WT Forums

Here's a first hand report(actually several reports) from a Thai Colonel i know from another site that just returned from Iraq a few days ago. Good, good stuff.

What are the effects of an RPG-7 on Stryker?

"Is same for all armored vehicles depends where and how. Stryker has advantage it has grid armor covering sides and front this works very well. RPG shot hits those it will break up and do little. But if hits side or nose armor is good chance it will penetrate. But that is same for most vehicles. Please to note number of M1 Abrams have been damaged by RPGs also. Other risk is fire started by shaped charge jets and things carried outside vehicles. Americans carry too much stuff outside vehicle this is problem for commanders to solve.

Stryker has one big advantage. Worst enemy for vehicles is not RPG is mines. Bradley or Abrams hit mine it will break track disable vehicle. Then must send recovery vehicle to fix. But if Stryker hit mine it blow off one wheel but vehicle keep going on rest. Can get clear of scene for repair.

I opined that there's nowhere else to put troops personal effects and TA-50 gear, so there is no easy workaround for the fire problem. Her response:

"For sure. And all armor people know if do not carry own stuff on vehicle will lose it. But problem still there. Fires in external bags and stuff is largest single cause of serious vehicle damage. Have been vehicles badly damaged by such fires but armor has not been penetrated. So this is problem must be solved. Armor crews must start to think what they really need to carry. Should remember us crunchies have to carry ours on backs."

What was your honest impression of the Iraqi's:

"Opinions here are mine OK? Nobody else. It will be many many years before Iraq is working society. Everything that makes society work is lacking. Not just institution things but habits. Such things must be built up. People do not have commitment do not have will to make effort. Can be fired up for enthusiasm easily but will not sustain this. When Americans come they are enthusiastic for Americans as soon as somebody make speech full of hate for americans become anti-american then change again as soon as wind change back. Is frustrating sometimes want to kick butts around for is only way can make instructions stick. For society to work must be rules must be customs must be habits all know and understand ao that agreement can be made so that others can be respected. But in Iraq is none of this.

Have seen this in fighting last week. When Iraqi are recruited for new security force they are full of fire and enthusiasm for building new Iraq for role of new police for need to end violence all these good things. But when somebody oppose them they say, oh OK and walk away. Hire somebody to do job tell him go there do this. He go sometimes he just walk away not come back. Find him, find what happen he say oh Ok and carry on as if nothing happen. See problem is nobody have loyalty to anything but clan. If leader of clan say do something they do it. But for everybody else they just ignore.

To create new government new security force new ruling system all very well. But unless change way these think then will slide back to way it was."

What is the current situation in Iraq, what works, what doesn't?:

" Some thoughts on what happening. All my own. None of this official.

Patrolling*

Is necessary to patrol on foot. More than necessary essential. To drive though areas in armored vehicles and call this patrol is meaningless. To fly helicopter over rooftop and call patrol even worse. Only foot patrols are effective. This way can talk to people sense what happens what situation is.

Ambushes*

Opposition in Iraq has no staying power. Will not hold and fight. So if tactic when ambushed is to drive clear then return for counter attack this is very bad. Bad guys will fire at vehicles but by time attack is mounted they fade away. So if ambushed must immediately counter attack ambush then do rat hunt through streets. We were ambushed three four times. Each time this happen we strike back at once. For all fury of ambush bad guys are very very bad shots. If you take the fight to them they are at bad disadvantage. If you not let them go not let them fade away but keep chasing until they are dead or captured this terrify them. We not have one person wounded or killed in these. In the end bad guys keep away from us for we are fierce and they know to start fight mean they must fight to finish.

Overwatch*

Is also essential to have overwatch at all times. Moving unit must be covered at all times. Snipers very good for this. Our new SSG-3000 work very well. .338 Lapua is good round. Often attack is stopped before it start when overwatch unit spot bad guys and start to drop them.

(Nice to feel appreciated.)

Duration*

First three or four seconds of firefight are most dangerous. After that Iraqi fall apart and danger drop very quickly. Cheerful thought. Iraqi hate being shot by woman. This make women fighting in Iraq very effective.

Intel*

From local people mostly unreliable can be trusted not often. Mostly is working off old scores by trying to make trouble for others. Or is just lies made up to impress us with importance or person talking. Also have no idea of difference between truth and rumor. Between fact and opinion. They here rumor that this person has hidden arms one who tell us this will say has seen for self. Also rumor spread far and fast. When we hear this may be for different town or different province. Please to note all rumors are believed by people without thought. Does not matter how foolish such rumors. Why this is do not know but is so. If rumor start everybody believe without thinking.

Ba'ath Party Still there still dangerous. Mostly underground but still there at local level. Rooting these out is top priority."

Here's a link to the site where the Colonel posts in case anyone would like to ask her questions(by the way- the Colonel is a female infantry'person', lol.)

http://pub82.ezboard.com/fhistorypoliti ... 68862frm18

"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier."

Kipling-