Posted on 11/08/2005 6:10:31 PM PST by neverdem
Associated Press
MIAMI – The crew of a luxury cruise ship used a sonic weapon that blasts earsplitting noise in a directed beam while being attacked by a gang of pirates off the eastern coast of Africa, the cruise line says.
The Seabourn Spirit had a Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, installed as a part of its defense systems, said Bruce Good, a spokesman for Miami-based Seabourn Cruise Line. The Spirit was about 100 miles off the coast of Somalia when pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns as they tried to get onboard.
The subsidiary of Carnival Corp. was investigating whether the weapon was successful in warding off the pirates, he said. The ship's captain also changed its course, shifted into high speed and headed out into the open sea to elude the pirates, who were in two small boats, he said. He had no further details.
Device maker American Technology Corp. said earsplitting "bangs" were directed by trained security personnel toward the pirates. That, combined with ship maneuvers, caused the attackers to leave the area, the company said.
The LRAD is a so-called "non-lethal weapon" developed for the U.S. military after the deadly 2000 attack on the USS Cole off Yemen as a way to keep operators of small boats from approaching U.S. warships.
The military version is a 45-pound, dish-shaped device that can direct a high-pitched, piercing tone with a tight beam. Neither the LRAD's operators or others in the immediate area are affected.
American Technology, based in San Diego, compares its shrill tone to that of smoke detectors, only much louder. It can be as loud as about 150 decibels, while smoke alarms are about 80 to 90 decibels.
The devices have been deployed on commercial and naval vessels worldwide since summer 2003, the company said.
Well, probably not. For one thing earplugs only give you 10-15 dB of suppression, so that 150 dB "warning" mode is reduced to 135 to 140 dB. For another sound levels like 150 dB are felt as much as heard, depending on the frequency. Scramble your insides they might.
Still I'd prefer a nice 20 mm Gatling, or for a ship as big as a those cruise ships, maybe a 30 mm similar to the GAU-8 carried by the A-10. Private yachts and the like should carry a pair of Ma Dueces, if not maybe more. Clearly though, even the 20 mm, even in a single barrel automatic would be plenty for boats such as the one shown, and some quite a bit larger as well.
Disagree. Those ships have pretty decent surface radar, they will see any "visitors" coming. Then it's on the radio to call out the calvary, if any Navy has ships or aircraft nearby. Failing that, and most of the time it would, you get on the hailing frequency and warn them off. Then you start shooting, shots across the bow if you feel you can safely do that. Then sink the SoBs, before they can get into RPG or bomb range. If you're lucky you set off their main charge when they're a thousand yards or so off.
Of course the "authorities" in every third world cesspool, and most "first world" ones as well, will defecate a brick if you pull into their port armed with such interesting heavy hardware.
"And if they send the same guys back, who are now deaf, they won't need any ear plugs at all."
And that's the point to be made. Our response (NOT .50) means they can come back. Are pirates bad guys or not? Why are we worried about their feelings? I'm sure loud noises would have discouraged the old, real pirates. Loud cannons without balls?
Could be a problem. But if you restrict yourself to 20mm and .50 cals, automation could help alot. You could easily control the entire armament from single station on the bridge.
Think outside the box...it's not to keep from hurting the pirates. One reason it's non-lethal is to prevent having a lethal weapon that can be used in sitations other than an attack on the ship.
I should add the audio frequencies used have to be somewhat high in order to direct it selectively to a target.
As far as actual weapons go, I agree. Use real guns.
The French could probably use that tech.
Pirates eh? I don't see any pirate hats.
It is a directed weapon, so the we don't know how much loss of dB is as a function of distance, within reason of course. It may be like a laser beam at short distances, before atmospheric interference forces more normal sound behavior.
Here's a better story on the weapon.
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040307-120634-6220r.htm
DK
I doesn't matter in this case. It is not like collimated laser light.
The beam width has to expand with distance - it is air pressure waves. So double the distance, double the beam width (at best). Hence 1/4 the pressure density at double the distance (or 6 dB of attenuation).
Notice the "300 yards or less" statement in the link you posted in order for it to be affective?
That's the reason why.
booze and narcotics might affect our aim.
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