Guns on ships?

[DaveTN]

I watched Captain Philips last night and the obvious question is why they just don't have some crew members that are trained marksmen?

Is because of laws against firearms? I’ve been on cruise ships that offered skeet shooting. I would be fine with shooting attacking pirates. And even if that bothered them a .50 cal round through those boat motors would end the drama pretty quickly.

So what’s up; why do they not arm or protect themselves? Edited January 31, 2014 by DaveTN

[MacGyver]

Maritime insurance regulations have historically been against it.  Likewise, it creates problems trying to gain entry in just about any country in the world.  As such, most transport companies have eschewed carrying firearms.

 

That said, the game is changing a bit.  The transport companies have adopted some interesting tactics reducing hijackings to zero in 2013.  This is down from 52 in 2009, the year Maersk Alabama was hijacked.

[mikegideon]

I never could figure out why they couldn't find some way to protect themselves, especially as tall as most ships are. A coke bottle, rag, and some gasoline is an effective weapon when you have a 30-40 foot height advantage.

[MacGyver]

As it turns out, heavy wheel movements on a ship of any size can be terribly effective when employed appropriately.  The bow waves and wash generated by any of these ships travelling at speed can be devastating to a small craft.

[mikegideon]

As it turns out, heavy wheel movements on a ship of any size can be terribly effective when employed appropriately.  The bow waves and wash generated by any of these ships travelling at speed can be devastating to a small craft.

 

That may be. But, there's nothing more refreshing than a boatload of thievin' Somalians engulfed in flames. :)

[Guest t.bird]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Unx2xYIc8g

[Guest TankerHC]

As it turns out, heavy wheel movements on a ship of any size can be terribly effective when employed appropriately.  The bow waves and wash generated by any of these ships travelling at speed can be devastating to a small craft.

 

 

Reminded me of this, posted on mil.com a while back. This above is true of course.

 

http://youtu.be/d4KnCqcTEOU

[mikegideon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Unx2xYIc8g

 

Should be a .458 SOCOM. Inspired by Somalians, tested in Oklahoma. :)

[Moped]

They needed M-14s so they could reach out and "touch" them at a longer distance!

Edited January 31, 2014 by Moped

[glowdotGlock]

We've had some of the finest minds around working on it for a few days lol http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/74757-captain-phillips-the-movie/

[Mark A]

Maritime insurance regulations have historically been against it.  Likewise, it creates problems trying to gain entry in just about any country in the world.  As such, most transport companies have eschewed carrying firearms.

 

Thus, the floating armories out there with security personnel living on them. Ship comes out of port, good guys get on, and get off before the next port of call.

 

I imagine it is a pretty boring way to make a living...

[TerryW]

I imagine it is a pretty boring way to make a living...

 

 

I bet it's like being an air-marshal.

 

But if I got to reach out and touch a few,  I'd almost pay my own way.

[peejman]

As it turns out, heavy wheel movements on a ship of any size can be terribly effective when employed appropriately. The bow waves and wash generated by any of these ships travelling at speed can be devastating to a small craft.

I've wondered why they don't do exactly that. Turn full into them when they pull along side. I figured the freighters couldn't turn fast enough.

[TerryW]

I wonder if the freighters are too top heavy to safely make aggressive turns? 

 

I watched a show on TV the other day that said cruise ships are very unstable in roll because they are too top heavy. 

[bersaguy]

Reminded me of this, posted on mil.com a while back. This above is true of course.

 

http://youtu.be/d4KnCqcTEOU

 

Yep, those new Air Craft Carriers are very fast and can maneuver quite well. It is not like when the U.S.S. enterprise and the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk were in use. It was said many times if you fell off the flight deck or any location of either one of those ships if an escort vessel like a destroyer or Tin can didn't picked you up you better be able to tread water for a very long time and hope you didn't become shark bait because it took somewhere around 100 miles for the Aircraft carrier to make a turn and come back for you. Now they can get you out of the water in about 28 minutes with one.......... :up:  :up:

Edited February 1, 2014 by bersaguy

[Patton]

I bet it's like being an air-marshal.
 

You don't even know how right you are, and to beat all people dream of that job. I have only known one that was somewhat happy, and she was about the laziest person I had ever met in my life. It was about the closest she could get to not having a job.

[1gewehr]

Until after WWII, most merchant vessels kept an arms locker.  Interestingly, many insurance companies insisted upon it back then. 

 

This practice declined, and pirates soon realized it.  Thus, the rise of piracy in the late 20th century.

 

Personally, I believe that insurance companies should insist upon a minimum of one .308 GPMG on each bridge wing for international merchant vessels.  One more each on the bow and stern sounds reasonable to me as well.

[TMF]

There are shooters on some ships now. Pirates get to guess which ones. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[tercel89]

I don't care for cruises because of the sickness's that explode on a ship and the pirates . My wife doesn't agree but I swear if we went it would happen to us . I want to go on one but I hate the thought of not being able to carry my own gun and that the ship is not armed . 

[glowdotGlock]

[quote name="tercel89" post="1104711" timestamp="1391275201"]I don't care for cruises because of the sickness's that explode on a ship and the pirates . My wife doesn't agree but I swear if we went it would happen to us . I want to go on one but I hate the thought of not being able to carry my own gun and that the ship is not armed . [/quote] I agree about the sickness spreading quickly buy on a cruise you have hundreds of people instead of a crew of let's say 20 or so. It would be hard for a handfull of pirates I think to overtake a cruise ship.

[DaveTN]

I don't care for cruises because of the sickness's that explode on a ship and the pirates . My wife doesn't agree but I swear if we went it would happen to us . I want to go on one but I hate the thought of not being able to carry my own gun and that the ship is not armed .

Does the NRA not sponsor a cruise every now and then?

[tercel89]

Does the NRA not sponsor a cruise every now and then?

It would be a great deterrent ! 

[DaveTN]

When I’m ready to retire I want this as a “Retirement Job”.
Hang around on the ship until they say “Hey Dave, there’s someone out here needs shot.”

[dlm37015]

I have a 50 mount on my sea ray I like to go through downtown nashville with it mounted

[BigK]

I can't believe someone hasn't sold tickets to a pirate hunting cruise yet. Can you imagine, a boat full of skinnies moving in on what looks like a normal cruise ship or cargo ship, but 100 lucky ticket buyers pop up over the deck rail with ARs, sniper rifles, and such. Call me what you will, but I'd buy a ticket...just saying. After about a dozen successful cruises, the would-be pirates would trade their AKs for fishing poles to make a safe and an honest living. Edited February 2, 2014 by BigK