Pirates, We Don't Need No Stinkin Pirates

Sirus Star

The Sirius Star is only one of the latest ships to be captured and held for ransom by Somalian pirates. These pirates have seized or tried to seize any ship they can get within range of including cruise ships, fishing vessels, freighters and now an oil tanker.

In March of 1794, the United States Navy was born in response to Muslim pirates operating out of Algeria. In the early 1800s, the pirates actions led to the first and second Barbary Wars.

USS Anacapa AG-49

During the World Wars, many countries used armed ships disguised as merchant ships to seize, sink or terrorize merchant ships on the high seas. The picture above is a WWII Q-ship the USS Anacapa AG-49.

I remember reading of German surface raiders used in WWII in the same manner as the Allied Q-ships. Freighters or other surface ships were provided with armament and methods of changing the ship's profile to minimize recognition. Such things as dummy funnels, repainting shipping line insignias and changing the ships paint scheme along with fake cargo that could be rearranged into various combinations. The ships also flew the flags of other countries dependent upon their mission.

Underneath all of the fakery the ship had the ability to drop panels and become a warship once the had closed within striking range of their target. Below are pictures of three German surface raiders.

HSK1 Orion

HSK2 Atlantis

HSK6 Stier

A short online check reveals there are small ships for sale around the world. I am also sure that our country has some ships in mothballs that could be brought into service and armed for patrol in areas where pirates are wreaking havoc. It would cost to either purchase a ship or rehab one in mothballs however, the pirates in Somalia are collecting millions of dollars a year in ransom. The cost of routing ships around the pirates would drive up shipping costs because of spending more days at sea.

http://www.omccthailand.com/webboard/show.php?Category=shp02&No=3272

http://www.gobizkorea.com/offer/offer_main.jsp?biz_type=&lev=2&unspsc=25110000

www.orley.de/roro.htm

I realize that these ships are not armored but the pirates weapons are basically rocket propelled grenades, and well they can cause harm, they are not accurate rapid fire weapons.

Years ago the US Navy had a mine sweeper that was propelled by huge outboard propeller drives. The ship was driven over the mines to detonate them. The ship's hull was filled with Styrofoam to provide floatation capability should the hull be breached. Something along those lines could done to a small merchant ship after it is provided enough ballast to look correct.

With the modern weapons available to governments today it would not be cost prohibitive to put out armed decoys for the pirates. Once pirates realize the easy pickings are over and that attacking ships can be painful; they will seek other occupations.

Plus these ships could also be used in other areas around the world where pirates roam. It seems pirates exist in other areas besides just Somalia.