[archy]

But if you look at the location of the hit (center mass), that is indicative of a stand off shot. Operators are trained to aim for center mass. A close in shot from an RPG would probably go for a mobility kill (take out the engine, or rear sprocket) instead of going for the well protected crew compartment.

I've fired RPG7s at tanks, hitting tracks and sprockets with little effect other than to burn a half-inch hole through track shoes and maybe blow off the rubber track block pads. the more usual aiming point is the third support roller, but the Abrams skirt protects that helpful target, not that it helped the crew much in this case. A much better target on an Abrams is the engine compartment from behind, offering at least a chance at a mobility kill from damage to the turbine or final drive [or setting the air cleaner assembly afire] or the bustle rack and APU at the back of the turret in hopes of detonating the rounds stored inside- not likely, unless you've got one of the *magic bullets* used in the example under discussion.

The idea of our 5-million dollar M1A2 SEP and M1A1-D tanks being killed by a $35 RPG-7D rocket launcher is unsettling, to say the least.

-archy-/-

[Travis McGee]

The idea of our 5-million dollar M1A2 SEP and M1A1-D tanks being killed by a $35 RPG-7D rocket launcher is unsettling, to say the least.

Back to "boots on the ground!"