Gunboat escort ... for the Staten Island Ferry?

[SleazyRider]

Ventured into lower Manhattan yesterday aboard the Staten Island Ferry, a very pleasant experience. An apparently well-armed escort boat accompanied us all the way and I wondered what was up, perhaps a terrorist alert?

In any event, could anybody tell me anything about the type of armament aboard this craft?

 

[Nushif]

Not sure how this is gun related, but man, that kid is young.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

That's the M240 7.62mm machine gun used all over the U.S. military. I'm not 100% sure but it looks like the standard 240 Bravo we use in the Army.

 

[PT92]

When you say type, I guess you mean model...? It's an FN M240 machine gun:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M240_machine_gun

-Cheers

 

[SleazyRider]

Thank you, Phantom Warrior, that's exactly what I wanted to know. And thanks for the link!

 

[Sam1911]

7-8 years ago we took the kids to do the annual Chesapeake Bay Bridge walk, and the bridges were "guarded" by several of the same kind of small boats that day. But, for whatever reason, that day the Coast Guard was mounting M-60s.

 

[Steve CT]

You were almost certainly seeing the USCG MSST 91106 (MSST New York) at work. My son served with MSST Galveston, as I recall that is the M240. In addition, I think the MSST's have all upgraded from the Beretta to the SIG 229, and there are almost certainly M4's and a shotgun or two on board.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw6lMzvU7HY

 

[bikerdoc]

Common sight around Norfolk Naval base

 

[firesky101]

Hardest part of that job is not pulling the trigger... I assume.

 

[bozzman3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCG_Defender_class_boat

 

[armoredman]

Am I the only one who is sad at the sight?

 

[foghornl]

At first quick glance I thought "German MG-42????" {just by the look of the stock and trigger}

Is that a hard-hulled or inflatable boat? I don't think you would want to open up a "Ma Deuce" on a soft-hull boat.

Am I the only one who is sad at the sight

Yeah, armoredman, it DOES bother me some that with the current state of ther world, such actions are needed.

 

[parsimonious_instead]

Am I the only one who is sad at the sight?

I feel the same way, although I'm proud of our military, including the Coast Guard.

 

[PT92]

I get where you are coming from but I am struck by conflicting emotions. It sucks obviously because it brings back all of the horrific memories of 9-11. Conversely, I take comfort in the fact that we seem to be resolute in our commitment that 'it' never happen again. However, that opens up a whole other discussion regarding the ramifications of the increase in awareness ranging from the now almost taken for granted presence of the M240 next to Lady Liberty to the Patriot Act to the .... Let's just Pray that this great Nation can strike a happy and mutually beneficial 'balanced' answer to these seemingly unprecedented difficult times.

-Cheers

 

[postalnut25]

Looks like a Bravo model 240.

The Golf model 240s that get shot out of the Corps Huey's have spade triggers.

 

[Tinpig]

The Defender class is an aluminum v-hull boat...the skirt is rigid foam.

The Coast Guard also has 25' Port Security Boats that are basically big Boston Whalers mounting a 50 cal. M2 in the bow and 7.62 240Bs port and starboard.

My Coastie son deployed to the Kuwait Naval base and the Al Basrah Oil Terminal in Iraq for a year and this was their ride:


Tinpig

 

[Mandolin]

It's a Bravo, but you're wrong about the Golf. The Golf is a Bravo minus the handguard (essentialy). The Charlie has no stock and spade grips, and the Delta has an electronic trigger and is mounted co-axialy on vehicles. Army and Coast Guard use the Bravo, Marines use the Golf.

 

[SleazyRider]

Am I the only one who is sad at the sight?

True enough, but if you saw the soaring buildings being erected at the site of the World Trade Centers, you'd take heart once again. It is a statement in its own right. I'll try to get some pics up.

 

[Eric M]

Am I the only one who is sad at the sight?

No, you're not the only one. I kinda feel sick to my stomach seeing this. It's very uncomfortable sitting unarmed next to a man with an AR-15 on a subway.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

It's a Bravo, but you're wrong about the Golf. The Golf is a Bravo minus the handguard (essentialy). The Charlie has no stock and spade grips, and the Delta has an electronic trigger and is mounted co-axialy on vehicles. Army and Coast Guard use the Bravo, Marines use the Golf.

Charlies are the coax variant. They have the trigger in the normal place but a cut down pistol grip and no trigger guard so the trigger can be manipulated by the coax mechanism in the turret. See below. The Charlies in Bradleys are also right hand feed, interestingly enough.

 

[Mandolin]

Sorry, got the Charlie and Delta confused.

 

[armoredman]

I get them all confused - when I was in the M-60 was the LMG of choice.

 

[JO JO]

Why do some say this is a sad sight or concerned about this platform, F15 fighters are
stationed at major air ports to.

 

[Sav .250]

Used to ride that ferry for a $.05 back when.

 

[Wanderling]

Especially given the fact that neither the gunboat nor the guard armed with an assault rifle could prevent a suicide bombing attack.

Under the pretense of "War on terror" the government and the Congress - both Reps and Dems - have taken away many individual freedoms and more or less canceled the Constitution without any due process. The threat will go away but the Constitution will be crippled for a long, long, long time. Just look at England where everyone's been spied at all day long by a huge network of street cameras. Welcome to the 21st century, please get in line and remember your state ID #.