Abrams Tank Attacked And Destroyed By Insurgents In Iraq

news wires | 11/04/2004 | Outspot

[norton]

"Election year politics cannot dictate military strategy."

True, but fighting in a densley populated area means either being very careful - slow and as precise as possible - or killing off a lot of bystanders who you'd rather have pacified than dead and bewailed by their neighbors.

These people are not going to love us but unless you advocate pulling out and carpet bombing the cities there aren't a lot of options.

House to house is the most dangerous combat you can undertake and any piece of equipment can be taken down. [This is not the first M1 shown going up - I'd be a lot more interested in how many of the crew got out OK]

[PISANO]

We need to recognize that the enemy is Islam

Not in our lifetime. Unless some PDB or other secret FINDING describes it that way (it will then become PUBLIC of course) there is NO WAY this will ever be stated publically and as you can tell from our tactics in Fallujah and elsewhere, POLITICS, once again and as is USUAL, dictate the happenings on the battlefield and HENCE, the results.

Is there any doubt that we could pacify any city, or country in a matter of hours IF our Military commanders were told, "PACIFY NOW" using extreme measures as you GENERAL see fit. The ONLY requirement is to LOSE as few of OUR men doing it and KILL as many as the ENEMY as possible. Civilian casualties are not a concern and do this as quickly as possible.

Well it is only a dream it will never happen that way again. WWII is the past and we are so far ahead of everyone, Militarily, that COMPASSION has entered our strategic and tactical military thought process. We never do a bombing run UNLESS and UNTIL all nearby possible civilian casualties are eliminated or minimized to the extent that puts our troops in MORE dangerous situations than would otherwise be necessary.

It stinks, but it is a fact and as frustrating as it is, it will NOT change, unless or until we suffer an NBC attack on our shores.

[norton]

"An infantry company supported by a tank platoon is a formidable force in urban terrain. The tanks are more vulnerable to close range attacks, but the infantry and its fighting vehicles should be able to limit any attacks to frontal attacks which are least prone to success."

Valid point, and should add that large part of the infantry task would be to protect the tanks. Tanks provide firepower and/or shock when and where needed. They do not hang around making targets of themselves because they are mechanical objects, symbolic objects, and expensive objects that can be taken out even by simple break-down.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Treadhead Ping

[fso301]

Kid with the RPG was propably on the overpass, shot down and hit the engine compartment.

[archy]

It's in the fourth picture: The strategic XD-15 hyper assault bicycle.

You could be closer than you know.

[Happy2BMe]

Jihad warriors got one of our Abrams M1 tanks - ping.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

I have been quiet about this stuff, since the enemy most certainly reads the Free Republic, but the cat is now out of the bag, the horse has run off, and the milk is spilled.

So now you are going to give lessons on tank busting?

Being quiet was a good decision.

[Happy2BMe]

Does that thing really exist (the XD-15)?

[archy]

Anyway, the bottom line is that the Abrams is pretty easy to take out by someone either lucky or skilled. I will not get any more specific.

I have been quiet about this stuff, since the enemy most certainly reads the Free Republic, but the cat is now out of the bag, the horse has run off, and the milk is spilled.

Correct. Any tanker who's maintained his vehicle under the desert conditions at the NTC or in Iraq knows one weakness the enemy could have exploited. And there was that turncoat arrested at Ft Lewis who had been attempting to sell details of Abrams vulnerability to Al-Quieda or Iraqi intelligence...who may not have been the only one.

[dljordan]

I think that earlier in the war they were using Russian supplied Kornet (sp?) anti-tank missles.

[moonhawk]

There's three kinds of folks in this world: Those who can coun't, and those who can't.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

When the Marine casualties from the Ramadi ambush, not part of the Fallujah battle are subtracted, the Marine losses have been spectacularly low by historical standards.

[archy]

It looks like the just hit it with a cocktail. I do not see structural damage.

The penetration hole from a shaped charge is only the size of a dime or so. It's on the inside that it's somewhat more spectacular.

[Hootch]

Except for the appearance of black smoke pouring out of an open hatch. How old is this picture??

[clamboat]

It looks like the just hit it with a cocktail. I do not see structural damage.

Oh, well, that makes it all better then....unless you consider a problem that a molotov cocktail can disable an Abrams tank!

[archy]

I would gladly trade the effect of a mortar round for the effect of a tank main gun round in urban combat. The plentiful cover available is usually proof against the shrapnel from mortar rounds, but not so from the blast effects of direct fire from a tank's main gun.

Right up to the point that the bad guys start firing wire guided missiles at your tanks from beyond main gun range, or from *throwaway* positions inside buildings. And the tank crews only defense against those missiles is WP smoke fire from the mortars that obscures the ability of the missile gunners to track their targets and of the WP to burn out and sever the guidance wires. Thast's the reason every Israeli Merkava tank is itself firtted with a turret-mounted light mortar. Ours aren't.

[Valin]

Anyway, the bottom line is that the Abrams is pretty easy to take out by someone either lucky or skilled. I will not get any more specific.

Well I will, top, and rear armor is weaker than the front and side armor.

[Smokin' Joe]

Gammon grenade?

[null and void]

58 posts about the hardware. Does anyone know how the crew is???