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| Iraq |
| New armor-piercing grenade causing US casualties in Iraq |
| 2007-09-10 |
| Video posted at link. Although improvised explosive devices have until now been responsible for the majority of US casualties in Iraq, a new, armor-piercing hand grenade may pose an even greater threat. CBS News reports that the Russian-made device is light enough to be thrown by a single insurgent standing alongside a road and is equipped with a parachute so that it falls vertically on its target and can take out even armored vehicles. Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been eager to take credit for the use of these grenades, but the US Army is now confirming losses to the weapons as well. |
| Posted by:Delphi |
| #8 None of this alters the fact of more intolerable Russian meddling. Putin deserves a major smackdown. Some of his air patrols need to disappear from the sky. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-09-10 21:33 |
| #7 I think I saw this in a Wilie Coyote cartoon. He pulled the pin, threw the grenade, chute opens and stops the grenade one foot away. Must be a product of al-Acme Arms Inc. |
| Posted by: Steve 2007-09-10 20:14 |
| #6 Once again, the media gets it WRONG. This is not a NEW device, the Soviets were producing this type of weapon in the 1930s - see the RKG-3/3M series of hand grenades. You have to be right on top of the target to use it, and it is difficult to throw correctly. It is the next step up from a Molotov cocktail as an anti-tank weapon. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2007-09-10 17:54 |
| #5 Not unexpected, given the speed with which these bastards adapt; since HUMVEES and other vehicles have had the floor and sides reinforced, that leaves the upper surfaces as the least protected. But i will bet any amount you want to wager they had technical help in exploiting this weakness. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2007-09-10 17:43 |
| #4 Might be Russian made but I bet they came through Iranian middlemen. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-09-10 15:26 |
| #3 ZF, Don't tell the Russkies. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-09-10 15:23 |
| #2 If they have to be thrown, they're useless. Only the best motivated people are willing to do this kind of thing. To use your shock troops in this role is a waste of resources. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2007-09-10 15:10 |
| #1 MAGOG. |
| Posted by: newc 2007-09-10 14:18 |