Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!cbnews!military
From: terryr@ogicse.ogi.edu (Terry Rooker)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: How to assault a tanker
Message-ID: <1990Aug31.031302.25529@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 31 Aug 90 03:13:02 GMT
References: <1990Aug28.042834.29477@cbnews.att.com> <1990Aug29.014734.8196@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: Oregon Graduate Institute (formerly OGC), Beaverton, OR
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From: terryr@ogicse.ogi.edu (Terry Rooker)
In article <1990Aug29.014734.8196@cbnews.att.com> cga66@ihlpy.att.com (Patrick V Kauffold) writes:
>
>
>From: cga66@ihlpy.att.com (Patrick V Kauffold)
>
>So I would say this is not a particularly straight-forward job, depending
>on (a) the willingness of the tanker master to take damage, and (b) the
>willingness of the "allied" commander to do potentially lethal damage.
>Simply shooting out the steering seems to be a low probability move.
>Putting a boarding party on the ship from a small boat is possible, but
>not enjoyable; maybe impossible if the boardees resist.
>
>I like the helo idea.  For this you would need at least two helos capable
>of carrying 6-8 Marines.  It would help if the helos had MGs to clear 
>the floating LZ if necessary.  Yes, there is plenty of room on the tanker
>deck (watch out for antennae!).  I don't think the LAMPS I or II will 
>fill this bill.  I think this is the only way to stop a tanker in a
>reasonably short time and distance.
>
Actually, the Marines are not trained for this mission.  The problem
with a helicopter approach is that it is very noisy.  If the tanker is
determined to fight the boarding, the crew can turn the tanker towards
shore, or even into other shipping, jam the throttles and helm, and
then the crew can fight or even leave the ship.  The boarding force
Marines, SEALS, or whomever will then be left with an empty ship
standing into a collision or grounding.  If the crew puts up a fight,
the boarders will probably not have enough time to disable the ship to
prevent it from grounding or going bump in the night.

The way the Malaysian/Indonesian pirates do this same task off
Singapore is to approach the ship from behind at night.  A boarding
ladder is put over the rail (using a pole), the pirates can then board
quietly.  Against an alert crew, it would be possible to
distract/eliminate any stern sentry before the boarding is attempted.
Off course when the first shot is fired, personnel below decks could
still jam throttles and steering, but they would have less time.

Another problem with either approach are simple countermeasures.
Light cable can strung across the open areas of the deck, which could
ensnare the choppers.  Nets and cables can be rigged to impede the
boarders of they try to insert by reppeling from the chopper.
Similarly lines and other objects can be towed astern that would cause
havoc with any light craft attempting to sneak up astern.

These problems and more are why the preferred method is to shoot at
the steering gear, and/or the bridge (granted nether are always
successful).  



-- 
Terry Rooker
terryr@cse.ogi.edu