Dispatch from Najaf

[redman]

This sounds like it was a tough, desperate battle; from SkyNews.com:

HUGE BATTLE FOR NAJAF

Up to 1,000 Iraqi troops have been killed in the battle for the Iraqi town of Najaf, according to US officials.

American forces say they have encountered "tenacious" resistance from the Iraqi Army and Saddam Hussein's loyalist militia around the town, which is 50 miles south of Baghdad.

The fighting is said to have developed into the biggest battle of the war so far.

US intelligence officer Major John Altman told Sky News correspondent Colin Brazier that Iraqi troops and militia were dressing up in civilian clothing, and were firing from tanks and artillery hidden in mosques and schools in the town.

"It's frustrating for us because we have to determine who the friend and who the foe are," he told Brazier, who is with American forces near Najaf.

"When we moved up to our positions outside the town we encountered some resistance form regular Iraqi Army forces, and as we tried to gain access to bridges and roads we came into contact with some of Saddam's irregular forces - his militia.

"These are hardline people that support the regime and although they vary in skill and the weapons they have, they tend to be a bit more tenacious.

"They use AK47s, machine guns, rocket propelled granades and mortars."

A fierce battle with Iraqi forces for control of a bridge over the Euphrates river close to Najaf has also been raging.

An unspecified number of US tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles were destroyed by Iraqis armed with rocket propelled grenades and automatic rifles. The fate of the tank drivers is not known.

The clash took place at Abu Sukhayr, 13 miles southeast of Najaf.

Other US reports say Iraqis have executed 40 civilians acused of collaboration in Najaf. "This could be a way of making sure there are no uprisings," said Major Altman.

Last Updated: 18:23 UK, Wednesday March 26, 2003

[Brave]

I'm surprised to hear that an RPG would destroy a tank or a Bradley. I thought it would take more than that. Mortars, perhaps, but RPGs?

[Canyonero!]

Originally posted by Brave

I'm surprised to hear that an RPG would destroy a tank or a Bradley. I thought it would take more than that. Mortars, perhaps, but RPGs?

Well from my extensive playing of "Command and Conquer: Generals", I can tell you that enough RPGs will take out a tank in no time.

But yea, in reality I'm thinking it was mortar fire that did them in. The article also made it sound like a mixture of RPGs and Machine Guns took out these vehicles. AK-47 rounds probably don't do too well against tank armor I'm thinking.

[PCS]

Well, the RPG is a pretty old weapon, but still effective. A lucky shot could destroy an LAV, (from behind), or maybe knock a track off of a tank....maybe. Mortars won't do it unless that shot is right on top and considering the armor plating on the tanks, better be a good sized mortar. My guess is that where media reports are concerned and possibly by some of the troops, the term RPG is a generic term for a surface to surface weapon. A few of those possessed by the Iraqis could destroy a tank. Other reports of the fighting have stated that 2 tanks were destroyed, the first 2 in the history of the M1A1, from behind by an unknown missile attack. Probably from an armored vehicle. Several of the Iraqi armored vehicles. being soviet in orgin, do carry wire guided missles and so forth.

Here's a a good site for info on arms being used by both sides.

http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/weapons/

[redskin56]

I've heard reports of the Iraqis using shoulder fired wire guided anti-tank missiles similar to our TOW missile. I would imagine that any tanks lost were due to those types of weapons and the press referring to them as RPGs.

[redman]

Here's a nice graphic describing the Najaf battle from Yahoo!:

The U.S. military said on March 26, 2003 that its seven-day air and land assault on Iraq (news - web sites) was 'on plan' to overthrow President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and rid Iraq of alleged weapons of mass destruction. At a Central Command briefing in Qatar, U.S. Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks said commanders were 'comfortable' with the way battle was going. (Mapinfo,NASA (news - web sites)-ESAD/Reuters Graphic)

[Skins24]

Man, 1000 Iraqi deaths in that battle to, so far reported, 0 allied.

[redman]

Unorganized attacks by what amounts to lightly armed guerilla infantry against a well-equipped and well-trained armored cavalry brigade is simply not going to be successful, particularly during the night which we own.