Could a Commerce Raider work on the modern Ocean? , What would it look like ?

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

There is two important things which make commerce raiding trickier than earlier.

1. Most cargo ships are equipped with EPIRB buoy which automatically activates when ship sinks and sends location and information of ship just sunk.
2. In modern GMDSS compatible digital radios generic emergency signal, which includes ship's IMO number, location etc., can be sent by pressing just one button. With few seconds of time available you can add info on what happened. No need for verbal communications anymore.

EPIRB sends information both via VHF and satellite. With radio there have to be another vessel or shore radio station in range.

[tater]

Again the foe matters. I tend to assume the US is the target, so it is an unlikely type of warfare. As soon as we know commerce is being attacked, we have asw air assets near shipping lanes. The SSN will not have very long to egress the attack area. We'd also keep our boats around.

Honestly, stealthed aircraft would have a far better chance. Dash in, fire some over the horizon anti-shipping missiles, and scoot.

[Mush Martin]

Good Posts all

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr

There is two important things which make commerce raiding trickier than earlier.

1. Most cargo ships are equipped with EPIRB buoy which automatically activates when ship sinks and sends location and information of ship just sunk.
2. In modern GMDSS compatible digital radios generic emergency signal, which includes ship's IMO number, location etc., can be sent by pressing just one button. With few seconds of time available you can add info on what happened. No need for verbal communications anymore.

EPIRB sends information both via VHF and satellite. With radio there have to be another vessel or shore radio station in range.

Add to that commercial ships are equipped with transponders making their position known 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Also the private global communications technology available even to the lowest of crew members like SAT phones. Makes it hard to be sneaky

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Add to that commercial ships are equipped with transponders making their position known 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Also the private global communications technology available even to the lowest of crew members like SAT phones. Makes it hard to be sneaky

And if an EMP fries the electronics, they'll know where the signal stopped.

That fries my idea

[Rockstar]

I visited the headquarters of a well known towing company recently. In the main room was this huge electronic map, much like the 'big board' in the movie Dr. Strangelove. On it was the name, location, course, speed, last port of call, next port of call, ETA, and cargo of every towboat and barge they owned.

The 'Big Eye' sees everything these days.

[August]

Ok here's August Evils evil modern commerce raider plan:



To sink enemy vessels we develop robotic limpet mines. A self propelled high explosive magnetic mine that attachs itself to the hull of a target ship and can be detonated hours or even days later by either timer or remote control. These mines alone or in groups (for say seeding an enemy harbor) are deployed from hatches located below the waterline of the commerce raider when it passes in the vicinity of a target ship.

To capture enemy vessels we use midget submarines. Same general idea as the limpet mine but instead of high explosives it carries a prize crew as it's payload. They deploy, again from underwater hatches and attach to the targets hull, then they wait for the opportune moment to take her by boarding (Arrr).

[Platapus]

Sharks with frickin laser beams on their heads.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Sharks with frickin laser beams on their heads.

But not dolphins with mines strapped to their backs please

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

But not dolphins with mines strapped to their backs please

Day of the Dolphin. Very sad movie.

I still tear up when Scott tells the dolphin to tell the other dolphins to never talk to humans.

[TLAM Strike]

Might work once but even the “Dreaded Pirates of the African Horn” are almost immediately trailed the moment they strike and the only reason NATO can't just take them out is the hostages they have.

But I don't think you guys are thinking big enough...

An armed merchantman might be quite effective as a surprise weapon to cripple an enemy with a quick strike of missiles. Novator makes a missile launch system for the SS-N-27 that fits four rounds in an ISO shipping container. That could do a lot of damage if it sailed in to Baltimore harbor and fires a few dozen LACMs or it got within sight of a US CSG and let fly a bunch of ASMs from point blank range. Boats like this are what we like to call stage one of a “Red Dawn” or “Debt of Honor” type scenario. Great part is you don't even need to own the boat! Just send some shipping containers overseas and wait for FEDEX to say its unloaded in the states and wham!

[August]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

But not dolphins with mines strapped to their backs please

Would you believe robotic dolphins with magnetic mines in their bellies?

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by August

Would you believe robotic dolphins with magnetic mines in their bellies?

Okay...I'll settle for those