Thread: Best response to Somali piracy?

Originally Posted by GC13

So who here is in such a position that they're able to write up a convincing letter and suggesting to the office of the navy that they commission a couple hundred new Cyclones (or another appropriate design) and have a snowball's chance of the letter actually being read?

Honestly cyclones are big, probably to big for this type of thing and 200 are way more than needed. Only 14 were initially built.


I don't think true bluewater boats are the way to go. 100' max length (I'd personally go with 85') 15'-20' max beam. 1 M242 Bushmaster in the bow, in an armoured tub, a pair of dual mount .50's mounted on the aft, I'd also have a pair of light MG's amidships or just before the pilot house, mount in a modified avenger system, design in a possibility to mount harpoons. Should be able to get 35 knot speed with relatively inexpensive engines. Berthing for 18, normal complement 14. That should be able to have cruising range of around 1,200 miles and about 10 days enduence. It wouldn't be particualarly comfortable for anybody on board. Put in the caterpiller marine 3512 C engine. 1 starboard 1 port each with its own reduction gearing and drive shaft to a prop. I'm tempted to use the 3512 generator set as well since it would more than provide enough power and have many interchangable parts. You are looking at $200,000 for the bushmaster, $14,000 per M2 so $60,000 for guns and mounting. The pintle mounted m240g's forward would be $25,000 total, $500,000 for the avenger, $300,000 per engine x3 , 2 harpoons at 700,000 each, Eads/lockhead TRS-3D $1,300,000, GPS 5,000 Hull and other mechanicals, $2,300,000. Thats a bit under 7 mill
at listed prices which are fairly accurate. Call it 10 mill hull price and you have room for over runs and some operating costs.

Originally Posted by Maxor

Honestly cyclones are big, probably to big for this type of thing and 200 are way more than needed. Only 14 were initially built.


I don't think true bluewater boats are the way to go. 100' max length (I'd personally go with 85') 15'-20' max beam. 1 M242 Bushmaster in the bow, in an armoured tub, a pair of dual mount .50's mounted on the aft, I'd also have a pair of light MG's amidships or just before the pilot house, mount in a modified avenger system, design in a possibility to mount harpoons. Should be able to get 35 knot speed with relatively inexpensive engines. Berthing for 18, normal complement 14. That should be able to have cruising range of around 1,200 miles and about 10 days enduence. It wouldn't be particualarly comfortable for anybody on board. Put in the caterpiller marine 3512 C engine. 1 starboard 1 port each with its own reduction gearing and drive shaft to a prop. I'm tempted to use the 3512 generator set as well since it would more than provide enough power and have many interchangable parts. You are looking at $200,000 for the bushmaster, $14,000 per M2 so $60,000 for guns and mounting. The pintle mounted m240g's forward would be $25,000 total, $500,000 for the avenger, $300,000 per engine x3 , 2 harpoons at 700,000 each, Eads/lockhead TRS-3D $1,300,000, GPS 5,000 Hull and other mechanicals, $2,300,000. Thats a bit under 7 mill
at listed prices which are fairly accurate. Call it 10 mill hull price and you have room for over runs and some operating costs.

I do see some problems with that (to be honest I went to the blog with them).

It's not just a Patrol boat... Far from it, especially if it's manned.
It will need provisions for taking on board pirates (i.e. cells). It will need a dedicated medical detache to each boat (operating room) because it anticipates aggressive action & detainment. It will need provision for more than 4 extra berths if its expecting to take on a SOF team. It will need to by & large take care of wounded & casualties until there is a ship nearby that can take them on board. Crammed on board an 85' boat.

It will also be what amounts to a little boat, which has to sail great distances (Across the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian) for rotations, and it will have to stay on station for a month, where it will be doing a lot of patrolling. Those are very cramped conditions, being tossed around on a boat in anyones language, sucking up important resources.

Again, what is wrong with a resupply ship with an operations room, capable of operating some Unmanned Zodiacs, doing some good old port - security? Its exactly what the Israel's have been doing, and Singapore iirc

Originally Posted by Chunder

I do see some problems with that (to be honest I went to the blog with them).

It's not just a Patrol boat... Far from it, especially if it's manned.
It will need provisions for taking on board pirates (i.e. cells). It will need a dedicated medical detache to each boat (operating room) because it anticipates aggressive action & detainment. It will need provision for more than 4 extra berths if its expecting to take on a SOF team. It will need to by & large take care of wounded & casualties until there is a ship nearby that can take them on board. Crammed on board an 85' boat.

Why do you want to operate on this boat? That also means you will need a surgeon on board. They are expensive to station on such a small boat. I think a sick bay with enough supplies for a medic to stablize the wounded is good enough.

Originally Posted by Chunder

It will also be what amounts to a little boat, which has to sail great distances (Across the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian) for rotations, and it will have to stay on station for a month, where it will be doing a lot of patrolling. Those are very cramped conditions, being tossed around on a boat in anyones language, sucking up important resources.

You assume this boat will be stationed in the US, and then travel to that part of the world. What if we just transport these boats to Somalia, lease a base, and station them right there on the spot?