Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Armed Defense Against Pirates Works
Gun Watch ^ | 6 March, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

Posted on 03/05/2014 10:47:43 AM PST by marktwain


Buried in the LA Times Entertainment section is some interesting news about the Maersk Alabama, the ship that was attacked by Somali pirates early in the Obama Presidency.  In the last paragraph of the article, it is casually mentioned that the ship was attacked three more times in the next two years!  From the LA Times:

But while Phillips' story -- and by extension, "Captain Phillips" -- had a happy ending, the Maersk Alabama has not been so fortunate, facing further pirate assaults in recent years. The ship was attacked a second time in 2009, again in 2010 and yet again in 2011. Each time, though, the assailants were repelled by armed security forces.
So, the ship went from being defenseless in early 2009, to having armed guards. In the first instance, the ship is taken over, the Captain is taken hostage, the U.S. military intervenes and ends up shooting three of the pirates, rescuing Captain Phillips.

In the next three situations, the armed guards repel the pirates before they ever board the ship. That seems a much better result to me.

Funny that we end up reading about news like this in the Entertainment section of a paper discussing the movie made about the original incident. David Codrea deserves the H/T.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included. Link to Gun Watch



TOPICS: Business/Economy; History; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: alabama; banglist; maersk; piracy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last
I recall reading about a second attack after the first one. I do not recall anything about the third and fourth attacks.

Not news from the viewpoint of the MSM, I guess.

1 posted on 03/05/2014 10:47:43 AM PST by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Nah, this can’t be true... MORE guns only breed MORE violence!!!

Give those poor, oppressed, aggrieved, victims of white European neo-colonialism a break! They’re just trying to earn a living... sea-going entrepreneurs that they are...

/s (I shouldn’t have to add the sarc tag, but...)


2 posted on 03/05/2014 10:51:54 AM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

What has happened is that the insurance risk of having armed crewmembers is now less than the insurance risk of steaming unarmed. And, to paraphrase Al Capone, you can get more with a smile and a machine gun than you can with a smile alone.


3 posted on 03/05/2014 10:53:38 AM PST by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

There has been a lot more than reported. Security usually sits on the bridge wings and holds their rifles in the air to oncoming dows and they always turn away. Happens quite often.


4 posted on 03/05/2014 11:02:06 AM PST by barmag25 (Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

A few M60s in trained hands will make quick work of these pirates.

Are these ships even allowed to carry water cannons?


5 posted on 03/05/2014 11:16:11 AM PST by Organic Panic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Organic Panic

Water cannons, Yes sir


6 posted on 03/05/2014 11:52:47 AM PST by barmag25 (Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Billthedrill

Dang, this was my million dollar idea, run my security crew on these ships for a percentage of value of the cargo, guarantee delivery or we don’t get paid.

Had that idea years ago already. Sadly I got married and had kids so that doesn’t lend itself to private work.


7 posted on 03/05/2014 11:59:36 AM PST by Bulwyf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Not that I endorse the MSM, but maybe the shipping lines preferred to keep a successful strategy quiet ? Just a thought, thanks.


8 posted on 03/05/2014 12:46:02 PM PST by jttpwalsh
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jttpwalsh

I would think they would prefer the opposite.

Deterrence.


9 posted on 03/05/2014 1:08:18 PM PST by marktwain (The old media must die for the Republic to live. Long live the new media!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: NFHale

Your facts are racist!


10 posted on 03/05/2014 1:19:12 PM PST by Dagnabitt (Amnesty is Treason. Its agents are Traitors.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Quite possibly so. In a perfect world, the pirates would sail out, never to be seen, again ;)


11 posted on 03/05/2014 1:23:06 PM PST by jttpwalsh
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

That looks like an incredibly well made machine gun with spiral barrel and matching bipod. A fancy RPK?


12 posted on 03/05/2014 1:29:38 PM PST by mcshot (Their fraud is deep and unending...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

this could only surprise a liberal.


13 posted on 03/05/2014 2:02:42 PM PST by chesley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dagnabitt

“...Your facts are racist!...”

Hahaha yes, they are, aren’t they...!

Maybe we should put one o’ THESE li’l guys on the ships:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxMMrPoBq0M


14 posted on 03/05/2014 2:39:57 PM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: mcshot

I believe it is a PK, using the 7.62x54 cartridge. It is a step up from the RPK or the RPD.

It has a pretty good reputation. It is the rough equivalent to the FN MAG.


15 posted on 03/05/2014 2:42:14 PM PST by marktwain (The old media must die for the Republic to live. Long live the new media!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: NFHale

LOL! The last words I could recognize were, “No no no!”


16 posted on 03/05/2014 2:44:21 PM PST by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: mcshot
I believe the “spirals” are a pixelation artifact of the image.
17 posted on 03/05/2014 2:46:12 PM PST by marktwain (The old media must die for the Republic to live. Long live the new media!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Billthedrill

Hahah!!!

You know, ANYTHING that starts with the words “Hey! Watch This!!” NEVER ends well...

I fell out of my chair the first time I saw this.

In the vast pantheon of Internet Classic Video Clips, this one is right up there - along with THIS one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytWgovxo3eA

and this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNQFZ8Ii-AQ

(No hints now - you have to watch both!!!)


18 posted on 03/05/2014 3:03:07 PM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: NFHale

Damn. Serious BioShock flashbacks on the second one.


19 posted on 03/05/2014 3:23:08 PM PST by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Billthedrill

Yeah, well... it’s funny - BUT - someone with a weak heart could have kicked off from the fright. So it becomes LESS funny when you think of it in that light. But it is still a classic. The reactions of the men were hilarious.

Since I don’t speak Portuguese, I wonder what the excuse was to get folks into the elevator...


20 posted on 03/05/2014 3:43:22 PM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson