Thermobaric weapons

[Steeler]

Stuff like this is why I read defensetech.org:

http://www.wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,58094,00.html


Scary, but effective stuff:



Marines are using these SMAWs to demolish medium sized buildings in a single shot. Probably more accurate and less likely to generate collateral damage than an artillery or airstrike. But damn. I hope the other side never gets their hands on these.

[millipede777]

Originally Posted by Steeler

I hope the other side never gets their hands on these.

No Kidding

[GhostintheShell]

Originally Posted by Steeler

I hope the other side never gets their hands on these.

Lol.

[Steeler]

Originally Posted by millipede777

No Kidding

Nope. More:
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001969.html

Thermobaric warheads put the power to demolish buildings into the hands of the average U.S. marine. But Americans aren’t the only ones with the weapons. The Chinese, the Russians -- even guerilla groups -- now have thermobarics' shockingly destructive power in their grasps.

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In a series of computer simulations called Project Albert, the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory has evaluated the effect of arming platoons of attackers and defenders with enhanced blast weapons in urban assault. The results are significant - when the attackers alone are armed with them, they are much more successful, but when both sides have them the advantage shifts towards the defenders.

This may be important for the future of warfare in cities. The spread of these weapons will make such actions more destructive, and it will make infantry assault even more costly in terms of lives.

[Steeler]

It's on. Some reports list the incident in question as a result of an arms cache explosion, although others suspect the incoming munitions were enough to cause the blast. Nobody realy knows - there's your war reporting for ya.

Other TG thread here.

[Pistos]

Originally Posted by Steeler

Probably more accurate and less likely to generate collateral damage than an artillery or airstrike. But damn. I hope the other side never gets their hands on these.

I agree, though the "other side" doesn't seem to mind the collateral damage -- in fact they usually try to maximize it.

[Diceman]

Originally Posted by Steeler

I hope the other side never gets their hands on these.

Too late? The top story at Defense Tech: Hezbollah`s Thermobaric Arsenal.