Bradley vs T-72

[Kramerman]

does Iraq have any newer models, like T-80s?

Not missles, 25mm cannon.

I heard the interview on CNN; the soldier said 2 Bradleys destroyed 5 T-72s with their 25mm cannons. Now that's frightening.

wow. like MtG said, they had to have gotten them from behind, or perhaps well placed flank shots, but even that is surprising that the 25 mm could defeat MBT armor at all. I suppose its relatively high rate of fire allows it to just pound the **** outa of a T-72. What type of rounds does the 25mm shoot? Are they depleted uranium like the A-10's 30mm vulcan? or are they just some alloy AP round like tungsten carbide?

[Seeker]

I thought Clinton made the US drop DU rounds after Yugoslavia?

[The Mad Monk]

We pretended to, then picked them back up when he wasn't looking.

[DarthVeda]

The M-60 was and is a **** pile. They are not much better than a T-55.

[Az]

And they're worse than the T-62.

73' war!

[Drake Tungsten]

What type of rounds does the 25mm shoot? Are they depleted uranium like the A-10's 30mm vulcan? or are they just some alloy AP round like tungsten carbide?

They're DU, according to CNN. Accept no substitutes...

[Kramerman]

that would explain their excellent armor penetration then. I wonder if the health effects of DU ammo residue (most of it is cleaned up by teams they send in... dont want any of that stuff floating around for terrorists to make rad bombs and stuff) are overly exagerated? Or is it pretty mean stuff?

[Drake Tungsten]

I wonder if the health effects of DU ammo residue are overly exagerated? Or is it pretty mean stuff?

From what I've read, it isn't much worse than any other heavy metal. Still bad, but not the monstrosity that some make it out to be...

[Seeker]

You probably wouldn't want to roll it up and smoke it....

on the American low-tech end...


"some US troop divisions have been equipped with battering rams, grappling hooks, folding assault ladders and battle axes, in anticipation of breaking down doors and scaling rooftops to root out Saddam Hussein's forces."

"Battle Axes"

LOL this is probably a misstatement, I think they mean the kind of axe a firefighter carries, but I just get this mental picture of ferocious Minnesotans armed with M-1 Battle Axes...

[Kramerman]

LOL this is probably a misstatement, I think they mean the kind of axe a firefighter carries, but I just get this mental picture of ferocious Minnesotans armed with M-1 Battle Axes...

"Sir, all men report being out of ammo! The perimeter is collapsing, we are being overwhelmed by Iraqis from every side! We're pinned down!"

"There is no retreat! Platoon to axes! *ferocious battle cry*"

*officer leads a sureal charge of 21st century soldiers in 21st century body armor and gear, into 12th century combat with 12th century wepons*... that would be somethn to see...

[Kramerman]

I wonder how many Iraqis a marine can take down with a battle ax before falling himself?

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Kramerman
that would explain their excellent armor penetration then. I wonder if the health effects of DU ammo residue (most of it is cleaned up by teams they send in... dont want any of that stuff floating around for terrorists to make rad bombs and stuff) are overly exagerated? Or is it pretty mean stuff?

It is pretty mean, but not in casual contact. The problem in desert environments like Iraq is that DU residue will get in the soil, be kicked up in sandstorms, and can get into the lungs, where DU particles are truly dangerous.

It does take a fairly significant amount, and the Army has specified procedures for personnel working in a DU environment. Respirators are only indicated when doing something like working during recovery operations inside a vehicle that has had a DU kill.

It is less toxic than most heavy metals when ingested (obviously in small amounts), and it is generally not absorbed into plant or animal tissues, but it is highly carcinogenic when ingested into the lungs.

BTW, the 25mm gun on the Bradley can fire both AP and HE rounds, both are belt fed to it.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by DarthVeda
The M-60 was and is a **** pile. They are not much better than a T-55.

USMC M60A3s held their own pretty well against Iraqi T-72s, T-55s and BMP-2s at Kuwait International Airport in GW1. They had no crew fatalities, and quite a few armor kills.

The basic model and the A1 are pieces of ****, the A2 was an abomination, but the A3 is at least more or less mediocre.

[Kramerman]

BTW, the 25mm gun on the Bradley can fire both AP and HE rounds, both are belt fed to it.

yeah, i remember reading a few years back about this nifty mechanism it has, where it allows the gunner to merely flip a switch or somethn and he can select instantly between HE and AP ammo. I was wondering tho about what type of AP ammo it had in particular, but this has been answered already, unless they use an alternative to DU

[MichaeltheGreat]

There really is no alternative, unfortunately.