Author Topic: Piracy renaissance  (Read 5486 times)

Hawkmoon

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 27,197
Piracy renaissance
« on: April 04, 2017, 05:05:48 PM »
Time to renew our search for a pirate-hunting mother ship.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/world/africa/somalia-pirates.html
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
100% Politically Incorrect by Design

Devonai

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 3,642
  • Panic Mode Activated
    • Kyrie Devonai Publishing
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2017, 05:17:26 PM »
80' Elco PT boat or we're just screwing around.
My writing blog: Kyrie Devonai Publishing

When in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!

AJ Dual

  • friends
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 16,162
  • Shoe Ballistics Inc.
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2017, 05:34:46 PM »
I promise not to duck.

Hawkmoon

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 27,197
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2017, 05:37:33 PM »
80' Elco PT boat or we're just screwing around.

I was thinking more like a surplus Jeep carrier. I think there are still a couple in the mothball fleet in Washington.

Even a destroyer escort would do the job, though.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
100% Politically Incorrect by Design

dm1333

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1,875
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2017, 08:15:21 PM »
Quote
In the past, pirates have hit just about anything that floated: yachts, freighters, dhows, sailboats, mammoth oil tankers — even an American naval ship, by mistake. But the piracy heydays were thought to be over. Until now, the problem seemed to have disappeared.
   :facepalm:

As long as Somalia and Yemen are in the shape they are today and groups like Al Shabaab are around piracy is going to be a problem there.


Hawkmoon

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 27,197
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2017, 09:11:42 PM »
   :facepalm:

As long as Somalia and Yemen are in the shape they are today and groups like Al Shabaab are around piracy is going to be a problem there.


Maybe we should hang out a bunch of American flags, and meddle with the GIS database so North Korea has the coordinates for Mogadishu associated with Seattle.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
100% Politically Incorrect by Design

Scout26

  • I'm a leaf on the wind.
  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 25,997
  • I spent a week in that town one night....
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2017, 10:34:42 PM »
I was thinking more like a surplus Jeep carrier. I think there are still a couple in the mothball fleet in Washington.

Even a destroyer escort would do the job, though.

All the Jeep carriers were scrapped long ago.  Only 4 "modern" fleet carriers there now, Ranger, Constellation,Kitty Hawk, Kennedy.

Pretty much all the"Gun"ships are gone.  Wed have to go overseas or special order if we want cannons/guns instead of missiles.
Some days even my lucky rocketship underpants won't help.


Bring me my Broadsword and a clear understanding.
Get up to the roundhouse on the cliff-top standing.
Take women and children and bed them down.
Bless with a hard heart those that stand with me.
Bless the women and children who firm our hands.
Put our backs to the north wind.
Hold fast by the river.
Sweet memories to drive us on,
for the motherland.

Hawkmoon

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 27,197
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2017, 10:39:03 PM »
All the Jeep carriers were scrapped long ago.  Only 4 "modern" fleet carriers there now, Ranger, Constellation,Kitty Hawk, Kennedy.

Pretty much all the"Gun"ships are gone.  Wed have to go overseas or special order if we want cannons/guns instead of missiles.

Ranger is gone now, too. Bremerton is down to three.

So maybe an amphibious assault ship? They're basically about the same as a WW2 jeep carrier. Or -- what are the smaller ships with a large helicopter landing pad on the fantail?
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
100% Politically Incorrect by Design

Andiron

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 3,930
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2017, 10:40:10 PM »
For all the world policing we do,  I'm not sure why that area isn't a SEAL playground.  No one gives a *expletive deleted*it about somalis,  and it would be good practice.  And a philanthropic gesture..
"Leftism destroys everything good." -  Ron

There is no fixing stupid. But, you can line it up in front of a wall and offer it a last smoke.

There is no such thing as a "transgender" person.  Only mental illness that should be discouraged.

Jim147

  • friends
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 7,587
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2017, 12:22:22 AM »
What if we just barrow the Abe and the rest of the battle group for a while.
Sometimes we carry more weight then we owe.
And sometimes goes on and on and on.

BAH-WEEP-GRAAAGHNAH WHEEP NI-NI BONG

RoadKingLarry

  • friends
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 21,841
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2017, 12:48:40 AM »
If ever there was just cause for a return of the Letter of Marque this is it.
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.

Samuel Adams

Jamisjockey

  • Booze-fueled paragon of pointless cruelty and wanton sadism
  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 26,580
  • Your mom sends me care packages
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #11 on: April 05, 2017, 07:38:39 AM »
JD

 The price of a lottery ticket seems to be the maximum most folks are willing to risk toward the dream of becoming a one-percenter. “Robert Hollis”

dogmush

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 13,670
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #12 on: April 05, 2017, 08:07:51 AM »
http://www.oceanmarine.com/detail.cfm?180ft-Steel-Research-Vessel---13342&product_id=13342&category_current=1&category_current_sub=42

trawl winch could be modified for the launching/recovery of an armed RIB


13kts.  Could put you at a disadvantage if their RIBS get frisky while ours was out.  Also leaves you unable to exploit piracy reports unless you happen to be close by.

Something like this, however, would probably work pretty well and already has a stern ramp for RIB launching.*

But if we can get a little financing $5mil will get you a pretty solid purpose built patrol craft  another couple hundred grand in the right Eastern European country will get some cannon for it as well.

I wonder what a La Combatantant goes for.  They seem to be the default go-to fast attack boat over hear in the NAG.


*apropos of nothing at all, My current Master's License definitely covers a ship that size.  

230RN

  • It's like swimming to shore in an ebb tide.
  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 18,826
  • Pushing back. Help me out, here...
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #13 on: April 05, 2017, 08:12:25 AM »

Perd Hapley

  • Superstar of the Internet
  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 61,328
  • My prepositions are on/in
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #14 on: April 05, 2017, 08:38:06 AM »
So this thread is NOT about your ren faire costume?
"Doggies are angel babies!" -- my wife

Jim147

  • friends
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 7,587
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #15 on: April 05, 2017, 09:09:28 AM »
No but there will be wenchs
Sometimes we carry more weight then we owe.
And sometimes goes on and on and on.

BAH-WEEP-GRAAAGHNAH WHEEP NI-NI BONG

T.O.M.

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 6,400
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #16 on: April 05, 2017, 09:14:28 AM »
So maybe an amphibious assault ship? They're basically about the same as a WW2 jeep carrier. Or -- what are the smaller ships with a large helicopter landing pad on the fantail?

Amphib assault may be the best "big" ship for this.  With the well deck in the back, you could drive smaller boats like RIBs, or even something the size of the old PT boats, in and out of the main ship for long range transport.  Plus, I have it on good authority that filling the well deck creates a really nice sea water swimming pool for BBQ nights.   =D
No, I'm not mtnbkr.  ;)

a.k.a. "our resident Legal Smeagol."...thanks BryanP
"Anybody can give legal advice - but only licensed attorneys can sell it."...vaskidmark

AmbulanceDriver

  • Junior Rocketeer
  • friends
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5,922
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #17 on: April 05, 2017, 12:39:17 PM »
I still think the q-ship concept is the way to go on this.   Make it look like a big, fat, attractive target.  Concealed weapons "pods" if you will.  Let the bastards get in range of our weapons, confirm their intentions, then give them one helluva surprise.

Or go with a big ship and RIB/Fast Attack concept.  Something with a big enough main gun to put the pirate's motherships on the bottom, but I don't like the idea of being in a similar sized and unarmored vessel to the pirate attack boats. Because if it's a small boat, they just need to get lucky with an RPG or small arms fire to really ruin your day.
Are you a cook, or a RIFLEMAN?  Find out at Appleseed!

http://www.appleseedinfo.org

"For some many people, attempting to process a logical line of thought brings up the blue screen of death." -Blakenzy

Hawkmoon

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 27,197
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #18 on: April 05, 2017, 04:05:40 PM »
13kts.  Could put you at a disadvantage if their RIBS get frisky while ours was out.  Also leaves you unable to exploit piracy reports unless you happen to be close by.

Something like this, however, would probably work pretty well and already has a stern ramp for RIB launching.*

But if we can get a little financing $5mil will get you a pretty solid purpose built patrol craft  another couple hundred grand in the right Eastern European country will get some cannon for it as well.

I wonder what a La Combatantant goes for.  They seem to be the default go-to fast attack boat over hear in the NAG.


*apropos of nothing at all, My current Master's License definitely covers a ship that size.  

This Chilean fast attack boat looks very tempting. Has bow and stern guns. Seems to be about the right size. Good choice.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
100% Politically Incorrect by Design

HankB

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 16,564
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #19 on: April 06, 2017, 10:56:37 AM »
I still think the q-ship concept is the way to go on this.   Make it look like a big, fat, attractive target.  Concealed weapons "pods" if you will.  Let the bastards get in range of our weapons, confirm their intentions, then give them one helluva surprise.
+1.

And you don't need heavy artillery for anything but the pirate mother ship.

With a proper mount (to allow for plenty of gun depression) some twin 50's or even 7.62 miniguns will do for virtually all small pirate attack craft.

A pity nations no longer see the virtue of armed merchantmen . . .
Trump won in 2016. Democrats haven't been so offended since Republicans came along and freed their slaves.
Sometimes I wonder if the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it. - Mark Twain
Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advance auction in stolen goods. - H.L. Mencken
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain

AmbulanceDriver

  • Junior Rocketeer
  • friends
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5,922
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #20 on: April 06, 2017, 11:30:56 AM »
+1.

And you don't need heavy artillery for anything but the pirate mother ship.

With a proper mount (to allow for plenty of gun depression) some twin 50's or even 7.62 miniguns will do for virtually all small pirate attack craft.

A pity nations no longer see the virtue of armed merchantmen . . .

That's kinda what I was thinking.   Mounted .50's (or even 20mm for the definitive range advantage over RPG's).  

A Bofors 40mm ought to do nicely against the mother ship.  
« Last Edit: April 06, 2017, 11:49:23 AM by AmbulanceDriver »
Are you a cook, or a RIFLEMAN?  Find out at Appleseed!

http://www.appleseedinfo.org

"For some many people, attempting to process a logical line of thought brings up the blue screen of death." -Blakenzy

dogmush

  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 13,670
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #21 on: April 06, 2017, 12:04:14 PM »
That's kinda what I was thinking.   Mounted .50's (or even 20mm for the definitive range advantage over RPG's).  

A Bofors 40mm ought to do nicely against the mother ship.  

An M2 has more than twice the effective range of an RPG-7, and like 25% more range than an RPG-29.  They're all you really need for any vessel <~15M.  The bigger motherships you'd want something a little more.  If I were outfitting a ship like this for real I'd go with some kind of missile for that role.  TOW or some such.  it would be more effective and cheaper then any naval gun under like Mark 57 size.

The real reason for getting a Patrol Craft hull vs, research and or cargo vessel is speed, maneuverability and range/loiter ability.  Those anti-ship missiles out of Yemen could be a mother though.

in a little seriousness though: FTR, This isn't actually a renaissance in activity, but rather in American news coverage.  Piracy events have been holding pretty steady in frequency and locations worldwide for a while now.  As have anti piracy ops by the worlds navies.  The west only cares about it in spurts.

Ben

  • Administrator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 45,742
  • I'm an Extremist!
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #22 on: April 06, 2017, 01:20:45 PM »
The real reason for getting a Patrol Craft hull vs, research and or cargo vessel is speed, maneuverability and range/loiter ability. 

Blackwater found that out the hard way back when they bought a ship we unaffectionately and unofficially designated the McBarfer and refitted her for maritime security applications. Slow and rocky damn thing. Though between operational stuff and lawsuits, they appear to be offering her for around $3mil, well below her $15mil appraised value when they were still using her.
"I'm a foolish old man that has been drawn into a wild goose chase by a harpy in trousers and a nincompoop."

230RN

  • It's like swimming to shore in an ebb tide.
  • friend
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 18,826
  • Pushing back. Help me out, here...
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #23 on: April 06, 2017, 01:53:45 PM »
I still think the q-ship concept is the way to go on this.   Make it look like a big, fat, attractive target.  Concealed weapons "pods" if you will.  Let the bastards get in range of our weapons, confirm their intentions, then give them one helluva surprise.

Or go with a big ship and RIB/Fast Attack concept.  Something with a big enough main gun to put the pirate's motherships on the bottom, but I don't like the idea of being in a similar sized and unarmored vessel to the pirate attack boats. Because if it's a small boat, they just need to get lucky with an RPG or small arms fire to really ruin your day.

I like the q-ship idea.  But I also wonder about depression of the guns' firing angles to get at close-in attackers.  Are man-carried weapons the only way to handle that?  Or wait till they get on deck and let loose with rifles?
« Last Edit: April 06, 2017, 02:09:15 PM by 230RN »

KD5NRH

  • friends
  • Senior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10,926
  • I'm too sexy for you people.
Re: Piracy renaissance
« Reply #24 on: April 06, 2017, 02:06:32 PM »
Anybody got load data for grapeshot in a 16" turret?  I'm thinking all the surplus/used large ball bearings one can find should do a number on small pirate vessels.

Quote
Often the money literally fell from the sky. Several companies in nearby Kenya specialized in shrink-wrapping million-dollar blocks of cash and delivering them by parachute.

You know, even one company being able to specialize in ransom delivery and stay afloat is a sign of a serious problem.
« Last Edit: April 06, 2017, 03:15:34 PM by KD5NRH »