed guards

[deepwater]

as far as defending against the pirates effectively, any gun will keep them back. remember, they're in a little open boat and VERY exposed. they've gotta have a solid brass set to approach an armed vessel in something like that. One good rifle (remember, the ship is a much more stable platform to fire from) a couple of shotguns and a couple of handguns are that are really needed to protect a ship. firing a rifle at them before they get within rpg range I'm sure will slow them down. nothing for them to hide behind, nowhere to run to, who in their right mind would approach? of course, firearms are useless if the crew is complacent and does not keep a good watch for suspicious vessels. 

[Sgt Z Squad]

Trust me, it will never happend.( atleast not in our life times)  The guns you need to defend yourself against priate effectively start at a mounted 30 cal machine gun, a m2 would be better.  You have to understand, once your boarded, your screwed. 

I like your idea of the .50 cal. better. That would give them a jar of whoop ass!

[TAB]

as far as defending against the pirates effectively, any gun will keep them back. remember, they're in a little open boat and VERY exposed. they've gotta have a solid brass set to approach an armed vessel in something like that. One good rifle (remember, the ship is a much more stable platform to fire from) a couple of shotguns and a couple of handguns are that are really needed to protect a ship. firing a rifle at them before they get within rpg range I'm sure will slow them down. nothing for them to hide behind, nowhere to run to, who in their right mind would approach? of course, firearms are useless if the crew is complacent and does not keep a good watch for suspicious vessels. 

You clearly have never tried to fire a weapon ship to ship.  even hitting the other ship with a mounted machine gun is not a easy task, let alone trying to hit a single person on it from a shoulder fired weapon.

[twyacht]

Those .30 cal mini guns don't require advanced marksmanship, you can walk the "splashes" right to the target.
Dillon AeroMini-Gun



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oATVz5cUJTY&feature=related

More affordable than ransom, can have quick release pins from the deck to be stowed in the ships safe, and only used in "troubled waters".

How much are Navy Escorts? When The ships can have 2 of these, and fight the hell back.

[tombogan03884]

You clearly have never tried to fire a weapon ship to ship.  even hitting the other ship with a mounted machine gun is not a easy task, let alone trying to hit a single person on it from a shoulder fired weapon.

TAB, You are a dumb donkey, Deepwater JUST GOT OFF a ship that had arms aboard.
For some one who was in the CG you sure come up with some ignorant crap, but then you were an Ensign so I guess that explains it. I'll put it in little words for you, Bang, hole in boat, WATER starts coming in, (Remember that little detail from your Seamanship classes, water around boat GOOD, water IN boat, BAD ) More Bangs, more holes, more water in boat (remember, that's a BAD thing) I do not care how heavily you are armed, you are no threat when you are treading water.

[Sponsor]

[TAB]

TAB, You are a dumb donkey, Deepwater JUST GOT OFF a ship that had arms aboard.
For some one who was in the CG you sure come up with some ignorant crap, but then you were an Ensign so I guess that explains it. I'll put it in little words for you, Bang, hole in boat, WATER starts coming in, (Remember that little detail from your Seamanship classes, water around boat GOOD, water IN boat, BAD ) More Bangs, more holes, more water in boat (remember, that's a BAD thing) I do not care how heavily you are armed, you are no threat when you are treading water.

yes every one in the navy knows how to shoot a gun at a ship at 800 yds in rough sees... they are so good they use 22s and open sites.  Try it some time, you will understand.

Let me give you a idea of what its like to hit a small boat at range  25' ish boat at 800 yards is llike a clay bird at 100.  very easy to hit when your standing still, now try walking and hitting it.  Then try riding in the back of a truck doing 15 knots( almost 17 mph) 




I was never a ensign, I was a petty officer until I got my commission, then I was a LTJG

[twyacht]

There are two times when having RPG's and AK's with ammo is BAD:

When you are on FIRE,

When you are DROWNING.

If the crew of the Alabama even had access to small arms AFTER being boarded, with training, and even voluntary participation in a Ship's Defense Program, it might have changed the whole thing.

Keyword might. But I know there are crews that would have loved to have something..

[tombogan03884]

yes every one in the navy knows how to shoot a gun at a ship at 800 yds in rough sees... they are so good they use 22s and open sites.  Try it some time, you will understand.

Let me give you a idea of what its like to hit a small boat at range  25' ish boat at 800 yards is llike a clay bird at 100.  very easy to hit when your standing still, now try walking and hitting it.  Then try riding in the back of a truck doing 15 knots( almost 17 mph) 




I was never a ensign, I was a petty officer until I got my commission, then I was a LTJG

I was a Marine on Float, I HAVE tried asshat, Just like just about every other Marine on here.  Ammo boxes at unknown ranges.

"I was never a ensign, I was a petty officer until I got my commission, then I was a LTJG"
Even worse, you got rank with out having it pointed out to you that O-1 and O-2 are like whale crap.

[fightingquaker13]

Leaving marksmanship aside, if they'r dumb enough to come in one boat, the maximum point of vulnerablty is when they're along side and boarding, 40 feet below deck level. A grade or two lobbed over the side from a prone position would get their attention. I can't see frag penetrating a ships hull.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

Even a "flash bang" would be good for laughs.