Great Blog of Urban Combat in Mosul

[Waitone]

First person account with photos.

http://www.michaelyon.blogspot.com/?BMIDS=17063176-43e6075b-76337

 

[Cosmoline]

Excellent blog--and some very rare photos of an ambush as it happens.

BUT THIS IS COMPLETELY, TOTALLY, AND ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!!

Prosser shot the man at least four times with his M4 rifle. But the American M4 rifles are weak--after Prosser landed three nearly point blank shots in the man's abdomen, splattering a testicle with a fourth, the man just staggered back, regrouped and tried to shoot Prosser.

God grief what's it going to take?! How many accounts do we need before this weapons system is replaced with something appropriate for killing terrorists before they can kill you? It burns me. I've had bargain bin, 100 year old rifles that would blast a man in half at that range when loaded with the proper SP bullets.

 

[thereisnospoon]

Wow, I am almost speechless...

Almost.

I'll be saying a few extra prayers for our service men and women tonight.

 

[Mulliga]

God grief what's it going to take?!

Training our soldiers not to shoot people in the gut.

 

[armedandsafe]

Prosser shot the man at least four times with his M4 rifle. But the American M4 rifles are weak--after Prosser landed three nearly point blank shots in the man's abdomen, splattering a testicle with a fourth, the man just staggered back, regrouped and tried to shoot Prosser.

God grief what's it going to take?! How many accounts do we need before this weapons system is replaced with something appropriate for killing terrorists before they can kill you? It burns me. I've had bargain bin, 100 year old rifles that would blast a man in half at that range when loaded with the proper SP bullets.

We aren't going to get SP bullets, so figure out something else. :banghead: Note that the hits were lower COM. Gut shot animals are known to have a lot of energy left. I've seen a deer running over the hill towards me, tripping on his own guts.

I'm not trying to critique this guy's ability. I know exactly how hard it is to get calculated shots off at point blank range. However, when the SHF, training takes over. If you have trained enough, your muscles will do what you want while your mind is running around in circles, screaming.

My son has talked to me about the training they got before deploying. As Rangers, they received more individual small arms training than most grunts, but even that was not enough. He had enough training growing up and after to survive, but he said there were a couple of times when he didn't realize he was doing anything until after it was all over. That is the type of situation where repetition to the point of boredom is what keeps you alive.

Pops

 

[LawDog]

Deuce Four is an overwhelmingly aggressive and effective unit, and they believe the best defense is a dead enemy. They are constantly thinking up innovative, unique, and effective ways to kill or capture the enemy; proactive not reactive. They planned an operation with snipers, making it appear that an ISF vehicle had been attacked, complete with explosives and flash-bang grenades to simulate the IED. The simulated casualty evacuation of sand dummies completed the ruse.

The Deuce Four soldiers left quickly with the "casualties," "abandoning" the burning truck in the traffic circle. The enemy took the bait. Terrorists came out and started with the AK-rifle-monkey-pump, shooting into the truck, their own video crews capturing the moment of glory. That's when the American snipers opened fire and killed everybody with a weapon. Until now, only insiders knew about the AK-monkey-pumpers smack-down.

I like the way that CO thinks.

LawDog

 

[Cosmoline]

I just don't see why we're adhering to a stupid 100+ year old Eurotrash convention that we never even signed onto in the first place. No matter how you slice it FMJ bullets are horribly and wholly inadequate for killing things. We all know this, and here it is in our face. Yes gutshot animals do run off. But if this soldier had put three .30 caliber SP bullets into someone's lower COM I can just about guarantee he wouldn't have to tackle the guy and get bit by him afterwards. There would BE no lower COM after that. With the right bullets here would be three enormous swaths of meat ripped out of the fellow, including parts of his back muscles and spine that he needs to keep fighting.

Besides, this is in no way, shape or form formal combat between declared enemies. These soldiers are fighting in self defense against rank terrorists, and in such situations the rules of Hague go right out the window. Even the military JAG folks admit this when pressed. Soldiers can use anything and everything to defend their lives. Even if they're stuck with the .233 it's still going to function much better as a SP. The .223 FMJ *sometimes* blows up in *some* configurations at *some* speeds, but sometimes it just blows a .22" hole through a person, which is not going to stop them soon enough unless it's in their head or heart.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

Yes gutshot animals do run off. But if this soldier had put three .30 caliber SP bullets into someone's lower COM I can just about guarantee he wouldn't have to tackle the guy and get bit by him afterwards.

Does that include .38 SPL SWC's?

 

[Cosmoline]

Out of a carbine--maybe. Certainly a JSP .357 out of a Marlin would blast a huge piece of meat out of someone at that range.