The crew of a luxury cruise ship used a sonic weapon that blasts
earsplitting noise in a directed beam while being attacked by a gang of
pirates off Africa this weekend, the cruise line said Monday.

The Seabourn Spirit had a Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, installed as
a part of its defense systems, said Bruce Good, a spokesman for Miami-based
Seabourn Cruise Line. The Spirit was about 100 miles off Somalia when
pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns as they tried to
get onboard.



The subsidiary of Carnival Corp. was investigating whether the weapon was
successful in warding off the pirates, he said. The ship's captain also
changed its course, shifted into high speed and headed out into the open sea
to elude the pirates, who were in two small boats, he said. He had no
further details.

Device maker American Technology Corp. said earsplitting "bangs" were
directed by trained security personnel toward the pirates. That, combined
with ship maneuvers, caused the attackers to leave the area, the company
said.

The LRAD is a so-called "non-lethal weapon" developed for the U.S. military
after the 2000 attack on the USS Cole off Yemen as a way to keep operators
of small boats from approaching U.S. warships.

The military version is a 45-pound, dish-shaped device that can direct a
high-pitched, piercing tone with a tight beam. Neither the LRAD's operators
or others in the immediate area are affected.

American Technology, based in San Diego, compares its shrill tone to that of
smoke detectors, only much louder. It can be as loud as about 150 decibels,
while smoke alarms are about 80 to 90 decibels.

The devices have been deployed on commercial and naval vessels worldwide
since summer 2003, the company said.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/07/D8DNUV2G3.html

How gay!

If the cruise company had picked up some surplus 50 cal BMG's, they could
have charged the passengers 5K$ apiece for the chance to strafe the pirates.
You can bet the next cruise would be sold out!

Amen!

Bob Crantz


"jlrogers" wrote in message
...
The crew of a luxury cruise ship used a sonic weapon that blasts
earsplitting noise in a directed beam while being attacked by a gang of
pirates off Africa this weekend, the cruise line said Monday.

The Seabourn Spirit had a Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, installed
as
a part of its defense systems, said Bruce Good, a spokesman for
Miami-based
Seabourn Cruise Line. The Spirit was about 100 miles off Somalia when
pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns as they tried to
get onboard.



The subsidiary of Carnival Corp. was investigating whether the weapon was
successful in warding off the pirates, he said. The ship's captain also
changed its course, shifted into high speed and headed out into the open
sea
to elude the pirates, who were in two small boats, he said. He had no
further details.

Device maker American Technology Corp. said earsplitting "bangs" were
directed by trained security personnel toward the pirates. That, combined
with ship maneuvers, caused the attackers to leave the area, the company
said.

The LRAD is a so-called "non-lethal weapon" developed for the U.S.
military
after the 2000 attack on the USS Cole off Yemen as a way to keep operators
of small boats from approaching U.S. warships.

The military version is a 45-pound, dish-shaped device that can direct a
high-pitched, piercing tone with a tight beam. Neither the LRAD's
operators
or others in the immediate area are affected.

American Technology, based in San Diego, compares its shrill tone to that
of
smoke detectors, only much louder. It can be as loud as about 150
decibels,
while smoke alarms are about 80 to 90 decibels.

The devices have been deployed on commercial and naval vessels worldwide
since summer 2003, the company said.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/07/D8DNUV2G3.html

Bob,

Though I can not as a good capitalist be opposed to this proposal, I see
a very serious supply side issue. I agree that the next cruise would be
sold out. Even with the 5k$us per shooter user fee, the supplientary
income would be short lived.

The special cruises would probably loose popularity very fast when the
news got around that there were no more Somali pirate/terrorists to
shoot at.

Matt Colie

Bob Crantz wrote:
How gay!

If the cruise company had picked up some surplus 50 cal BMG's, they could
have charged the passengers 5K$ apiece for the chance to strafe the pirates.
You can bet the next cruise would be sold out!

Amen!

Bob Crantz


"jlrogers" wrote in message
...

The crew of a luxury cruise ship used a sonic weapon that blasts
earsplitting noise in a directed beam while being attacked by a gang of
pirates off Africa this weekend, the cruise line said Monday.

The Seabourn Spirit had a Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, installed

as

a part of its defense systems, said Bruce Good, a spokesman for

Miami-based

Seabourn Cruise Line. The Spirit was about 100 miles off Somalia when
pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns as they tried to
get onboard.



The subsidiary of Carnival Corp. was investigating whether the weapon was
successful in warding off the pirates, he said. The ship's captain also
changed its course, shifted into high speed and headed out into the open

sea

to elude the pirates, who were in two small boats, he said. He had no
further details.

Device maker American Technology Corp. said earsplitting "bangs" were
directed by trained security personnel toward the pirates. That, combined
with ship maneuvers, caused the attackers to leave the area, the company
said.

The LRAD is a so-called "non-lethal weapon" developed for the U.S.

military

after the 2000 attack on the USS Cole off Yemen as a way to keep operators
of small boats from approaching U.S. warships.

The military version is a 45-pound, dish-shaped device that can direct a
high-pitched, piercing tone with a tight beam. Neither the LRAD's

operators

or others in the immediate area are affected.

American Technology, based in San Diego, compares its shrill tone to that

of

smoke detectors, only much louder. It can be as loud as about 150

decibels,

while smoke alarms are about 80 to 90 decibels.

The devices have been deployed on commercial and naval vessels worldwide
since summer 2003, the company said.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/07/D8DNUV2G3.html

Oh the horror!



"Matt Colie" wrote in message
...
Bob,

Though I can not as a good capitalist be opposed to this proposal, I see
a very serious supply side issue. I agree that the next cruise would be
sold out. Even with the 5k$us per shooter user fee, the supplientary
income would be short lived.

The special cruises would probably loose popularity very fast when the
news got around that there were no more Somali pirate/terrorists to
shoot at.

Matt Colie

Bob Crantz wrote:
How gay!

If the cruise company had picked up some surplus 50 cal BMG's, they
could
have charged the passengers 5K$ apiece for the chance to strafe the
pirates.
You can bet the next cruise would be sold out!

Amen!

Bob Crantz


"jlrogers" wrote in message
...

The crew of a luxury cruise ship used a sonic weapon that blasts
earsplitting noise in a directed beam while being attacked by a gang of
pirates off Africa this weekend, the cruise line said Monday.

The Seabourn Spirit had a Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, installed

as

a part of its defense systems, said Bruce Good, a spokesman for

Miami-based

Seabourn Cruise Line. The Spirit was about 100 miles off Somalia when
pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns as they tried
to
get onboard.



The subsidiary of Carnival Corp. was investigating whether the weapon
was
successful in warding off the pirates, he said. The ship's captain also
changed its course, shifted into high speed and headed out into the open

sea

to elude the pirates, who were in two small boats, he said. He had no
further details.

Device maker American Technology Corp. said earsplitting "bangs" were
directed by trained security personnel toward the pirates. That,
combined
with ship maneuvers, caused the attackers to leave the area, the company
said.

The LRAD is a so-called "non-lethal weapon" developed for the U.S.

military

after the 2000 attack on the USS Cole off Yemen as a way to keep
operators
of small boats from approaching U.S. warships.

The military version is a 45-pound, dish-shaped device that can direct a
high-pitched, piercing tone with a tight beam. Neither the LRAD's

operators

or others in the immediate area are affected.

American Technology, based in San Diego, compares its shrill tone to
that

of

smoke detectors, only much louder. It can be as loud as about 150

decibels,

while smoke alarms are about 80 to 90 decibels.

The devices have been deployed on commercial and naval vessels worldwide
since summer 2003, the company said.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/07/D8DNUV2G3.html

Cool. I want one. Would be useful in some anchorages.

Scotty


"jlrogers" wrote in message
...
The crew of a luxury cruise ship used a sonic weapon that
blasts
earsplitting noise in a directed beam while being attacked by a
gang of
pirates off Africa this weekend, the cruise line said Monday.

The Seabourn Spirit had a Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD,
installed as
a part of its defense systems, said Bruce Good, a spokesman for
Miami-based
Seabourn Cruise Line. The Spirit was about 100 miles off
Somalia when
pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns as
they tried to
get onboard.



The subsidiary of Carnival Corp. was investigating whether the
weapon was
successful in warding off the pirates, he said. The ship's
captain also
changed its course, shifted into high speed and headed out into
the open sea
to elude the pirates, who were in two small boats, he said. He
had no
further details.

Device maker American Technology Corp. said earsplitting
"bangs" were
directed by trained security personnel toward the pirates.
That, combined
with ship maneuvers, caused the attackers to leave the area,
the company
said.

The LRAD is a so-called "non-lethal weapon" developed for the
U.S. military
after the 2000 attack on the USS Cole off Yemen as a way to
keep operators
of small boats from approaching U.S. warships.

The military version is a 45-pound, dish-shaped device that can
direct a
high-pitched, piercing tone with a tight beam. Neither the
LRAD's operators
or others in the immediate area are affected.

American Technology, based in San Diego, compares its shrill
tone to that of
smoke detectors, only much louder. It can be as loud as about
150 decibels,
while smoke alarms are about 80 to 90 decibels.

The devices have been deployed on commercial and naval vessels
worldwide
since summer 2003, the company said.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/11/07/D8DNUV2G3.html

The LRAD is a so-called "non-lethal weapon" developed for the
U.S. military
after the 2000 attack on the USS Cole off Yemen as a way to
keep operators
of small boats from approaching U.S. warships.



Scotty wrote:
Cool. I want one. Would be useful in some anchorages.


Get an electric guitar. It's cooler and just as effective. Just plug it
in and tune it up at full volume.

And once you get pretty good, you can use it for the opposite effect,
which I don't think the LRAD can do.

DSK