Article

2004-02-03 Southeast Asia

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Posted by phil_b 2004-02-03 3:22:22 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Nah, these are just dirt-poor people who are desperate. This is the high seas version of a pawn shop in the bad part of town getting robbed.

The U.S. Navy has a top-secret defense against being rammed by cargo vessels...it's called, "moving out of the way".

Posted by gromky 2004-2-3 4:44:36 AM|| 2004-2-3 4:44:36 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 "moving out of the way". Easy on the high seas, but a lot harder in a narrow strait with lots of shipping. I've watched ships move through the straits of Singapore and they pass at less than a thousand meters. At 35 knots, thats about 90 seconds to react. 45 seconds if each ship is approaching the other at 35 knots. A stationary ship or docked ship has no chance of getting out of the way.

Posted by phil_b 2004-2-3 5:46:16 AM|| 2004-2-3 5:46:16 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Then there's the other "top-secret defense against being rammed by cargo vessels:"
5"/62 Mk 45 Mod 4
5"/54 Mk 45
. . . and for those of you who love the old classics . . .
5"/38 Mk 12 (on the Iowa-class BB)

Posted by Mike 2004-2-3 10:26:34 AM|| 2004-2-3 10:26:34 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Mike: don't forget a few .50 cal's for "close in" work. Or a Phalanx.

Posted by PBMcL 2004-2-3 11:52:56 AM|| 2004-2-3 11:52:56 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 If they're just using knives a Mossberg might suffice.

Posted by Shipman 2004-2-3 2:04:31 PM|| 2004-2-3 2:04:31 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Will a Phalanx depress far enough to engage a surface target? If so, it'll ruin your whole day, for sure.

Posted by Chuck Simmins 2004-2-3 3:37:45 PM|| [http://blog.simmins.org] 2004-2-3 3:37:45 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 I had thought somebody had posted it before on Rantburg that the Phalanx was being replaced, but it didn't show up in the search:

In recent years, the Vulcan 20 mm gun that is the heart of this weapon has increasingly been seen as not being effective enough against modern missile threats. For this reason, Phalanx may be replaced on many ships by the newer RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) System or other more potent CIWS systems.

Posted by Dar 2004-2-3 4:24:55 PM|| 2004-2-3 4:24:55 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Phalanx may be replaced on many ships by the newer RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile)
Sorta like Shipboard Chaparrral only without fins....

Posted by Shipman 2004-2-3 7:21:53 PM|| 2004-2-3 7:21:53 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Nah, these are just dirt-poor people who are desperate. This is the high seas version of a pawn shop in the bad part of town getting robbed.

In these two cases, agreed. In the Straits, there's tradition of fishermen engage in such side-business.

The U.S. Navy has a top-secret defense against being rammed by cargo vessels...it's called, "moving out of the way".

phil_b is right. Ships move fast in the Straits, many of them don't follow navigation rules or the designated channels (think French drivers) and there isn't a lot of time to react. The USS Ranger paid for it by colliding with a bulk freighter in 1979. Of course being in total EMCON didn't help matters any...

Posted by Pappy 2004-2-3 11:07:00 PM|| 2004-2-3 11:07:00 PM|| Front Page Top

09:53 Dar
06:25 Coloradoan
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23:58 Lucky
23:56 TS
23:50 Sue Bob
23:33 Anonymous2U
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23:24 SON OF TOLUI
23:24 Gasse Katze
23:20 NotMike Moore
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23:07 closet neo-con
23:07 Pappy
23:04 NotMike Moore
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