Many places where you would sail into will not allow firearms. It is a complicated situation. In some ports, you need to declare any weapons onboard and let them hang onto them while you are in their country. You can get them back on the way out. If you try to hide them, they will find them. Customs agents are accustomed to searching for drugs on board. They will seize your boat and put you in jail if they find undeclared firearms.
Other places will seize them and keep them no matter what.
You need a long range firearm. Shotgun is only good when they’re trying to board or after have gotten on board. Go for a large capacity auto-loader with high powered round. Think AR-10 chambered in .308, or similar.
You need to be able to damage a vessel from a ways off. Of course these guys are willing to fire RPG’s at naval ships, so you might be better off steering well clear of dangerous areas.
Problems arise when you enter the sovereign waters of another country. Once you do that, you are subject to their laws and if you are going boating, going out to sea and never hitting port sucks. Take this from a former US Navy sailor.
Q ships!
The best solution I can think of is for Obama to grow a pair, and then armor up a normal looking boat and put some marines on board with big arse guns. Surprise blow up about 4 ships out of the water and the rest of the scum pirates will think twice about their godless profession.
One week cruise, offered by Russian company, from Djibouti to Mombasa. Boat is well-equipped.
We guarantee that you will experience at least two hijacking attempts by pirates or you'll receive an instant $1,000 refund upon arrival in Mombassa.
If memory serves there were 20 Somalian criminals aboard the boat when the SEALs got there. I hardly think that an elderly couple with a shotgun would have discouraged them. The smartest move on their part would have been to not go anywhere near the area to begin with.
Let’s be real here. In some cases hand guns, shot guns or even long guns on board would be good, but against pirates? You’d need mounted .50 cal at a minimum. I’d go with 20mm cannon and rocket launchers or basically you’re just committing suicide by pirate.
Only if you have the will to use them if necessary.
Dunno.
You’d need a good range to be able to drive off pirates, before they overwhelmed you with return fire from AK’s and RPGs. I think an RPG has a range of ~300 meters, so you’d need to be able “reach out and touch someone” at a greater range.
So, if you were an EXCELLENT shot, a good scoped rifle might do the trick. Just pick ‘em off, one at a time, starting with the helmsman. If you could get a bead, you could put a few in the engine, too.
Otherwise, you’ll need a good MG with lots of tracers to hose the bastards down. Or something bigger...
The US doesn’t allow you to own post 1968 automatic weapons, heavily licenses pre-1968 automatic weapons and most ports don’t allow you to bring weapons into port. The good guys are pretty much a serious disadvantage here.
Had it been me, I would have set up my radar to alert all aboard that another vessel was approaching.
Then, after I broke out my HK-91, (Sniper version) and if the intruders kept on coming and indicate they are hostile, the survivors would quickly learn how to take command of a vessel and turn it back to where it came from.
Sure as hell couldn't hurt. Even if they do kill you, you just might take a few with you.
Yes... I am continuing to post after reading just the article. Life is too short to read an entire thread before posting. ;-)