[OT] Question from the news

Actually several of them, to those who might 
know. I'm more than willing to have it taken off-
list if someone wants to reply to my e-mail 
instead of the list. 

1) I read about US forces skirmishing with 
Republican Gaurd. The reporter mentioned 
(repeatedly) 50mm machine-gun fire. I know 
50mm is.... *rather large* for what I consider a 
machinegun. But I also don't know what US 
vehicle is equipped with such a monster? I 
thought most of the Apaches, Warthogs, 
Bradleys, etc. were equipped with 20-30mm 
guns of various varieties. What carries a 50mm?
Or is the reporter full of hot wind?

2. I keep seeing these sideways V symbols on 
various armoured vehicles. Some seem to point 
back, others forward. Any armour crew out 
there who can suggest what their purpose is? 

3. I've heard about several 'friendly fire' 
incidents. One involved two Brit tanks 
(Challengers I'll assume, but I could be wrong). 
Don't the tanks have some sort of IFF system? 
(I'd have thought so). 

4. I have heard that the Iraqis are using pickups 
with TOW mounts. Ignoring the question of how 
they got there, does this remind anyone else of 
the DS2 size 1 vehicle with GMS/H which we 
always tend to lament about? Panzer Nissan 
anyone? (and effective, by all accounts)

Thanks for the information.

Tomb
PS - Is anyone else annoyed that they keep 
differentiating servicemen and women on 
combat operations killed in aircrashes etc. 
"accidental" casualties as differentiated from 
"combat" casualties? That really burns my butt. 
The distinction will be largely lost upon the 
families I suspect. 

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Mr. Thomas Barclay
Software Developer & Systems Analyst
thomas.barclay@stargrunt.ca
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