Lesson from foiled pirate attack on Maersk Alabama? (ear splitting acoustic weaponry used)

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | November 18, 2009 | By Gordon Lubold

[dennisw]

The lesson from an unsuccessful pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden this week was simple: Guns talk.

The Maersk Alabama, the American-flagged ship infamously attacked by pirates in April, was attacked again Monday when Somali pirates opened fire on the ship in an attempt to board it. But the pirates didn't get far this time, after a four-man security team aboard the ship fired back, thwarting the attack.

It's the first time a large cargo ship with an armed security team aboard is known to have repelled an attack, says Vice Adm. William Gortney, who commands the Pacific region for the US Navy.

Still, only about 10 percent of the shipping industry's ships employ "best practices" that include hiring an onboard security team, Gortney said.

In Monday's attack, the Maersk Alabama used a powerful loudspeaker system, called a long-range acoustic device, or LRAD, that can be painful to the human ear and fend off attackers. But the nonlethal device was not effective, Gortney said at the Pentagon Wednesday. The pirates were stopped only when the Maersk Alabama began returning fire, he said.

"A well-placed round from an M-16 is far more effective than that LRAD," he said.

Gortney said both lethal and nonlethal means are recommended for protecting cargo ships. Nonlethal means include a slippery foam substance to stop pirates who have boarded a ship, "water canons" to spray high-powered water at pirates, and barbed wire placed around areas of the ship that pirates could use to board. Posting a lookout is one of the most common-sense approaches, Gortney said.

[sam_paine]

It's the first time a large cargo ship with an armed security team aboard is known to have repelled an attack, says Vice Adm. William Gortney, who commands the Pacific region for the US Navy.

EXCUSE ME VICE DIMWIT?

[Zhang Fei]

Key passage:

In Monday's attack, the Maersk Alabama used a powerful loudspeaker system, called a long-range acoustic device, or LRAD, that can be painful to the human ear and fend off attackers. But the nonlethal device was not effective, Gortney said at the Pentagon Wednesday. The pirates were stopped only when the Maersk Alabama began returning fire, he said.

Surprise, surprise. It seems to me that the only thing you need to do to counter the high tech noisemaker is to put on gun range ear protection.

[Rays_Dad]

How long before these sailors are counseled by our government or the UN for taking the law into their own hands. Can’t defend yourself you know...

[Jaxter]

I was on scene in Pittsburgh when the police used LRAD on the protestors. The only reaction I saw was that everybody answered their cell phones.

[FReepaholic]

..."A well-placed round from an M-16 is far more effective than that LRAD," he said. ...

In other words, LEAD is better than LRAD.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Damn that rap music!

[tet68]

I was hoping it was one of those .50 cal. ear splitting
acoustic devices.

Armed merchant men have sailed the seas for
thousands of years, why stop now?

[tet68]

Armed merchant men have sailed the seas for
thousands of years, why stop now?

This is an example of the gun grabber mindset we see
here on land, sailors have armed themselves since
man first put feet on a deck, but now the world
is “civilized” unless of course you’re in a place
that it’s not, off somalia is no different than
walking around down town after dark, if you look
like a rich prize, you’re for the taking.

[WOBBLY BOB]

[Godzilla]

"A well-placed round from an M-16 is far more effective than that LRAD," he said.

Never bring a LRAD to a gunfight. . . .

[READINABLUESTATE]

Throw pork chops at em!

[nuadvntur]

I am waiting to hear what the excrement slurping alphabet news media says about this. Or if they will even report it. Guns save lives period.

[concentric circles]

Numerous civilian law enforcement agencies have obtained LRAD and have had them on the scene at lawful events. When you witnessed the deployment of the device was it used to communicate as one would use a bull horn or was it used as an aggressive crowd control device by using sound as a weapon to disperse the crowd?

[Frantzie]

At least one merchant marine shooter should have that 10-shot Bushmaster BA50 50 BMG. Put a round through the pirates boat engine then finish the job.

http://www.bushmaster.com/catalog_military_BCW3M_30-50BMGLW.asp

I think in the ocean i would want a heavier round like .308 versus .223.

Maybe a DSA FAL for the other crew security team.

http://www.dsarms.com/SA58-Original-Series/products/35/

[Jaxter]

They were trying to get the crowd to disperse. They played a recording saying that this was an unlawful assembly and they would use necessary means including force if neccessary. I was at the side of the truck when they actually used the LRAD. It honestly sounded like a cell phone. The people directly to the front of it didn’t seem bothered much by it. I don’t think they had it turned up very far. Later TV news reports showed some protestors holding their ears but I didn’t see that personally. I posted some pics here at the time if I can find them I’ll post the link.