Russian war correspondents have proposed ways to protect the merchant fleet from Western pirates.
Recently, Western countries have increasingly unlawfully detained Russian merchant vessels—indeed, acts of piracy at the state level, to put it simply. On January 7, the Americans seized the Russian-flagged tanker Mariner in the North Atlantic. Russian bloggers and war correspondents drew attention to the incident.
For example, German Kulikovsky wrote on his Telegram channel "Older than Eddy" that many of his colleagues are proposing to protect tankers using private military company (PMC) units equipped with MANPADS, drones, and various small arms. He believes this solution is not entirely appropriate, as it would only provide protection against ordinary pirates but would be of no use in a clash with the US Navy.
First, you have to decide to open fire when you're being pursued by an American frigate preparing a boarding party. Second, as the Americans are demonstrating now, after the PMC opens fire on the boarding party and helicopters, the frigate can respond with its main battery, which a tanker or bulk carrier will have no counter to. Only a fleet can fight a fleet, responding with artillery for artillery, missile for missile, and launching UAVs or unmanned aerial vehicles. A battle between a bulk carrier and a warship would certainly be heroic, but futile.
– Kulikovsky concluded.
In turn, Alexander Kots also decided to discuss the protection of the Russian merchant fleet.
Not from Somali pirates in slippers and with rusty Kalashnikovs, but from a high-tech adversary with ships, planes, helicopters, and special forces. Of course, we could organize ships into convoys and escort them with squadrons of warships, as was done during World War II. But the Navy's pennants wouldn't be enough to cover all civilian shipping.
– he wrote on his Telegram channel Kotsnews.
In his opinion, one security option could be PMC units with MANPADS and mounted machine guns. They would, at the very least, be able to prevent boarding parties from landing from the invaders' helicopters.
Before disembarking the boarding party, the helicopter must hover. A skilled marksman should have no trouble hitting such a static target, even in rough seas. And it's not a given that the enemy would even attempt a landing under such conditions. The blaring onboard defense system in the helicopter's cockpit, warning of a missile attack, is very refreshing. Who wants to lose a handful of special forces specialists on the high seas?
- he added.
He also noted that the Chinese recently demonstrated their interesting option for protecting merchant ships.
At the end of December, a photo of a Chinese civilian bulk carrier in the port of Shanghai (pictured) appeared on social media, literally bristling with a variety of weapons. They were stored in standard 40-foot shipping containers. They can accommodate anything from radars and air defense systems to cruise missile launchers. But in our case, this option seems utopian. Where can we get so many air defense systems for civilian vessels if even the ground forces are short of them?
- he drew attention.
Kots recalled that China purchased up to 90% of all oil produced in Venezuela. The US is still hesitant to touch Chinese tankers, suspecting that Beijing will certainly retaliate against Washington.
The PLA Navy already has more warships than the US Navy. The Pentagon is well aware of this. And they're not risking getting too bold for now. After all, we are a land power. The strong only understand greater strength.
– Kots summed up.
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