Posted on 08/15/2006 12:59:18 PM PDT by BunnySlippers
One of the major military surprises of the fighting in Lebanon has been the apparent vulnerability of Israeli armour to Hezbollah anti-tank rockets.
---
The AT-13 Metis or Saxhorn is a modern tube-launched successor to the Sagger.
Its tandem-shaped warhead can punch through armour of up to 46cm (18 inches) thick.
The tandem warhead is designed to counter reactive armour as used on many Israeli vehicles.
Reactive armour is essentially made up of explosive pads or bricks on the outside of the tank which explode outwards when hit by an incoming missile.
This disrupts the effect of the missile warhead, which needs to impact upon the surface of the tank to achieve its penetrative effect.
A twin or tandem charge is designed to get around this.
The first warhead triggers the reactive armour and the second penetrates the tank.
Hezbollah is also reported to have used the RPG-29; a shoulder-fired weapon, again with a tandem charge.
---
The Kornet has been exported by the Russians to only a few countries, including Syria.
And all the evidence suggests that the Syrians have passed them on to Hezbollah.
Israel is so concerned that it has despatched a team of officials to Moscow to show the Russians the evidence of what they say can only be Syrian weapons transfers.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
B-52's and iron bombs are an effective countermeasure to this.
Its tandem-shaped warhead can punch through armour of up to 46cm (18 inches) thick.
Interesting read. Syria is the problem.
A-10s are also known to work on this problem. Since the US is about to retire them, why not "lend/lease a few to our friends in the Middle East.
That's the reason Chobham armour is still a classified design.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/m1-tank4.htm
Whazzat?
Is the US not able to provide Israel with safer tanks?
Hez anti-tank missles? Where's the factory they make them in?
Israel is very proud of their Merkava. They did not purchase the M1-A1. Don't think the M1-A2 was offered to Israel.
http://www.army-technology.com/projects/merkava/
RPG 29v made in Russia, sold to Syria, given to terrorists in Lebanon.
oy vey !!
So we DO have tanks that can withstand Russian anti-tank missiles?
The Israel's design their own tanks. Reportedly, theirs is the safest in the world.
In the battle between armor and anti-armor weapons, the anti-armor eventually wins in the long run. Same with fortifications vs. shells.
Israel had this problem in the Yom Kipper war when they were not prepared for the Egyptian anti-tank, anti-aircraft weapons that the Egyptians had and misused her tanks, sending them in without proper infantry support.
....I believe the tanks in question are of Israeli manufacture, not U.S. tanks.... the "Merkava" (or "chariot" in Hebrew...) is a great tank, but it must have "met its match" in this recent conflict with the HezziBullahs....
I believe I saw on another website where some 20 or so of these tanks were knocked out.... that's a goodly number of "dead armor" there...........
So... 
does this!
When in doubt... 
Call White Ash Security...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.