Unbelieveable Courage.

[jahrasti]

[QUOTE=Sniper]My be fire proof but its still made out of fucken steel. Jesus, a bit of common sense would go a long way here!! Sure, stay in the vehicle and be cooked alive. Those things get fucken hot when theres a fire on top of them. Or one of the hatches may have been left open and a molotov got in so that why they had to evac.

I dont want to sound like a cock but the hull and turret are steel yes but have spaced armour (kevlar,laminates)and internal fire fighting systems if flames got in.If the crew bail out then they have to disable the vehicle and take all sensitive items with them so the A-rabs cant get them,lastly armoured vehs should always work in at least pairs the same way one person cant be expected to see/do everthing samesame with armour.

[Sniper]

I dont want to sound like a cock but the hull and turret are steel yes but have spaced armour (kevlar,laminates)and internal fire fighting systems if flames got in.If the crew bail out then they have to disable the vehicle and take all sensitive items with them so the A-rabs cant get them,lastly armoured vehs should always work in at least pairs the same way one person cant be expected to see/do everthing samesame with armour.

True they do have laminates ect in them, but that does not stop the heat from a fire coming in. And if those did have a internal fire fighting system, it would have done fuck all to stop a molotov as most molotovs are petroleum based and therefore would just make matters worse.

I worked on our LAVs and M113's so I know how they are built and where their weaknesses are. I won't admit to being an expert on ALL armoured vehicles but they all relate to one another.

[scumdog]

I'm proud of the soldiers
---- not proud of the stone-throwers ...

but as always one's viewpoint depends on where one stands

Notice how many of the stone throwers were just kids, sub-teenage a lot of them,what kind of future do those sorry buggers have??

And notice the crew bailing out were on fire as they did so.

The actions of the crew in the circumstances was VERY restrained!!

[geoffm]

True they do have laminates ect in them, but that does not stop the heat from a fire coming in. And if those did have a internal fire fighting system, it would have done fuck all to stop a molotov as most molotovs are petroleum based and therefore would just make matters worse.
.

Depends on what fire suppression system they use. I suspect if one is fitted, it is a gaseous system like Inergen, which can put out the fire without suffocating the occupants.
Geoff

[Sniper]

Depends on what fire suppression system they use. I suspect if one is fitted, it is a gaseous system like Inergen, which can put out the fire without suffocating the occupants.
Geoff

You would be surprised at what systems they use. The M113 is quite out of date and only uses a water system with 14l of water.

[oldrider]

Pom's have got a Labour Govt too. They probably would have had to go back to the stores and fill in a request for ammunition and wait two weeks for it to arrive, before they could fire their weapons. Think of the paper work involved if they had. They would have to enlist for three more years to finish the job. Socialism, don't ya just love it?

I respect all those guy's over there British, Australians and Americans, the whole bloody lot. Personally, rather than politically. We should all show them more respect, they do the shit job for our long term benefit.
Don't think for one minute that the muslims will be nice to us if we be nice to them. They would still hate westerners even if we had never left our own shores. If you think anything else you are fucking dreaming. Rant over, John.

[SPman]

Don't think for one minute that the muslims will be nice to us if we be nice to them. They would still hate westerners even if we had never left our own shores. If you think anything else you are fucking dreaming. Rant over, John.

Well - the Forces over there have done a damn fine job of engendering the hate. Even the pro westerners just want EVERYBODY out of their country. And that includes the other shit stirring Arabs who are taking advantage of the situation. There is a faction who hate westerners - just as there is a faction of westerners who hate muslims. But, by staying there for 2 years as a force of occupation, the (predominantly) US forces have put Iraq almost back to the stone age! The country is now fucked, the general populace live from hand to mouth, day by day, in constant fear for their lives, corruption in high places is endemic and once again the general populace bear the major brunt of violence. hatred, starvation - you name it! If I was an Iraqui youth, I'd be throwing fucking molotov cocktails at ANY fuckin foreigner in the country - and that includes Saudis and Iranians!!!
Rant not over until they're all out and Iraq can recover - over the next 20 yrs!
And its great, that soldiers do have an ounce of humanity in this situation - good for them!

[oldrider]

I left a key word out of my last post. "Extremists" (Muslim) The rest I stand by.
Western troops are in a catch 22 situation. Can't stay. Can't leave. Most of the hate has been extended by the Muslim Clerics who will be some what disenfranchised by democracy. Myself I feel deeply for all the individual people involved. Have you ever experienced the wrath of a frenzied mob. I have and it is the only time I have ever been truly afraid for my life. Cheers John.

[SPman]

Have you ever experienced the wrath of a frenzied mob. I have and it is the only time I have ever been truly afraid for my life. Cheers John.

Yes I have! Truly scarey!
Cheers
Jon

[jimbo600]

Actually what happened (not seen by the tv crew but I have it on reliable authority) is that they were preparing for an exfil plan but the commander noticed that his K5 Gixxer thou was about to fall off its side stand and rushed out to save it.

[SPman]

Now, thats more like it, Boyo.!!
A REAL reason..........
Priorities - gotta have priorities,,,,,,,,

[boomer]

The British crew of the Warrior AFV in Basra who refused to fire on or drive through a crowd of people even though they were bring drenched with Molotov cocktails.
The Poms can be a bit 'different' at times but their basic humanity can never be questioned.
These guys have a hell of a lot to be proud of.

Agreed. I don't agree on the reason(s) for being there just like NI but i would have let rip and and seen how fast i could have put the baby into first, reverse, first, reverse and then done a few 360's to boot.

[TwoSeven]

The news said they bailed for fear of the heat causing their rounds to explode. And it'd be like an oven in there on the best of days - remember what country they are in. Being on fire isn't really gonna help things, and I'm sure the last thing they really wanted was to jump out into the hail of stones and fire bombs being thrown, but they obviously calculated that they had a better chance bailing out than staying put

The problem with that, is that those machines are fully air conditioned and ventilated. Watching the reversing maneuver indicated that the driver was in a state of panic.

Judging by the way the commander left the vehicle, it was he who panic'd first - the driver would have probably had to later because the CO left his hatch open.

[Indiana_Jones]

I would of done whatever was needed to protect my vechicle and crew, sod what the world or media thinks. I would come before any dickwad chucking shit at me. I'd try to disperse them, but then I'd have to use force

-Indy

[Kickaha]

Actually what happened (not seen by the tv crew but I have it on reliable authority) is that they were preparing for an exfil plan but the commander noticed that his K5 Gixxer thou was about to fall off its side stand and rushed out to save it.

Thats as good a guess as any other on here, the only people who know what the real situation and reasoning for their actions are the crew and I doubt they'll be posting on here to tell us