Spudguns on the high seas

[Gippeto]

Perhaps something like the Tiberious round bumped up to 1.5-2" and loaded with bear spray?

[EvilFish]

why not use one of the simplest of non-lethal ammunition, the humble water balloon. I tried some tests this afternoon and had some interesting results. these tests were shot at 35 psi at 50 meters at my brother. here are what some different fillings do...

Honey/syrup - extremely sticky, hard to get rid of. also the target(s) you down a lot. especially useful if it gets in their hair or eyes.
butter - hard hitting, leaves bruises.
corn stach - very hard hitting, leaves large bruises. also rather sticky.
urine - stinks. my brother refused to be shot at with urine.
extra hot sweet chilli sauce - stings on contact with skin. would likely hurt/burn a lot if it went in his eye.

I also found that putting a waterbomb in another waterbomb and then filling it helps stop it ripping in your barrel.

[CS]

Inter-national corporations with the capacity to running maritime trade tells me these people resonate political reality. Along these terms of resonating, non-violent compliance is the obvious state creating the ransoms we here of.

Why are water cannons in right now? What could be more harmless then water, in an ocean of water? From that we should deduct the nature of anti-piracy on behalf of the corporations self interest. They just cannot handle the climate of a violent, even accidental, reaction on a political scale.

With that any "hard" projectiles just do not make logical sense (complications of blunt trauma). Even anything that permanently disables these boats, must not harm the pirates.

[kenbo0422]

As I stated before, when someone is pointing/shooting assault rifles and RPG's at you, the last thing that should be on your mind is the politically correct thing to do. Given an arsenal that already takes into consideration the politically correct whining of the world, it would be prudent to take it by the stock and trigger and, even with the risk of doing what is counter to the pleas of the whining masses, punch a friggin' dozen or two holes in the little garbage scowls that chase you down, loaded with young men who don't have a clue and don't really care about you, just what they can get for you.

When the pressure subsides, and all that's left is a sinking resemblance of a hull, then let the politicos come in and pronounce there judgment on their illegal activities. Just don't expect that shaking your finger at them is going to anything to produce a second thought from their minds until they're swimming along side their own wreckage watching your ship fade off the horizon.

From that point, a radio call to have the navies check out a peculiar sighting may redeem your conscience toward humanity. If you stay PO'ed, then don't worry about it.

It is my firm opinion (opinion, mind you) that anything that they can do to you, should be done first by you so they don't have the chance. If using makeshift 'weaponry' is the only way to go, then show them what groceries feel like at 100m/s.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Agreed with everything you stated, but...

If using makeshift 'weaponry' is the only way to go, then show them what groceries feel like at 100m/s.

300 m/s, surely

[kenbo0422]

300 m/s, surely

My faux pas...

Let them try to prove illegal potatoes....

[CS]

Line of sight, I understand the logic in a two-way battle. 2-axis remotely controlled cannon posts? Have to say I am not PO'ed at all, as I might say an objective critic.

For some reason I think the objective is a commercially viable product, not something a single crew can do with blind eyes. It's entertaining for some to dismiss there time in aimless fashion (butter, urine, etc) but I think some sort of resolve can be reached, that is all I'm pushing for.

Got an idea I'm going to run past these guys, I will tell you how that goes.

[kenbo0422]

Got an idea I'm going to run past these guys, I will tell you how that goes.

You've got my curiosity up. Do keep us informed.

A spud gun with considerable power, as has been seen and referred to on here, with the capability to be moved remotely would be the best you could possibly put out. Ever seen a USB nerf launcher (like the $25 at Think Geek)? Two video cams, less than $50 each can be mounted as eyes. If one is taken out, there is still another. I figure if you can mount the USB controller to a higher grade motor and frame configuration, you have your 2 axis configuration. If it can't be done for this application, at least its a project someone on here might want to tackle just for the fun of it. A computer controlled spud gun, with eyes.

[D_Hall]

One other comment.... Really, the system doesn't need to be portable in the traditional sense. As I understand it, the only realistic way to board underway ships with primitive tech is at the stern of the ship. As such, all you need to protect is the fantail. With this in mind, the system could be massive in the sense that it could take hours to set up and that'd be acceptable; it's not like you're going to be running all over the ship in a pitched battle.

[ALIHISGREAT]

Perhaps something like the Tiberious round bumped up to 1.5-2" and loaded with bear spray?

On the subject of paintball projectiles...

they just need to get some paintball guns and shoot the pirates with these:

http://www.rap4.com/paintball/os/less-l ... -3880.html

or maybe these:

http://www.rap4.com/paintball/os/black- ... -5534.html

i'm sure they would do a good job of detering the pirates.

[D_Hall]

On the subject of paintball projectiles...

they just need to get some paintball guns and shoot the pirates with these:
[snip for space]
i'm sure they would do a good job of detering the pirates.

I'm sure they would... But now you're back to the problem of politics. In many countries paintball guns are illegal; not to mention the legality of the ammunition.

[MRR]

it's not like you're going to be running all over the ship in a pitched battle.

A real big problem nowadays is that the container/crude carrier ships are huge (hundreds of feet) and mostly computerized. You don't have large crews who could cover the hole ship with selfdefense weapons that have limited range.

Especially at night and attacked by several fast boats you are an easy bait.

[kenbo0422]

How about this one: http://www.instructables.com/id/Build_A_Net_Gun/

Anyone on here responsible for this??

[POLAND_SPUD]

this discussion is interesting but still we don't really know what could be accepted as non-lethal launcher....

even the original launcher that started this thread is still, according to polish law (and probably to laws in many other countries as well), illegal as it uses compressed air to launch projectiles

If you take this fact into consideration water cannons do make sense as they seem to be the only viable option.
Building a remotely controlled water cannon seems like a good idea to me, as it solves some of problems mentioned in this post while it can be considered legal (at least that's what I think - IDK if they could classify it as a water cannon for riot control... and as such if they could be considered as illegal)

[kenbo0422]

Its only a cannon if it is a cannon in port. Out at sea, the same laws do not apply and its no fun to use an oversized squirt gun. So, for the sake of the argument, we don't really have a cannon when leaving port until we reach the international waters. voila! Put the quick connects together, plug in the air and computer lines and we have an anti boarding device capable of sinking small watercraft on the high seas.

EDIT: I realize many are going by the laws of the (your) land. Once these ships are gone, the laws of the land no longer apply. I realize too, that a 300ft-lb force potato cannon in East Tennessee has no restrictions on usage except the usual 'don't break anything or anyone'. I use that thinking when I'm talking here, except that this one has a little more purpose in mind.