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

Skip to comments.

[UK] Army ‘vacuum’ missile hits Taliban
timesonline.co.uk ^ | June 22, 2008 | Michael Smith

Posted on 06/21/2008 3:45:28 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

Apache attack helicopters have fired the thermobaric weapons against fighters in buildings and caves, to create a pressure wave which sucks the air out of victims, shreds their internal organs and crushes their bodies.

...When it hits the target, the charge disperses the aluminium powder throughout the target building. The cloud then ignites, causing a massive secondary blast that tears throughout any enclosed space.

The blast creates a vacuum which draws air and debris back in, creating pressure of up to 430lb per sq in. The more heavily the building is protected, the more concentrated the blast.

...When the American military bought them in 2005, President George W Bush said: “There are going to be some awfully surprised terrorists when the thermobaric Hellfire comes knocking.”

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; bang; boom; filletminion; miltech; taliban
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 last
To: Perdogg
Are you taking about an FAE?

Similar, but not quite the same. Same basic principal, that is a dispersed explosion. Biggest difference is the fuel. Technically the thermobaric bomb is a subclass of FAE. But in general useage the FAE uses a vaporized liquid fuel. The thermobaric bomb uses a powdered metal, aluminum in the ones I know about. Simulates an even more powerful dust explosion. Thermobaric bomb/explosive is more useful inside structures. Caves in particular.

The bad news is that both FAE and thermobaric are simple enough that the folks in those caves can make simple versions too.

61 posted on 06/22/2008 8:47:35 AM PDT by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: SeeSharp
What do conventional bombs do?

In spite of appearances, they generally kill by shrapnel effects, not the blast per se, although if one is close enough, you get the same pressure effects.

62 posted on 06/22/2008 8:49:15 AM PDT by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper
It seems they are gearing up to attack it like clusterbombs.

If it kills the enemy naturally the enemy is a'gin it.

But yes, they've been attacking it for years.

63 posted on 06/22/2008 9:10:33 AM PDT by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: hsalaw
Are these the “bunker buster” bombs?

No, bunker busters are "hard target penetrators". Very hard cases, not so much explosive. The earliest ones, back in Desert Storm, where made from surplus cannon barrels, filled with explosive, and with a Paveway guidance kit designed for 2,000 lb bomb strapped on.

64 posted on 06/22/2008 9:14:25 AM PDT by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: El Gato

Thanks.


65 posted on 06/22/2008 9:22:26 AM PDT by hsalaw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: pabianice
Go Army!

Hmm, those are Navy wings. These are Army wings.

These are Air Force Wings


66 posted on 06/22/2008 9:39:21 AM PDT by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: navyguy; mowowie
Damn... Nice strike! Thx for the link!

Here's another view of that strike.

The soldiers really enjoyed this one:
This definitely left a mark.

67 posted on 06/24/2008 2:05:26 PM PDT by Bon mots
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: USNBandit
HMS Antelope May 23, 1982. This is what an aluminum explosion looks like.


68 posted on 06/24/2008 2:19:16 PM PDT by CholeraJoe (I'mma do the things that I wanna do. I ain't got a thing to prove to you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 last

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.

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