Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!sun!amdcad!amdcad!military From: ab3o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Allan Bourdius) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Miscellaneous Message-ID: <1991Apr13.015146.23469@amd.com> Date: 12 Apr 91 17:20:11 GMT References: <1991Apr12.055056.13916@amd.com> Sender: military@amd.com Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Lines: 25 Approved: military@amd.com From: Allan Bourdius >4) A civilian observer like me can be surprised at the amount of stuff >attached to the outside of tanks. I guess some of it is reactive >armor. What are the tubes that look like truncated mortars for? Do >tankers, like infantrymen, tend to work on the principle of taking >anything along that could be useful, if it can be carried, and if so do >they just tie it on outside? Those truncated mortars you saw were most likely smoke grenade launchers. There isn't much room inside a tank after you put the crew and ammunition for the main gun and the machine guns inside. Things like personal gear, rucksacks, extra track sections, spare road wheels, more ammo, etc. can be stored on various points outside. Reactive armor is pretty distinctive. On US tanks, look for many flat rectangular plates. On Soviet tanks, their blocks are more numerous, smaller, and more cubical in shape. -- Allan Bourdius [MIDN 3/C (Marine Option)/Brother, Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity] ab3o+@andrew.cmu.edu or Box 4719, 5125 Margaret Morrison St., Pgh., PA 15213 The contents of this were mine, mine, all mine, got it?!