Chinook brought down in Iraq

[Vympel]

'Unknown' weapons

Probably one of the many Strela-2M MANPADS floating around, or perhaps an RPG-7 or small arms fire.

[MKSheppard]

Probably one of the many Strela-2M MANPADS floating around, or perhaps an RPG-7 or small arms fire.

Well 1 KIA out of 35 on the helicopter, testament to the Shithook's design
and/or awesome piloting skillz

[Colonel Olrik]

Probably one of the many Strela-2M MANPADS floating around, or perhaps an RPG-7 or small arms fire.

Well 1 KIA out of 35 on the helicopter, testament to the Shithook's design
and/or awesome piloting skillz

Hum, it says thirteen in the article now, unless I'm reading it wrong.

[MKSheppard]

Hum, it says thirteen in the article now, unless I'm reading it wrong.

Well shit.

[Vympel]

FUCK. That single-handedly makes this the worst day of the war.

This was my nightmare scenario actually, though I was more concerned with a C-17 on a medical run being laid low with a Strela-2M as it took off from Baghdad airport.

The article has also changed to say it was a shoulder launched missile, which practically confirms Strela-2M beign the culprit (or perhaps Igla-1, if the Iraqis had any left).

EDIT: casualty count up to 15 dead, 21 wounded.

[Trytostaydead]

Gosh, that's horrible.. they were on their way for some R&R.

[TrailerParkJawa]

This sucks, since the war ended Ive been wondering when certain things would happen and now they have mostly come to materialize.

A rocket attack on US troops or buildings. The destruction of an Abrams. The shoot down of a helicopter or aircraft full of troops. Luckily the first attack did miminal damage and the loss of an Abrams is more policitcal thing than any sort of military victory, but the loss of so many troops in a helicopter is something the public will find very upsetting and could boost morale among the enemy. Like Vympel my nightmare is a C-130 or C-17 full of troops being brought down near the airport. Lets all hope that nightmare never comes to reality.

[Howedar]

Shit.

[Sea Skimmer]

FUCK. That single-handedly makes this the worst day of the war.

I don't think so, well at least if it is its only by one or two dead, and the toll in wounded is lower, even counting the other attacks that have taken place in the day.

This was my nightmare scenario actually, though I was more concerned with a C-17 on a medical run being laid low with a Strela-2M as it took off from Baghdad airport.

You'd need to hit a C-17 a couple times to bring it down, a C-130 or helicopter though will easily die from one hit.

EDIT: casualty count up to 15 dead, 21 wounded.

They seem to be jumpng back and forth from 15 to 16 dead.

[Vympel]

Yes, it's from Foxnews, gasp, Vympel uses the Foxnews website, no, it's not that bad, their websites straight news entries are actually quite fine, it's their pundits that drive me insane, leave me alone

Chinook daytime flights banned. Nightime only.

- Disadvantage: Night-time is colder, making your CH-47 stand out to an IR seeker

- Advantage: Escorting Apaches can see hiding guerillas on their FLIRs more easily, and guerillas have a harder time seeing their target.

(It's on the front page, I don't think the article has been updated yet)

[Sea Skimmer]

- Disadvantage: Night-time is colder, making your CH-47 stand out to an IR seeker

- Advantage: Escorting Apaches can see hiding guerillas on their FLIRs more easily, and guerillas have a harder time seeing their target.

(It's on the front page, I don't think the article has been updated yet)

It’s near impossible to engage with a MANPADS at night despite the more distinct target. The missile seeker its self has almost no search capability, you must be able to see the aircraft visually. Though with the area fairly urban the sky is likely pretty bright. And if they do manage to see and shoot you at night, well then its unlikely to be any worse then in daylight, your flares will also stand out better.

That lack of search capability is in part why so many nations are now fielding various portable launching frames for MANPADS, not only can one gunner control several missiles at once but often a FLIR is mounted so that they can be used at night. You still need a rough idea of where the target is though. But there are computer control thermal sensors which can find bearing for you know. Though there quite expensive, and your only going to find them in large developed militaries.

[Darth Mall]

heard on the radio this morning that it was 15 dead in the crash and one dead in other circumstances.

Fuck

[Vympel]

It?s near impossible to engage with a MANPADS at night despite the more distinct target. The missile seeker its self has almost no search capability, you must be able to see the aircraft visually. Though with the area fairly urban the sky is likely pretty bright. And if they do manage to see and shoot you at night, well then its unlikely to be any worse then in daylight, your flares will also stand out better.

That lack of search capability is in part why so many nations are now fielding various portable launching frames for MANPADS, not only can one gunner control several missiles at once but often a FLIR is mounted so that they can be used at night. You still need a rough idea of where the target is though. But there are computer control thermal sensors which can find bearing for you know. Though there quite expensive, and your only going to find them in large developed militaries.

One thing I found odd was that there was no report from witnesses that flares were fired off ... perhaps the crew didn't spot it coming in, or the warner went off too late- if the Chinook has an IR warner that is.

[The Dark]

One thing I found odd was that there was no report from witnesses that flares were fired off ... perhaps the crew didn't spot it coming in, or the warner went off too late- if the Chinook has an IR warner that is.

The -47E does, but I don't think previous versions did.

And as far as casualties go (this is general, not to Vympel), this is the worst day for casualties since the end of major combat operations. The worst day was March 23, with 28 soldiers killed. Yesterday there were 17 soldiers and 2 civilian contractors killed.

[Zac Naloen]

The worst day was March 23, with 28 soldiers killed. Yesterday there were 17 soldiers and 2 civilian contractors killed.

... that was my birthday...

[Chardok]

When you get in a shithook, we used to joke: if there isn't a red mist in the cabin. Get off. It means the Hydraulic fluid has already leaked out.

[Tribun]

Is there a total count of how many U.S. Soldiers had died since the first day of the attack? (British troops in a seperate counter)

I'm curios how many soldiers they have lost...

[Darth Mall]

According to the Nov10 Time Magazine, 144 combat casualties before May 1, and 122 after. So thats 266 in total combat deaths. But that probably was up to a week ago, so you can add a few more on