Posted on 02/27/2016 2:37:22 PM PST by marvel5
A video published online by a Syrian rebel group shows what appears to be a direct hit by a US-made BGM-71 TOW on the turret of a Russia-supplied T-90 tank of the Syrian Army.
The video is one of a multitude of instances of the use of TOW missiles by rebels in Syria, but it may be the first time the anti-tank weapon was used against the advanced T-90 main battle tank.
The clip shows the optically-guided missile approaching the partially-covered tank, followed by a bright explosion and a cloud of smoke. Moments later one of the tank crew members is seeing escaping the turret hatch and diving for cover.
(Excerpt) Read more at russia-insider.com ...
And yet the Russian soldier exists the tank...
If it failed to penetrate, why did the crew member bail out?
Syrian soldier, not Russian.
The question really is, why the F is McCain, Zero and the rest of the US Traitors giving these guys US weapons.
TOW =
Tube launched
Optically tracked
Wire guided
Exactly. Your tax dollars at war supporting jihadis.
Thats what reactive armor is for.
Wow. Reactive Armor defeated a TOW missile. Earth shaking.
This is a re-post different source but the hatches were open an the laser system is shut off in that case. Someone said that the officer lost his head, and someone else said the bailing crew lost an arm - I couldn’t see either.
Ill trained crew - stationary too long, hatches open in combat zone, etc.
Crew likely was used to T-60s or T-70s which would have been a fatal hit and was reacting to that.
That the video cuts off after the hit and that there was no smoke coming from the gun barrel indicates no penetration and the tank may have returned fire, obliterating the TOW I crew.
Normal reaction time from TOW detection by tank to tank response is like 2-5 seconds - EOL TOW crew.
Do the term Manchurian Candidate have a familiar ring?
Much appreciated. Learned something new from your post.
The plasma jet of a TOW round will burn a small hole in the armor and send a plasma stream into the turret. Frequently, it will cause a secondary explosion inside the turret when it hits combustibles like ammunition or fuel. When that happens the turret will launch into the air. Any crewman that gets in the way of the jet gets a very nasty wound. However, crew that are not hit by the plasma and who are properly clothed may survive the event. He will suffer flash burns and will generally exit the turret like a scalded dog.
I don’t think that we can draw any conclusions based on this video, but the experts can tell much more than can I.
Because when these weapons are used against US targets, McCain et al can make some cash lecturing? — no, this cannot be true, of course.....
Been happening since before Benghazi.
The Arabs pay well.
Aiming at base of turret as is often weak spot between turret and hull, blow turret clean off killing crew.
Not so on T-90s however.
Had the crew been better trained (or Russian) the missile would have been diverted by the laser or blown off by the explosive reactive armor - assuming boxes were not empty. 2 seconds later the TOW I (or Metis M) operator would have been dead.
TOW IIs can hit and kill T-90s according to some but they are not in theater
Yes, the day Zero announced he was running for President. Not joking.
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.