Sonic weapons: from comic book to reality

The attempted hijacking of a cruise ship last weekend provoked plenty of interest chez Tosh last weekend, and not just because we’re planning to bog off on a cruise later this week (let’s face it: an attack by modern-day pirates would make for one hellava Flickr collection, wouldn’t it? I might be able to dash off a few pars for GU, too…)

No, I was particularly interested in references to a “sonic weapon” that cropped up in reports. It sounded like some kind of comic book creation: a very modern way to defeat some very modern (RPG-bearing, nary an “aarrrrrr” or eyepatch in sight) pirates.

Well, I’ve finally had time to do some looking around, and it turns out I’m just depressingly behind the curve on non-lethal weaponry. This AP report outlines what happened about the attacked ship, although it’s unclear yet if the thing actually did the job, or whether simply turning the ship towards open sea and steaming off pronto was actually what did the trick.

Meanwhile, there’s an oddly glib piece from Newsweek which describes how the LRAD - Long Range Acoustic Device - sounds…

“It’s very, very irritating,” says American Technology’s Carl Gruenler. So irritating that human-rights activists are worried about lasting hearing damage.”

You can see a picture of one of these devices here, and, in apparently unrelated but oddly appropriate news, it seems the acronym LRAD also stands for… the Lilac Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf. Alas, that’s probably not some kind of wry joke by members who have now given up their life on the high seas.

Of course, on our forthcoming trip I will be looking to see if our own ship is properly equipped and, if not, will be maintaining a 24/7 vigil looking out for any rapidly approaching small craft. For the photographs, you understand. First news here, natch.

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COMMENTS / 3 COMMENTS

It’s all very disappointing. When I first heard that story, I envisaged huge PA speakers and a stack of Motorhead CDs.

adrian thought this on Nov 12 05 at 9:09 pm

I’m sure they got the idea from this bar I went to in Croatia…

Sam thought this on Nov 16 05 at 8:46 pm

As an international distributor of the innovative directional sound products HSS HyperSonic Sound and LRAD Long Range Acoustic Device I’ll hereby add a little additional information.

I can confirm the Long Range Acoustic Device LRAD has been in use for years. It is typically used for military purposes and to avoid maritime piracy and to control and give information to big crowds, riots and demonstrations – as described above.

You should see the LRAD as a kind of megaphone rather than a non-lethal weapon. It gives normal acoustic messages, however good engineering work have made it possible to narrow the sound beam. It is also a fact it can make an ear-splitting noise that nobody can stand. However, it is mainly used is to communicate and to give information in long distance in high ambient noise environment.

It is a great tool as one can communicate to the counterpart in several hundreds meter distance. Thereby it helps to avoid dangers situations and mistakes.

Also it can be used in case of disaster. The authorities can inform and warn the population very efficiently using the LRAD for long distance messaging.

Have a look at this LRAD video presentation to understand the product and what the LRAD - Long Range Acoustic Device - can do. http://www.phodio.net/index.ph.....e_eng.html

Phodio thought this on Aug 02 06 at 9:28 pm

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