Afghanistan: Our Boys blitz Taliban bash (Royal Marines spoil celebration of Bhutto assassination)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | December 31, 2007 | JEROME STARKEY

[PzLdr]

Hell. A friend of mine in ‘Nam [on a prior operation] helped an infantry squad dealing with a pesky sniper by blowing the dude’s head off with a 90mm HEAT round [all he had] from his M48.

[rdl6989]

I’ll bet that hurt. Lol.

[Stoat]

I’ll bet that hurt. Lol.

There are several levels of hurt.....

• The 'she swore that she would love me forever and then she ran off with the bartender and my bank account' hurt
• The 'those brakes feel just a bit mushy' as you start down an extremely steep mountain grade hurt.

And then there's

• the 'Javelin missile came straight down on top of my stinky Taliban buddy and me' sort of hurt.

I'm thinking that I would prefer either of the first two over the last one  :-)

 

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Blow'ed it up real good!

[beachn4fun]

[george76]

quite a detrimental effect on their morale.” “

[gitmogrunt]

Hip-hip hooray to our Brit Buddies!

[fishergirl]

And their faithful goats standing nearby.

[fishergirl]

LOL!! Picture perfect, haha!

[archy]

“It must have had quite a detrimental effect on their morale.”

Love that dry British stiff-upper-lippy humor!

The lads were likely in a good mmod now that they don't have to haul that damned heavy missile around anymore. At least the thermal sight on the launcher has other uses when nighttime perimeters are established.

In all, they've found that the Jav is a much better piece of kit that the old 45-pound-plus Charlie Gee recoilless antitank launcher. And if the troopies ever do have to take on a hostile tank, they now know that the missile/launcher combo works as advertised, and they'll have the confidence in it that leads to further success.

[archy]

Hell. A friend of mine in ‘Nam [on a prior operation] helped an infantry squad dealing with a pesky sniper by blowing the dude’s head off with a 90mm HEAT round [all he had] from his M48.

This is known to us Vietnam-era treadheads as *shootin from the hip,* particularly when attempted from the tank commander's position rather than usung the gunner's sight and rangefinder. Canister rounds, either *green can* or *black can* are preferred but high ex will do.

The next time someone tells you that *close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and sweet young things* you may smile knowingly, since you know otherwise.

[archy]

I don't know about you but after 900 yards I'm worthless even with ma duece.

The tracers from .50 M2 burn out at around 1200 meters, making follow-up adjusted shots [BOT/ burst on target] a bit iffy. A human-sized target at 2500, or better, a couple of *softies in open* or in a vehicle are pretty easily do-able with the 20x telescopic sight and 52-ton bipod of a tank, but I'd figure to put my first rounds low and walk them up to where I'd want them, then lock on a burst of 20 rounds or so, not quite as inexpensive as a single round from a really good sniper. But that's not an option for the poor mudfoot troopies who have to yomp the gun/ammo/tripod around, the reasonable alternative being that launcher of expensive but effective noisemakers.

In all, I'd say the Brits had a good day at the office!

[The Shrew]

I do so love your guys posts!

Semper Fi,

TS

[archy]

I watched a video of this missile hitting a tank. After the dust settled, you could not tell the target used to be a tank. The barrel of the main gun was about twenty yards from the engine- and these were the largest pieces left over after the blast. A very impressive missile.

WOW! I want one :-)

Though the Jav can be fired from the back of a Landie, a Humvee or a Stryker, the infantry mount is a bit heavy for casual carry, and a bit lumpy for concealment. Might I suggest that you also consider the Humvee-mounted Lockheed-Martin LOSAT as well for your antitank needs? It's certainly no more a hideout gat than the Jav missile and launcher, but the effects are equally impressive, the range is a bit longer, and the video supporting theme music is nice and catchy.

LOSAT Demo

LOSAT versus BMP personnel Carrier, 720 Meters

Losat versus tank, 3850 Meters

LOSAT versus outhouse, 800 meters

[archy]

There are things more important than money. Imagine being a raghead and watching this event happen at fairly close quarters.

Armor illustrator Jody Harmon's rendering of an Iraqi T-72 crewman having a Bad Day at the Office:

[Stoat]

LMAO!!
Delightful, inspiring videos all. Thank you so much!

I am SO PROUD of our amazing technological achievements as well as our troops!

“sniffle”

[Larry Lucido]

“Aside from that, Akmaal, how was the party?”

[Travis McGee]

“The last thing Ivan saw”

[Travis McGee]

“The party really blew.”