Iraq: Out of the desert into Mosul (closed)

[JMA]

What is surprising me is the lack of ISIS and coalition to use their truck based 12.7s and heavier MG as a AAA against air attacks---they might in fact be using them but do not see the reporting of their use. They also have to have MANPADs as a few have been used in Syria

Do they know how? Been watching all the video on TV and YouTube etc and to be honest have yet to see the sights being used on these vehicle mounted HMGs when fired. Also there may well be a limitation on the elevation and ease of rotation on these home made mounts which make it impossible to engage aircraft.

MANPADS. Where did they get them from?

[OUTLAW 09]

Do they know how? Been watching all the video on TV and YouTube etc and to be honest have yet to see the sights being used on these vehicle mounted HMGs when fired. Also there may well be a limitation on the elevation and ease of rotation on these home made mounts which make it impossible to engage aircraft.

MANPADS. Where did they get them from?

JMA---the newer utilities they are using allows for a full swing and evaluation plus they have the heavier 14.5s with seats for the gunners---(saw in one video 23mm with gunner seats as well)---also mounted in a similar fashion.

They did shoot down several US types with the 12.7s before we left so the Mi-8 should not be a problem as it is slower at lower levels and a bigger target to shoot at----the Iraqi's do not have yet the new Russian Mi-35s which Russia was going to export to them.

The few that have been fired in Syria and shown in online videos were earlier models of Russian MANPADS which if reporting is correct is unusual as they were long past they expiration dates.

[Biggus]

They did shoot down several US types with the 12.7s before we left so the Mi-8 should not be a problem as it is slower at lower levels and a bigger target to shoot at----the Iraqi's do not have yet the new Russian Mi-35s which Russia was going to export to them.

I believe that a number have been delivered and have been active in the conflict.

I'm not entirely sure whether the Mi-28s have been flying sorties, though I assume they have been.

[OUTLAW 09]

I believe that a number have been delivered and have been active in the conflict.

I'm not entirely sure whether the Mi-28s have been flying sorties, though I assume they have been.

That is why ISIS has been probing Balad Airbase as that is the point where the Mi8s/35s were being flown into by Russia and then prepped. Balad was going to be the point as well for the F16s the US was going to be sending in---due to the length of the airfield runways.

Also the reason it appears that ISIS is gearing up to attack the base---would give them indirectly their own airforce.

But think they are really after the several hundred gun utilities and 114s used by JSOC before they pulled out.

Also taking Balad would be icing on the cake and a major strategic defeat of the ISFs ability to hold onto Sunni cities/towns.

ISIS and coalition have already taken FOB Speicher a really big airfield and major ISF supply depot and FOB Speicher when the US was there was always a Division headquarters FOB.

[OUTLAW 09]

Interesting Iranian drone/military forces article in the gulfnews.com from today quoting the New York Times.

Bahrain and KSA online news media sites have been rather quiet on Iraq ---actually way too quiet for my tastes outside of KSA reporting that Kerry arrived in the KSA for Iraqi talks.

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iran...iraq-1.1352494

[JWing]

My new article "Iraq’s Western Front Is Anbar Next To Fall?". Dec. 2013 is when the current fighting started in Iraq due to a rash decision by PM Maliki. He turned an offensive against ISIS as an attack upon the protest movement there. The insurgents immediately took advantage of the situation and Fallujah quickly fell. Since the June offensive started the ISF has collapsed in Anbar just like in northern Iraq and the entire province may fall in the coming days.

[JWing]

I believe that a number have been delivered and have been active in the conflict.

I'm not entirely sure whether the Mi-28s have been flying sorties, though I assume they have been.

Iraqi Army Aviation has been putting all the new Russian copters into service shortly after their arrival. There is plenty of video on youtube of their use.

[JWing]

report of the judge that sentenced Saddam being killed turned out to just be a rumor. He's alive and well.

[Biggus]

Do they know how? Been watching all the video on TV and YouTube etc and to be honest have yet to see the sights being used on these vehicle mounted HMGs when fired. Also there may well be a limitation on the elevation and ease of rotation on these home made mounts which make it impossible to engage aircraft.

MANPADS. Where did they get them from?

That's a ZU-23-2 in a very nearly standard mount welded into a light truck. Many of these things aren't nearly as modified as you might expect. I've seen DShKM MGs using the vast majority of their normal AA mounts welded into truck beds, too.

As to the more important (IMO) question, weren't there rumours that some of the MANPADS came from old Libyan stocks?

[OUTLAW 09]

That's a ZU-23-2 in a very nearly standard mount welded into a light truck. Many of these things aren't nearly as modified as you might expect. I've seen DShKM MGs using the vast majority of their normal AA mounts welded into truck beds, too.

As to the more important (IMO) question, weren't there rumours that some of the MANPADS came from old Libyan stocks?

There was some evidence and the US will not admit to it but when the air strikes started over Libya the Spectre C130s/A10s were held outside Libyan airspace out of fear of the SAM-6/8s and the Russian MANPAD threats.

US/NATO used hunter/killer (Reapers/Preds) drones against 6/8s and actually got kills on them.

For some strange reason the Libyan Army which had a truck mounted Russian MANPAD system never actually engaged with them.

Estimates where that Libya had over 24,000 of them at the start of the air campaign ---never heard if they were hit in their storage bunkers but seriously doubt it although the bunkers were hit hard a number of times---yes there have been rumors that a large number left Libya via smuggle routes--there was strangely a video carried on a Russian TV station claiming that the proRussian Ukrainians had shot down a M8 with a MANPAD but it turned out to be a battle video from Syria----they just used it in their infowar side and did not even taken out the ISIS logo.

If they were not destroyed in their bunkers then they are out there somewhere for the right price I am assuming.

[Biggus]

If they were not destroyed in their bunkers then they are out there somewhere for the right price I am assuming.

Probably a reasonable assumption. But why buy secondhand when you can purchase new?