Posted on 10/30/2010 1:56:01 AM PDT by tlb
Military police are investigating how a loaded rocket launcher with instructions on how to use it ended up on the side of the Malahat.
A tree pruner discovered the weapon Thursday afternoon.
It doesn't belong to the navy and it's a mystery how it ended up in the bush near a busy highway, CFB Esquimalt spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Nathalie Garcia said Friday.
Steve Taylor, 33, couldn't believe his eyes when he looked down from the trees he was pruning, about 100 metres north of McCurdy Drive in Shawnigan Lake, and saw something that was cylindrical.
Upon closer inspection he could see instructions printed on the launcher. "It said pull pin, aim through scope, and push trigger," said Taylor. "I had an idea it might be a rocket launcher at that point."
When Shawnigan Lake RCMP arrived, the weapon was identified as an M72 rocket launcher. One of the RCMP officers on the scene was a former soldier who did two tours in Afghanistan.
Taylor estimated the handheld weapon is about 1.2 metres long and weighs about 2.5 kilograms.
"And it turns out it was loaded," Taylor said. The RCMP said a live rocket grenade was in the tube.
Taylor, who works for Capital Tree Service, said the rocket launcher "was within throwing distance" from the highway.
Garcia held a press conference Friday to warn anyone who finds a rocket launcher not to touch the weapon and instead call police immediately.
That message came after Taylor picked up the rocket launcher Thursday and posed with it for a photograph. "Obviously, I didn't push the trigger and I was careful," Taylor said.
The Canadian Forces Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit picked up the weapon and turned the investigation over to military police.
Garcia said M72 rocket launchers are used by the Canadian Forces but "it's not a naval weapon."
"We are concerned with the fact that a live piece of equipment was found on the side of the road and we have to determine how it came to be there," Garcia said.
She couldn't specify what type of M72 rocket launcher was found. "There's lots of variants of that weapon. It is a fairly common weapon that has been in production for more than 40 years."
The National Firearms Association said the loaded rocket launcher was probably stolen from the military. Group spokesman Blair Hagen said the anti-tank weapon is illegal to possess in Canada and would have military origins. "There are a number of deactivated delivery systems in private collections, but they are deactivated before they are released by militaries, but the actual ordnance are not legal for ownership."
Maybe some mooslim wedding party was on a picnic there and left behind one of their “utensils”?
Well, it IS deer season........
Anybody who has ever shot those will agree, the side of the road is the best place for one.
Army Transportation Corps veterans have an annual reunion called “The Gathering”. Among the veterans are reenactors, one group is composed of old Viet Nam gun truckers. They convoy to the site in old surplus 5 ton trucks complete with sheet metal armor, Ma Deuce machine guns and miniguns. They get a few strange looks.
I want the Sledgehammer version that he has in the photo and clip below that can level whole buildings. One of my favorite comedies ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qblo8Bl8o1c
Stop
Don't Touch
Tell an ADULT
The only thing missing is the guy sayin' "Hold muh beer".
You might want to think twice about that, the round produces a back blast area of about 50 ft and generates temperatures in the 1400 degree range. Not only will it blow your clothes off it will cook your keister in the process.
Maybe Bruce Cockburn should be contacted:
Here comes the helicopter — second time today
Everybody scatters and hopes it goes away
How many kids they’ve murdered only God can say
If I had a rocket launcher...I’d make somebody pay
I don’t believe in guarded borders and I don’t believe in hate
I don’t believe in generals or their stinking torture states
And when I talk with the survivors of things too sickening to relate
If I had a rocket launcher...I would retaliate
On the Rio Lacantun, one hundred thousand wait
To fall down from starvation — or some less humane fate
Cry for guatemala, with a corpse in every gate
If I had a rocket launcher...I would not hesitate
I want to raise every voice — at least I’ve got to try
Every time I think about it water rises to my eyes.
Situation desperate, echoes of the victims cry
If I had a rocket launcher...Some son of a bitch would die
Abdul must have left it there.
That missing phrase is probably the only thing that saved him :-)
What a putz! Hint, doofus: it’s just as dangerous behind as in front!
This is only 15 miles or so from my house. Dang, I wish I had found it first. At least it wouldn’t be destroyed for no reason, and I’d have fun with it. Once. But that tree that’s been annoying me at the reservoir wouldn’t be there anymore...
Canada ping
bush’s fault.
Stop profiling. It could have been left by an Amish family passing through.
He was an Amish Muslim, Abdul Book.
Now thats funny I dont care what anybody says.
I’d be happy to settle for an M2 .50 on a turret.
:)
Ditto that for the Harley's.
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