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Rangers review Javelin 'flawless' effectiveness during OIF
Army News ^ | Aug. 11, 2003 | Pfc. David Foley

Posted on 08/12/2003 3:42:00 PM PDT by Spruce

Rangers review Javelin 'flawless' effectiveness during OIF



By Pfc. David Foley

A two-man team fires an anti-armor missile from a Javelin. A two-man team fires an anti-armor missile from a Javelin.

FORT BENNING, Ga. (Army News Service, Aug. 11, 2003) -- Four Rangers who used the Javelin handheld anti-armor missile system during operations in Iraq and one who fired it while training at Fort Benning spoke about their experiences during a meeting here July 31.

Sgt. Jason Witmer, Cpl. Jeremy Mumma, Spc. Matthew Pickell and Spc. Michael Kithcart, all with Company A, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, told a group of Javelin manufacturers and post officials how the system performed in actual combat situations.

All four soldiers fired the weapon in different situations allowing them to give a broad view of its capabilities.

Each of them said the missile system was one of the most vital pieces of equipment they had during the war in Iraq.

Mumma and his team were cresting a hill in western Iraq when they spotted a pair of Iraqi tanks positioned about 1,800 meters away dug into U-shaped bunkers at the base of the hill. Mumma grabbed the Javelin from his team's humvee, engaged the target and fired two missiles at the tanks. Both missiles were direct hits and produced what Mumma called "catastrophic results," destroying each tank almost instantly.

Each Ranger saw similar results after firing the system. Kithcart said there was no doubt about whether the target was destroyed when he fired a Javelin because the explosion was so large it could be seen from about a kilometer away.

They also said they were impressed by the range and lethality of the weapon, but found other uses for the Command Launch Unit, which is basically the brain and eyes of the Javelin.

The Javelin sighting was such an asset that the Rangers said they used them during patrol and surveillance missions.

"As far as surveillance goes, the CLU was better" than the thermal sights the Rangers carried, Mumma said. "If we picked up something on the thermal (binoculars) and couldn't tell what it was, we would pick up the CLU."

Kithcart said the CLU was the best surveillance device they had when it was dark and during the frequent sandstorms because they were able to see things with much more detail than with the thermal binoculars. He said the CLU helped with their mission so much he would have carried it even if he didn't have any ammunition for the system.

"The complete system performed magnificently," said Col. Mike Beasock, TRADOC Close Combat Missile Systems system manager. "The CLU was the best surveillance device they had. The missiles effectively destroyed each target they shot at, ranging from tanks to light vehicles and bunkers.

"Tanks used to scare us," he said, "but now we are looking for armored targets to attack.

"Now we can find them, get out of the vehicle and attack on foot," Beasock said. "To have one infantryman on foot attacking a tank is amazing, and the system is so accurate, if you lock on to a target, it's an assured defeat of that target.

"People were even locking on to mortar positions," Beasock continued. "It is a very reliable system."

The Javelin system has already begun to change the way the Army looks at tanks and other armored vehicles, he said.

The Javelin has proven itself to be so valuable that it is one of the few weapons systems to be designated by name to be in the Army's Objective Force, Beasock said.

"It has such promising growth potential and such 'leap-ahead' compatibility that we must have it in the future," Beasock said.

(Editor's note: Pfc. David Foley is a staff journalist with the Fort Benning Bayonet.)



TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aar; aftermathanalysis; army; boom; iraqifreedoom; javelin; missiles; weaponry
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1 posted on 08/12/2003 3:42:01 PM PDT by Spruce
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To: Spruce
There's a video clip floating around out on the Internet of a Javelin test-fire against a T-72 or T-80 tank hulk. The missile scored a direct hit, punching down through the turret armor at a 45 degree armor. The turret assembly literally went flying 50 yards through the air. It was a seriously awesome demonstration.

I imagine it works pretty good against Toyota pickups full of Fedayeen Saddam, too...

}:-)4
2 posted on 08/12/2003 3:45:28 PM PDT by Moose4 (I'm the moose, bring on the cheese baby!)
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To: Spruce; Moose4; All
Javelin Test-Fire (4.3 MB MPEG)
3 posted on 08/12/2003 3:48:29 PM PDT by dighton (NLC™)
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To: Moose4
The tank was packed with explosives to simulate a full load of ordinance.

I have heard it is much less spectacular on empty tanks.

This is from someone who worked on the system here on FR (not me).
4 posted on 08/12/2003 3:49:48 PM PDT by Sabretooth (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
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To: Spruce
Oh, that kind of javelin.

I was wondering how well equipped our soldiers were. I always wondered how anyone ever got hit by a javelin. We used to practice throwing them and we would throw them back and forth. When one was heading for you, it was a simple matter to just walk out of the way.

I actually held the school record in college for about 5 minutes. I broke the decade old record then another guy on our team threw it farther almost immediately. We were supposed to get a steak dinner every time a record was broken but the coach was too stingy to give me one for the 5 minute record.

5 posted on 08/12/2003 4:00:06 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: Spruce
It's good to hear about systems that are assets to the soldiers on the battlefield.
Money well spent.
6 posted on 08/12/2003 4:13:18 PM PDT by Prodigal Son
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To: dighton
Javelin Test-Fire (4.3 MB MPEG)

Whoa. That was awesome!

7 posted on 08/12/2003 4:17:22 PM PDT by FierceDraka ("I am not a number - I am a FREE MAN!")
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To: yarddog
You mean something Like This :)
8 posted on 08/12/2003 4:18:24 PM PDT by Spruce
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To: Moose4
i saw this vid once of some
british anti tank rocket blowing up
some old soviet armour. had a really jazz
soundrack to it.
9 posted on 08/12/2003 4:27:08 PM PDT by jart (smash statism)
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To: Spruce
I watched that clip several times and I still can't quite make out where the javelin hits. Do you know?

I do remember about 30 years ago, a guy from one of the service academies got one right through the heart and survived.

10 posted on 08/12/2003 4:37:40 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: Moose4
seen it! one of my favorite clips.
11 posted on 08/12/2003 4:38:16 PM PDT by King Prout (people hear and do not listen, see and do not observe, speak without thought, post and not edit)
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To: Moose4
I imagine it works pretty good against Toyota pickups full of Fedayeen Saddam, too...

or busloads of illegals along our southern border ;-)

12 posted on 08/12/2003 4:56:32 PM PDT by varon
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To: Spruce
Rocketry systems are the equalizer for infantry confronted by enemy troops. When they become cheaper, they will make the heavily armored vehicle almost obsolete.
13 posted on 08/12/2003 5:59:51 PM PDT by .cnI redruM ("Repent, For The End is Righteously ------- Nigh!" - 28 Days Later)
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To: Spruce
"The Javelin system has already begun to change the way the Army looks at tanks and other armored vehicles, he said."

Just wait, though. It won't be long until the sheeple elect another democRAT president and he sells it to the Chineeeeeze or someone else for some campaign cash.

14 posted on 08/12/2003 6:12:56 PM PDT by nightdriver
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To: Spruce
This is the same revolution as when the English longbow defeated the Armored Knight.

For a single footsoldier to be able to deploy a fire and forget weapons that kills a tank is to change the nature of ground war.

This weapon should be among the most closely held secrets within the Army.

15 posted on 08/12/2003 7:30:58 PM PDT by xzins
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To: varon
The most important part of any weapons system is the soldiers who fire it. I am certain that none of our fine soldiers would ever employ this weapon against unarmed civilians, men, women and children, within our borders.

You will find it very difficult to get anyone to carry out your sick scheme.
16 posted on 08/12/2003 7:57:21 PM PDT by ThirdMate
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To: xzins
This weapon should be among the most closely held secrets within the Army.

//////////
"SHOULD" is the operative word in your post.

Shoot. With "patriots" like the Clintons around, the Chinese probably already have the specs on the thing.
17 posted on 08/12/2003 8:33:24 PM PDT by BenR2 ((John 3:16: Still True Today.))
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To: BenR2
I understand there are some new generation Javelins for the near future with greater range, mobility, and lethality.

Coupled with the inter-operability that spec ops and the air force now have, this kind of lethality for the individual soldier just really makes me wonder how light the ground forces can go.

Those pictures of the spec ops guys on horseback might be the wave of the future. Vehicles will be a sure kill because of their heat signature. Imagine again a steeded warrior carrying a JAVELIN!

18 posted on 08/12/2003 8:42:39 PM PDT by xzins
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To: xzins
Those pictures of the spec ops guys on horseback might be the wave of the future.

/////
Funny you should say that. Come to think of it, horses ARE very prominent in the Book of Revelation (which deals with End Times events).
19 posted on 08/12/2003 8:44:51 PM PDT by BenR2 ((John 3:16: Still True Today.))
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To: BenR2
Yep. I didn't want to say it.

Now I notice your tagline.

20 posted on 08/12/2003 8:48:31 PM PDT by xzins
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