[b1gpoppa]

Originally Posted by Oswald2001 ↗

As I understand it, it is an intentional feature that makes the weapon difficult (if not impossible) to shoot down in flight.

A straight linear flight would make missile defense a much simpler matter.

Thanks for the explanation Os - and here is some expanded info for the more curious

[Muzziphilia]

Nice find KC

I guess now they know, no more standing in large groups huddled together out in the open

[journey2xl]

I know nothing about weaponry but if the guys being shot at could see that light on them they had to be shyting bricks......

[kellyhound]

that's one way to clear the area

[Brynjar]

Originally Posted by Hogmann ↗

Kinda surprised so many ran away after.

Like rats jumping off a sinking ship.

[Brynjar]

Originally Posted by journey2xl ↗

I know nothing about weaponry but if the guys being shot at could see that light on them they had to be shyting bricks......

Well that red bouncing ball isn't no cartoon sing along with the bouncing ball lyrics.

[rhubarb_king]

Surprise!

[Oswald2001]

Originally Posted by gimlet ↗

Needs more shrapnel. Most of the crowd ran away. I would hazard to guess the missile is shaped charge optimized for armor penetration, not anti personnel, but I am no TOW RKI.

My guess is that the US CIA and the Saudis (plus who knows who else) is giving the 'moderate' al-Qaeda and the 'moderate' ISIS members BILLION$ of arms including outrageously expensive TOW missiles which are fired off randomly for any purpose.

I am sure many MILLION$ have been wasted with TOW missles fired out of boredom as an ad hoc desert fireworks display.

Why should the moo slum crazies care?

The crazies from The West are paying for it all.



It's like calling in Multi-MILLION$ artillery/air strikes because the 'Boom' sounds are so cool.

[11B2P]

Originally Posted by mfedkiw ↗

I'm always amazed at how those missels dodge around so erratically.

It's a tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided, missile weapon system (TOW). I've fired these before. You have to manually track the target with the reticle. Shaky hands can make the missiles move all over the place. I prefer the FGM-148 Javelin

[mileslong]

While I can't speak to who's funding who etc..

I can speak about what I know.

Before going to Afghan, I thought that these were basically a bunch of farmers with guns and low/moderate organization.. I know this is Syria.. but I would have held pretty much the same assumption.

When I got over there and saw what they were doing and how they did it... I was amazed. With such little resources these guys can deal some pretty serious blows to the most advanced military in the world. I won't go into any of that too much.. but I will touch on what you had mentioned about them firing these out of boredom. That can't be further from the truth.

If you are a assigned the task to take out whoever with a VERY expensive weapon.. you'd better make damn sure you do. Because if they miss... at least in Afghan.. they'll probably suffer the consequences of a brutal hierarch.

Even RPG's are taken very seriously by them... and it better hit it's mark.

They don't waste them out of boredom, I can assure you of that.

Originally Posted by Oswald2001 ↗

My guess is that the US CIA and the Saudis (plus who knows who else) is giving the 'moderate' al-Qaeda and the 'moderate' ISIS members BILLION$ of arms including outrageously expensive TOW missiles which are fired off randomly for any purpose.

I am sure many MILLION$ have been wasted with TOW missles fired out of boredom as an ad hoc desert fireworks display.

Why should the moo slum crazies care?

The crazies from The West are paying for it all.



It's like calling in Multi-MILLION$ artillery/air strikes because the 'Boom' sounds are so cool.