Making Noise
With piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali reaching alarming proportions, the Indian Navy has begun installing a device on its warships that according to one report, ” literally scares the hell out of hostile elements”.
While feedback from other users of LRAD has been slightly less impresive, the device has been seen on the destroyer “INS Mysore” and on “INS Satpura”.
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In piracy situations, LRAD® is a critical part of a layered defense strategy. It is highly effective in giving crew members time to determine the intent of unidentified vessels that do not respond to radio calls. Vessels at up to 3,000 meters can be hailed and warned using LRAD’s powerful directed communication system and multiple language capability, guaranteeing that warning messages are clearly heard and understood. If pirates continue their approach, LRAD’s warning tones can provide an annoying and deterring effect that has proven successful in fending off attackers on multiple occasions, including almost six years ago when the Seabourn Spirit was attacked in these same waters. Earlier this year, the Korean Navy successfully used LRAD during their rescue of the Samho Jewelry 800 miles off the coast of Somalia.
When a ship shows that it is aware of an impending attack by broadcasting warnings using LRAD at distance, in many instances, the pirates will break off their attack. By employing LRAD, the crew make it known to the pirates that they have lost the element of surprise and that they are prepared to make it as difficult as possible for them to get on board. If the crew is armed, it is essential to determine intent before opening fire on an unidentified approaching boat and ensure they are not fisherman or innocent civilians.
Preventing piracy requires a vigilant crew and a layered and diverse defense strategy. Captain Richard Phillips called for LRADs as an element in a “…comprehensive, multi-faceted plan to combat…” international piracy during his May 5, 2009 testimony before a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing on piracy. LRAD is successful in what it does: communicate clearly at distance, hail and warn, and determine intent. If a ship’s crew waits until pirates are only a few hundred meters away and then expect LRAD to overpower gunfire from automatic weapons and RPG’s then they’re not using it for its intended purpose. With piracy attacks continuing to escalate, LRAD is an essential part of an overall defense capability for maritime security and international naval forces in the fight against 21st century pirates.