this went through the FA forums, but I find it interesting.

What could this 'thing' be???

 

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292236-2336437.php

I'll ask my bro, he might have an idea since he's an ammo specialist.

Aliens.

I dunno... maybe a modified .50 cal? From a barret? Who knows

Rampant speculation is always fun :)I speculate it was an Iraqi made tungsten sabot round fired from a recoiless rifle. The penetration results are to amateurish for it to be real Russian tech.

OK for more speculation: I'd guess a(n) depleted uranium/tungsten shell fired from a chinese rail gun

it was a small bullet, that's for suretoo small to be a .50cal, but it might beI was at first thinking an m82 rifle or something similar fired at close range. It was most likely a lucky shot too, a single bullet taking out a tank, amazing!

This one of those things that make you go, HMMMMM !!!!!!

Whatever it was, it seems most likely it simply a very lucky shot. I wonder what would have happened if the round hit the front armor and not the armor beind the skirt and tracks

IT WAS A FIREARMS FAMAS ROUND!!!!!!that is overpowered enough to take out an MBT, maybe it got that powerful in real life...Would be interesting to speculate along the lines of a "revolutionary" new type of rifle, (ie someone has developed an affective rail gun? -- wonder if there were any battleship size structures linked to nuclear power stations in the area). this could be anything.. i am sure an hollow tipped modified AT 50cal round would do something, if it hit maybe a flaw in the shell (one in a million shot i know but its possible)i am sure an RPG type shot would leave alot more flashing around the exit of the 1st hole, and it probably would have blown the guys kidney all over the front of his seat!,,..

yeah, it probably was the Mk IV thermonuclear EM-RAP-DU hollow point tungsten penetrator round fired from a FAMAS at 20000 yards. One way or another, thank god no one was killed. Sometimes I wonder if the Iraqis are fighting us and themselves because they are bored and have nothing better to do.

I believe Saddam Loyalists have obtained one of those old WWII railguns:

 

http://www.hobbycentre.com.au/leopold.jpg

 

that pic is just a drawing of one, I couldn't find any good real photos...they were massive though

Well, by railgun, I think they're talking about an electromagnetic rail-gun. Basically accelerating munitions through the use of a magnetic field on a long metal rail. Theoretically, you can get stuff moving pretty fast on one of those, but it requires lots of energy and a large rail. Therefore you won't find some guy carrying one around. Maybe they had one of those special rifles they had in "Eraser," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (omgosh I spelled it right without having to look it up! 8)) and Vanessa Williams. Those were cool, with their special X-ray scopes.

 

Maybe they did create one of those. Here's a "scientific" explanation of what may have been used. 8)

http://www.geocities.com/yuenkitmun/sf-eraser.html

http://home.insightbb.com/~jmengel4/rail/rail-intro.html

hold on, I saw something when searching for pic...

here it is:

maybe some of you smarties can understand it

http://www.islandone.org/LEOBiblio/SPBI113.HTM

 

anyway, railguns are possible, just not in compact, soldier form

The railgun I was talking about is electromagnetic an I dont think a the Barrett M82 has enough uumph to make it through the abrams depleted uranium armor.

IT WAS A FIREARMS FAMAS ROUND!!!!!!

 

that is overpowered enough to take out an MBT, maybe it got that powerful in real life...

 

Would be interesting to speculate along the lines of a "revolutionary" new type of rifle, (ie someone has developed an affective rail gun? -- wonder if there were any battleship size structures linked to nuclear power stations in the area). this could be anything.. i am sure an hollow tipped modified AT 50cal round would do something, if it hit maybe a flaw in the shell (one in a million shot i know but its possible)

 

i am sure an RPG type shot would leave alot more flashing around the exit of the 1st hole, and it probably would have blown the guys kidney all over the front of his seat!,,..

Shotty I think you got it !!!!!

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