A solution to the Somalia pirates.

[PhillyGuy]

http://blog.800hightech.com/wp-content/uploads/mq-9-reaper.jpg

MQ-9 Reaper.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MQ-9_Reaper

The "Reaper" is the successor to the well-known "Predator" unmanned aerial combat craft. It can fly at a higher speed, up to 300 mph, and a longer range, up to 3,200 nautical miles. It can also stay aloft for long periods, from 14 to 28 hours depending on armament load.
The latest news tells of four more ships hijacked by pirates since the American captains rescue and another American ship placed under attack by pirates 200 miles off the Kenyan coast. The problem is because of the large area, 1100 miles along the Somalian, Indian Ocean coastline and 300 miles along the Kenyan coastline, it is not possible to patrol the entire area by surface ships:

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2007/20070409_mapsomalia.gif

If it were possible to place a "Reaper" station every 400 miles along the Somalia and Kenyan coast, then one could reach any ship under attack within 200 miles off the Somalia or Kenyan coast within an hour. This would require 3 stations in Somalia and 1 in Kenya.
However, because of the unstable political situation in Kenya and Somalia this may not be permitted. Kenya is more stable than Somalia. It might be possible to place one station there. Then because of their long range and flying times, you would have to keep several Reapers aloft at all times even up all along the Somalian coast and have them return to the Kenyan base for refueling.
Another possibility might be to have the Reapers be ship-based. According to the Wikipedia article the U.S. Navy has ordered a naval version of the Reaper called the "Mariner", which presumably could launch from aircraft carriers. I don't know however if this is operational yet. Rather than having a full carrier group being based in the area, it might be possible to launch them from a smaller WASP class helicopter-carrier type ships:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/USS_Wasp_%28LHD_1%29.jpg
Wasp class amphibious assault ship.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasp_class_amphibious_assault_ship

To help with take off on the short runways they could use jet or rocket assisted take off:

JATO and RATO.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_take_off#JATO_and_RATO


PhillyGuy

[Long Island Bob]

We should make Boosasso a US port.

[beaux]

First, blow up any known pirate bases. Then move some fast attack ships to the area. I am not up on current Naval options, but I am thinking Coast Guard Cutter- type ships. Fast and deadly.

Bring back the PT Boat, John Kerry could command one. :))

[bigtwnvin]

Any "solution" should command the same end result. Death to all pirates. The then President Thomas Jefferson knew this and prosecuted piracy with death.
The current POTUS has neither the will or the cujones to do the same.

[Blindeye101]

First, blow up any known pirate bases. Then move some fast attack ships to the area. I am not up on current Naval options, but I am thinking Coast Guard Cutter- type ships. Fast and deadly.

Bring back the PT Boat, John Kerry could command one. :))

I think Kerry would get lost and end up in the Ross Sea.

[Long Island Bob]

First, blow up any known pirate bases. Then move some fast attack ships to the area. I am not up on current Naval options, but I am thinking Coast Guard Cutter- type ships. Fast and deadly.

Bring back the PT Boat, John Kerry could command one. :))

Blockade the Somali ports.

Interdict, board and search every fishing trawler and speed boat in the area.

Take over the town of Bosasa.
Establish a US naval base there.
Bosasa is the new Singapore.

[Joeybear23]

Just put a halt to all rum trade...

[bigtwnvin]

Blockade the Somali ports.

Interdict, board and search every fishing trawler and speed boat in the area.

Take over the town of Bosasa.
Establish a US naval base there.
Bosasa is the new Singapore.

The blockade and interdiction strategy sounds good. Landing and taking over a town would be perceived as an incursion (yes I know Somalia has no govt.)
comrade Maobama would balk at the expense of establishing a Naval base.
Eradicate their assets at sea and on land (black ops & Naval gun & air strikes).
With no weapons or money they'll just run away. From what I understand the "Somali pirates" are mostly young and uneducated. Like most 3rd world populations, used as a tool for somebodys warped ideals.

[Dr BloodMoney]

Blockade the Somali ports.

Interdict, board and search every fishing trawler and speed boat in the area.

Take over the town of Bosasa.
Establish a US naval base there.
Bosasa is the new Singapore.

On a daily basis, out in the open ocean, let alone close in to the coast, there are 600-1000 craft that fit this description. Do you know how big your naval force would have to be, every day?

[beaux]

Blockade the Somali ports.

Interdict, board and search every fishing trawler and speed boat in the area.

Take over the town of Bosasa.
Establish a US naval base there.
Bosasa is the new Singapore.

I think a blockade would cost a fortune and divert too many naval forces from other duties.

That's why I suggested smaller, faster attack ships.

Interdict and board is good, but I would like to add that ANY boat/ship with pirates on board should be immediately scuttled, with the pirates on it.

[Long Island Bob]

On a daily basis, out in the open ocean, let alone close in to the coast, there are 600-1000 craft that fit this description. Do you know how big your naval force would have to be, every day?

Hmm maybe you're right.
(of course once the ports are blockaded there wouldn't be so much small craft traffic on the seas)

forget the 100% interdiction and instead
Blockade the Somali ports.

Interdict, board and search 20-50% of the fishing trawlers and speed boats in the area.

Take over the town of Bosasa.
Establish a US naval base there.
Bosasa is the new Singapore.

[Long Island Bob]

The blockade and interdiction strategy sounds good. Landing and taking over a town would be perceived as an incursion (yes I know Somalia has no govt.)
comrade Maobama would balk at the expense of establishing a Naval base.
Eradicate their assets at sea and on land (black ops & Naval gun & air strikes).
With no weapons or money they'll just run away. From what I understand the "Somali pirates" are mostly young and uneducated. Like most 3rd world populations, used as a tool for somebodys warped ideals.

Incursions worked in Singapore, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, guam etc. etc.


You bring up a good point about weapons though.
There are drug gangs on our southern border. The administration partially blames america and wants to stop the flow of weapons to them. they same pretty much the same grade of weapons as the somali pirates.

I wonder where the Somali's go their weapons and if their suppliers are partially to blame.

[zantax]

What's wrong with just stationing an air craft carrier and scrambling jets to U.S. merchant ship distress calls? That reaper is way too slow.

[PSBandit]

How about sharks with lasers?

Austin Powers - Sharks with lasers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh7bYNAHXxw

or... mutated sea bass if the enviro-leftists cause trouble.

[Long Island Bob]

What's wrong with just stationing an air craft carrier and scrambling jets to U.S. merchant ship distress calls? That reaper is way too slow.

Ad part of a comprehensive effort? sure.

butn in the end when friendly forces (which could include the US marine corp) congtrol the ports where the pirates operate re-arm, spend their ill gotten gain, and re-supply the problem wil be solved. until then the problem wil not be solved.

this has always been the case with pirates.

[Roberts_the_man]

On a daily basis, out in the open ocean, let alone close in to the coast, there are 600-1000 craft that fit this description. Do you know how big your naval force would have to be, every day?

First you don't wait for them to go out to sea...

You go in and blow away the ports they use and any ships anchored there.

Any remaining ship that were out to sea at the time will be fewer in number and easier to identify and to interdict.

Stationing predators was one of the suggestions I made about a week ago and could be supplimented by an aircraft carrier and fast destroyer type ships in the area until the situation was shortly brought under control by quick aggressive measures: As in all Somali pirates are dead and acting as fish food.

Then the other tactics would sustain and be sufficient to deter any others from taking up the trade in the future.

[zantax]

Bottom line though is that it's insane not to have a carrier there right now.

[Roberts_the_man]

What's wrong with just stationing an air craft carrier and scrambling jets to U.S. merchant ship distress calls? That reaper is way too slow.

The aircraft carrier is good short time solution to the problem.


The predator does not have to be right on top of the pirate ships to blow them away.

A hellfire missile can make up a lot of distance in a very short amount of time.

You can station a number of them at intervals over an area which
would cut down on reaction time.


IMHO the first thing to be done is to obliterate the ports and ships that can be used for these operations...

I even suggest using a C130 , puff the magic dragon plane, to go in and decimate the port population(Of course with a warning to evacuate for the non-pirate population.).

[Roberts_the_man]

Bottom line though is that it's insane not to have a carrier there right now.

Agreed!

[Roberts_the_man]

Ad part of a comprehensive effort? sure.

butn in the end when friendly forces (which could include the US marine corp) congtrol the ports where the pirates operate re-arm, spend their ill gotten gain, and re-supply the problem wil be solved. until then the problem wil not be solved.

this has always been the case with pirates.

Yup if they can't have a safe port or harbor ...

It's almost impossible for them to operate especially on a long term basis.

[Long Island Bob]

First you don't wait for them to go out to sea...

You go in and blow away the ports they use and any ships anchored there.

Any remaining ship that were out to sea at the time will be fewer in number and easier to identify and to interdict.

Stationing predators was one of the suggestions I made about a week ago and could be supplimented by an aircraft carrier and fast destroyer type ships in the area until the situation was shortly brought under control by quick aggressive measures: As in all Somali pirates are dead and acting as fish food.

Then the other tactics would sustain and be sufficient to deter any others from taking up the trade in the future.


agreed.

I'll add that while I don’t always trust wiki but my understanding is that wiki has it about right his time:


Although Congress never voted on a formal declaration of war, they did authorize the President to instruct the commanders of armed vessels of the United States to seize all vessels and goods of the pirate chieftains of Tripoli "and also to cause to be done all such other acts of precaution or hostility as the state of war will justify."

Although Congress never voted on a formal declaration of war, they did authorize the President to instruct the commanders of armed vessels of the United States to seize all vessels and goods of the Pasha of Tripoli "and also to cause to be done all such other acts of precaution or hostility as the state of war will justify."

Preble attacked Tripoli outright on July 14, 1804 in a series of inconclusive battles, including a courageous but unsuccessful attack by the fire ship USS Intrepid under Captain Richard Somers. Intrepid, packed with explosives, was to enter Tripoli harbor and destroy itself and the enemy fleet; it was destroyed, perhaps by enemy guns, before achieving that goal, killing Somers and his crew.

The turning point in the war came with the Battle of Derna (April-May 1805). Ex-consul William Eaton, who went by the rank of general, and US Marine First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led a mixed force of eight United States Marines and 500 Greek, Arab and Berber mercenaries on a remarkable overland march across the desert from Alexandria, Egypt to assault and to capture the Tripolitan city of Derna This is the first time in history that the United States flag was raised in victory on foreign soil. This action was memorialized in a line from the Marines' Hymn — "the shores of Tripoli."

Wearied of the blockade and raids, and now under threat of a continued advance on Tripoli proper and a scheme to restore his deposed older brother Hamet Karamanli as ruler, Yussif Karamanli signed a treaty ending hostilities on June 10, 1805. Although the Senate did not approve the treaty until the following year, this effectively ended the First Barbary War.

Jefferson's response:
Attack them in the cities and towns.
Seize the vessels lying in the harbor (without first checking to be sure these were pirate owned vessels.)
Seize their merchant wares (without first checking to be sure these were pirate owned wares.)
Launch fire against their cities.
Blow up their harbors.
Raid their cities and port towns.
March across the deserts and capture their capitals.
Set up puppet governments


Note also
William Kidd was lured to Boston by a bounty hunter and arrested. he and his wife, who hadreceived stolen goods were imprisoned.

Charles Bellamy’s land based camp was destroyed and he was forced to flee to Madagascar whre he eventualy died.

Abdulla al-Hadj was captured on shore by local authorities and turned over to the British navy affer the British threatened to shell the town .

Thomas Anstis was captured by British marines who invaded Tobagao and pursued him far inland to capture him.

Ann Bonney and Mary Read were captured together with their Captain Calico Jack as their ship tried to leave blockaded harbor left.


In fact,
of all the famous pirates hardly one of them had his career brought to an end by waiting for him to attack a merchant ship and then counter attacking.

[PhillyGuy]

What's wrong with just stationing an air craft carrier and scrambling jets to U.S. merchant ship distress calls? That reaper is way too slow.

I'd like to have a naval authority response on this , but my guess if you have a single carrier in this area over a thousand miles wide, when you consider the time it takes to get a pilot to the aircraft, briefed, launched, and jet up to speed the resulting time would be longer than if the slower Reaper was stationed closed by to where the ships were hijacked.
It would also be far too expensive and dangerous to have pilots be constantly launching and landing and in the air patrolling this huge area.


PhillyGuy

[PhillyGuy]

How about sharks with lasers?

Austin Powers - Sharks with lasers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh7bYNAHXxw

or... mutated sea bass if the enviro-leftists cause trouble.

The animal-rights activists would complain - especially if the sharks accidentally shot each other.

PhillyGuy :D

[blackcatrun]

Easy cheap way is set up a cargo ship with heavy weapons and disguse them so they cant be seen sail it right into the area.

When the pirates come out to capture the ship, The crew opens up a can of whoopass. Pirates wont know which ships are there to kill them and which are not.

[Dr BloodMoney]

Easy cheap way is set up a cargo ship with heavy weapons and disguse them so they cant be seen sail it right into the area.

When the pirates come out to capture the ship, The crew opens up a can of whoopass. Pirates wont know which ships are there to kill them and which are not.

The Pirates are 15-25 year old's that will risk anything for the take on one ship. This wouldn't phase them a bit...... Life is very, very cheap there.....

[PhillyGuy]

Just saw this article that argues for UAV's to do surveillance overflights and alert shipping if they see small boats far off the coast that could be pirate boats:

Overflight, Overflight, Overflight - The Missing Component To Combatting Piracy
April 11th, 2009 ·
http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/somalia-piracy-solutions-overflight/


PhillyGuy

[PhillyGuy]

Here is a small reconnaissance only UAV that is easily launched from a catapult launcher. It was used to observe from the air the recent kidnapping of the American captain:

Boeing ScanEagle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ScanEagle

The GCaptain web site also mentions an attempted pirate hijacking occurred as far as 900 nautical miles (!) off the Somali coast.
So if the combat UAV's are to be used, you may need them to be on permanent duty, that is, one always in the air at all times patrolling a particular area, since 900 miles from the coast might result in too long a response time if it took off from a coastal station only when alerted.
If the area to be patrolled is 1400 miles by 1000 miles, that's 1,400,000 square miles. If you want a Reaper at 300 mph to reach a spot inside a 300 mile radius within an hour, that's a patrol area of 600 mi x 600 mi= 360,000 square miles. Then only four of them would be required to do this. If you wanted the response time to be within only a half-hour that could be done with 4 times as many or 16.
Note though this is only the number that are in the air at once. Several more would have to be on the ground getting fueled, serviced, etc.


PhillyGuy

[Long Island Bob]

I'd like to have a naval authority response on this , but my guess if you have a single carrier in this area over a thousand miles wide, when you consider the time it takes to get a pilot to the aircraft, briefed, launched, and jet up to speed the resulting time would be longer than if the slower Reaper was stationed closed by to where the ships were hijacked.
It would also be far too expensive and dangerous to have pilots be constantly launching and landing and in the air patrolling this huge area.


PhillyGuy

History shows organized piracy can be defeated with ground assaults and cannot be defeated another way.

Under that umbrella there are still numerous options.
The British defeated Carribbean piracy by invading and keeping towns and lands.
Thomas Jefferson defeated Muslim Piracy by conquering and then leaving.
etc. etc.