Author Topic: Official estimates of U.S. casualties (Read 748 times)

davidpt40 · « **on:** March 19, 2003, 10:53:55 AM »

Has there been any official estimates on U.S. casualties? I know the Army expects to 'lose' 10% of its tank force for every 100 miles it travels. Heard that figure on the news. News said the Army has plenty of recovery vehicles though. When it said 'lose' I think they meant due to mechanical failures. M1s are notoriously bad at using up spare parts (cost 4 dollars in spare parts for every mile an M1 travels).

In the last war, the U.S. suffered 150KIA. 35 were due to friendly fire. I imagine the rest were mainly aircraft crews.

Only thing I have read is that many thousands of purple hearts have been ordered, and that 70,000 body bags have be ordered also. Mainly for Iraqis I bet though (seriously).

I estimate fewer than 300 KIA, with about 25% due to friendly fire.

BUG_EAF322 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2003, 11:00:51 AM »

When the fights get into the towns expect a lot more.

It's not going to be a open desert war.

JimBear · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2003, 11:13:42 AM »

A few MOABs in the right place will help to cure that.

Gyro/T69 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2003, 11:16:19 AM »

Ahhh that was 10% due to break downs. Not combat.

davidpt40 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2003, 11:22:12 AM »

Roger that Gyro. Figure seemed a bit high to me. Remembered the 8th airforce was losing 10% on its worst missions, and actually had to stop flying because of it.

Gyro/T69 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2003, 11:29:04 AM »

Well, they said the 3rd Inf had some where around 11,000 vehicles. So I don't know if that's high or not.

lazs2 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2003, 11:50:26 AM »

as I recall... in the last gulf war the liberal hand wringers all pointed to 50,000 body bags being ordered and felt that casualties would be as high as 200,000 Americans against the crack republican guard units with their advanced soviet weaponry.

real short memories here.
lazs

Gyro/T69 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2003, 11:56:18 AM »

Again, I said break downs. As in not running, flat
tires, out of gas, drive has to take a piss.

midnight Target · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2003, 12:06:00 PM »

Actually 1 scud missle killed 29 and injured 99 in the last Gulf War. It hit a Quartermaster Corps barracks.

A young lady from my town was one of those 29. The park down the street bears her name.

Dowding · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2003, 01:49:14 PM »

MOAB? They won't be dropping one of them anywhere near the Iraqi populace.

Martlet · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2003, 02:02:26 PM »

It's really hard to calculate casualties. There are just too many variables. We know many of the Iraqi troops don't support Saddam, but how many?

Some say Saddam will haul ass, leaving his troops behind. What will they do then?
Others say he'll fight to the end.

Will he use WMD?

It could be very quick and easy, or long and drawn out.

Raubvogel · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2003, 02:07:55 PM »

What a pathetic topic of discussion....

Not many years ago I was one of the factors in the statistics you so talk about like its a diddlying video game. Get some lives, move on.

BUG_EAF322 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2003, 02:16:36 PM »

Quote

Not many years ago I was one of the factors in the statistics you so talk about like its a diddlying video game. Get some lives, move on.

Bush presents it that way Iraq is gonna be the next game level after afghanistan.

The endboss Osama is dissapeared
It was just looking for another endboss called Saddam

Most normal people think it's gonna be a "clean war"
but no war is clean that's an utopia.

Sleep well Bush.

Martlet · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2003, 02:18:56 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Oedipus
"Will he use WMD?"

Like they did on the coalition forces in 91-92 and during all the chances they, or the terrorists they supposedly support, did after then?

"... or long and drawn out."

How do you figure? When they have a demoralized conscript army using the same weapons from 12 years ago (which were old and used then) and with half the military force to use them with? It's not as if they are attacking North Korea, Syria, Saudi Arabia or Iran. This should be a cake walk.

Oed

I agree. It should be a cake walk. By long and drawn out I meant house to house fighting in the capitol with a unit such as the Republican Guard. This would make guessing casualties harder.
I was speaking in scale. Long and drawn out in the case I meant referred to days or weeks, not months or years. Sorry for not being clearer.