September 22, 2004

"Just 30mm guns to protect 300lbs of weapons-grade plutonium on open seas"

This page has the details which are rather scary: [This ships that will transport the plutonium across the Atlantic] each boast three 30mm cannons capable of tackling attacking boats and aircraft. Armed officers from the UK Atomic Energy Constabulary are also on guard against boarders... Jane's Foreign Report concluded that even with their 30mm guns the freighters were "capable of repelling only a lightly armed attack".

30mm is just over an inch, and, while there might be other ships in the convoy, the Coast Guard will not be among them. Whether our Navy will be is not stated.

Posted to Terrorism at September 22, 2004 12:52 AM

Comments

I agree heavier weaponry would insure a safer transport, but the 30mm cannon has been used on the A-10 warthog as a tank shredder to great effect. The 30mm measurement is in the diameter, the lenght of the round, including the brass case, is nearly as long as an adult males arm.

Posted by: no2liberals at September 22, 2004 05:31 PM

the cannon on a a10 is a belt fed gatling gun
style auto cannon
30mm cannons on board a ship are likely to be
single shot. not quite as effective

Posted by: rob at September 23, 2004 08:00 AM

the cannon on a a10 is a belt fed gatling gun
style auto cannon
30mm cannons on board a ship are likely to be
single shot. not quite as effective

Posted by: rob at September 23, 2004 08:01 AM

the cannon on a a10 is a belt fed gatling gun
style auto cannon
30mm cannons on board a ship are likely to be
single shot. not quite as effective

Posted by: rob at September 23, 2004 08:01 AM

Back in 1999 MSNBC called the Pacific Teal and the Pacific Pintail "the two most heavily armed merchant ships since World War II", carrying 7 tons of ammunition. Sounds like an auto-cannon to me.

http://nucnews.net/nucnews/1999nn/9908nn/990819nn.world.htm

Granted they're no match for the USS New Jersey but they should be able to see off a boatload of jihadis with RPGs.

Posted by: Wild Bill at September 23, 2004 10:06 AM

I'm an Air Force veteran, not USN, but I never heard of a single-shot 30mm cannon. You know the jingle, "GE, we bring good things to like."

Posted by: no2liberals at September 24, 2004 09:10 AM

Sorry everybody, that should be "life", not like.

Posted by: no2liberals at September 24, 2004 09:13 AM