Anti-Tank Guided Missiles in Syria, the new weapon of choice.

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 May 2015 18:20:18 -0400

I have been reading about the war in Syria. This gave me a perspective that I haven't thought about. The anti-Assad forces are armed to the teeth with these things. I have no clue how many have fallen into ISIS hands so far. I am sure they have plenty. With this being said I, for one, hope we don't go back into Iraq in force. I dread what it will look like. With weapons like this on the battlefield they can take a heavy toll on us. In Syria there are ripping apart Assad's Army as they just recently lost their first major city in a battle. His assets are sitting ducks and are being taken out. What would this do to MRAPs and other armed vehicles?

On a side note we call it the BGM-71 TOW. It is a US made weapon. I am sure it is not the only one they are using but it is common.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 25 at 2015 6:24 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Mon, 25 May 2015 18:24:22 -0400

This is just one part (albeit a big part) of why I am so very concerned about the prospect of going back into Iraq.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made May 25 at 2015 7:57 PM

1LT William Clardy — Mon, 25 May 2015 19:57:21 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member, ATGMs are not a new problem for armor.

In conventional mounted operations, the overwatch element immediately engages the launch signature with all kinds of high-velocity ordinance, to either destroy the launcher (best) or make the missile operator flinch enough to either guide the round into the dirt or far enough up that he can't bring it back on target in time (adequate). A 120mm HEAT round moves out at almost 1700 meters per second -- backtracking the flight path 6 times faster than that TOW missile. The crews I saw in the video didn't look like they put a priority on out-of-action drills or shoot-and-scoot tactics -- it could be a tough learning curve for them.

Also, during the Yom Kippur War, the Israeli tankers learned to bait over-eager Sagger teams by skylining just long enough to attract a missile (or, rarely, two of them), then backing down into defilade to watch the missile fly overhead. There were published photos of Israeli tanks with several pairs of guidance wires draped across various parts of the vehicle.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2015 8:02 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 May 2015 20:02:27 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member I have been keeping up with the TTPs in both Syria and Iraq as they develop...well because its my job, and it is scary. ISIS mixes conventional military tactics/weapons with terrorist tactics in a very efficient and effective manner. I know a lot of people give the Iraqi Army a hard time, but the Syrian Army --with robust international backing-- isn't doing much better. If/when we end up finally confronting this cancer I offer two pieces of advice: 1) Bring a lunch we'll be there a while and 2) go ahead and tighten up that chin strap.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2015 8:15 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2015 08:15:45 -0400

Hamas used these effectively along with unconventional IEDs against Israeli forces a couple years ago and sent them limping back to Israel licking their wounds. It is the "hybrid threat" (conventional and unconventional warfare) that has been written and discussed about a lot in the past few years. Military analysts predict that the next major conflict will be a hybrid fight. Very scary.

Interesting assessment of the 2014 Gaza conflict below if you have some time.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCQQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Femetnews.org%2Fdocuments%2F2014-Gaza-Assessment-Report.pdf&ei=q2dkVbyuJcrLsASX14HIDA&usg=AFQjCNGtNi-C171KvMwPWIzU-l-iDnR-Iw&sig2=4YrhMT0YRgrQVnlBPw87oQ

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 26 at 2015 9:26 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Tue, 26 May 2015 09:26:17 -0400

So when do we come out with the Spartan Laser?

Response by SSG Kevin McCulley made May 26 at 2015 12:50 PM

SSG Kevin McCulley — Tue, 26 May 2015 12:50:40 -0400

.....and I wonder where those american weapons came from? *caughBengazicaugh*