Path of RPG jet that penetrated an American M1 in Iraq. New weapon or lucky shot?
On Aug. 28, an unknown munition thought to be no wider than a pencil pierced the side of an Abrams tank on patrol in Baghdad, crippling the 69-ton vehicle and slightly injuring its commander and gunner. It is the second Abrams knocked out by enemy fire in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The projectile punches through the No.4 right-hand skirt. No photos are available because the skirt materials are classified. It passes between the track and the deck, and penetrates the hull. The object hits the breech safety guard, the Turret Network Box and a circuit breaker panel, then bores a hole about 1½ to 2 inches deep in the hull on the far side of the tank.
There is an Army times story here.
I am told this a captured Canadian Grizzly being paraded in Belgrade and that the R 22 R lost it. Anyone know the story on this? If so, please email me.
update - I still have not found out for sure if they are Canadian. It appears the R 22 R had a rough time in Krajina and could have lost it. I found this reference: THE KRAJINA COLLAPSE: SORRY DAY FOR CANADA
excerpt: '... When Croatian forces threatened to seize a third observation post, Sierra-Charlie 43, Maj. Rochette dispatched his meagre tactical reserve to reinforce the tiny garrison. The rapid reaction force took some artillery fire en route, but the arrival of these 17 soldiers in four APCs was enough to cause the Croat force to withdraw. Later that day, when the same scene was played out at Sierra-Charlie 50, Rochette sent out his last mobile detachment from Recce Platoon. One of their APCs lost a track to an artillery shell and the disabled vehicle had to be abandoned.'
I wonder if this is the 'APC' they abandoned? Not likely as they say it lost a track but maybe they got the vehicle types mixed up? The Grizzly was used as an APC in Yugo. In the picture the paint is different from ours but I think we are the only country to have that particular type of MG turret on a MOWAG chassis.
update 16 Nov: Here is a link to a story that mentions that the Serbian Special Operation Unit, the Red Berets, had state of the art equipment including a `Grizzly' personnel carrier captured from Canadian peacekeepers in Bosnia. [scroll down to Serbia's Red Berets - warriors and plain criminals by: Rade Maroevic]
Someone pointed out to me that it must be a Canadian Grizzly in the picture as it has the M36E4 sight upgrade from Northrop which was unique to Canadian Grizzlys.
The question that still remains is which unit lost it, how and when? It would have to be in Bosnia after 1995 but before 1999 when they upgraded the Grizzlys with LAST armour. It could not be the KFOR contingent as their Grizzlys had the marine drives taken off and hard points for ceramic armour added.
Canadian Army Discussion Forum Thread
Pictures and details about the Grizzly Armoured Vehicle General Purpose (AVGP) infantry vehicle.
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