More news from Iraq

[Cowboy832]

While heading back to camp after an all night patrol, my platoon found a homemade bomb (IED) on the side of the road. We blocked off the road and secured the site. I called up to higher and requested permision to recon by fire. My tank was about 30 meters away, waiting for word to either shoot the bomb or back off and wait for EOD to come out and blow it up, when it was remote detonated. Now this thing was about the size of a 155 mm arty round and when it blew, they felt the shockwave 7 klicks away at the base camp. Judging by the size of it, it would have put a mild hurting on my tank, but it probably would have totaly destroyed the humvees that were coming out to relieve us. Sadly, we didnt catch the cowards that set it up or detonated it, but at least we did prevent it from hurting anyone or destroying our equipment.

 

[AfterBurner]

:--) That's when you're glad you're in an armored tank.

Keep on keepin' on.

 

[Cowboy832]

:--) That's when you're glad you're in an armored tank.

Keep on keepin' on.

The tank commander that had this tank before me was killed in action(bad luck?????), and all the right side skirts were blown off of it, either from an IED, an anti tank mine, or from heavy contact with rpg's, and it is one of the oldest tanks in the Army's inventory, but all in all, it is holding up pretty well. Just another 4 months to go.

 

[AfterBurner]

Is it an Abrams?

 

[AfterBurner]

As in M1, M1A1, M1A2??

 

[Cowboy832]

Its an Abrams M1-A1. The active component doesnt have any M1's left in service. I think there are some national guard units that might still use them. My unit is actually using the newest tank in the inventory - the M1-A2 SEP. We originally came over here without them, but had them shipped to us a couple of months after we got here. Unfortunately the only replacement tanks we could get over here were beat up A1's that have allready served more than a year over here and were slated to go back to the plant to be overhualed. When my unit leaves Iraq, we will be taking our remaining SEP's with us, since there are very few units trained to opperate them, but I have heard a rumor that my tank(A1) is going to stay and continue to fight. You have to admire a tank that can fight for 3 straight years without compaint.

 

[GFrance]

Hey Cowboy 832 are we making progress over there? I don't watch much news because it's so slanted to the left especially the alphabet channels.



Keep up the fight for what is right & God speed to you & your guys.

 

[0013]

you take care of yourself and your troops bro. were pulling for you. God be with you and yours... .

 

[Hale on wheels]

Thank you for your service. Keep your head down and come back safely.

 

[Tcolesanti]

Hey, Cowbo832, I heard they were using 155 shells with other explosive strapped to them pretty regular over there.

 

[Mike Ellis]

Keep up the good work Cowboy, keep your eyes peeled and come home safe!

 

[The patriot]

I saw this on another board.

Please DONT look if you are squeemish.

Keep your head down Cowboy and come back safe.

Eric





http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96190

 

[Elite1]

Cowboy, Thank You for your service and good luck.



Patriot, I couldn't view your link, seems you have to be a member.

 

[The patriot]

sorry. Try it again.

I logged out, and it STILL worked for me.

I'd just put the pictures here, but they'd get yanked real quick.

Not everyone wants to see this stuff anyway.

Eric

 

[snowracer69]

humbling pictures to say the least (I registered just so I could see them... very sobering).



God speed men... we are behind you, lest what some would like you to think.

 

[CTomasino]

Hey Cowboy,

I read your last post, good to know your o. k. Safe home!!

 

[Cowboy832]

Hey, Cowbo832, I heard they were using 155 shells with other explosive strapped to them pretty regular over there.

They have been using 155 shells a lot, but they are slowly shifting to a "new" style of IED using steel plates and ball bearings. The shift is further proof that we are fighting more than just Iraqi insurgents. The steel plate IED had been used by the Lebanese Hezbollah for a long time. It is a nasty bomb that can punch holes in armored hummers followed by a secondary blast of ball bearings to get inside the holes and tear up anything inside. Iraqi's arent smart enough to come up with this on their own. When i first got in country, the IED's were simple explosives of either c-4 or pe-4 or salvaged munitions like 155 rounds. They didnt do a whole lot of damage compared to the steel plate and ball bearings.



As far as making progress over here, that depends on who you talk to. Im really not allowed to say much about it, except that because of the IED threat, we have to maintain 24 hour presence on some of the supply routes, and that, because of the number of troops over here, keeps us from doing other missions and patroling other areas of the country. I will let you decide if that sounds like progress.

 

[MKellam]

Very gastly, but neccesary to convey the message to all the whining idiots in D. C. and elsewhere.



Nothing's fair in Love and War!



And as Pres. Bush said: "You are with us or against US. "



If they didn't want this they should have changed sides and offered support.



Good Luck and God Speed boys!