posted
I know, I know, I said I didn't have time to write anything else in the Off Topic section, but I received an e-mail from a friend, a retired USMC Colonel, and I thought that some of you would be interested.
I've done my best to remove the expletives, yes some servicemen even curse in their writing. If I missed anything that offends someone, you have my apologies in advance. I made no effort to explain military jargon, but I think most will get the gist of the meanings.
The e-mail follows:
Hello to all my fellow gunners, military buffs, veterans and interested guys. A couple of weekends ago I got to spend time with my son Jordan, who was on his first leave since returning from Iraq. He is well (a little thin), and already bored.
He will be returning to Iraq for a second tour in early 06 and has already re-enlisted early for 4 more years. He loves the Marine Corps and is actually looking forward to returning to Iraq.
Jordan spent 7 months at Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi. Aka: Fort Apache.
He saw and did a lot and the following is what he told me about weapons, equipment, tactics and other miscellaneous info which may be of interest to you. Nothing is by any means classified.
No politics here, just a Marine with a birds eye views opinions.
The e-mail shares Jordan's rather lengthy opinions of US weapons. I've condensed his input quite a bit.
1) The M-16 rifle : Thumbs down. Chronic jamming problems. 2) The M243 SAW (squad assault weapon): Big thumbs down. 3) The M9 Beretta 9mm: Mixed bag 4) Mossberg 12ga. Military shotgun: Works well 5) The M240 Machine Gun: Thumbs up 6) The M2 ..50 cal heavy machine gun: Thumbs way, way up. 7) The .45 pistol: Thumbs up 8) The M-14: Thumbs up. They are being re-issued in bulk 9) The Berretta .50 cal sniper rifle: Thumbs way up. 10) The M24 sniper rifle: Thumbs up 11) The new body armor: Thumbs up 12) Night Vision and Infrared Equipment: Thumbs way up (Our guys see in the dark and own the night, period).
Colonel's comments:I can't help but notice that most of the good fighting weapons and ordinance are 50 or more years old!!!!!!!!!
With all our technology, it's the WWII and Vietnam era weapons that everybody wants!!!! The infantry fighting is frequent, up close and brutal. No quarter is given or shown.
Jordan's Fun fact: Random autopsies on dead insurgents shows a high level of opiate use.
Bad guy weapons: 1) Mostly AK47s . The entire country is an arsenal. Luckily, the enemy mostly shoots like shxx. Undisciplined spray and pray type fire. However, they are seeing more and more precision weapons, especially sniper rifles.
Fun fact: Captured enemy have apparently marveled at the marksmanship of our guys and how hard they fight. They are apparently told in Jihad school that the Americans rely solely on technology, and can be easily beaten in close quarters combat for their lack of toughness. Let's just say they know better now.
2) The RPG: Probably the infantry weapon most feared by our guys. Simple, reliable and as common as dogshxx. The enemy responded to our up-armored humvees by aiming at the windshields, often at point blank range. Still killing a lot of our guys.
3) The IED: The biggest killer of all. Can be anything from old Soviet anti-armor mines to jury rigged artillery shells. A lot found in Jordan's area were in abandoned cars. The enemy would take 2 or 3 155mm artillery shells and wire them together.
Most were detonated by cell phone, and the explosions are enormous. You're not safe in any vehicle, even an M1 tank. Driving is by far the most dangerous thing our guys do over there.
Lately, they are much more sophisticated shape charges (Iranian) specifically designed to penetrate armor.
Fact: Most of the ready made IEDs are supplied by Iran, who is also providing terrorists (Hezbollah types) to train the insurgents in their use and tactics. That's why the attacks have been so deadly lately.
Their concealment methods are ingenious, the latest being shape charges in Styrofoam containers spray painted to look like the cinderblocks that litter all Iraqi roads. We find about 40% before they detonate, and the bomb disposal guys are unsung heroes of this war.
4) Mortars and rockets: Very prevalent. The soviet era 122mm rockets (with an 18km range) are becoming more prevalent. One of Jordan's NCOs lost a leg to one. These weapons cause a lot of damage inside the wire.
Jordan's base was hit almost daily his entire time there by mortar and rocket fire, often at night to disrupt sleep patterns and cause fatigue (It did). More of a psychological weapon than anything else.
The enemy mortar teams would jump out of vehicles, fire a few rounds, and then haul *** in a matter of seconds.
5) Bad guy technology: Simple yet effective. Most communication is by cell and satellite phones, and also by email on laptops.
They use handheld GPS units for navigation and Google earth for overhead views of our positions. Their weapons are good, if not fancy, and prevalent.
Their explosives and bomb technology is TOP OF THE LINE. Night vision is rare.
They are very careless with their equipment and the captured GPS units and laptops are treasure troves of Intel when captured.
Who are the bad guys?:
Most of the carnage is caused by the Zarqawi Al Qaeda group. They operate mostly in Anbar province (Fallujah and Ramadi).
These are mostly foreigners, non-Iraqi Sunni Arab Jihadists from all over the Muslim world (and Europe).
Most enter Iraq through Syria (with, of course, the knowledge and complicity of the Syrian govt.), and then travel down the line which is the trail of towns along the Euphrates River that we've been hitting hard for the last few months.
Some are virtually untrained young Jihadists that often end up as suicide bombers or in sacrifice squads.
Most, however, are hard core terrorists from all the usual suspects (Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Ha mas etc.)
These are the guys running around murdering civilians en masse and cutting heads off. The Chechens (many of whom are Caucasian), are supposedly the most ruthless and the best fighters. (they have been fighting the Russians for years).
In the Baghdad area and south, most of the insurgents are Iranian inspired (and led) Iraqi Shiites.
The Iranian Shiia have been very adept at infiltrating the Iraqi local govt., the police forces, and the Army.
The have had a massive spy and agitator network there since the Iran-Iraq war in the early 80s. Most of the Saddam loyalists were killed, captured or gave up long ago.
Bad Guy Tactics:
When they are engaged on an infantry level they get their asses kicked every time. Brave, but stupid.
Suicidal Banzai-type charges were very common earlier in the war and still occur. They will literally sacrifice 8-10 man teams in suicide squads by sending them screaming and firing AKs and RPGs directly at our bases just to probe the defenses.
They get mowed down like grass every time. ( see the M2 and M240 above).
Jordan's base was hit like this often. When engaged, they have a tendency to flee to the same building, probably for what they think will be a glorious last stand.
Instead, we call in air and that's the end of that more often than not. These hole-ups are referred to as Alpha Whiskey Romeos (Allahs Waiting Room).
We have the laser guided ground-air thing down to a science. The fast movers, mostly Marine F-18s, are taking an ever increasing toll on the enemy.
When caught out in the open, the helicopter gunships and AC-130 Spectre gunships cut them to ribbons with cannon and rocket fire, especially at night.
Interestingly, artillery is hardly used at all.
Fun fact: The enemy death toll is supposedly between 45-50 thousand. That is why were seeing less and less infantry attacks and more IED, suicide bomber shxx. The new strategy is simple: Attrition.
The insurgent tactic most frustrating is their use of civilian non-combatants as cover.
They know we do all we can to avoid civilian casualties and therefore schools, hospitals, and (especially)
Mosques are locations where they meet, stage for attacks, cache weapons and ammo and flee to when engaged.
They have absolutely no regard whatsoever for civilian casualties. They will terrorize locals and murder without hesitation anyone believed to be sympathetic to the Americans or the new Iraqi govt.
Kidnapping of family members (especially children) is common to influence people they are trying to influence but can't reach, such as local govt. officials, clerics, tribal leaders, etc.
The first thing our guys are told is don't get captured. They know that if captured they will be tortured and beheaded on the internet.
Zarqawi openly offers bounties for anyone who brings him a live American serviceman.
This motivates the criminal element who otherwise don't give a shxx about the war.
A lot of the beheading victims were actually kidnapped by common criminals and sold to Zarqawi.
As such, for our guys, every fight is to the death. Surrender is not an option.
The Iraqis are a mixed bag. Some fight well, others aren't worth a shxx.
Most do okay with American support. Finding leaders is hard, but they are getting better.
It is widely viewed that Zarqawis use of suicide bombers, en masse, against the civilian population was a serious tactical mistake.
Many Iraqis were galvanized and the caliber of recruits in the Army and the police forces went up, along with their motivation.
It also led to an exponential increase in good intel because the Iraqis are sick of the insurgent attacks against civilians.
The Kurds are solidly pro-American and fearless fighters.
According to Jordan, morale among our guys is very high. They not only believe they are winning, but that they are winning decisively.
They are stunned and dismayed by what they see in the American press, whom they almost universally view as against them.
The embedded reporters are despised and distrusted. They are inflicting casulaties at a rate of 20-1 and then see **** like "Are We Losing in Iraq?" on TV and the print media.
For the most part, they are satisfied with their equipment, food and leadership.
Bottom line though, and they all say this, there are not enough guys there to drive the final stake through the heart of the insurgency, primarily because there aren't enough troops in-theater to shut down the borders with Iran and Syria.
The Iranians and the Syrians just can't stand the thought of Iraq being an American ally (with, of course, permanent US bases there).
THATS IT, HOPE YOU FOUND IT INTERESTING, I SURE DID. - LYME DAD
Posts: 681 | From California | Registered: Oct 2005
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Meg, can you manage to post anything without the harsh undertone of criticizing others as individuals?
Among other things veiled and not-so veiled in yout post, saying I would not be happy about good morale among these servicemen/women is out of line.
Morale is excellent on the ground and I wouldn't want it any other way for God's sake!
Why not just stick to your views on the topic?
Mo
[ 22. November 2005, 12:25 AM: Message edited by: Mo ]
Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002
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Loribelle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6293
posted
"6) The M2 ..50 cal heavy machine gun: Thumbs way, way up."
Love to see this! That's the one my son uses!
Another good post Lymedad, I am glad to see you back in Off Topic, and I hope you stick around!
Posts: 1149 | From southeast iowa | Registered: Sep 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Mo: thanks for posting this piece..
Meg, can you manage to post anything without the harsh undertone of criticizing others as individuals?
Among other things veiled and not-so veiled in yout post, saying I would not be happy about good morale among these servicemen/women is out of line.
Morale is excellent on the ground and I wouldn't want it any other way for God's sake!
Why not just stick to your views on the topic?
Mo
Hey Mo, don't be a hypocrite. You're the queen of ripping on other people here in a serious way. Meg was just being light hearted about the truth.
Posts: 600 | From Las Vegas, NV | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Mo, as for your opinion on what the soldiers think about this war see this topic:
Over 56% of Milatary do not approve of Iraq management..
Lymedad has brought us direct statements and descriptions from the soldiers at the front, including their experiences....even down to which weapons work the best.
His post flies in the face of the post you initiated above. So why would you be happy with that???
Do you understand? We all are happy the soldiers are happy...etc. You would not be happy that Lymedads post counters your post...geez, my entire post was about that! Sorry that you took it differently than meant.
I don't think this is the time for deflection of the subject by pointing fingers....it calls for a concise rebuttal to Lymedads post.
[ 22. November 2005, 08:49 PM: Message edited by: meg ]
posted
It's imperative that the soldiers on the ground in Iraq as we speak have good morale.
I have never stated and certainly not considered anything less.
I'm glad to hear this first hand, and your post is just an attempt at deamonization of me only because of pointed questions regarding the course in Iraq.
I take offence to that, Meg.
Mo
Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002
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LymeOjai
Unregistered
posted
I see that there are other insomniacs out there. Ain't it a bit*h??
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I hate that anyone has to be anywhere fighting but am grateful for those who do so.
I know that I would not want to live or work in a country where it is dangerous to exist for fear of being blown up at any given moment. (I don't have 1st hand knowledge of any kind but, it seems as though that would be at least a semi valid view.)
I enjoy the liberties afforded to me and secured by the lives of those who lived and died for my freedom.
While I am fortunate, not to have family or close friends in the current military (in that I would be so afraid for their safety), my father served in WWII and Korea and raised me with the upmost respect and appreciation for the sacrifices having been and currently being made.
Of late, I have been more lonesome for conversation and ( says w/ grimace) have gone to a chat room or two. I chose the "military" one thinking maybe (hoping beyond most hope) I'd reach some non-sexual chat!!
Occasionally I do!!
Of the "alleged" active duty personnel I have typed w/ of late, I've found all to be supportive of the war in Iraq. Perhaps, being they are typing w/ an unknown person, they would say this - don't know!!
But, from what I read, they have encountered most Iraquee (everyday citizens) who appear to appreciate what we are attempting to secure for them.
All I know for sure is, I would not want to live anywhere but here. Do I like it everyday or agree w/ everything that happens - no. Do I even understand most of what is happening or why - no?
I do remember what happened September 11. I have felt the fear associated w/ not knowing if or when something like that may happen again or to whom.
I do not like that feeling.
Sherry
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Posts: 704 | From Huntsville, Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
Hey ponytail
And anyone else still living with the fear of being attacked...
Give it to your Supreme Being...Power...Life Force or whatever...
There is nothing more we can do...and then live life...
Not in fear but in revelation and resolve...zman
-------------------- I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Thank's Zman - I have no doubt my God will provide what I need but, watching what happened on that day was horrible.
I trust if I am involved in such a situation my needs will be met but do know even w/ that my family and friends would feel pain and loss and I don't want anyone to ever experience that.
Make any sense?
Sherry
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Posts: 704 | From Huntsville, Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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