Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Thunder 6
There is a big difference between a "mobility" and "catastrophic" kill on an M1.

Just so. And the difference is a matter of some small concern to the Abrams crew who've had a hole shot through their tank, and nobody seems to know yet what weapon managed that good trick. Kindly feel free to join us on the following thread where the incident is under discussion. All good ideas and working theories are being considered, and welcome.

I just hope it ain't termites....

An M1A1 Abrams tank with the 1st Armored Division was hit by enemy fire in Baghdad at 5:20 a.m. on Aug. 28. The paper in the photo covers the hole.

The hole in the M1A1 Abrams tank is marked by a circle in the above photo, showing the damage behind the skirt.

A close-up of the mysterious round’s point of entry.

The round penetrated the turret well to reach the inside of the tank.

The round passed through a nuclear, biological, chemical hose inside the tank behind the gunner’s seat and bent the basket

The projectile then tore a hole in the gunner’s seat.

The round pierced the left kidney area of the gunner’s flak jacket. According to the damage report, “The gunner said it felt like someone hit him in the back with a hammer.”

The round then crossed “under the breech and hit the safety guard,” the report said. The photo shows the entry side of the safety guard.

The round then exited the safety guard.

Next, the projectile slammed into the turret networks box.

The round then pierced the breaker panel on the tank.

The mysterious projectile finally buried itself in the hull of the M1A1 Abrams tank on the opposite side from where it entered. The hole is 1½ to 2 inches deep.


-archy-/-

18 posted on 10/29/2003 6:36:26 AM PST by archy (Angiloj! Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]


To: archy
Sure looks like some kind of kinetic energy round, Archy. The fact that we didn't see anything like this in the advance on Baghdad makes me suspicious that this weapon was stolen from coalition forces or imported from Syria after the war. I guess the good news is we haven't seen a similar attack in the last two months.
25 posted on 10/29/2003 9:28:36 AM PST by colorado tanker ("There are but two parties now, Traitors and Patriots")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies ]

To: archy; Cannoneer No. 4; Travis McGee
Great post Archy!

Yep, looks like a sabot round to me too, although the portions that hit the gunner's flak jacket and the stuff that went through the safety guard appear to be spalling.

I'd like to see what was left of the projectile. Have you heard of any analysis on what was left of it?

27 posted on 10/29/2003 4:04:01 PM PST by Matthew James (SPEARHEAD!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson