Mystery behind Aug. 28 incident puzzles Army officials (what felled an M1A1)?

Navy Times ^ | 10-27-2003 | John Roos

[bonesmccoy]

Shortly before dawn on Aug. 28, an M1A1 Abrams tank on routine patrol in Baghdad

[bonesmccoy]

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 below 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.

[bonesmccoy]

Any other gentlemen with informed speculation on this strange round?

[archy]

Freeper Treadhead ping!

We've seen this before, but the quesation remains unanswered...unless anyone has heard anything?

-archy-/-

[archy]

Stryker List Ping! If it'll do this to an Abrams, I think there's little doubt about what it'd do to a Stryker....

-archy-/-

[PLMerite]

Me wouldn't be surprised if Ivan was testing something.

[bonesmccoy]

Strange technical question... we worked the thermal question on the orbiter thread... thought I would ping you to this one... see what you think...

[bonesmccoy]

The Russians or the Chinese?

[dasboot]

HOLY CRAPP!

[Pro-Bush]

Particle Beam Weapon, Russian or Chinese.

[PLMerite]

Russians are closer, but can't rule out the Chinese.

[Radix]

I don't know anymore.

Is it right to post such things out here?

What good purpose does it serve?

[bonesmccoy]

If the orbiter thread is any indication of the intellect and know how, we may be able to help the US Army solve the problem (due to the fact that so many engineers, scientists, contractors, and mechanics read this board).

I'm hoping we'll work the problem better than this reporter did at the Navy Times.

[bonesmccoy]

Could the AQ/Militant Islamists have surpassed Russian technology?

[bonesmccoy]

got any links to web pages with info on russian particle beam weapons?

[dasboot]

If GW said the Iraqis were hitting our tanks with a new secret weapon provided by a large nation, and that we were gonna bomb the s**t out of the source, he'd need the support of the people, and the the proof, publicized. Otherwise, Bush would be accused of being crazy. "Particle-beam weapons...in the desert? Yeah, right: what's he smoking?"

Maybe releasing this info is move-one of a world of hurt program due to the supplier.

[Pro-Bush]

Maybe we should all bury our heads in the sand.

[Radix]

I am coming to the place in my mind, that we should just Nuke them, and stop letting our boys be slaughtered by primitives!

I know that it is wrong, but they are killing our Troops, and we are so strong.

What the Eff are we doing?

[dasboot]

Maybe releasing this info is move-one of a world of hurt program due to the supplier.

I hope it's France.

[Pro-Bush]

This link is entertaining:

Russia has a Death Ray Gun...

[PLMerite]

"Could the AQ/Militant Islamists have surpassed Russian technology?"

No. Not unless Allah really is on their side.