From: Adam 

Blimey the Russians must be chuffed. talk about great advertising:

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/748556.html


"At around 1:40 P.M., an IDF Merkava tank was struck by an explosive
device in the village of Aita al-Shaab in the western sector. The tank's
four crew members were killed instantly. The IDF is still investigating the
source of the explosion. The kind of damage sustained by the tank (its
turret was blown off) appears to indicate that the vehicle was hit by a
large explosive device, but a senior Northern Command officer told Haaretz
on Wednesday night that it was more likely that the Merkava had been hit by
an anti-tank missile.

IDF troops in the area reported seeing the missile in flight.

Efforts to extract the tank and four dead crew members took place under
heavy fire, and continued late into Wednesday night.

The day's harshest incident occured at 2:00 P.M. when one or two anti-tank
missiles were fired at an IDF force that had occupied a house in Debel. The
missile strike left nine soldiers dead, including two who died on their way
to the hospital, and 11 wounded, including three seriously, four moderately
and four lightly."


OK so it could be a milan but.....does go to show what modern MANPAT are
capable of & the fact that the merkava III was touted as the best
protected MBT means mucho mil types will be adding russki MANPAT to their
list of purchasing decisions.

Much as I was saying ages ago wrt light infantry equipped with pickup
trucks for transport & MANPAT/PAD & truck mounted missile based
support weapons (in this case Katyusha) as a primary offensive/Defensive
armament. If you have enough of them & if the name of the game is to
kill as many opposing mil as possible, then "MANPAT sniping"
appears to be the technique du jour.

If they come in tanks then do like the Afghans & pick off the first
& the last in a valley. If they come on foot, make a strong point, dig
an escape tunnel, draw them in & then once they enter the house/strong
point, hit it with manpat.

Also if they gather for any reason.....manpat them.

Ah the wonders of man portable precision weapons.


Adam

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5