Would it be possible for a billionaire to start a PMC, purchase an armed corvette/frigate as a business expense, and do cool anti-piracy (or pro-piracy) stuff with it?

>>64064917 (OP)
Anti-piracy yes, pro-piracy no that is against international law and will actually get you killed.

>>64064917 (OP)
>anti piracy
I mean, I guess, would be a huge unprofitable waste of money though.
>pro piracy
Would quickly become AGM-84 target practice.

>>64064917 (OP)
lmao. Why would they finance and maintain a large military when they have the entire government in their pocket and can count on the regular military protecting all their interests all paid by the taxpayers?

>>64064958
Because presumably they aren't bugmen and want to hold the ship's wheel in their own hands.

brothers lets pray one of us wins the mega millions

>>64064917 (OP)
The answer is no. Any government in the world would declare you a dangerous retard and threaten you with sanctions and imprisonment. It's not the 17th century anymore.

>>64064992

nobody stopped the whale wars guys and I think it's safe to assume that pirates would open fire on you first, or if you showed up in their area in a big scary 1960s warship they would cease operations in the area

>>64065019
>nobody stopped the whale wars guys
The Japanese government did a great job isolating them in the public sphere, and proceeded to escalate their tactics, including ramming and sinking at least one ship. Those hippies lost.

>>64064992
Having said that, though, I don't think this is necessarily the only outcome. PMCs already staff cargo ships in pirate-heavy waters, it'd really only be one step further to start doing the escorting yourself. What you'd need is the money, as OP noted, but also political connections to ensure that when you launch the plan some powerful voices will come out in support and say they think it's a great idea, really demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit, etc. and you'll be good to go.

>>64064917 (OP)
>Dear Honorable and/or Esteemed President Trump.
>I would like to suck your cock on so many levels, but more importantly, I want to start a PMC to blast Somali pirates out of the waters in/around the Horn of Africa. Naturally, I will provide my own money and warships.
>enclosed is a check for two million dollars in hopes that my letter of marque will be approved, you can catch me on the flip side.
>Love, your deepest and most secret admirer, Elon

>>64064917 (OP)
>billionaire
Yeah
Having that much money, even if you magically inherited it, you could probably get something rolling without too much trouble so long as you were a total moron
>pro-piracy
Yes but you must be a Chinese or SEA billionaire to get away with it

>>64064917 (OP)
probably the quickest way for him to become a millionaire short of betting it all on black at the tables

>>64064917 (OP)
The billionaire can try, but it won't make any money outside of intense lobbying efforts. Current anti-piracy requires the smallest minimum of military force, since the threat is only a problem because cargo ships are unarmed, and effective anti-piracy measures are basically a few dudes on the ship with rifles. That's all it takes.

>>64064917 (OP)
And what port would let you in?

>>64064917 (OP)
It would simply be better for them to build either a fleet of remote controlled armed ships for anti-piracy controlled or autonomous ships/subs that can monitor the waters and relay information back via starlink. It would be infinitely cheaper.

Solar + battery + wave power generation if you want truly autonomous.

>>64064958
>hurrr the taxpayers
Better that than them being forced to buy their own military (which they then pass the costs on to you) and if you think it's a good idea then you're an absolute retard.

>>64064992
Depends. I can see China hiring people like this to augment their fishing fleets and add an extra layer of plausible deniability on top of extra firepower.
Besides, a "modern frigate" isn't significantly more dangerous than a large commercial vessel armed ad-hoc with guided missiles.

>Propiracy
Just put some drones inside a ships container and drive it near the nearest destroyer.

>>64064992
>It's not the 17th century anymore.
this is so fucking gay
international law is cringe

>>64064917 (OP)
Sure but you would likely have to disarm it from most of its weapons since you would need government approval from the manufacturers country to own and operate them. Also you would be banned from the vast majority of ports or even from entering most countries territorial water's

>>64064917 (OP)
Fighting off pirates would be generally appreciated, so you could do that.

Engaging in piracy at the high seas, however, is a great way of becoming a wanted fugitive in your western first world homeland, and may very well lead to you getting your colon inverted by the US Airforce or/and Navy. Like, it might take a while depending on some circumstances, but the Houthis were eventually roflstomped for being niggers at sea.

>>64064992
For being a pirate, yes, you would be right. For providing security detail against pirates, that's entirely possible to do.

>>64065589
>including ramming and sinking at least one ship
Baste Nips.

>>64065761
Thanks for providing an actual realistic assessment.

>>64067360
Don't be a nigger at sea.

>>64064917 (OP)
Sure, but you'd need a letter of marque and reprisal