Sailors get hands on training on the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48).

LRAD communicating to incoming small craft during a Straits Transit exercise aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2).

U.S. sailors aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) prepare to test LRAD in the Atlantic Ocean during training exercise Joint Warrior in 2012. Joint Warrior is a United Kingdom-led exercise designed to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepare participating crews to conduct combined operations while deployed.

A logistics specialist makes adjustments to the Long Range Acoustic Device as the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) prepares to get underway. Blue Ridge is conducting sea trials in preparation for resuming patrols in the 7th Fleet area of operations.

LRAD aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101). The USS Gridley is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. and coalition military operation against ISIS.

LRAD training aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21).

Repelled Attack from over 1,800 meters – Once shipboard lookouts spotted two suspected pirate skiffs, Lewis and Clark conducted evasive maneuvers and increased speed to elude the pirates. The ship’s embarked security team also used a Long Range Acoustic Device to issue verbal warnings to the approaching skiffs.

“The actions taken by Lewis and Clark were exactly what the U.S. Navy has been recommending to prevent piracy attacks – for both commercial and military vessels.”
– Captain Steve Kelley, Commander, Task Force 53

When approaching a vessel not responding to radio calls, the LRAD systems aboard the USS Elrod ensure that multilingual orders and commands issued are clearly heard and understood. LRAD also initiates the EOF protocol to resolve uncertain situations when conducting maritime interdictions.

“Overall, I am quite satisfied with the utility of the LRAD. I think it has value due to its ability to focus a clear warning on an ambiguous target, making the difficult decision regarding hostile intent a touch easier.”

The LRAD 500X is on board the MSC Safeguard-class rescue/salvage ship USNS Grapple. In addition to protecting divers in the water from intruding ships, LRAD systems provide security teams with the means to communicate at distance and limit the escalation of force.

LRAD SoundSaber systems were installed inside the hanger for large area communications.

The South Korean Navy used LRAD during its successful rescue of the chemical tanker, Samho Jewelry. The South Korean Navy deployed LRAD to alert the hijacked crew of the rescue operation and to broadcast warnings to pirates that had seized the ship.

“In all cases, when the TSV employed the LRAD in a: NL, vessel identification/intent, force protection mode, or hailing an escort, they always had a positive response on it’s operation and capability. Hailing at ranges of up to 1300 yards to an escort vessel is no problem.”

The Columbian Coast Guard installed LRAD 300X systems on their coastal defense patrol boats for extended range communication during suspect boat interceptions.

LRAD ensures commands and instructions broadcast from Colombian maritime security vessels are clearly heard and understood over engine, wind and background noise to safely create large standoff zones and avert deadly confrontations.

During the week of Feb 28, 2012, the captain of the Taiwan vessel C Handy confirmed an LRAD system was used during a confrontation with pirates allowing the C Handy to cruise through Somali waters safely.

In a May 2009 Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Piracy on the High Seas, Captain Richard Phillips of the Alabama called for LRADs as an element in a “…comprehensive, multi-faceted plan to combat piracy”. He was proven right when the Alabama successfully deployed LRAD along with other defensive measures to deter a pirate attack off the northeast coast of Somalia in November 2009.

Repelled Attack at 1,100 meters – “…aimed her (LRAD) using the sight, went to maximum power and volume and activated. The first time the boat seemed to fall off course momentarily, then come back. I activated the unit a second time, this time holding it for a longer period and “waving” it across the target to make sure I “hit”. The boat instantly went dead in the water and broke off its attack. The range was estimated at .6 to 8 nm. The crew all saw it and they were cheering. I now have a ship full of believers. Lessons learned: It works.”
– Captain M/V Resolve

Repelled Swarming Attack at 225 meters – “There was a group of five small speed boats disguised as fishermen. Then two of them took off towards us. The captain called the mate on the radio to get the LRAD over to the port side. Once the boats got within 1 mile of the ship we turned on the LRAD. The speed boats got within 500 to 250 yards of the ship before stopping.”
– Mechanic M/V Green Ridge

The Harusame sighted a suspicious small boat approximately 3.5 nautical miles off its starboard bow in the north-north-west direction. The Harusame hailed the vessel with LRAD and launched its on-board helicopter to verify the status of the boat.

“By the way our ship…has had to use her LRADs 4 times in the last week to warn fishing vessels to remain clear of our cable track. Each time, the fishing vessels responded immediately. We are using a warning we had translated into Egyptian when we hailed them.”

The Ports of Corpus Christi, Texas, Ras Laffan, Qatar and Aqaba, Jordan installed advanced security systems featuring the LRAD-RX to broadcast multilingual hails and warnings to inbound ships not responding to radio calls. The LRAD-RX reduces false alarms and port security response times associated with confirming or denying port entry.

LRAD was installed on the Perro Negro 3 to communicate with ships approaching the OPLAT. LRAD is utilized to broadcast warnings and commands to fishing boats, keeping them away from the OPLAT. LRAD is a vital capability in a layered OPLAT security plan.

The Sang, a 75 ft. fishing boat, entered a Chevron dive area. The dive operator immediately initiated radio calls ordering the Sang to change course due to divers in the water. After receiving no reply from the Sang, blue smoke flares were fired, but to no avail. The dive operator then used an LRAD to broadcast pre-recorded English and Vietnamese warnings to the Sang. The Sang immediately stopped, retrieved its nets, turned 180° and left the area.

Before LRAD, flags, lights and flares were used to deter encroaching boats without much success. After testing verified a 2000-meter communication range, Chevron now requires LRAD 500X systems on all lift boat dive operations.

Carrying 151 passengers, the Seabourn Spirit was attacked off the coast of Somalia in November 2005 by two skiffs with support from a mothership. RPGs and guns were fired at the Seabourn Spirit during the attack. The crew and security team used LRADs and fire hoses to prevent the pirates from boarding. The USS Gonzalez assisted the Seabourn Spirit in the attack’s aftermath.

“The security team also did well. Under fire, they charged fire hoses to keep the pirates from boarding, they assisted passengers to get them inside the skin of the ship, and they deployed LRAD. The Security Officer was particularly enthusiastic about the performance of LRAD, and in his opinion it saved the day.”
– CO USS Gonzales

Sailing in the Indian Ocean in January 2011, the Spirit of Adventure deployed its LRAD system as part of its defensive measures that successfully turned back pursuing pirates.