Texas Highway Patrol manning gunboats on Rio Grande

[fatbuckRTO]

http://screen.yahoo.com/heavily-armed-texas-gunboats-now-patrol-rio-grande-29828961.html

Right now there are four patrol boats with two more on the way. Each one is armed with six M-240 (they call it a .30 cal, in the military they are 7.62mm) machine guns.

'Bout time.:cheers:

[Porkchop]

http://screen.yahoo.com/heavily-armed-texas-gunboats-now-patrol-rio-grande-29828961.html

Right now there are four patrol boats with two more on the way. Each one is armed with six M-240 (they call it a .30 cal, in the military they are 7.62mm) machine guns.

'Bout time.:cheers:

7.62x58??? My Mosin nagant shoots that round. Machine gun? Holy fuck thats destruction power......

[Rangerscott]

7.62x58??? My Mosin nagant shoots that round. Machine gun? Holy fuck thats destruction power......

You mean 7.62x54R

[fatbuckRTO]

7.62x58??? NATO rounds, 7.62x51. Still wouldn't want one pointed at me. Or even in my general direction...

[askmrjesus]

Random questions:

Who spends half a mill plus, on a 100K boat?

At what point in the river, is the international border?

Who taught the Highway Patrol how to drive a boat?

Why isn't the Coast Guard doing this?

Rules of engagement?

JC

[fatbuckRTO]

Random questions:

Who spends half a mill plus, on a 100K boat? The great state of Texas, that's who. According to the report, the boats are armored. I imagine that makes for an expensive boat, if you want it to keep floating. Maybe not :shrug:

At what point in the river, is the international border?The middle. Per the treaty. No shit.

By my definition it's where the diarrhea begins.

Who taught the Highway Patrol how to drive a boat?Maybe the Coast Guard?

Why isn't the Coast Guard doing this?They don't want to waste all that training?

Seriously, though, since when has the federal government been serious about border enforcement? We've had Border Patrol and FBI agents chased off by Mexican drug cartels because the cartels were better armed (i.e., had Mexican army support). This within US land borders. At any rate, to me this falls under Texas' jursdiction for drug enforcement operations within the state. The US border with Mexico along the Rio Grande is also the Texas state border.

Rules of engagement?Something tells me they have more latitude to fire their weapons than the National Guard "patrols" we've had along the border for the last few years.

[fujimoh]

That's some firepower. Remember the scene from Act of Valor when they cut loose with the mini guns?

[Cutty72]

That's some firepower. Remember the scene from Act of Valor when they cut loose with the mini guns?

I still need to see this movie. Friend bought it, so I need to borrow it.

[Porkchop]

You mean 7.62x54R

Oh, yeah...

NATO rounds, 7.62x51. Still wouldn't want one pointed at me. Or even in my general direction...

Hell no...

[askmrjesus]

The great state of Texas, that's who. According to the report, the boats are armored. I imagine that makes for an expensive boat, if you want it to keep floating. Maybe not :shrug:

I suspect the "Armour", is some kevlar panels on the inside of the fiberglass hull. Likely more for the protection of the crew than the boat. The boat looked like a Boston Whaler (or a variant thereof). You could shoot holes in one of those all day long, (as long as they're above the water line) and you ain't sinking shit.

The middle. Per the treaty. No shit.

By my definition it's where the diarrhea begins.

Drink the beer, not the water.

But you're right. It's in the middle. Maybe during a lull in the fire fight, the State Troopers can break out a tape measure...

Maybe the Coast Guard?

They don't want to waste all that training?

I hope they got some kind of training from somebody besides an old VHS copy of Apocalypse Now.

Seriously, though, since when has the federal government been serious about border enforcement? We've had Border Patrol and FBI agents chased off by Mexican drug cartels because the cartels were better armed (i.e., had Mexican army support).

And now we get down to the tacks of brass.

I'm not concerned about international incidents, hurt feelwings, or "the children". I'm concerned that some douche bag is going to say, "fuck your boat, I know a dude with a tank".

Go big or stay home.

JC

[azoomm]

And now we get down to the tacks of brass.

I'm not concerned about international incidents, hurt feelwings, or "the children". I'm concerned that some douche bag is going to say, "fuck your boat, I know a dude with a tank".

Go big or stay home.

JC

Yeah, it's kind of a welcome to Texas. With gunfire and explosions.

[fatbuckRTO]

I'm not concerned about international incidents, hurt feelwings, or "the children". I'm concerned that some douche bag is going to say, "fuck your boat, I know a dude with a tank".

Go big or stay home.

JCEven the Coast Guard would run into problems against a tank; if they were ever set out to do their job by the federal government, they'd likely be in similar patrol boats. I don't think you can sail a cutter all the way up the Rio Grande (?).

I'd like to think the sudden appearance of a tank in cross-border drug operations would spur more aggressive action by our nation's leaders. I'd like to...

[Adeptus_Minor]

The middle. Per the treaty. No shit.

By my definition it's where the diarrhea begins.



I'm thinking if I saw one of those coming for me, the diarrhea would begin a little early. :lol:

[goof2]

Random questions:

Who spends half a mill plus, on a 100K boat?

JC

One had triple Mercury Verados, another had triple Yamaha 350s. Either way they are getting close to 100k just for the engines. Those aren't 100k boats.

[Porkchop]

One had triple Mercury Verados, another had triple Yamaha 350s. Either way they are getting close to 100k just for the engines. Those aren't 100k boats.

I thought I saw they were 300's. Either way, they're stompin motors....

[Adeptus_Minor]

Maybe the "100k" was an estimate of their fuel costs per month? :lol:

[Gas Man]

God Bless Texas. Love how they roll.

Shootem up boys!!!

[shmike]

One had triple Mercury Verados, another had triple Yamaha 350s. Either way they are getting close to 100k just for the engines. Those aren't 100k boats.

Yep.

Not Whalers either. Maybe Yellowfins or something similar.

A 34' with triples will set you back $250k+ in civilian trim, $500k sounds pretty reasonable with all those bangy things onboard.

[RACER X]

http://media.khou.com/images/border-gunboat.jpg

http://media.khou.com/images/border-trooper.jpg

http://media.khou.com/images/border-gunboat-trooper.jpg

sweeet!

[askmrjesus]

Alright, alright, so maybe I'm not up on the price of boats these days.

I don't think it's going to matter either way. A few well placed rounds will turn one of those fancy outboards into scrap metal.

It's going to be open season on State Troopers, and my prediction is that these boats will spend more time being repaired, than they will on patrol.

You guys do know that the cartels have RPG's and shit, right?

Machine guns, whoop-dee fucking doo.

JC

[fatbuckRTO]

It's going to be open season on State Troopers, and my prediction is that these boats will spend more time being repaired, than they will on patrol.

You guys do know that the cartels have RPG's and shit, right?

Machine guns, whoop-dee fucking doo.I agree that it sucks. It sucks that the responsibility for protecting the nation against foreign invaders* has fallen to the states, since the federal government refuses to lift a finger.

I am not, however, convinced that the use of tanks, RPG's, or even Mexican ingenuity will do anything but cause the state of Texas to respond in kind. We have Mexicans too. Almost as many as Mexico.




* Before anyone's panties get wadded, I'm referring to Mexican drug cartels and gangs, many of whom buy support from the Mexican army. We have had Mexican troops on US soil on too many occasions to count now, aiming and shooting weapons at federal agents and other US citizens.

[tommymac]

Alright, alright, so maybe I'm not up on the price of boats these days.

I don't think it's going to matter either way. A few well placed rounds will turn one of those fancy outboards into scrap metal.

It's going to be open season on State Troopers, and my prediction is that these boats will spend more time being repaired, than they will on patrol.

You guys do know that the cartels have RPG's and shit, right?

Machine guns, whoop-dee fucking doo.

JC

They can probably get tanks too, can see the zetas rolling up in an m1 abrams with a big Z on it.

[Rangerscott]

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x295/ih8suvz/12329784.jpg

Oh, yeah...



Hell no...

You said your nagant shoots a 7.62x58. I was correcting you with the right round.

[goof2]

Yep.

Not Whalers either. Maybe Yellowfins or something similar.

A 34' with triples will set you back $250k+ in civilian trim, $500k sounds pretty reasonable with all those bangy things onboard.

The bow flare made me think Yellowfin as well, but the reporter said they were designed for shallow water. Wouldn't be the first time a reporter didn't know what the hell they were talking about though.

I thought I saw they were 300's. Either way, they're stompin motors....

Could be 300s. Since they carried the 350 cowl design down to the V6s I have trouble telling the difference anymore.

[fujimoh]

They can probably get tanks too, can see the zetas rolling up in an m1 abrams with a big Z on it.

Then the Texans bring in the helicopters...or even a surplus Warthog.

[tommymac]

Then the Texans bring in the helicopters...or even a surplus Warthog.

then I will bring the beers and watch the cartels get blown to hell :lol:

[Rangerscott]

I need some long distance target practice.

[Kaneman]

Thank God. Soon, honest, God-fearing, white American workers will be able to get back in those fields and harvest all those vegetables. No more Mexicans taking up all those awesome farm jobs that pay so well! WOOHOO!! Get 'em boyeez!

[Papa_Complex]

http://screen.yahoo.com/heavily-armed-texas-gunboats-now-patrol-rio-grande-29828961.html

Right now there are four patrol boats with two more on the way. Each one is armed with six M-240 (they call it a .30 cal, in the military they are 7.62mm) machine guns.

'Bout time.:cheers:

We call it a GPMG and it's great for turning enemies into hamburger.

[fatbuckRTO]

Thank God. Soon, honest, God-fearing, white American workers will be able to get back in those fields and harvest all those vegetables. No more Mexicans taking up all those awesome farm jobs that pay so well! WOOHOO!! Get 'em boyeez!

They're not patrolling for border crossers looking for work. As evidenced by the fact that you can't take a patrol boat in the ankle deep sections of the river that job-seeking border crossers use. They're patrolling for the Zetas, the Sinaloas, MS-13, Los Negros, the Juarez Cartel, etc. etc., the ones who actually have money for boats and cars (whic apparently double as boats for the cartels).

Unless you prefer your illegal immigrant farm workers to be headless. Then by all means, let's keep the flood gates open for all comers!

[fatbuckRTO]

I would assume they're also keeping an eye out for crap like this:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39542072/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/texas-seeks-mexicos-help-finding-body-man-shot-jet-ski/

I mean, I'm certain Governor Perry got all kinds of help from Mexico in finding this man's killers. But surely the Mexican government wouldn't mind us helping out in keeping Mexican drug cartel violence contained... I mean, they want to wipe out violent drug gangs too, right?

Right?


oh...

[Adeptus_Minor]

Exactly.
People say "strong borders" and immediately someone starts jumping to the conclusion that we mean bringing the jackboot down on poor immigrants. :nono:

[fatbuckRTO]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/06/soldiers-cross-into-us-hold-guns-to-agent/?page=1

Kaneman, if you can read that whole article and then explain to me just one good reason for not having heavily armed law enforcement patrolling our border with Mexico, you win the motherfucking cookie.

[Kaneman]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/06/soldiers-cross-into-us-hold-guns-to-agent/?page=1

Kaneman, if you can read that whole article and then explain to me just one good reason for not having heavily armed law enforcement patrolling our border with Mexico, you win the motherfucking cookie.

I was just fucking around, while I'm not at militant against the average illegal farm worker as a lot of my Conservative Texan brothers if you check my history I'm very much against our retreating Border Patrol, refusal to stand their ground, etc. etc. I like the idea of these Patrol Boats and hope they didn't stick it to the tax payers with the bill as AMJ is suggesting.

[Homeslice]

Texas Highway Patrol? I'd like to know how much training they've received to use those weapons, not to mention the boat itself, and tactical maneuvers. I doubt that a 2-week training course is going to cut it if some real shit goes down.

[fatbuckRTO]

I was just fucking around

Ah, that's my bad then, dude.

It's a hot button topic for me and nothing ups my blood pressure faster than when people, as Adeptus mentioned, jump to that conclusion that if you want border security you automatically want to beat up on all immigrants.

[fatbuckRTO]

Texas Highway Patrol? I'd like to know how much training they've received to use those weapons, not to mention the boat itself, and tactical maneuvers. I doubt that a 2-week training course is going to cut it if some real shit goes down.

The Tactical Marine Unit is a specialty division, just like SWAT and EOD. I imagine they have an appropriate training program.

For the record, Marine Corps formal training for small boat operations lasts two weeks. Training on the M-240G, about a day before you're considered "qualified" to use it in combat. Then you go out and do it, and learn whatever is left on the job.

[Tmall]

Texas Highway Patrol? I'd like to know how much training they've received to use those weapons, not to mention the boat itself, and tactical maneuvers. I doubt that a 2-week training course is going to cut it if some real shit goes down.

It's a boat. With guns. You steer the boat, and pull the trigger when the bad guy is in the cross hairs.

The other option is turn the boat around and steer it away from incoming bullets.

Congrats, you're trained to use a boat with a gun on it. :lol

[Adeptus_Minor]

It's a boat. With guns. You steer the boat, and pull the trigger when the bad guy is in the cross hairs.

The other option is turn the boat around and steer it away from incoming bullets.

Congrats, you're trained to use a boat with a gun on it. :lol

*hits the Like button*
:dthumb: :lol: