"Videos Emerges Of A 'Tank Massacre' When Syrian Rebels..." Topic

… Engage With Syrian Army Tanks Using Anti-Tank Weapons (Videos)

"The Syrian government's massive offensive in northern Hama has suffered an initial setback after multiple armored vehicles were destroyed in a melee of anti-tank guided-missile fire that activist media dubbed a "tank massacre."

The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights reported that rebel fighters in the north Hama region had met the joint Russian-Syrian assault by targeting the attacking regime forces on the ground "with US-made TOW missiles … [and] other guided rockets, which caused the destruction … of over 15 armored cars, vehicles, and tanks."…"
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Amicalement
Armand

not a nice time for amoured fighting vehicles!

A question for the armour and infantry vets out there.

How professional / amateur do the opposing forces look?

To my untrained eyes it looks as if the TOW/AT guys are making little attempt to hide themselves and would be easily visible from drones or aircraft above.

And that the attacking armour is just trundling into TOW range without aerial recon, and that the AT fire was largely unanswered even after they had revealed their positions by firing.

If these assaults are meant to be the result of Russian air support, where is it?

But I'd appreciate the opinion of someone who – unlike me – knows what they're looking at though.

How did they get tows?
Tow with men shouting allauakbar… Well…ourfriends? Yours maybe not mine.

How professional / amateur do the opposing forces look?

Still a bit amateurish generally, but as you see still deadly. Amateurish for all these reason you mention here and more.

To my untrained eyes it looks as if the TOW/AT guys are making little attempt to hide themselves and would be easily visible from drones or aircraft above.

And that the attacking armour is just trundling into TOW range without aerial recon, and that the AT fire was largely unanswered even after they had revealed their positions by firing.

If these assaults are meant to be the result of Russian air support, where is it?

Generally bottom line, most armies, insurgents, etc., in the area are amateurs or worse based on their performance, IMO. The good thing about modern weapons, even in the experienced amateurs hands … they can still kill you !

Where the TOWs came from ? The US sold those to some in the region, who could have resold them. Or the US gave them to a third partly with instructions to give them to the FSA, etc. … And of course some could have been captured from … say the Iraqi "Bug Outs". And maybe recaptured, etc. … So in that area, anything could happen. Maybe even the CIA and SF trained and issued them to the FSA ?

TOWs are probably Turkish.

Nice to know some of our better stuff is falling into the wrong hands.

Want a scary picture? Imagine what it is like versus a Battalion of tanks and having 6 times as many launchers

Per Wikipedia the TOW's came from the Saudi's who are supporting several groups in the war. Another source is Qatar who is also supporting rebels against the government. The Turks could be another source but I haven't seen anyone specifically name them.

How long to reload a TOW missile after impact? Is it as easy as removing the old tube and just placing a new tube in? Does it need time to warm up or connect to the guidance system in the stand?

Can you say See – I – AAAY, quickly?

More commonly written as CIA.

They're supplying all sorts of arms and tech to the rebels, in addition to the military who was doing the same, but whose program just got cancelled, since it was determined that $10 USD – $100 USD million per fighter isn't really cost effective.

Also, some/many of our "allies" in the region seem to have a penchant for turning over high-tech equipment provided to them, to AQ and ISIS, every time a slight breeze blows.

Interesting to see some of those shots in action. Appears some of the operators are just learning, given all the missile wobble, but most seem to get them on target at the end.

I did notice one guy flew his into the ground about 10 feet short of the target when shooting at a tank. Made a big cloud of smoke like all the others, but I'd be surprised if that tank was knocked out, since it appeared the missile detonated on the ground, and didn't bounce into the side of the lower hull. Hard to tell though, since they ended the footage – the caption claimed a kill, but I doubt it.

Perhaps it could have damaged the wheels, or tread.

I can't imagine it'd take more than a few seconds to reload the tube for another shot, and to connect the wiring.

How long to reload a TOW missile after impact? Is it as easy as removing the old tube and just placing a new tube in? Does it need time to warm up or connect to the guidance system in the stand?

Fairly quickly … the missile fit into the launcher and mated with a connector like with many electronic devises. That directly hooked up with the Guidance System. It had to work that way. To combat the massive amounts of Warsaw Pact AFVs that the TOW was designed to destroy. If the Cold War got hot and they crossed the Inter-German Border, etc. …

And yes, where did the TOWs come from ? As mentioned already Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, CIA, etc. … it's anyone's guess at this point …

Want a scary picture? Imagine what it is like versus a Battalion of tanks and having 6 times as many launchers

Indeed, in my Mech Bn, A,B,C were Mech Companies with each having a 2 M901 ITV Section. Plus D Co. was an Anti-Armor Company. With … IIRC, 3 Plts of 5 or so M901s each. And the Bn's Mech Scout Plt had 3 M901s also … So that is really a "Fist Full of TOWs" !

Just to complicate matters, don't forget the Iranians have TOWs and produce their own version of a TOW.

And there's that !