Since European governments love their all-seeing surveillance, I expect they'll start watching financial transactions of licensed captains to see if any suspicious deposits occur. If they make it clear to mariners that sabotaging a cable will land a captain in prison for decades, they'll drive up the asking price among captains looking for a Russian payout. Those captains will likely demand a large up front payment.
Of course, the bent captains always have the numbered Swiss bank account option if NATO really turns up the heat (or the numbered Caymans account, etc.). I wonder how governments snoop on those?
Maybe NATO should publicly offer big cash bounties and witness protection to crewmen who snitch on crooked captains.
That's what I was thinking but, Sal's video he's saying not so much. Iron Mike will maintain course and speed despite the added resistance of the anchor dragging. If the ship is loaded down with cargo & fuel, would the ship really feel the anchor tugging or, anything? ...I guess it'd depend on how big the ship is.
An anchor & chain is sized for its ship. Even the largest ship will feel the anchor & chain hitting the bottom and dragging, if it's moving faster than 3 or 4 knots.
It won't just be a thump and shudder on a large vessel, or a sudden deceleration, either. Unless the hawse pipe is mounted dead center on the bow, that sudden force from the dragging anchor and chain will cause the bow to swerve towards whichever side the anchor is on, the stern to kick out the other way, and the deck to heel towards the anchor side.
CDR Sal, I have personal concerns with the relatively overt nature of these acc...er...incidents...uh, coincidences? Unlike network hacking / intrusions etc., where attribution can be difficult, these "events" appear relatively easily "attributed" using relatively straight forward analysis of ship movements (and other national means). Perhaps too easily attributed? Hall of mirrors? Regardless, uneasy, because if someone is willing to put their "signature" on what is clearly an act of malice if not an actual International Court of Law "aggression"(Hague? Asking for a friend...) it seems like the don't care if they are identified as the culprit. Hopefully not a precursor / shaping of the information environment for further escalation if not outright conflict. Fingers crossed...
It's going to take someone with balls enough to actually impound a ship and prosecute the captain and crew to put an end to this.
And while it takes time to build a case, one can use the modern penchant for ever so slow turning of the wheels of justice to keep that large piece of evidence impounded. At some point owners are going to make sure their investments are protected.
One quick way to ‘disincentivize’ this cable sabotaging would be to issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal to armed merchants. Then those cable-cutting lurkers on NATO’s lake would be prizes.
I imagine they’ll slap their version of a Bofors cannon to their vessels, too. So there might be more of a stand-off, but at the moment, they can cut cables with impunity.
So, you’re Captain Ivan, and you’re caught dragging an anchor to snag cables by an armed merchant pointing his Bofors at your waterline, and you’re not exactly manoeuvrable because you’re dragging a freaking anchor, what’re you gonna do? It’s not your ship, and you’re better off doing a few months in an EU jail and asking for asylum anyway. The advantage that privateers have is that they can say, “Here’s the deal Ivan. Heave to and surrender, and we’ll take your ship as a prize, sell it, and split the proceeds with you and your crew.”
Time to start shadowing all ships in the Baltic sailing to or from Russia. If there's a sign an anchor is dragging while underway, time to go in with guns out. There's no reason this would not be an ordinary application of national police power over shipping traffic by the countries affected.
If it's a Russian warship, than it's an explicit act of war.
I would not underestimate Russia’s capabilities for asymmetric warfare. The Baltic may indeed be a NATO lake but the West too must be cautious unless it wants a wider war as might have happened after the pipeline was blown up.
the Russians may consider employing a radio-guided drone: made of a transparent plastic able to withstand the pressure of cable depth loaded with a very small amount of explosive
Rumor has it that this operation is being run from a charter boat captained by Jonas Grumby, with Roy Hinkley providing technical support. The operation is being financed through a CIA shell corporation presided by Thurston Howell III.
Since European governments love their all-seeing surveillance, I expect they'll start watching financial transactions of licensed captains to see if any suspicious deposits occur. If they make it clear to mariners that sabotaging a cable will land a captain in prison for decades, they'll drive up the asking price among captains looking for a Russian payout. Those captains will likely demand a large up front payment.
Of course, the bent captains always have the numbered Swiss bank account option if NATO really turns up the heat (or the numbered Caymans account, etc.). I wonder how governments snoop on those?
Maybe NATO should publicly offer big cash bounties and witness protection to crewmen who snitch on crooked captains.
As The Other Sal pointed out, you just need to pay one guy, and it doesn't need to be the Captain of the ship.
Also, only idiots or Swiss citizens have Swiss bank accounts. W. made the Swiss our bitches, no matter how much they try to avoid it.
Y'know, I thought I remembered something about Swiss banking being compromised. Thanks for the confirmation!
dragging an anchor is noticeable throughout the ship
Yep. If you're underway above 5 knots and the anchor chain hits bottom, you'll be jostled pretty hard.
That's what I was thinking but, Sal's video he's saying not so much. Iron Mike will maintain course and speed despite the added resistance of the anchor dragging. If the ship is loaded down with cargo & fuel, would the ship really feel the anchor tugging or, anything? ...I guess it'd depend on how big the ship is.
An anchor & chain is sized for its ship. Even the largest ship will feel the anchor & chain hitting the bottom and dragging, if it's moving faster than 3 or 4 knots.
It won't just be a thump and shudder on a large vessel, or a sudden deceleration, either. Unless the hawse pipe is mounted dead center on the bow, that sudden force from the dragging anchor and chain will cause the bow to swerve towards whichever side the anchor is on, the stern to kick out the other way, and the deck to heel towards the anchor side.
You'll notice.
It's 51 miles from Tallin to Helsinki across the Baltic. Not impossible to a bury communication cable into the sea floor, but very expensive.
CDR Sal, I have personal concerns with the relatively overt nature of these acc...er...incidents...uh, coincidences? Unlike network hacking / intrusions etc., where attribution can be difficult, these "events" appear relatively easily "attributed" using relatively straight forward analysis of ship movements (and other national means). Perhaps too easily attributed? Hall of mirrors? Regardless, uneasy, because if someone is willing to put their "signature" on what is clearly an act of malice if not an actual International Court of Law "aggression"(Hague? Asking for a friend...) it seems like the don't care if they are identified as the culprit. Hopefully not a precursor / shaping of the information environment for further escalation if not outright conflict. Fingers crossed...
There are an estimated 70k unexploded mines in the Baltic.
There's an interesting excuse for an effective solution.
Perhaps someone should test the vulnerability of cables connecting China to the world?
It works both ways.
It's going to take someone with balls enough to actually impound a ship and prosecute the captain and crew to put an end to this.
And while it takes time to build a case, one can use the modern penchant for ever so slow turning of the wheels of justice to keep that large piece of evidence impounded. At some point owners are going to make sure their investments are protected.
Is "Any ship found dragging anchors shall immediately be sunk." too harsh?
Kinda' wondering where the Greenpeace types are. Dragging anchors would have to be bad for the environment.
Better to seize than sink. Less mess.
I like Harry's Letters of Marque idea.
Everything old is new again
Also proposed by Senator Mike Lee of Utah for dealilng with drug cartels.
One quick way to ‘disincentivize’ this cable sabotaging would be to issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal to armed merchants. Then those cable-cutting lurkers on NATO’s lake would be prizes.
And what do you think would be the Russian response?
I imagine they’ll slap their version of a Bofors cannon to their vessels, too. So there might be more of a stand-off, but at the moment, they can cut cables with impunity.
Caught dragging anchors?
So, you’re Captain Ivan, and you’re caught dragging an anchor to snag cables by an armed merchant pointing his Bofors at your waterline, and you’re not exactly manoeuvrable because you’re dragging a freaking anchor, what’re you gonna do? It’s not your ship, and you’re better off doing a few months in an EU jail and asking for asylum anyway. The advantage that privateers have is that they can say, “Here’s the deal Ivan. Heave to and surrender, and we’ll take your ship as a prize, sell it, and split the proceeds with you and your crew.”
I think you are insane. Do you dress up as Napoleon!
No, Wellington.
Lose an eye and be Nelson!
"While we are at peace..."
Are we still at peace in anything more than a technical sense?
US/NATO deter no one. Look at Kiev and west Asia.
F-35 respond…. if they launch what do they shoot with.
Or if Vlad keeps dissing Trump, Kiev gets permission to take out Russian oil and gas exports.....
And how do you think Russia would respond?
That would require actual thought, which seems to be much rarer than knee-jerk Cold War reflexes.
I am amazed by the number of people who want to play tiddlywinks with nuclear warheads.
Time to start shadowing all ships in the Baltic sailing to or from Russia. If there's a sign an anchor is dragging while underway, time to go in with guns out. There's no reason this would not be an ordinary application of national police power over shipping traffic by the countries affected.
If it's a Russian warship, than it's an explicit act of war.
Or another Gulf of Tonkin incident. How did that work out?
I would not underestimate Russia’s capabilities for asymmetric warfare. The Baltic may indeed be a NATO lake but the West too must be cautious unless it wants a wider war as might have happened after the pipeline was blown up.
Too many armchair admirals talking about starting a war with Russia.
the Russians may consider employing a radio-guided drone: made of a transparent plastic able to withstand the pressure of cable depth loaded with a very small amount of explosive
Rumor has it that this operation is being run from a charter boat captained by Jonas Grumby, with Roy Hinkley providing technical support. The operation is being financed through a CIA shell corporation presided by Thurston Howell III.