March 26, 2003 at 3:06 am
Its just been reported that a British Challanger-2 tank accidentally engaged a second British tank of the same type and scored a direct hit with a HEAT shell, killing 2 crew members.
Whoops…
This is getting awfully messy. Is it just because we have more press coverage that we actually are finding out the truth behind friendly-fire, or did we just have less in the first gulf war?
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th March 2003 at 13:07
Interesting the the tank could be so badly damaged by a HEAT round… western claims almost suggest HEAT rounds are a waste of time against Chobham equipped tanks.
Equally I didn’t realise the British used HEAT rounds… I thought they prefered HESH. (the rifled guns the British use are not very good for HEAT rounds… but are kept exclusively for the HESH rounds).
By: kev35 - 26th March 2003 at 09:10
Glenn.
I agree that with the technology extant today this just shouldn’t happen. But then again we’re not fighting for our lives in the middle of a sandstorm are we? I don’t think anyone will punish the crew of the tank that made the error more than they will punish themselves. A report in today’s Daily Mirror says that the incident with the Patriot and the Tornado occurred due to a computer ‘glitch’ which misidentified the Tornado leaving the Patriot operator with just fractions of a second in which to decide whether to fire or not.
Regards,
kev35
By: Glenn - 26th March 2003 at 08:38
Re: More Friendly Fire Losses!!!
Originally posted by Twilight2002
Its just been reported that a British Challanger-2 tank accidentally engaged a second British tank of the same type and scored a direct hit with a HEAT shell, killing 2 crew members.
Whoops…
This is getting awfully messy. Is it just because we have more press coverage that we actually are finding out the truth behind friendly-fire, or did we just have less in the first gulf war?
How do they mistake their own?? Even at night they should be able to tell the difference from Iraqi T-55s and T-72s surely.
By: Moggy C - 26th March 2003 at 07:24
I heard a report last night that an F16 engaged a Patriot missile battery that locked it up.
With the loss of the Tornado in mind, I can’t say I blame him.
Moggy