Warning shot: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 03:45, 7 June 2011

A Coast Guard painting depicts a warning shot fired across the bow of a suspicious vessel bearing the State of Vietnam flag.

As used by Paul Revere to alert the British to their impending doom.

A warning shot is a military term describing harmless artillery shot or gunshot intended to call attention and demand some action of compliance. It is recognised as signalling intended confrontations on land, sea and air.

As an analogy, "warning shot" can be said of any action of declaration, especially a demonstration of power, intended or perceived as a last warning before hostile measures.

Uses

Nautical

During the 18th Century, a warning shot (in nautical terms, often called a shot across the bow) could be fired towards any ship whose "colours" (nationality) had to be ascertained. According to the law of the sea, a ship thus hailed had to fly her flag and confirm it with a gunshot. Warning shots may still be used in modern times to signal a vessel to stop or keep off and may be fired from other ships, boats, or aircraft. ^[1] ^[2]

Paul Revere's Midnight Ride

During the legendary ride of Paul Revere, Revere notably used bells and warning shots in order to warn the British that the Americans would be free, and that furthermore our arms would not be taken from us. Take that, Brits!

Aviation

Warning shots are also used in military aviation, to demand some action of an "enemy" aircraft; the most common demand would be for the aircraft to change course. The ostensible justification for firing shots is that tracer rounds are very bright and would immediately gain the attention of a crew whose radio is non-functioning, or who might not have noticed radio transmissions. The objective of warning shots is to demonstrate the ability to shoot, and threaten the enemy that they will be shot down if they do not comply. ^{[citation needed]}

Threat to shoot

On the ground, a warning shot from a pistol, rifle, or shotgun is fired into the air or a nearby object, or aimed so that the shot harmlessly passes by the one being warned. This is a sufficiently aggressive act to demand attention and alert onlookers that they might be shot if directions are not followed.

References

^ http://www.uscg.mil/history/webaircraft/AC_HITRON_History.asp U.S. Coast Guard HITRON Jacsonville
^ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352579,00.html Navy-Contracted Vessel Fires Warning Shots on Fast Boats in Persian Gulf

This article related to international law is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This military-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] ttp://www.uscg.mil/history/webaircraft/AC_HITRON_History.asp U.S. Coast Guard HITRON Jacsonville

[2] ttp://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352579,00.html Navy-Contracted Vessel Fires Warning Shots on Fast Boats in Persian Gulf

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 During the 18th Century, a warning shot (in nautical terms, often called a '''shot across the [[bow (ship)|bow]]''') could be fired towards any ship whose "[[Ensign|colours]]" (nationality) had to be ascertained. According to the [[Admiralty law|law of the sea]], a ship thus hailed had to fly her flag and confirm it with a gunshot. Warning shots may still be used in modern times to signal a vessel to stop or keep off and may be fired from other ships, boats, or aircraft. <ref>http://www.uscg.mil/history/webaircraft/AC_HITRON_History.asp U.S. Coast Guard HITRON Jacsonville</ref> <ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352579,00.html Navy-Contracted Vessel Fires Warning Shots on Fast Boats in Persian Gulf</ref>
-==Paul Revere's Midnight Ride==
+===Paul Revere's Midnight Ride===
-During the legendary ride of [[Paul Revere]], Revere notably used [[bells]] and [[warning shots]] in order to warn the British that the Americans would be free, and that furthermore our arms would not be taken from us.
+During the legendary ride of [[Paul Revere]], Revere notably used [[bells]] and [[warning shots]] in order to warn the British that the Americans would be free, and that furthermore our arms would not be taken from us. Take that, Brits!
 ===Aviation===