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

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

As noted above, many of the so-called IEDs are 155 mm (US/NATO) or 152 mm (Soviet/Russian) artillery shells and are only "improvised" because they are being used in a manner for which they were not intended, that is, to be fired out of the barrel of an artillery piece. The most vulnerable point on any vehicle - tanks included - is the belly. Detonate a 155 mm HE (high-explosive round) under an M113 (an armored - but not much - personnel carrier) and it is going to be destroyed. Combat - whether "low" or "high intensity" - is dangerous, even in armored vehicles. It is much more so dismounted (on foot) in an urban environment; such is the nature of so-called Fourth Generation Warfare.


18 posted on 12/11/2004 11:00:07 AM PST by ManHunter (You can run, but you'll only die tired...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: ManHunter
Might it not be possible, though? A heavy armor on the floorpan would make the range of the humvee much less, even with gascans. I wonder if a lightweight multi-layer steel/mesh armor could be used all around? Perhaps it could be further layered with lightweight welded plates. I don't know. The experts would know the behavior of such a large bomb. But I wonder if they know of a way to at least mitigate some of the effect?

It's not an open vehicle like a jeep. But it still seems to have large open windows in the side, which is a vulnerability even for small arms. Bulletproof glass might help. What if the enemy then launches an RPG their way? Would light armour and bulletproof glass make a difference for the men? Would they still be alive? Would they largely escape injury? Would they be dead either way?

26 posted on 12/11/2004 11:14:50 AM PST by sevry
[ 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