Iraq Rocket Attack Kills 4 U.S. Soldiers

[seruriermarshal]

Iraq Rocket Attack Kills 4 U.S. Soldiers

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Four U.S. soldiers were killed and seven injured before dawn Saturday when two rockets slammed into a U.S. base north of Baghdad, U.S. military officials said.


AP Photo



Two 57-mm rockets hit the base in Taji at 5:30 a.m., said Air Force Lt. Col. Sam Hudspath.


Taji is a former Iraqi air force base 12 miles north of Baghdad that is now used by the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division.


Earlier on Saturday, a car bomb exploded near the main U.S. base in the northern city of Tikrit, a U.S. official said. At least three people were killed.


A suicide bomber appeared to be driving the car when it exploded outside the outer wall of the base, said Master Sgt. Robert Powell of the 1st Infantry Division.


The car detonated near a row of shops outside the base, Powell said. Ambulances and fire trucks rushed to the scene, he added.


Footage by Associated Press Television News showed twisted wreckage of vehicles with at least three bodies. Witnesses said the blast was targeting a convoy of Iraqi officials heading to the Mayor's office in Tikrit.






R.I.P

[seruriermarshal]

http://www.5kx.com/toysale/bbs/UploadFile/2003122810591290821.jpg

For safe ......

[Uninen]

"57-mm rockets"?

Their using ordanance that is usually pod fired from a/c and helos in these attacks?

[Kitsune]

:( RIP.

[HELEX]

Their using ordanance that is usually pod fired from a/c and helos in these attacks?

Why not? Longer Range and better effect, they fire them like rocket Artillery from Shoulder and hope they hit anything.

[Uninen]

In one video from Bosnia, there is footage of UB-32 57mm 32 shot rocket pod actually on ground mount.... had seat for gunner and ****.... :P

But the 57mm rockets..... well, their range or damage effect isnt anything special, and is certainly beat by purpose build surface to surface rocket launchers....... IE light towed Chinese 107mm MRLS.....

But i guess they have to work with anything they get their hands on.

[usa320]

REally i dont think any of these RPGs or rockets are real systems, most of them are being fired from jury rigged and home made launchers.

[LordHalbert]

These weapon systems may be primitive but it killed 5 U.S. troops and the rebels seem to have escaed.

So it can't be that bad can it ??

[LordHalbert]

These weapon systems may be primitive but it killed 5 U.S. troops and the rebels seem to have escaed.

So it can't be that bad can it ??

[Mr. Nielsen]

These weapon systems may be primitive but it killed 5 U.S. troops and the rebels seem to have escaed.

So it can't be that bad can it ??

There seems to have been quite a number of those attacks with mortar and rockets, without causing much damage. These attacks don't seem to be very accurate, and lacks the number of rounds to compensate for it.

This one was a "lucky" shot I guess.

[Merik]

If the Cav is what I think it still is, then there is going to be hell to pay for those sons of bitches.

[LordHalbert]

"Five American solders were killed around dawn when two rockets fired from a truck hit the U.S. base at Taji, 12 miles north of Baghdad, Air Force Lt. Col. Sam Hudspath said. U.S. helicopter gunships then destroyed the truck, the military said."

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040424_543.html

So apparently the launching system was destroyed - I doubt the rebels were in the truck at the time though, unless it was moving of course :)