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| Iraq-Jordan |
| A modest proposal for eliminating the RPG threat |
| 2004-06-15 |
| Via Instapundit. This is a lovely idea. by Phil Massey I was thinking about the situation over in Iraq. Specifically, I’ve noticed how so many coalition casualties are being attributed to terrorist insurgents’ use of RPGs, or rocket-propelled grenades. The RPG is a versatile weapon that needs to have its sharp teeth pulled. . . . The shell of the RPG-7 has the explosive equivalent of a stick of dynamite; add to that the explosive capability in the booster and in the rocket assist, and you have a potent little bomb indeed. And the enemy, the very one you want to eliminate, is walking around with it! We should develop an RPG-7 decoy round. I envision something that looks and feels just like the booster, rocket assist and/or warhead for the RPG-7 weapon except that it detonates upon launch. We then produce several hundred of these and paint/crate/transport them exactly like we would the real thing and leave them in places the enemy will find them. Or, even better than that, when we find the real thing in a weapons cache somewhere, we replace some or most of them with our decoys, leave them and wait for the fun. Were we to do this, we would plant the seed of doubt that the weapons are no longer safe (cursed perhaps?) and the enemy has more to lose than to gain by using them. Failing this, we could actually eliminate the enemy in the very act of attacking, when the decoy rounds are used in against our forces. Think about that -- we could conceivably eliminate the enemy even when they are training to attack. Our enemies, the terrorists and insurgents in Iraq, will have their effectiveness greatly reduced if the threat of this weapon can be removed. And every time one of our decoys is used, that’s one (or more) bad guy who’ll never attack again. He’ll be a Really Perforated Goner instead. IIRC, the friendlies in Iraq are not issued RPGs, so this should work without posing a hazard to our guys. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #12 The Israelis did something similar. They secretly distributed bomb making instructions written in Arabic. The recipe was just wrong enough to ensure it blew up in the would be martyr's face. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2004-06-15 7:34:07 PM |
| #11 anon4963 ;> |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-15 6:02:55 PM |
| #10 Back in the 'nam, SF would "carefully" pull the slugs on enemy rifle cartridges and spike them with C4. That must have been one hell of a surprise when that round went into the breach. Tata-tata-tata-tata-BOOOOOMMMM!!! Sweet! Nony |
| Posted by: Anonymous5232 2004-06-15 5:21:36 PM |
| #9 Easier to collect some local RPG components, rig them, and replace them. |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-06-15 4:39:43 PM |
| #8 Shipman tracking the path of a rpg with a transmiter will help to know some insurgents safe heavens.Calling an high altitude UAV with camera then can be determined how many are there and then ask for a 500lb from an A-10... |
| Posted by: Anonymous4963 2004-06-15 3:40:55 PM |
| #7 Human Rights Watch just went to Code Orange... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-06-15 1:02:42 PM |
| #6 better, put position transmiter inside that starts when rpg start to get moved from original place. This is why the idea will never fly, first gps transmitters, then failsafe systems so Iraqi National Army launchers can't accidentally use them, then staffing by legal eagles requiring warning in seven languages that any RPG round can be dangerous in certain situations, then firing trial one..... first prototype RPG7X burns through the composite armour of an M1A2 at 500 metres... |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-15 11:19:06 AM |
| #5 better, put position transmiter inside that starts when rpg start to get moved from original place. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4963 2004-06-15 11:02:20 AM |
| #4 I'm glad to see someone thinking outside of the box. |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2004-06-15 10:12:27 AM |
| #3 Special Forces in Vietnam used this tactic - replacing munitions in caches with rounds that would detonate on firing. It was very effective. |
| Posted by: Phil B 2004-06-15 9:57:50 AM |
| #2 The RPG is the poor man's artillary. We do have grenade launchers, and the anti-tank missles, but rely on vehicle mounted TOW's, morters, MLRS, etc., because we have them. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2004-06-15 9:49:55 AM |
| #1 Fun idea, but not very doable, I guess, in theses PC times. Btw, why isn't the US army using rpg-like weaponry? By rpg I mean reusable, versatile rocket launcher with two integral handles (ie the weapons can be carried around ready). IIUC, most rocket launchers in the US army are either disposable or must be unfolded before use, and do not have such a large array of warheads. |
| Posted by: Anonymous5089 2004-06-15 8:24:23 AM |