[Lunatic Fringe]

[Skwidd]

Sam Kinison on SCUDs--

"Yeah, the SCUD is kind of like a smart bomb. See, what you do is launch it out of the trunk of your car--SWOOSH!!!--then run home, turn on CNN, and see where it lands."

[FF578]

The Iraqi army is very substandard. The T-54/55's and the T-62s are so outdated it is almost laughable. Their most potent tank, the T-72 is still no match for American M1A1s.

The Iraqi artillery is actually pretty decent. Soviet made artillery in the 152MM caliber could actually outshoot American 155MM guns. That was before the American's developed the new Paladin system. Before with the older M109 artillery the guns had to be emplaced and manually set up and emplaced which took some time, then the guns had to be moved quickly to avoid counterbattery fire.

The New Paladin system in the M109 artillery is controlled by computers, they can Shoot and Move quickly. They don't have to emplace, they can get a fire mission, pull into a position, the computer aims the gun, and fire, then quickly move.

Iraqi artillery cannot match this new technology, Although the 152MM rounds have a longer range than the 155MM rounds.

For the most part the Arab nations poorly adapted the Soviet Military Tactics that they were trained in.

Soviet's and Chinese forces always fought in waves. The first waves had less developed forces, and substandard equipment, the idea was to get the enemy to waste ammuntion on the green and substandard waves, and then the vetern better equiped waves would overwhelm them later on. In Soviet/Chinese Marxist Communist ideology this was acceptable because people were expendable.

The Arabs are too cowardly to make this type of system work. As soon as they start taking substantal losses, then turn tail and run. With the outdated equipment that they have, they will take substantal losses, and as usual they will turn tail and run.

[MarineDad]

...A frigate used for training with two anti-tank torpedo launchers...

Now that's an engagement I'd like to see! Shades of Operation Petticoat...

[maquiladora]

al-Abid

On 5 December 1989, Iraq launched a 25 meter long rocket, the first stage of a three-stage "satellite launch system," weighing 48 tons and having a total propulsion force at liftoff of 70 tons. This vehicle consisted of five al-Husayn strapped together. The vehicle had a SCUD-based liquid propulsion system. The initial stage consisted of four or five bundled, modified SCUD missiles.
The second stage consisted also of a SCUD missile, while the third stage had an SA-2 motor. Only the first stage was able to function, and it is possible that the second and third stages were dummies. The system, designated al-Abid, was said to be capable of putting satellites, which could be used for reconnaissance, communication and control, into low earth orbit.

Range: 3,000km

But did it get past the development stage?

[Momaw Nadon]

Attack on Iraq Betting Pool

[judicial meanz]

They also have several old Tupelev badger Bombers courtesy of the former USSR. Max range unrefueld 4500 miles. Can carry anything they may cook up to deliver to a target.

Interesting to note that this bomber can travel 9000 miles one way.