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[donmeaker]

To get a hit with mortars you need either forward observers, or the ability to adjust rounds from the gun position. Most arab armies use the drop and run technique, so they are less efficient with mortars than one would otherwise expect, despite the mortars theoretical power and high rate of fire.

The RPG is another matter. Though it has a slow rate of fire, in low wind conditions it can get a first round hit from 300 meters away, and its firing signature can be hidden behind the shooter. It is a Soviet design, much improved from the old WWII panzerfaust, a disposable antitank weapon developed by the Wehrmacht. It's sole disadvantage is its low rate of fire, and the bulk of its reloads. Usually it is deployed by a two man team, one to carry the launcher and one round, the other to carry 3 more rounds and a bullet launcher.

The RPG has an odd characteristic in side winds: its fins have more cross section than the front, so it weathercocks into the wind, striking upwind from the aim point. This is not linear with range, so at 300 meters in 2o knot wind it is really hard to hit a house sized target.

[taxed2death]

When they (US troops) catch / capture these guys, are they going to tell them to lay down their weapons and go home (again)?

What a dumb-ass policy that was in the beginning of the war.

[Prodigal Son]

Wonder what the deal is with our counter battery radar? Although, I realize it can't be everywhere, eventually you'd think they'd pick up this mortar fire.

[Redleg Duke]

"A mortar was launched at a U.S. logistics base near Balad, the spokesman said."

This is great news...they are so short of mortar ammunition that they are launching the mortars at them!

This is typical of ignorant, agenda-driven media whores. When you remove the totalitarian rule from a country like Iraq, this can be expected. Nobody ever said it would be easy and terrorism is easy to commit and hard to stop.