New Take on Water Cannons

[MadMango]

The Chinese have shown a jet-powered water cannon for fire fighting. It is pretty impressive.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/30/video-chinese-fire-truck-uses-jet-powered-water-cannon/

I was thinking about a great application for this would be anti-pirate defense for cargo ships. One of the draw backs I see with the Chinese system is the ability of the cannon to output far more water than readily available in fire mains or tanker trucks (as shown in the video). In the open seas this would not be a concern.

Currently all water-born firefighting systems that I know of are still using pumps and diesel engines. How hard would it be to make a modular turbine-powered water cannon that could be retrofitted rather easily onto to any vessel? My brain is telling me it wouldn't be that difficult.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[ivymike]

well it doesn't count as a gun, I guess, so that gets you around armament restrictions. I don't know if I'd like to be the guy using a water cannon to fight off pirates with guns (400ft is safer range, but not safe). Would probably have to be remote controlled. Would also require a separate fuel supply (distillate diesel might work, but probably not HFO)

 

[MadMango]

400yds... not feet, unless I read something wrong. I had JP5 fuel on the brain, forgot civi vessels usually don't use gas turbines like US Navy ships.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[MadMango]

Nevermind, I guess it was feet. With a narrower nozzle, we might be able to get close to 400yds.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[MikeHalloran]

Remote controlled antipiracy water cannon arrays are being advertised for sale in marine trade journals.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[msquared48]

MM:

Instead of water in the cannon, they need to use Napalm.

Fry those suckers!

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[stevenal]

I'd be good for snow making. A few hours of sub-freezing weather and you're ready to open a ski area.

 

[IRstuff]

My co-worker has been working on his vacation cruiser, and one feature he added was a water cannon, specifically for anti-pirate application

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[MadMango]

...but are they turbine powered?

Seems I'm a day late and dollar short as usual.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[TheTick]

There's probably a limit to how far and fast a stream of liquid can travel. Perhaps they can freeze some of it before sending it on to its target?

 

[IRstuff]

There's a fine line that you have to tread. You don't want it to be lethal or something that would provoke an escalation. You simply want to make it sufficiently discouraging that they'll just go away.

@MM don't know the specifics, since that was a few years ago, but he was talking about hundreds of yards, since you needed to be out of the effective range of an AK-47

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[waross]

I know this guy. He does repairs at my rental property. He is a lot of fun to talk to. I always enjoy a visit with him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U11SkW84k6s

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter