Telegraph:
The attack which destroyed four tanks on the outskirts of Ajdabiya, came as rebel fighting intensified inside the city and reports came in of fighting in a second city, Misrata.
In Tripoli the Libyan government unwittingly showed journalists evidence of the accuracy of allied air strikes – the blackened skeleton of a 30ft high radar dish burned out on a hillside surrounded by trees. The leaves on the trees, even those hanging over the dish, were not even singed.
Dr Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, said British Tornado GR4 Aircraft took part in the missile strike on Thursday night.
"The Tornado aircraft launched a number of guided Brimstone missiles at Libyan armoured vehicles which were threatening the civilian population of Ajdabiya,” he said in a statement.
The attack was followed up by other coalition forces which destroyed another three tanks as the Tornados refueled in mid-air for a second bombing run.
...
Infra-red imaging gathered by a “Raptor” targeting pod attached to the Tornado showed that the tank’s engine was running, although it was not moving.
“It was stationary but warm, with its barrel pointing towards a town,” said Wg Cdr Turk, who is normally based at RAF Marham in Norfolk.
The Tornado fired one of its Brimstone laser-guided missiles, guiding it towards the tank with the targeting pod.
“The missile hit and penetrated the armour. There were secondary explosions which I believe were fuel and ammunition on board the tank.
“Fairly soon after we identified another tank in the local area, threatening the town, and my wingman fired his missile with a direct hit again.”
The Tornados identified a third tank but initially aborted their attack when they saw civilian vehicles moving in the vicinity.
Once the vehicles were clear they launched another missile and destroyed the tank. On the second run they found a fourth tank and hit that too.
...
Qaddafi does not have an answer to this kind of attack and would be wise to pull his remaining tanks out of the fight and go back to using snipers which are harder to hit even with precision weapons. The attrition he is enduring can probably not be sustained for many days much less weeks. If it is going to be a long war it will be fought with more indivdual weapons. The crew served weapons are clearly at risk.
Image via Wikipedia
Comments
Post a Comment