A destroyer would shred a pirate speedboat 2500 yards out with even their smallest gun.
Blow it to pieces, absolutely guaranteed.
this morning the US Navy said they had “boats” carriers etc about 250 miles away and were headed to the area... anyone know how long it would take to travel the 250 miles.
Our son deploys on a DDG in a few weeks for 6 months and my poor daughter in law is a wreck this morning thinking that pirates may board a DDG - I’ve done my best to comfort her as well as one can do via telephone.
figure an average 20-25 mph depending on sea state. Trust me, a DDG won’t be worrying about some scurvy POS Somali pirates. The USN knows how to deal with pirates.
Depending on the “boats” or ships, it could take a fair amount of time to travel 250 miles. If they have speed boats, maybe 5 hours at 50 mph, depending on wave conditions and boats involved. Maybe 8 hours would be more realistic. If ships, a bit longer. The best solution would be to send out helicopters to guard the ship until the boats or ships arrive, to fend off any further attacks.
poor daughter in law is a wreck this morning thinking that pirates may board a DDG
No disrespect to your DIL, but the mental image of that is hilarious.
A destroyer would shred a pirate speedboat 2500 yards out with even their smallest gun.
Blow it to pieces, absolutely guaranteed.
Unlike Merchant ships, DDGs are armed, with everything from small arms (pistols, M-14 and/or M-16 rifles, machine guns), cannon, both single barrel and Gatling type, and a big ole 3" or 5" deck gun, equiped with some very interesting ammunition. And that's mostly for self defense. For attack and defense of other ships (and themselves) they have missiles
Pirates are unlikely to attempt to board them. They mgiht try to blow them up, but not to board them. Even doing the former would be very problamatic in these "post USS Cole: days, at least until Obummer changes the rules of engagement