A new long-range laser weapon takes a page from Greek antiquity to thwart marauding pirates at sea. It won’t set their ships on fire, but it can let pirates know they have been spotted and might make them wish for an eye patch, as New Scientist reports.
British defense giant BAE Systems is testing a new green-light laser, which can automatically modulate its intensity depending on the weather and distance to target. Piracy has been on the rise, according to the International Maritime Bureau — there were 430 pirate attacks last year, including an audacious attack on a U.S. warship in the Indian Ocean.
Pirates are no joke, it turns out. I guess the thing is, huge cargo ships really only need a very small crew. Since all the actual loading and unloading is done by people at the ports, a massive boat shipping consumer goods across the ocean will only have a few dudes on it. So a skiff full of guys with guns can pirate up a big ship without too much trouble.
My buddy was a Lieutenant on a Navy aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. Apparently one night pirates started approaching the boat, mistaking it in the dark for a cargo ship or something. Someone on board shined a massive searchlight on them and they got the hell out of there.
But man, if they actually got close enough to go through with it, that’s got to be one of the worst things that can happen if you’re a pirate. You think you’re in for an easy plunder, and then you get on the boat and there are like hundreds of trained and armed Navy guys on there. Classic pirate blunder.
Lastly, if this new device catches on, people will get to shoot lasers at pirates.
Tedquarters 