Why blow it up???

codprawn · 22 July 2009, 15:05

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8163293.stm

Not a bad looking boat - why not sell it instead of sinking it? The government needs every penny it can get!!!

Then again seeing their shooting they need some practice................

matt h · 22 July 2009, 16:08

feck me they cant even hit it and its stationary!!!

chewy · 22 July 2009, 16:18

I think its just to prove a point. A complete waste I aggree.
Its like that Evo that was on Top Gear. It used to be a drug dealers and had to be destroyed, why not just sell it on?

Looking at the vid they do need some practice at hitting things.

JSP · 22 July 2009, 16:22

They should have kept going. If they can't hit it when it's stationery then they'd have no chance on the move.

PeterM · 22 July 2009, 17:10

Its a long way to tow it home ?

Its good fun ?

Its a hazard to shipping if they dont sink it ?

Why not sink it ?

codprawn · 22 July 2009, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

feck me they cant even hit it and its stationary!!!

That's what I thought - I would just keep going - I doubt very much that they would actually shoot to kill anyway.

Maybe they should have had a Crompton with 8 engines..............

Leapy · 22 July 2009, 19:17

Hard judge to distance from the video but from what I can make out it looks like it took about half a dozen rounds over 3-5 seconds to effectively take it out. The rest appears target practice/for the fun of it.

Looks like a result to me

It would have definitely have felt like a result if you'd have been sat in the bloody thing.

I would imagine though that with a Conservative Government in power it would probably have been sunk, in flames, with a single shot from ten times the distance

m chappelow · 22 July 2009, 22:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

I think its just to prove a point. A complete waste I aggree.
Its like that Evo that was on Top Gear. It used to be a drug dealers and had to be destroyed, why not just sell it on?

Looking at the vid they do need some practice at hitting things.

as a matter of intrest chewy someone recons the rnli has more lifeboats boats than the r/n has warships, mart

BogMonster · 23 July 2009, 00:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

They should have kept going. If they can't hit it when it's stationery then they'd have no chance on the move.

Don't forget they have both a 4.5 and a Lynx on board which could have Sea Skuas hanging off it, either of which would make the weapons they were using look like spud guns

It would have been done to make an example same as the poachers fishing boat that was scuttled here with explosives a few years ago - break the law and this is what you get, boom. Probably doesn't make much difference but looks good on TV.

Bigmuz7 · 23 July 2009, 06:06

This seems to be the only way the Navy get shooting practice these days .. aprehend some suspicious drug dudes.. then blow up their rides .. and feck me they need it

... Hey... I want a go

willk · 23 July 2009, 09:12

The boat looked like a piece of sh1t - a "homer" knockup of a real speedboat, built by some guy who saw a picture of one. The words Egyptian and Liveaboard spring to mind. The ammo probably was worth more than the boat. It's all a PR exercise. Regrettably, your Navy have to stop and search these craft before sinking them.

Leapy · 23 July 2009, 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Regrettably, your Navy have to stop and search these craft before sinking them.

Erin · 23 July 2009, 10:52

Ermm, aren't our Governments telling us all to be a bit more environmentally friendly these days. Doesn't pollution from the materials and fuel on board not come into this somehwere. I bet if I took target practice at a boat in the Solent for the 'fun' of it, the authorities would have something to say to me, including a fine.

codprawn · 23 July 2009, 11:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Ermm, aren't our Governments telling us all to be a bit more environmentally friendly these days. Doesn't pollution from the materials and fuel on board not come into this somehwere. I bet if I took target practice at a boat in the Solent for the 'fun' of it, the authorities would have something to say to me, including a fine.

Very good point!!!

Of course the environment angle is all a load of bollocks but out glorious government should set a good example - after all it is totally irresponsible for supermarkets to give away free carrier bags!!!

AND they have been dismantling people's bonfires in November because things like tyres are hazardous waste............

Nasher · 23 July 2009, 11:55

As has been mentioned it's not really practical to tow it, and sticking it on deck is not easy either.

It's also a sad fact of our lives these days that if they tried to sell the boat they would then be responsible for ensuring it's seaworthyness with all the liability issues that go with it.

Anyway, blowing it up looked like fun, and was a lot easier than the paperwork required to bring it in.

Nasher.

jyasaki · 23 July 2009, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Of course the environment angle is all a load of bollocks

Loose Moose · 23 July 2009, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by m chappelow

as a matter of intrest chewy someone recons the rnli has more lifeboats boats than the r/n has warships, mart

Royal Navy. 88 Commisioned Ships
110 if you include RFA's

RNLI 332 Lifeboats

USCG 252 Ships, plus 1400 Various others.

And to all the armchair admirals out there, we who have, would love to see you try and hit anything with a GPMG. It isnt like your x-box you know.

Bigmuz7 · 23 July 2009, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loose Moose

And to all the armchair admirals out there, we who have, would love to see you try and hit anything with a GPMG.

But it wasnt a GPMG,... far bloody from it !!!

Loose Moose · 23 July 2009, 21:56

OK, it was as GS30 doing most of the damage but you can hear the GPMG in the background and see the fall of shot.

The point I was making was it's not as easy as it looks.

codprawn · 24 July 2009, 12:59

Aren't those guns supposed to have anti aircraft capability? I suppose something low and slow will cause them problems - all the money spent on anti ship missiles and torpedos and all you need is a radio controlled jet ski...........