Re: Letters of marque

On Sat, 12 Jan 2002 13:52:08 -0500 Ryan Gill <rmgill@mindspring.com>
writes:
>At 11:00 AM -0500 1/12/02, Glenn M Wilson wrote:
<snip>
>
>And again, who are they bothering? What kind of pirates are they? 
>What are they equipped with?
>

IIRC, anybody who is target of opportunity (since most ships are
registered third world this gives increased protection/decreased
reflexive response for first/third world navies) is targeted.  Some
ships
disappear and end up in 'gray trade' traffic with new registry from
complaint government officials.  Most involve taking something from the
ship, again IIRC. 

Light infantry armed plus heavy weapons if a ship is the transportation
to a boarding or assault.  Most heavily armed options for a larger  USCG
cutter would be at best equally armed I think.	But my father left the
USCG in the mid to late 1940's (eye injury; sees light in one eye; other
is visually normal) due to not wearing goggles, errant paint chip and a
crummy medic.

Again IIRC, their boats have MG's and crew with RPG type weapons but
nothing much heavier that I have ever read about (but then I'm not in
Maritime Safety and I'm not monitoring the traffic.)

Also, there is plenty of jurisdictional fighting and national pride
issues involved in any potential multi-national patrol force
discussions.
 And no one's navy in these regions has the desire to involve themselves
it seems.  And third world Coast Guards are usually inadequately
equipped
to clash with these guys.

Gracias,
Glenn/Triphibious@juno.com
This is my Science Fiction Alter Ego E-mail address.
Historical - Warbeads@juno.com
Fantasy and 6mm - dwarf_warrior@juno.com

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