Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: x35147d3@usma8.usma.edu (Bergman Charles CDT)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Armor Distinction
Message-ID: <1991Jan12.011951.24951@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 12 Jan 91 01:19:51 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 36
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: x35147d3@usma8.usma.edu (Bergman Charles CDT)

Does anyone have any idea how the U.S. Forces in Saudi plan on not mistaking
Syrian T-62/T-72s for Iraqi T-62/T-72s or mistaking a U.S. Marine M-60A1 for
an Iraqi M-60A1?  I know they are all painted differently and Marine M-60s have
reactive armor, but what about the engagement ranges of up to 3000m!

Is there any type of IFF system for land warfare?

In the chaos of a large scale battle where the FEBA/FLOT may be extremely
varying with large desert dust kicking up, explosions and loss of direction
sense, how will the M1A1 gunner know not to engage friendly or enemy tanks.
Also communication disruption and the language barrier between allied units
causing loss of knowing where friendly units are will enhance this problem.
Does anyone have any bright ideas or does anyone know the way this is solved by
Army doctrine.

This is a question I have had from the beginning, any answers?

Remember, they still outgun us in number of arty tubes and range.  The King of
Battle will be a huge problem. They have over 2700 tubes in the region!  They
have also had plenty of time to set their guns and established will protected
positions for them.

Let's hope they withdraw peacefully!!!


Charles K. Bergman
CDT USMA '93
x35147d3@usma8.usma.edu        ***************************************
                               * There is no substitute for victory! *
P.O. Box 54                    ***************************************
U.S. Corps of Cadets
West Point, NY 10997