USMC M1/Lavs ex in Norway with Leopards vid

[DaveBB]

It looks like the first tank either didn't have it's ammo doors closed, or the missile pierced the doors.  The second tank worked as advertised. 

I worked with an M1 Abrams commander for several years.  In the first Gulf War, his unit lost an Abrams, but in a very strange way.  As they came across lots of abandoned Iraqi vehicles, they began shooting them with coaxial and M2 machine gun fire.  Well they shot up a truck at close range that was just loaded to the brim with anti-tank guided missiles.  All the burning debris landed on and went inside one of the Abrams.  American tanks don't fight buttoned up.  The crew had to abandon the tank as the rocket debris and warheads burned the inside of the tank to a crisp.

In another strange twist, this Abrams commander was telling me about a large scale battle he was in.  I was starting to think all this was a war story until he brought in the newspaper clippings and his awards and citation.  A column of T-72s (mixed in with T-55s and other vehicles) attacked their position two days after the cease-fire in Iraq.  The Iraqis were absolutely decimated.  But why they attacked two days after the cease-fire is unknown. 

[Mister Fork]

DaveBB - There in an inherent difference between the active tracking and firing systems of allied tanks against antiquated T-72's and T-55's and a stationary Abrams against the Russian made 9M133 Kornet ATGM system.

Abram's against a T-55/72 it's shooting ducks in a barrel (I'm a Gulf War vet). Saw the AA reports. Saw the barrel cam videos the next day. Ducks. Barrel. Boom. Poor tank command and control by the Iraqi forces. Poor training of the tank crews. And we gained excellent intel on the crappy design of the T-72 in it's ability to engage modern Allied tanks. They cook easier than a 30 gallon smoker with pork ribs.

The Kornet is a MOEFOE of a weapon for ANY tank crew. And if you're using older Abrams without AMD systems, no different than the video we just we saw an older Apache get shot down by a new Russian MANPAD, technology in weapon systems can creep-up on any army if you're not careful. 

The Korent can and will destroy any tank. Abrams. Leopard II. Merkava. All toast if you don't have modern ATMD systems.

In the video, both Abram's cooked out BTW. One managed to escape in the second video.

[Zimme83]

Iraqi T-72:s were afaik mostly equipped with downgraded sabot rounds made of steel. Making them useless against Abrams.

[save]

But why they attacked two days after the cease-fire is unknown.

It was a one-sided cease-fire, made by the coalition.

What they could have done was to hide the tanks in the towns inside and adjacent to buildings together with antitank teams and regular troops, and make  close quarter shootouts.

At point bland range all tanks are vulnerable to flanks.

It would  force the coalition to bomb the whole town to rubble, Iraq leadership never cared for their own civilians  and also knowing the other side did.