BRITISH TROOPS KNOCKOUT 20 IRAQI TANKS (Basra)

ThisisPlymouth ^ | 17:00 - 25 March 2003

[11th_VA]

British forces have destroyed 20 Iraqi tanks as fighting intensified around Basra, Iraq's second biggest city.

They launched strikes with huge AS90 guns against 11 targets, including tanks and artillery pieces but then faced a counter attack by up to 50 Iraqi tanks breaking out of Basra.

The regular Iraqi Army T-55s charged south towards 3 Commando Brigade on the Al Faw peninsula.

British light tanks from the Queen's Dragoons' Guard and marines from two battalions on Al Faw stopped the Iraqi advance along with helicopter gunships from HMS Ark Royal.

Harriers and A-10 tankbusters were also called in to deliver a blitz of precision, laser-guided bombs and armour piercing depleted uranium bullets.

Scores of Iraqis were thought to have been killed.

Some T-55s were destroyed after they tried to hide among houses near the village of Abul Khasib.

A total of 20 of the Iraqi tanks were taken out of action in the counter attack and the earlier British strikes at Basra.

Basra has been the scene of fierce artillery exchanges between British forces and Iraqis backed by Fedayeen fighters and members of Saddam's Special Security Organisation.

The original coalition battle plan was for British forces to surround the city but not attack it. It had been hoped they would be welcomed into the city by a grateful population.

[smiley]

YES!! Way to go Brits!!!!!!!!!!

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Woohoo! I'll salute the Union Jack on that one!

ChIraq must be spitting bile over all this!

[Conspiracy Guy]

It reads, "The original coalition battle plan was for British forces to surround the city but not attack it. It had been hoped they would be welcomed into the city by a grateful population." Glad to see plan B is working.

[m1911]

and armour piercing depleted uranium bullets.

We'll be hearing about that for years.

[dd5339]

The T-55 is a very old Soviet design, if I remember right the T-55 was current in the late 50's early 60's. While it's still dangerous this might be close to shooting fish in a barrel.

Semper Fi

[CFC__VRWC]

and armour piercing depleted uranium bullets.

We'll be hearing about that for years.

We would be hearing about it for years if we were throwing teddy bears at them.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Beautiful news!

[x1stcav]

T-55's might be dangerous to troops in the open but unless they're some sort of upgrade they're next to useless against state of the art weapons. I'd hate to be an Iraqi crew member.

[republicanwizard]

There shall always be an England.

[Destro]

not breaking news

[Rammer]

Ah yes, the dreaded, cancer-causing Teddy Bear. Shame on us for using such tactics.

[VOA]

I'd hate to be an Iraqi crew member.

Either they are true believers in Saddam...
or don't have access to a pistol to shot their officers who are goading them forward
to their death.

[freedomlover]

ARTHUR: What?

TIM: There he is!

ARTHUR: Where?

TIM: There!

ARTHUR: What, behind the teddy bear?

TIM: It is the teddy bear.

ARTHUR: You silly sod!

TIM: What?

ARTHUR: You got us all worked up!

TIM: Well, that's no ordinary teddy bear!

ARTHUR: Ohh.

TIM: That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on!

ROBIN: You tit! I soiled my armour I was so scared!

TIM: Look, that teddy bear's got a vicious streak a mile wide! It's a killer!

GALAHAD: Get stuffed!

TIM: He'll do you up a treat, mate.

GALAHAD: Oh, yeah?

ROBIN: You mangy Scots git!

TIM: I'm warning you!

ROBIN: What's he do, nibble your bum?

TIM: He's got huge, sharp-- eh-- he can leap about-- look at the bones!

ARTHUR: Go on, Bors. Chop his head off!

BORS: Right! Silly little bleeder. One teddy bear stew comin' right up!

TIM: Look!

[squeak]

BORS: Aaaugh!

[dramatic chord]

[clunk]

ARTHUR: Jesus Christ!

TIM: I warned you!

ROBIN: I done it again!

TIM: I warned you, but did you listen to me? Oh, no, you knew it all, didn't you? Oh, it's just a harmless little teddy bear, isn't it? Well, it's always the same. I always tell them--

ARTHUR: Oh, shut up!

[savedbygrace]

Over here!

[Redcloak]

T-55s?! The poor slobs. They might as well have rode into battle on mopeds.

[sonofron]

"There shall always be an England. "

they are a tough ol island.

[Rammer]

That's not right. You mean mopeds with bb guns. Now that's a more apt analogy.

[x1stcav]

Wasn't it at the battle of Lang Vei that they found the NVA tankers chained inside their machines? Wonder if we have a repeat?