Never know what you’re going to find

[GunnyUSMC]

Yesterday Austin told me that he had looked at the stuff in the cedar chest. My first emotion was anger then pain. I had opened that chest may three times in the last 25 years, and no one else had ever looked in it but me. But I understood Austin’s curiosity. He must have noticed something because he asked if I was ok. I told him that everything was ok.
If not for Austin that old chest may have stayed closed for another 20 years. But now that it’s open I’ll show y’all a few things.
Here’s the chest.

 

[Sistema1927]

I pray that your voyage into that chest brings healing.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Thank you for sharing, Gunny.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Here’s the first item I’m not sure who it belonged to but he wrote something on the tag on the back of the bag, might be a name or unit.



The bag and web gear are British. I have no idea why Iraq would have adopted British gear because it’s confusing as hell.


The canteen is Iraqi Military issue and most likely make in India.


The poncho liner in the bedroll is US. I put in thereover 25 years ago.

 

[H&R Glock]

Is that what you call a KEP round? (kinetic energy penetrator) Aren't those made of depleated uranium? Maybe the one used on the M72? tank was made of Kryptonite? It sure made a mess of the turret and I'll bet the crew too! I've read stories of Abrhams tank crews firing right through sand berms and killing Iraqui tanks virtually unseen. All they could see was the radio antenna that extended beyond the sand berm.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Is that what you call a KEP round? (kinetic energy penetrator) Aren't those made of depleated uranium? Maybe the one used on the M72? tank was made of Kryptonite? It sure made a mess of the turret and I'll bet the crew too! I've read stories of Abrhams tank crews firing right through sand berms and killing Iraqui tanks virtually unseen. All they could see was the radio antenna that extended beyond the sand berm.

Mmmmmm, I don't think KEP is an acronym in common US usage- the most commonly used term is APDSFS for Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot Fin Stabilized......or just Sabot (French for "shoe") for short. But yes, they use kinetic energy in the form of a depleted uranium rod rather than chemical energy as in shaped charge rounds like the HEAT.

The Soviet-supplied Iraqi tanks used tungsten penetrators which were ineffective against the Abrams armor.

The Iraqi T-72s proved to be vulnerable to both types of rounds, even though sabot rounds were the first choice against heavy armor, HEAT usually being reserved for softer targets, or once the sabot rounds were all expended.

Many, many Iraqi tanks also fell victim to Hellfires missiles from AH-64 attack helicopters and A10s, as well as the Warthogs' 30mm GAU-8 cannon and a few to Bradley-mounted TOW missiles.

 

[ontarget]

Inquiring minds want to know where you have the tank stored at your place.

You know dang well he has one somewhere.

 

[CapnMac]

But yes, they use kinetic energy in the form of a depleted uranium rod rather than chemical energy as in shaped charge rounds like the HEAT

The US training rounds are actually hardened steel, if memory serves (easier on the backstops/beaten areas.
Allegedly, the US has non DU rounds in inventory. That gets to the hazy edge of classification.
DU (depleted Uranium) is an alloy of U-238 after it has been processed to deplete it of 90-95% of its U-235. Its primary virtue is a density significantly higher than lead while having a relatively high material strength. In military use, it's also pyrophoric, in that shavings, splinters, and the like which are hot enough to cause combustion.

KEP is a "school" term for all non-explosive penetration rounds. It covers a large number of exotic things, like EFP. Explosively-formed Projectiles are very similar to a HEAT round, but, instead of a thin inner cone, they use a thick one, which deforms into an aerodynamic solid projectile. EFP are often used in anti-tank mines and rockets.

HEAT is also not the only explosive round. There is also HESH. Which is (inelegantly) High Explosive Smash-Head. There, a ductile explosive is fired (generally at lower velocity) at a target. The round is base-fused with a delay. The explosive mix deforms in a big "splat" on the target, and then is detonated. The inside face of the armor then delaminates and spalls about at high velocity. Spaced armor will protect against this, but only where you can "afford" to install spaced armor on an AFV. The inner armor layer also has to withstand high velocity impacts from the other armor face. HESH is not affected by rifling, unlike HEAT rounds.

 

[CapnMac]

he has one somewhere

Or not. That bayou country he lives in has a bad habit of swallowing stuff up []

A PT-70, or an LVTA-8/AAV8, those would float . . . ][]

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Or not. That bayou country he lives in has a bad habit of swallowing stuff up []

A PT-70, or an LVTA-8/AAV8, those would float . . . ][]

I do have a tank. I had two but can’t seem to be able to find one of them.
It’s an Iraqi terrain model.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I also brought home a covert, secret Ops, Iraqi radio.

 

[ontarget]

I do have a tank. I had two but can’t seem to be able to find one of them.
It’s an Iraqi terrain model.
View attachment 794402

See guys I told you so.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Neato! Gotta love that AM-only!

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I took this out of a Russian made BMP. It’s in English, but there is a cheat sheet in Arabic.

 

[Sistema1927]

I took this out of a Russian made BMP. It’s in English, but there is a cheat sheet in Arabic.

Arabic cheat sheet probably says: You can ignore the cold weather starting instructions.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

An AK chest rig that I picked up in Kuwait.

 

[CapnMac]

Arabic cheat sheet probably says:

Along with "Do not drink the green stuff. Or the red. And especially the blue. Never the blue."

 

[Havok7416]

The Soviet-supplied Iraqi tanks used tungsten penetrators which were ineffective against the Abrams armor.

The Iraqi T-72s proved to be vulnerable to both types of rounds, even though sabot rounds were the first choice against heavy armor, HEAT usually being reserved for softer targets, or once the sabot rounds were all expended.

While the T-72s were and are certainly vulnerable to modern anti-armor rounds of various types, the Iraqis declined to buy the Soviet-made shells that went with the tanks. Supposedly they have a bit more punch to them.

For those that question the tank turret sitting the way it is in the picture, there are videos and more than a few written descriptions of tank turrets blowing off when hit, tumbling through the air and landing back on the hull - usually upside down. Just a weird physics fluke I suppose.

 

[dh1633pm]

Never knew they put Hellfires on the A10? I looked up the Hellfire and the A10 was on its platform list, but ya never know.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

A few more items.
An Iraqi uniform.



Hand made AK rifle case.




Not sure made this AK mag pouch, but it saw a lot of use before I picked it up. It had four loaded mags in it when I found it.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Never knew they put Hellfires on the A10? I looked up the Hellfire and the A10 was on its platform list, but ya never know.

Yep, but they are hellaciously expensive too....the gun is cheaper. Something the Air force brass seems to forget these days.

 

[theotherwaldo]

This is how the Russian frying pans are made: T-72s getting taken out just outside of Damascus, Syria.

 

[Sistema1927]

This is how the Russian frying pans are made: T-72s getting taken out just outside of Damascus, Syria.

As a former M-60 crewman, seeing all that armor bunched up in an urban environment sure gave me the willys.

 

[bannockburn]

Gunny

This is great because now you can open up an Iraqi surplus gear department inside your Army/Navy/Marine Corps surplus store!

 

[GunnyUSMC]