Cruise ship used high-tech noise gun on attacking pirates

The Seattle Times ^ | November 8, 2005 | John Pain

[neverdem]

NORMAN J FISHER / AP
Pirates carry weapons as they travel alongside the Seabourn Spirit in this photo by a British passenger.

NORMAN J FISHER / AP
Pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns at the Seaboourn Spirit off the coast of Somalia. This photo taken by a British passenger shows some of the damage.

[manwiththehands]

150 decibels?

That kind of sound could peel paint!

[Gordongekko909]

I'd be worried if pirates get their hands on earplug technology, though. We must stop earplug proliferation in order to keep these weapons effective.

[Wiseghy]

If they got close enough to fire 2 RPGs, sounds like it it was a failure.

I recommend a face full of browning 50 cal. next time to gently discourage these folks from boarding your ship and hacking everyone to pieces.

[tang-soo]

I hear an optional upgrade includes the Howard Dean yyyyeeehhaawwww!

[359Henrie]

Yes, ma deuce is a tad loud.

[StockAyatollah]

NASDAQ Symbol ATCO up 18% today. Isn't this the same kind of weapon Ayn Rand had in mind in Atlas Shrugged?

[Paloma_55]

I have always held the belief that civilians have no need for large weapons, cannons, RPGs or 50 cal submachine guns until I read this story.

If I was traveling on the seas, I think a 50cal and perhaps a small cannon would be appropriate and necessary.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

ROTFLOL.

[Flavius]

in other news terrorist adopt anty loud noise high tech

[pbear8]

Can you hear me now?

[DB]

Yep, now that they've told the world they have these "weapons" they've pretty much rendered them useless.

A good set of earplugs that cost 25 cents will make it completely ineffective.

[FreedomFarmer]

I'm proud of ya.

First thing I thought was check for the stock price, too.

[Eagles6]

The .50 cal is also a sonic weapon, albeit with a little more punch.

[manwiththehands]

Yea, a "fiddy" cal would work wonders ... but get that on a cruise ship! I could stick it down MY pants, but could you? :)

[AFPhys]

A "good set of earplugs" reduces noise level by about 30dB.

120dB is still quite a painful sound to deal with, and simple earplugs aren't that helpful. In addition, the sound frequency that is being used may not be reduced as much by simple earplugs... From one of MANY web sites I could cite:

"From 90dB to 120dB, the deafness and pain may be temporary. However, ringing in the ears or tinnitus may persist and be a sign that damage has been done. Above 120dB, injury is very likely indeed. As a guide, normal conversation is about 50dB to 60dB, what the brain perceives as loud music is about 100dB, a pneumatic drill at 1m (3.2ft) is about 120dB and a jet engine at 30 metres (98.4ft) is about 130dB."

[monday]

"I have always held the belief that civilians have no need for large weapons, cannons, RPGs or 50 cal submachine guns until I read this story."

The millions of civilians slaughtered by their own governments during the last century might have survived had they had weapons like those.

[thebaron512]

Actually at that level I really doubt that just ear plugs will do the job, but not willing to find out if I am wrong....

[Blood of Tyrants]

Filling their bodies full of 50 BMG holes still trumps ANY noise weapon.

[injin]

how about some M-60 and M-16's in the ship armory ,which is located near the bridge for security and good fields of fire?

As a tourist I would not want to go on an unarmed cruise ship these days .

*Boycott Aruba!*