Soldiers discover enormous cache in Zafaraniya factory

ARNEWS ^ | June 8, 2005 | unattributed

[SandRat]

BAGHDAD (Army News Service, June 8, 2005) – A stockpile of materials used to make explosives were discovered June 5 by 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, at a factory in Northern Zafaraniya.

The stockpile consisted of over 1,000 sub-munitions and 56,000 fuses.

It was discovered after the owner of the factory met with a Coalition Forces Government Support Team, and told them that he wanted to open his factory but needed a pile of explosives removed first.

Coalition Forces sent a patrol to the factory to determine the type of explosives on site.

The factory owner, who preferred not to be named, thanked the coalition forces and said there is an overwhelming feeling amongst the Iraqi peop---

[concentric circles]

"...The factory owner, who preferred not to be named, thanked the coalition forces and said there is an overwhelming feeling amongst the Iraqi people that things are getting better.

“One by one, the citizens of this newly freed country are taking action to stop the violence,” Lt. Col. Steven Merkel, 1-9 FA, commander, said. “This is just another example of an Iraqi citizen making a difference in the goal for a safe and secure Iraq.”

“Not too long ago, these bomb munitions were sold to the highest bidder without concern about future use,” Maj. John Clement, 1-9 FA, operations officer, said. “Today, these same people are assisting in the destruction of these dangerous munitions to protect a way of life.”

Clement said that the Iraqi people know terrorists are endangering the lives of innocent civilians, and added that in the past, fear of terrorist retribution prevented their assistance in securing the country.

“Now, they are an active part in a bright and hope filled future. The Iraqi citizens are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and are embracing it with arms wide open.”

[SandRat]

Wonder why we're not hearing about this from the MSM? </sarc

[knarf]

Whatza' sub munition?

[SandRat]

Small caliber ammo.

[DTogo]

...he wanted to open his factory but needed a pile of explosives removed first.

Glad he called us first!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We're in the phone book.

[DuncanWaring]

I thought "submunition" generally referred to things like "bomblets" from cluster-bombs.

[tet68]

...he wanted to open his factory but needed a pile of explosives removed first.

I hate it when it's like that, usually you can just sweep them into the corners, but they have a nasty habit of getting underfoot.

[JAWs]

Whatza' sub munition?

A torpedo, mebbe? <G>

[SandRat]

can but not always; though in this case you may be on the mark.

[Chode]

gennerally they are smaller explosives discharged from a larger explosive device, think cluster bombs, but i'm not really sure what they are in this context...

[TADSLOS]

Whatza' sub munition?

A relatively small bomblet packaged as part of a cluster of bomblets and encased in a bomb, rocket or mine dispenser. Nasty little devils and very effective against personnel and other soft targets.

[james500]

You guys are wrong. They're referring to torpedoes.

[james500]

ACK! SCOOPED AGAIN!

[knarf]

OK ... you sound like you know what you're talking about, so

When we find stuff like this, and it's usable ... do we use it ... against the ragheads?

The epitome of irony.

[TADSLOS]

These are fun to shoot, and deadly.

Family of Hydra 70 2.75" Aerial Rockets

M261 HE Multi-Purpose Sub-Munition

[JAWs]

ACK! SCOOPED AGAIN!

[beebuster2000]

strictly speaking "submunition" applies only to really small weapons carried on submarines.

[AFreeBird]

Small caliber ammo.

???

I always thought ammunition was a munition. Wouldn't a sub-munition be munition components not yet assembled into a munition?

Say that real fast three times...