Article

2008-02-19 Iraq

Modified Tanks make it easier and safer to Off AQI

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2008-02-19 11:16|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top

#1 as well as an attached sniper rifle,

Attached to what?
My preference would be alongside, or to the main gun barrel and boresighted to track with it.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2008-02-19 13:32|| 2008-02-19 13:32|| Front Page Top

#2 TUSKs on tanks. Heh. Melike.

Posted by Seafarious 2008-02-19 15:15|| 2008-02-19 15:15|| Front Page Top

#3 The sniper rifle is a 50 bmg slaved to the main gun - and supposedly uses the same stabilization and optics (i.e. gnat's ass at 700m is an easy target)

Posted by OldSpook 2008-02-19 15:32|| 2008-02-19 15:32|| Front Page Top

#4 A good rule of thumb for the development of military equipment in wartime is that the people who use it want guns sticking out everywhere and every available inch used for ammo.

Some of the American WWII aircraft, by the end of the war, looked like a pincushion of barrels, and were firing weapons that engineers would have guessed would tear their aircraft apart. One aircraft gun had such recoil that it felt like the plane halted for a moment after firing it.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-02-19 16:10|| 2008-02-19 16:10|| Front Page Top

#5 The M1A2 SEP builds on the digitized M1A2 platform with an improved armor package of third generation steel-encased depleted uranium armor, a new command and control system, second-generation FLIR thermal sights that include a Commanders Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) for hunter-killer operation, the Under Armor Auxiliary Power Unit (UAAPU) that lets crews run key electronics without running the engine, and a Thermal Management System (TMS i.e. improved air conditioning for crew & electronics). The M1A2 SEP also features enhanced electronics like color maps and displays, improved networked communications, high-density computer memory and increased microprocessing speed, a more user friendly Soldier Machine Interface (SMI), and an open operating computing system that will make future upgrades and additions easier.

Many new upgrades for our Main Battle Tank..
New lighter and stronger engines with better acceleration and mileage... [sounds impossible but the American talent has found a way.

Posted by Mao">Mao 2008-02-19 16:12|| 2008-02-19 16:12|| Front Page Top

#6 So presumably, the stealth aspect of the sniper's job is not an issue here.... snark

Posted by Varmint Ulomogum6066 2008-02-19 18:20|| 2008-02-19 18:20|| Front Page Top

#7 ...and an open operating computing system that will make future upgrades and additions easier.

They're using Red Hat?

Posted by Flavirong Sproing2298 2008-02-19 20:27|| 2008-02-19 20:27|| Front Page Top

#8 The sniper rifle is a 50 bmg slaved to the main gun - and supposedly uses the same stabilization and optics

Not sure why that's needed. The M2 TUSK commander's station already has a M2 BMG or M19 grenade launcher mounted on the CROWS remote weapons system. It's stabilized with day/night magnifying optics and makes a good sniper weapon.

Posted by ed 2008-02-19 20:30|| 2008-02-19 20:30|| Front Page Top

#9 Not sure why that's needed. The M2 TUSK commander's station already has a M2 BMG or M19 grenade launcher mounted on the CROWS remote weapons system. It's stabilized with day/night magnifying optics and makes a good sniper weapon.

Longer range, the mortar's good, but 700 yards?

Posted by Redneck Jim 2008-02-19 21:47|| 2008-02-19 21:47|| Front Page Top

#10 you just need a reaaally F'n big ghillie suit

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-02-19 22:01|| 2008-02-19 22:01|| Front Page Top

#11 I heard they just uparmored the commander's M2 - kinda like the cupola on the old M-60. Sniper rifle is there for when they need more range than a coax, and dont want to use the 120 or large amounts of rounds from a regular M2. Its suppsoed to be a do-all upgrade for MOUT. SO I bet someone thought it was a bright idea.

Myself, I'd rather make sure they have a phone to talk to the crew from the outside with. ANd a bottom hatch to take a whiz out of (like the M60).

Posted by OldSpook 2008-02-19 22:43|| 2008-02-19 22:43|| Front Page Top

23:48 trailing wife
23:40 Anonymoose
23:32 Anonymoose
23:16 Alaska Paul
23:04 www
23:02 Frank G
22:43 OldSpook
22:41 RD
22:36 OldSpook
22:30 OldSpook
22:24 FOTSGreg
22:22 trailing wife
22:18 trailing wife
22:11 trailing wife
22:08 trailing wife
22:05 trailing wife
22:04 Old Patriot
22:04 49 Pan
22:03 trailing wife
22:01 Frank G
21:48 E Brown
21:47 trailing wife
21:47 Redneck Jim
21:42 Steven