Large weapons cache found in Iraqi village [largest ever of explosively formed penetrators]

Stars and Stripes | October 26, 2007 | Stars and Stripes

[Former Military Chick]

Coalition forces have seized the largest cache ever found in Iraq of explosively formed penetrators, an especially lethal type of bomb, according to military officials.

Acting on a tip from a local Iraqi, soldiers descended on a home in Sa’ada Village and discovered a stockpile that included 124 fully-assembled EFPs, according to a release issued Wednesday by Multi–National Division–North.

The cache also included 159 copper disks, a component of EFPs, 600 pounds of C4 and other explosive materials, 100 mortar rounds, 31 rockets (107 mm), two mortar tubes and 20 claymore-type mines, the release stated.

“I was worried that the room was unstable because it smelled like explosives and nitric acid,” said Capt. Jason Rosenstrauch, commander of Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Rosenstrauch led the raid, which unfolded about five miles south of Khan Bani Sa’ad in Diyala province.

U.S. military officials say citizens in the area have been cooperating with the troops more since an operation was launched six weeks ago that cleared the area of many insurgents.

[Tennessean4Bush]

We are approaching, at this point, what might be termed as the “mop-up” phase of this war against AQI. I don’t think we are too far behind that with JAM, either.

[Eagles6]

I heard it on...uhh... what’s that tv show...wait no...it was on the radio...oh,wait...uhh...maybe the bird cage liner...never mind.

[submarinerswife]

Please add me to your ping list, SandRat.

[Tennessean4Bush]

or the Shi’ite terrorists are taking advantage of the recent clearing of AQI Sunnis in Diyala so they can expand their AO

Doubtful. This area has been recently cleared of AQI. I highly doubt the Shia have warehoused in al Qaeda country.

[submarinerswife]

What is an EFT?

[SandRat]

It is my pleasure and honor to add you to FRWN.

[jveritas]

Agree 100% FRiend.

[Southack]

Nice find!

[LibLieSlayer]

It feels good to be on the side of right... Freedom and righteousness... and be winning! Those that stood firm like JV and many others here on FR are vindicated... our Military has been vindicated... and we Conservatives will not fail to celebrate Our heroes at every opportunity. GOD bless the American fighting men and women and ALL that stand tall with them! I believe... I always have and I always will!

LLS

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[Former Military Chick]

PING

[stylin19a]

EFP ?
explosive formed penetrator

[jveritas]

A 1000 Amen my FRiend. You, me, and most freepers have always believed in Victory because we have always believed that we have a great leader in President Bush and of course an increibly superb and brave military. We always believed that Good will Trumph over Evil and now we are reaping the fruit of our faith: a Total Victory against Al Qaeda in Iraq.

[hinckley buzzard]

In other major news that the MSM has ignored, (there may be a thread on this I missed), yesterday, for the first time since the initiation of hostilities in Iraq, not one person was reported killed in hostile action--not one Iraqi, not one American, not one Brit, nobody--nada--nichts-zip,zero,zilch.

I'm sure CNN will lead with this for the next news cycle (not).

[manic4organic]

The only penetrator Katie will report is related to colon cancer. Sorry for the mental picture.

[DocRock]

BTTT

[prophetic]

Someday these MSM biased journalists and their leftist cronies will have to pay dearly for sabotaging our President and our Military people.

In certain dictatorship countries (e.g. USSR) such people would'nt live another half hour and their families would pay dearly for such treachery & treason.

But here in the oh-so-tolerant USA its encounraged and applauded as "Patriotic"; which is a load of bull$h!t.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for posting this.

FRom July..

AFP/Pool/FileA deadly and allegedly Iranian-made "EFP" armor-penetrating roadside bomb is seen among during a press conference in Baghdad, 02 July 2007. The US military has alleged that Iranian agents continue to smuggle Iranian made armour piercing bombs -- explosively-formed penetrators (EFPs) -- to Iraqi extremist groups across the country's long border.(AFP/Pool/File/Chris Hondros)

.

A U.S. military explosives expert displays explosives used by Iraqi militants, including the 'EFP' armour-penetrating roadside bomb (far L), in the Green Zone in Baghdad July 2, 2007. Senior Iranian leaders know about the operations of Iran's Qods Force in fomenting violence in Iraq, the U.S. military said on Monday, in some of the most direct accusations yet against Tehran over the chaos in Iraq. (Chris Hondros/Wathiq Khuzaie/Pool/Reuters)

[Grimmy]

An EFP works on the same principles as the warheads in anti-armor rockets and missiles.

The explosive material is in shaped charge form behind the copper plate.

The explosive produces a plasma jet when it detonates and that plasma jet superheats and cuts through metal armor plate. The copper is formed into a molten metal slug by the same explosion and follows the plasma jet.

The slug smashes through any heat resistant ceramic in the armor and also disintegrates into a multitude of various sized metal pellets once it penetrates through the armor.

The killing effects are:
Exposure to the primary plasma jet.
Explosive overpressure inside the vehicle.
Heat flash intense enough to ignite ammunition and/or fuel, as well as burn flesh.
Shrapnel from the disintegrated slug and/or armor spauling (fragments of the armor plate turned into shrapnel by the impact of the warhead)

[AliVeritas]

ping