Tactical Nukes

Post #31,468 by nking 3/9/02 11:44:12 AM Reply	Tactical Nukes They can use smaller nukes to create Electro Magnetic Pulses (EMP) over unfriendly countries to short out their electronics. This is called tactical use of nuclear weapons. Let's say they pop a small nuke over Iraq, and that it disables their planes and other devices. No radar, no communication, no planes, no automobiles (no electric ignitions, anyway), no tanks, etc. Then our planes and tanks go in and crush them. "Will code Visual BASIC for cash."
Post #31,484 by JayMehaffey 3/9/02 1:44:11 PM Reply	Not as effective as might be hoped. Setting off an EMP device probably wouldn't be as effective as you might hope. It would ground the airforces of Middle Eastern countries, but none of them have an airforce that could be a threat to us anyway. It would nicely cripple their anti-air missle systems, this would be probably the one major advantage gained. The effect on ground targets wouldn't be as great as you might hope though. Much of the stuff they have on the ground is so outdated that EMP would have limited effect. For instance, Iraq's tanks are T-55 and T-72s, neither of which have any significant electronics. The only effect of EMP on either tank would be to lose the radio and any range finder. Jay
Post #31,487 by nking 3/9/02 2:55:22 PM Reply	You mean old-old tech back when they used Vacuum tubes? Ala "After Y2K" the comic strip? "Will work for fair salary and benefits, seeking company with integrity."
Post #31,498 by JayMehaffey 3/9/02 4:10:27 PM Reply	Sort of The T-55 can trace it's ancestry back to the T-34 tank of WWII fame, through the T-44 and T-54. T-54s where first build in 1946, and the T-54/55 series where a darn good tank for the 1950s. But not surprisngly, for such old technology, there is nothing in the tanks operation that is electronic. There are a few electrical parts, such as the engine starter and internal lights but simple electrical components are not effected by EMP. And even those parts are not necissary to run the tank. It has a built in pneumatic starter for the engine, optical gun sights, it's gun is hand loaded and so on. The only part of a T-55 operating today that might be hurt by EMP is the radio and any range finders or night sights that have been installed since the tank was built. The T-72 is a much newer tank, itself a decent of the T-55 via the T-62. The T-72 doesn't actually inheret much from the older tank though, other then a general design. Construction of the T-72 started in 1971, and was replaced in the early 80 by the T-80. The T-72 has more electrical components, and generally has been updated with electronics like night vision systems and so on. But once again, these are not necissary to run the tank. Of course, the resistance they get to EMP doesn't actually do them much good. A T-55 could fire at point blank range and still wouldn't be able to penetrate the armor of an Abrams. In theory the T-72 might be a threat if it had a good crew (not many in Iraq), had high quality armor percing rounds (Iraq didn't have any in the Gulf War), and had some air cover (not a chance in hell in Iraq). Jay
Post #31,500 by Ashton 3/9/02 4:22:51 PM Reply	Armor? Well.. we have LOTS of DU (depleted Uranium) and we are willing to spread it around just anywhere. As we did in '92. Iraq wishes.. it had the U which depleted the natural-U. Makes a great armor-piercing round. Hey! it is really Heavy at At. Wt. 238! AND: U is pyrophoric; in powder form (or when two sharp pieces are struck together) it 'sparks'. Flares like Magnesium (though not Quite.. so energetically does it crave Oxygen to combine with). Imagine what happened inside those tanks we hit with our DU rounds. But after all, they weren't human - they were enemy (that week). Kinda surprised we haven't already sold them some DU.. our largest export to the world is, after all: weapons. Wonder what that says? Ashton military school prepared me for the prevailing mindset of homo-sap.. especially the local variety.
Post #31,515 by Andrew Grygus 3/9/02 8:55:09 PM Reply	What it says . . . our largest export to the world is, after all: weapons. Wonder what that says? What it says is that we have highly effective marketing (the "demos" are to die for). It also says there's a lot of demand. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]

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