Posted on 04/23/2007 6:01:08 PM PDT by jdm
A Challenger 2 tank - the [British] army's heaviest weapon - has been penetrated by a roadside bomb in Iraq, leaving the driver with serious injuries, the Ministry of Defence confirmed yesterday. It is the first time a Challenger has been damaged by an improvised explosive device in this way.The driver of the tank, who has not been named, is understood to be recovering in a British hospital after both his legs were amputated. Another soldier in the four-man crew suffered minor injuries.
The incident, which has serious implications for the safety of British soldiers, happened on April 6 in the Hyall Shuala district in western Basra, the day after four British soldiers were killed when their Warrior armoured vehicle was also hit by a roadside bomb. The MoD does not always reveal attacks on British forces unless they led to fatalities. The tank was damaged, but not destroyed, as its crew were carrying out routine duties.
An MoD spokesman said: "This was not in any way new technology - the device involved was the same type of shaped charge that we have seen used very regularly. No one has ever said Challenger tanks are impenetrable. We have always said a big enough bomb will defeat any armour and any vehicle."
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
At what point do we stop calling these shaped charge landmines “improvised”?
The incident, which has serious implications for the safety of British soldiers insurgent terrorists, You cannot let this sort of thing go on, you have to take it to THEM!
The Guardian would never say it, but it sounds like another Iranian weapon was probably used.
Unfortunately Bush and Blair seem unwilling to say so too.
Yep...I've been thinking the same thing for quite awhile now. I sincerely hope the military 'thinkers' will change their acronyms. "IED" is long a passe term.
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