Monday, July 30, 2007

Heavy LTTE infiltration in Mannar

Sri Lanka Army's military intelligence corps (MI) have learnt that a large number of LTTE intelligence wing members have infiltrated SLA controlled territory in Mannar. LTTE cadres disguised as civilians have been able to enter SLA controlled areas and mix in with the civil population in the region. Disrupting civilian life, launching hit and run attacks on army convoys, gathering intel on future army offensives in the region and locating SLA artillery and MBRL positions are supposed to be the main objectives of these LTTE intelligence wing members.

LTTE senior leadership is concerned about a future army offensive into Wanni heartland through the Mannar region.  Loss of Thampanai/Madhu regions to the army could cause the major sea tiger base in Silawathurei fall. Silawathurei is a known sea tiger launching pad and many LTTE suicide boats are said to be launched from here. MI learns that LTTE has dug additional trenches and a 3rd bunker line after heavily mining the no-man-zone ahead of Mannar FDLs. 

202 comments:

  1. This could become a big problem, I wish our guys do a lot of counter-intelligence work to confuse and deceive the LTTE.
    It's about time we started monitoring RF/cellular channels in the area. SL SIGINT needs to acquire equipment to intercept SATCOM transmissions. Best of luck to our lads!

    DefneceNet,

    Has a new Div. HQ been set up in mannar?

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  2. Has a new Div. HQ been set up in mannar?
    Isn’t Mannar area Tank Country? Maybe the Mech. Infantry might have some work soon!

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  3. "Has a new Div. HQ been set up in mannar?"

    Yes 57th Division. In fact it was established around two months ago.

    Meanwhile SLA has just raised 58th division as an offensive formation in Weli Oya region.

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  4. David Blacker said:

    Kiri, do you expect soldiers to lie on the floor of the bus for the entire bumpy ride over NE and NC roads?

    Well they wouldnt mind it if it saved their lives would they?

    A little imagination needed here..

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  5. Thanks DefenceNet,

    About the Div's.

    Generally how many Brigades are they made up of? Does it wary from Div. to Div?
    Do each Div have a Fire support company/battalion attached to it?

    The Mech Div. are they only made up of APC's or are MBT's also assigned to them?

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  6. Hi everyone, check this out!

    DefenceNet, u have heard of this news

    http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6744

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  7. "Well they wouldnt mind it if it saved their lives would they?"

    Yeah, I'm sure they'd stand on their heads bollock naked too if it'd save their lives, but let's be practical, Kiri. Try lying on your stomach in a CTB bus from Bamba to Wella and see how you like it, then multiply that ten times to compensate for the bloody horrible roads in the north, then try it for six hours. Still think I'm being unimaginative?

    What then happens if they hit a landmine that detonates under the vehicle? What do they do then, stand up?

    Come on, if we're going to send troops in unarmoured takarang buses, they're gonna fucking die. No two words about it.

    There have been suggestions of using reinforced chassis for armoured troop compartments, and that's realistic. Trying to save time and money by asking troops to do gymnastics is just dumb. Sorry if I'm blunt, but this isn't Hollywood.

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  8. Defencenet,

    " Loss of Thampanai/Madhu regions to the army could cause the major sea tiger base in Silawathurei fall."

    Isn't Silavatura just north of Willpaththu and South of Mannar-Vavuniya FDL. How do the Tigers maintain a base in the Army controlled area?

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  9. Yes it will be a blow to the morale of the soldiers if we say to lie down in their journey. War is hard tactic that needs lot of mind power as well and we always need to give our heroes positive messages. Just transoporting them in aluminium takarang busses is simply making them sitting ducks for the tigers. We do have armour plated busses and there is no possibility that we cant convert most of the busses to have some sort of protecting in terms of jammers or armour plate or... There should not be any issue with the cost because if we can spend millions for the worthless politicains vehicles, why cant we provide armour plated transport carriers for the heroes who die there to keep the integrity of the country.

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  10. "It's about time we started monitoring RF/cellular channels in the area. SL SIGINT needs to acquire equipment to intercept SATCOM transmissions. "

    would the telcos in our region be able to help out the army?

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  11. i mean sure, the LTTE aren't on a phone plan with the telcos (lol) but they do use their satellites, right? so could the satellite owners help out?

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  12. I agree with some of the suggestions here that if we are going design an armored bus, we should use a heavy duty TATA or Leyland Chassis to deal with the added weight of armor.

    The U.S. makes an armored bus called the Rhino. It is used in Iraq and costs about $275,000 per bus. We can make a similar bus for a fraction of the cost.

    http://www.hemmy.net/2006/03/12/
    rhino-runner-toughest-bus-in-the-world/

    Kiri

    David is right. If the soldiers lie down on the floor of the bus, then they are grilled meat if a landmine explodes under them. Those rocky and bumpy roads in the NE will punish anyone who lies on the floor of the bus.

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  13. I am worried with LTTE goons inflitrating the government controlled mannar regions. I guess its hard to stop them completely when we come disguised as civilians.

    What I am worried about most is the LTTE infiltrators being able to pinpoint our artillery and MBRL positions and transfering that info to their fellow goons on the other side of the FDL. With that info they can accurately fire their artillery to hit and destroy our artillery positions.

    Whats the best way to counter this?

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  14. was just reading that the feast day at madu shrine is august 15 and they're expecting a crowd this year because of the 'peace corridors' that have been organised by our govt at the behest of the vatican. a human rights trap waiting to happen or what?! furthermore could these corridors be a way for the ltte to move more manpower into the region?

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  15. Slight correction on my previuos post.

    *****"I guess its hard to stop them completely when THEY come disguised as civilians."*****

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  16. HEY GUYS,
    A SAM and AA gun has been found in the thoppigala area!! The AAA is a 12.7mm.

    Check MCNS report: http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=6796

    More arms and ammo left behine by the tigers are been found in the thoppigala area.

    David,

    With regard to the RCL's, when you were in the army did the RCL's have "canister" rounds?

    Jiffy,

    I'm sure the Gov. can make it mandatory for TeleCo's to help the forces out, i think it is already been done.
    But We should have DF(Directional Finders) and UHF/VHF spectrum jammers working in the area. This would enable the army to locate Tiger radio sets(while they transmit only) and call for a Arty strike on the location. The High powered UHF/VHF jammers would give a RF free bubble around it.
    You can Jam GPS to a certain degree too. The Yugoslavians tried to do that when NATO bombed them back in the 1990's.

    Do that and fire correction and target acquisition for the tigers would become all the harder... :)

    Goldeneagle,

    I think we should keep our formations mobile and not static. And if possible screen the people coming in to the mannar area, this is hard work. Lot more must be done.

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  17. Hello sf-admirer-We need to save the politicians too.You cannot have them dying because it will destabilise the govt leading to elections which wil cost more money (which can be better spent on our brave troops)than protecting their lives.So lets say we have brought politicians lives cheaply with cars.Also politicos are people who can galvenise the population into helping the brave soldiers.
    The LTTE is worried about the satbility of the govt-beefburger sampanthan's comments to LTTE supporters in london about topling govt.ON a happier note (according to my friend)the LTTE hunger strike is not working and deportations are taking place-watch out for a stuttgart(cant remember the airport) style undressing as happened much earlier in germany in order to stay in the "West".

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  18. "A SAM "

    Hmm now why wouldn't the LTTE have tried to use that SAM? or even taken it with them, they are not that difficult to move (compared to a mortar or their MBRL), especially given how desperate we assume they are to get SAMs?

    Maybe its a varient that isn't very effective against current SALF assets?

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  19. Of course all these "hunger strikes" are in the US,CANADA,EEC,AUSTRALIA...hmm is a pattern emerging here?Why no hunger strikes in nigeria,tanzania,madagascar..etc..

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  20. We need to have a national Database of Terrorists that can be shared among Security Forces, Immigration, and other law enforcement authorities. This online DB should have the ability to store their pictures, personal information, and other bio-metric information.

    It should have authenticated secure Internet Access.

    This should be complemented with Picture and Fingerprint matching software.

    Field Units should be established in Thin-client mode at Entry Exist Points, Defence Establishments, and Airports.

    Mobile Units should be created to access/verify data.

    There are many modes this DB can be implemented, and costs will vary depending on the execution. However, such DB would be an immense asset to our security forces.

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  21. A lot of the SAMs LTTE has are old and dysfunction. The shelf life of most has passed and they probably didn't expect most of them to be useless otherwise they would have made a greater effort to buy during the last few years. Now they are desperate to buy news SAMs.....

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  22. I think LTTE is in a well planned operation to get Mannar. Since they lost East they need to get some thing else. Keepng Mannar is under SLA is very importent as keeping Jaffna, Trinco or Welioya. Arrival of 100s of charls anthony (if it is true) probably for a big target not just to give safe passage to other cadres. However it is said still thier leaders are in East.

    BTW, What's the problem with wearing bullet proof jackets when travelling unarmoured buses?

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  23. David why dont soldiers wear flack jackets-bull proof wests in busses I know it must be very uncomfortable due to the warm weather and sounds pretty cruel but is not saving their lives from a mine explosion more important than the level of comfort?.will wearing these bullet proof wests help in this situation because are you not trying to stop metal balls hitting you at high velocity?

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  24. CCC, Why would LTTE want to capture Mannar Island (they already control Mannar mainland)? Holding that Island would be too much of a task for LTTE because SLDF can always land and attack them....

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  25. CCC im in agreement with you on an impending "big LTTE operation" in Mannar.Lets hope they use a large number of LTTE cadres and god willing the airforce gunships make mincemeat of them.those Russian gunships are "nice"!!I just feel so sorry for the kids though and we should try to save as many as we can by controlled "ambushes" if possible compelling them to surrender.

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  26. CCC an LTTE operation in mannar is also a "good thing" in one way.. since the operation is "offensive" in nature you need to have cadres which makes it an ideal opportunity to kill them.

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  27. goldeneagle these LTTE infiltrators are "spotters" for LTTE artillary barrages.We come back to the sad truth that we have not destroyed many long range guns.

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  28. kbs, 'LTTE wnats Mannar' is my guess based on information appers in public and my own judgment. It is the MI who should find out exact things. Eventhough LTTE controls partly SLA also there in Mannar. IF LTTE makes SLA withdraw completely from Mannar LTTE gain a lot.

    1) They will totaly control whole costal area from Punerin to Puththalama. This will facilitate movements to/from Tamilnadu and arms smuggling. This will boost sea-tiger operatoins.
    2) Then Vavnia will also be unsafe.
    3) Sea-tigers will for sure attack all the sinhalese fishermen in puththalama/halawatha areas. They did same even earlier few times. Which means coastal ares upto Negambo is unsafe.
    4) It will make the Colombo harbour too unsafe.
    5) Attack to mannar is not only about land. I think LTTE is planning to get at least one of our MBRLs.
    6) At this point LTTE need some victory for moral boosting, more recruitments and tax collections-overseas. Also such a thing will reverse the "trend".

    On the othar hand loosing Mannar to LTTE will be same as loosing East. I think it becomes easy to clear Wilpaththu too if we get Mannar fully.
    __________________________________________

    I think comandos do wear bulet proof jackets in ofensives. If it save your life no matter what you should do that. (Even sleeping on the foor of the bus-but it will not save you.) I don't htink it is big trouble to wear such jacket.

    __________________________________________

    BTW, No air-tiger movements after it was detected near Trinco few weeks ago. I guess their target is Trinco harbour.

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  29. "an LTTE operation in mannar is also a "good thing" in one way.. since the operation is "offensive" in nature you need to have cadres which makes it an ideal opportunity to kill them."-Srilankan

    There were only one time in history we did this perfectly. It is Welioya attack under Janaka Perera. He had all the info. Though we do same mistakes again LTTE don't.

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  30. CCC- sadly contrary to what i said before these guys are not going to launch "conventional attacks".no they will rely on the artilley guns.I wonder if that story about them having a base in wilpattu is true since the murder of a large number of people civilian/army.

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  31. guys,

    i read the sunday defence journals and it is interesting to note that none of them mention about the sea tiger incident.

    also they give a very bleak view on the war. though we have had the upper hand military for the past year, according to these articles very soon these will be reverses. also in the political and economic front the government isnt doing well.

    oil prices arent necessarily the governments fault. here in american gas prices increase almost everyday by 2-3 cents.

    your thoughts/suggestion?

    Ares

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  32. Yep sl, we need to accept that LTTE is innovative and determined.

    ares, Some of these sunday newspapers are just LTTE propaganda. Reverse of the trend is the expectation of some of the people.

    If you analyse the 25 years of war you can find the answer. Even a 1% success rate of LTTE can be 100% disaster for us. So you need to keep their success rate at zero which is very difficult. One incident like Katunayaka attack can turn this by 180. That's why you need to take high profile LTTE leaders out and get checkmate.

    As I can see their is little corrilation between war and COL. UNF goernment stopped the war but still the price of good went up not down.

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  33. As we all know the MBRLs used by the army is the most devastating weapon the LTTE has faced. No wonder they are determined to capture one.

    I bet one of the reasons the LTTE is biding its time and carefully planning it's next offensive to capture Jaffna is because its hard to overcome the barrage of the army's MBRLs stationed in Jaffna. Any LTTE advance in an attempt to take Jaffna can easily be shredded to bits by the continous fire from our 122mm MBRLs.

    I think if the LTTE managed to capture an army MBRL they will use it their attempt to re-capture Jaffna. I think that the whole LTTE offensive into Jaffna city will be build around this powerful weapon.

    But that raises an interesting question. Even if the LTTE managed to capture one of our 122mm MBRLs, where would they get the rockets to fire from the MBRL? Trying to capture rockets from an army depot is very dangerous and difficult. It could easily end in disaster for the LTTE if one of those heavy rockets blows up thereby also blowing up other rockets close by as well.

    I have a gut feeling that maybe the LTTE found a supplier(most likely from SE Asia) to sell them some 122mm rockets. All they have to do is capture an army MBRL and the rest will fall into place.

    Then again I could be wrong about all this. What do you guys think?

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  34. goldeneagle,

    What you are saying a very real possibility. At this point LTTE wants another Mulathivu type win to boost the morale. We saw some of their best fire power during their attempts to attack Jaffna and Trinco last year. It is very very likely as you say that they are going after a MBRL. At the same time, they are not in a position to concentrate too much of fire power to one location since it will open up many other fronts to SLA. We should keep in mind that the Indian Navy is also present in Gulf of Mannar. Given all these, what LTTE is contemplating as the next step is hard to guess. I hope that our forces will take preemptive action to control this threat. I also hope that MI will be able to kill the infiltrators soon.

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  35. ares,

    What exactly is this defence journal you are reading? How can I get hold of a copy of this Sunday Journal? We saw this kind of predictions all the time. During the initial stage of Mavil Aru, I remember some defence analyst saying that "SL Army appear to be chewing more than it can swallow." However, it never hurts to be cautions and review such possibilities, even if it is LTTE propaganda.

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  36. "With regard to the RCL's, when you were in the army did the RCL's have "canister" rounds? "

    Nemesis, yes, they did.

    CCC, and SL, yes, it sounds sensible. The thing is these soldiers in the last ambush (and many others) are going home on leave. And the Army insists that all weapons & kit must be signed into the armoury at the operational base that the soldier is leaving. For instance, when I was at EPS, and going on leave, I had to fly to Palaly by chopper and catch a plane from there, but I had to hand in all my kit at EPS. So if the chopper went down en route or the Palaly base was attacked, I'd be defenceless. It's a bit dumb, but that's the Army for you. And the Service Corps (which runs most of the buses) doesn't have much combat kit like flak vests. maybe the Army should have a flak vest for every bus passenger assigned to the bus.

    CCC, most infantry units war flak vests (not just the Commandos), but they are not bullet-proof. Like the helmet, they just protect you from shrapnel.

    Goldeneagle, the Tigers will need more than an MBRL to capture Jaffna. Also, they are very easily detectable from the air.

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  37. David

    The LTTE are masters of hiding their most valuable weapons. They do a pretty good job onhiding and protecting their heavy artillery guns.

    I wouldn't put it past the LTTE to be able to come up with a plan to protect a captured MBRL while using it against our troops.

    BTW why can't more soldiers be wearing real bullet-proof vests instead of the lighter flak vests? I know Lanka manufactures both these types of vests. We now also manufacture ballistic helmets, I say lets get them to the troops in the front lines as well.

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  38. What can one or two MBRLs (the advanced kind RM70) do for LTTE?

    Stop worrying.

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  39. Defense Net,

    It seems every enemy of the state is allied now.
    All foreign media, all countries that looking for the collapse which results the unsteady Island that they can control.
    We all have to be united and stick together at least this purposely made crisis is over

    http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/41D90602-2717-4E42-B47B-180816031476.htm

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  40. Goldeneagle, guns and howitzers are easier to hide than MBRLs. If you've seen the latter being fired, you'd have seen that there's a distinctive and highly visible rocket track leading from the fired round to the launcher.

    True bullet proof vests are either very heavy (ceramic plates) like the chicken plates the chopper crews wear, or very expensive lightweight ones that cops and special forces wear in the west. The heavy types are usually impractical for everyday use by infantrymen 'cos they are too heavy, bulk, and hot. In western armies they are used in specialist situations. The light weight expensive stuff is well... expensive.

    as I told you, the ballistic helmets are NOT bullett proof, though they can stop low velocity rounds and give some protection at high angles of impact.

    Point is, body armour isn't what we should be looking at for convoy protection. The vehicles should be armoured. There's no point wearing vests if the engine gets hit and the bus goes up like a Zippo. The soldiers will look like KFC, vests or no.

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  41. Guys,

    The SAM found is a SA-14 GREMLIN also known as Strela-3 9M36-1.

    Check MCNS : http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=6796

    they have posted photos.

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  42. Thanks David.Encouraging bit of news nemesis.Even if armoured vechile bodies are used what is to stop the cadres blowing up the tires and assaulting the defenseless solidiers inside the trucks-like they assault busses filled with civilians.

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  43. Ya it’s Strela(NATO name is the GREMLIN) type 9p59 is the launcher and I wonder whether here’s missile in it?
    Anyway in bullet proof jacket Kevlar jackets are light and as I know, there’s a sri lanakan company making the outfits.
    And DefenseNet can’t we use tactical shields for soldiers who are patrolling everyday to the some formation we have to come up with some sort of inventions may be the best out of the countries that are using counter terror tactics, the theory can be evaluated through a computer generated simulation programs
    For that I recommend we better send our engineering guys to some military tech countries and established a R&D facility here
    I feel right now must assess our WAR find the best that we can offer for the situation again.

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  44. http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=6796
    According to iqbal athas it seems that the "war" is only beginning.

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  45. SL, the APCs could be fitted with self-sealing or run-flat tires. But in most of these ambushes there has not been any small arms fire, just the IEDs.

    Patriot, Kevlar isn't necessarily bullet-proof.

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  46. Please be focus on the fact that LTTE's mega plan to attack Jaffna and proclaim ealam..

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  47. The infiltration in Mannar is disturbing and it will help LTTE's greater plans for Jaffna.

    From mannar to Katunayake is not too far..If they take Mannar other cities along the West coast is vulnerable.Then Jaffna will be more isolated.

    LTTE gave up East to attack Jaffna.They have enough man power for that now with the Eastern caders.In their plan for East is to mount hit and run attacks on Trinco while attacking Jaffna.(a major attack on Trinco cannot be ruled out either).

    They will use all their resources to attack Jaffna this time..

    The reason for that is.

    If the LTTE failed that operation then they will be doomed.
    It is a make or break situation for the LTTE.

    History shows that LTTE will attempt many times to attack Jaffna by crippling Trinco. This will repeat forever until they achived their goals.

    The other possibility is to delay the GOSL Northern push by a massive commando operation outside of North and East.Colombo is already in their Radar..
    So my guess is Colombo harbour, Oil storage tanks and Kelanitissa power station are their no 1 targets.



    Most analysts believe that LTTE will attack Jaffna to proclaim Ealam.I know this for a fact.

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  48. Tangara be cool o.k. Trust the top brass of the military o.k.?

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  49. Hey,can someone pls confirm whether the SLA operates any BMP-3 IFV'S?& if so,how many.I understand that we operate BMP-1'S & 2'S currently wit the Tigers operating around 4?Also, our T-55 MBT looks similar to a T-72 from some angles!!.Keep up the good work on this site.its superb!

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  50. LTTE will not be successful if tried to capture Jaffna on any offensive.

    GOSL recently acquired some new systems that would take crap out of LTTE, if any attempt was made.

    But we have to be worried about any offensive or defensive made where there are civilians.

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  51. This should be quite informative to some of you folks who have misconceptions about body armour, its called 'resistant' for a reason.

    http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot16.htm

    (BTW the boxotruth is a great site to answer all your what if questions regarding guns and ammunition as he has pretty much tested them all, from jugs of water to bullet 'resistant' glass )

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  52. sorry guys forgot to mention, pay special attention to the 7.62mm round fired from an AK on page 5 of that link!

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  53. noltte=peace,

    "GOSL recently acquired some new systems that would take crap out of LTTE, if any attempt was made"
    Could you be more specific?

    DefenceNet and David,

    Since the area ahead of the Mannar FDL’s are heavily mined, Sappers will have their work cut out.

    Does the SL Army use Mine clearance line chargers? I have not seen our MBT been equipped with roller or chains counter mine systems.
    If APM and ATM are not cleared fast this could slow down our formations forward thrust.
    This will also mean Armor will move slowly or suffer losses.

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  54. Thanks, Jack, for that link. That's what I mean -- many people think flak vests are magic bullet-proof stuff.

    Nemesis, I've never seen tanks with mine-clearing kit either. I do remember air-burst arty rounds being used to clear mine fields, but I guess line charges are used too.

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  55. These LTTE coolies have killed another 3 soldiers in Jaffna by mine.

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  56. I do not the LTTE is stupid enough to go for break to capture Jaffna. They are short on cadres, especially well trained cadres. They're forcing recruits to join but these recruits aren't ready...

    They also have fallen further behind GOSL in military technology. They don't have many SAMs and haven't found a way to deal with RM70. SLDF has a superior military in terms of manpoower and technology.

    No way LTTE will try all out on Jaffna. I think LTTE will look for more terrorist type attacks...

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  57. Hello kbs.. the LTTE policy is to kill and keep killing civilians and troops in the most inhumane and brutal manner possible.What they are planning is to keep killing so they can show pictures of gruesome murders to the disphora to get funds.If they capture MBRL an additional bonus. IF the british did what gordon brown is doing now 30 yrs ago this war would be over by now.

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  58. these 3 soldiers were killed when going for a bath at a well.What a way to die..

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  59. Nemesis,

    I am sorry, but I will wait until some jackass reporter breach confidentiality of the system to confirm that's what I mentioned.

    However, one of the most disturbing factors I heard was LTTE is still clearing many warlike material including C4 shipments through Colombo Port thanks to few corrupt officials who do not examine the containers of certain people (despite having modern scanners).

    To win against this LTTE mania, some of the things that we should do include, pressure foreign governments to totally stop LTTE fund-raising (despite recent cosmetic arrests, LTTE is raising millions of $ abroad every month), strenghtening Navy stopping all the sea movements of LTTE, Monitor all the Containers that go to dubious parties through a special investigations unit (outside of current port officials), and winning hearts and minds of moderate Tamil folks, and innovate for god sake innovate.

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  60. noltte=peace-
    It is sad about corrupt customs officials.I think of it this way.this is the best way for MI to see through who these items end up in LTTE hands-identify the contacts in both cleared and uncleared areas.Also the good have to change lorries when going into uncleared areas.

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  61. noltte=peace if you want to stop weapons destined for the LTTE coming into the country would not MI place their operatives in customs?

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  62. srilanka,

    Your response isn't really a response to my claim that LTTE would be dumb if they attacked Jaffna.

    Of course they would love to kill soldiers, but attacking Jaffna will end up killing THEM too. LTTE will carry out smaller attacks and terrorist type attacks and will regroup for a year at least.....

    If they do attack Jaffna, then that would be a gift to SLDF.

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  63. kbs not if they infilterate jaffna and kill soldiers by planting mines.They are probably thinking that killing a large number of soldiers will force the govt to withdraw troops due to extremely high casualties say due to public pressure.

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  64. Srilankan,

    We have been living in unfortunate times (and we see that we are just raising our heads to come out of the same)..

    There is a big LTTE support mafia working in Colombo. They are so big, connected, and so powerful. Simple example is that despite identifying where the bomb was assembled and who were behind, the terrorist mafia behind 'Digampathana Massacre' was not taken into custody, letting them slip-away.

    BTW, anyone know what happened to the Tamil businessman who shipped GPS devices consealed in Television sets? Still doing business well.. hah! How if something happened in USA or UK?

    It is heard that LTTE shipments come to transhipment point and loaded into major shipping lines at intermediatory ports and reach Colombo mixed with commercial goods.

    Good intel, container path tracking, and regular scanning are some steps that can be taken.

    They also use 'bonded warehouses' to unload the goods before Custom Officials visit and reseal the containers with forged Customs seals.. and it is sad to hear that when the right amount is exchanged, some officials do not even see the container, and only visit the site office and take the trip back after signing the documents. These are what we have to content with while fighting a highly organised terrorist group.

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  65. noltte=peace very interesting piece of info regarding corrupt customs officers.Am i right in thinking that these mechanisms were started during and before the CFA?.how do we get this info to the army?

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  66. BTW, you may know that Sri Lankan Customs has a 'Special Investigations Unit'.

    You know what the other corrupt officials do.. when they do not get the right 'fees', they refer all the containers to this SIU, making them clogged with containers of genuine importers.. even the containers with belongings of Phd students who did their Phd's abroad (you will hardly find anything worth in those containers other than used items etc.. and these students do not feel like paying exorbident amounts that are demanded)..

    So, that kind of mean acts of some of the corrupt officials clogg the SIU with large number of containers to inspect.

    In fact, the real culprits grease the palms anyway and take out their containers, without SIU seeing any.

    At the port, what we need is an SIU for economic viloations and a separate SIU for Terrorism Prevention. Terrorism Prevention SIU should operate on terrorism related intel despite whether the normal customs officers refer a container to them or not.

    These special SIU should be rewarded well for their findings.

    Srilankan.. btw, this is happenning for more than 20 years and still keeps continuing...and it is a very open secret!

    ReplyDelete
  67. "can someone pls confirm whether the SLA operates any BMP-3"

    WE have around 24 BMP-3s

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  68. noltte=peace since this is an open secret now is not the time to sort it.This is something that needs to be sorted during peace time.I am sure the govt will sort it in due course.Sadly we cannot open this can of worms now even if it is helping the LTTE since the president cant fight 2 wars-one against the LTTE and another against corruption because the chances are some sinhala "jayawewa" goat will murder the president and then what will happen?

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  69. noltte=peace to understand the presidents plan of action we must see what happens with tiral alles

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  70. noltee=peace Do you think the police are doing a better job now MRs presidency?.My previous comment should not be taken as an offense by any patriotic Slankan who wants the LTTE decimated.

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  71. David

    I never said that our troops should wear bullet-proof vests while travelling in a bus so that it will provide them with convoy protection. You and I both know that body armor will not make a rat's a** of a difference if the unarmored bus is hit with a power road side bomb.

    Maybe I wasn't clear in my earlier post. I think that any infantryman who operates in the front lines should be wearing a bullet-proof vest. I know it is heavy and is hard to wear in the hot weather but its only a little price to pay for live saving protection. Damn it, back in the day our soldiers used to wear extremely heavy vests filled with sand(poor man's body armor), because they did not have genuine body armor. Nowadays as you know Lanka now manufactures ceramic body armor that even the rich Saudis have brought. Since ceramic body armor is now manufactured in Lanka, I think that every soldier OPERATING IN THE FRONT LINES should be wearing one.

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  72. goldeneagle..however these soldiers were on leave and due to military policy had to hand in all army issue

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  73. Here is the way to capture Jaffna.

    http://www.lankatruth.com/Sinhala_News/Sinhala_Fullstory_Page/SFP_%202007/SFP_July/SFP_07_31/SFP_20070731_02.htm

    BTW, What happened to the other traitors got cought earlier by MI? I heard 1 major was sentenced to death by the court but president didn't implement it as usual.

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  74. David

    I don't think that if the LTTE fires a captured army MBRL that it would be easy for us to trace the smoke trails on the rockets and spot and destroy the MBRL. Following the smoke trails on the rockets fired is a good idea in theory, but remember the LTTE would have already moved the MBRL when our airforce comes to attack.

    As you know unlike 120mm,130mm, 152mm tow(has to be pulled manually) artillery used the LTTE, the army MBRLs are mounted on heavy duty trucks. All the LTTE has to do is to aim and fire all 40 rockets in mere seconds and drive the MBRL away from the area it was fired from. By the time the airforce shows us there will be no MBRL in sight.

    Come on David, did you honestly think that the LTTE would be stupid enough to fire rockets from a captured army MBRL and hang around in the same area till the airforce showed up? The LTTE are mass murdering thugs but remember they are CUNNING mass murdering thugs.

    Besides the LTTE would also carefully camouflage the MBRL with foliage. Ever see how some of our army soldiers who operate in the jungles attach branches and other foliage to their helmets for camouflage purposes? Well the LTTE will most likely apply the same camouflage techniques to hide their captured MBRL, so that it cannot be spotted from the sky by an UAV.
    --------------------------

    Look man, the LTTE goons know the power of the army's 122mm MBRLs. They fear it and can't match it's firepower with anything they have. I think their new motto with regards to the army's 122mm MBRLs is "If you can't beat them, join them". In other words they want to grab a hold of one of our MBRLs.

    The LTTE has shown in the past that they do certain things for a reason, so there must be a real legimate reason they are so hell bent on capturing one of our MBRLs. My gut feeling as I said before is that they want to use the captured army MBRL for their next invasion of Jaffna. Thats why VP exerting so much effort to secure one of our MBRLs.

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  75. Sri Lankan

    I don't consider that traveling on a bus when on leave as operating in the frontlines.

    I want soldiers who fight in the frontlines to be constantly be wearing body armor.

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  76. goldeneagle will wearing heavy body armour including an additional weight of what 50kg reduce their response time in battle?

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  77. "Well the LTTE will most likely apply the same camouflage techniques to hide their captured MBRL, so that it cannot be spotted from the sky by an UAV"

    Well the heat signature form the just fired MBRL would be easily spotted I think by the sensors on the UAVs.

    A similar technique was used to take out two 130mm LTTE guns at k-point last august. (of course they now have at least 4 more).

    When their positions were located by a SLAF beechcraft, through their heat signature.

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  78. SL, I jsut found that news and don't know more than that.

    Defencenet,

    can you please tell us whether this is true?

    http://www.lankatruth.com/Sinhala_News/Sinhala_Fullstory_Page/SFP_%202007/SFP_July/SFP_07_31/SFP_20070731_02.htm

    How can he make 108 CDs without getting cought? And 1 major can know all this info in jaffna?

    __________________________________________

    Need not to say we need to use armoured vehicles for transportation of soldiers everywhere in SL. LTTE first blasted clamore just after MR came to power targeting unarmed soldiers going on leave. Since then I think nealry 300 soldiers got killed by the same way again and again within few weeks. 10-20 per blast. (excluding Digampathana incedent) If you go to war and get killed in FDL we have to accept that. But there has to be way to protect them when they go for leave. As David says if you need to handover all the stuff why don't you come with a new procedure. (I mean if you travel on a normal bus.) If there is 40 seats yu can assign 40 jackets to bus, you wear it while traveling and hand it over to the driver at the end. If this can save 40 lives why bother about conveniance? Also I think in a bus there is 2 or 3 armed soldiers as well. So even th ey are ambushed those guys can do something if they are in good condition. And most importently you need to aviod tigers getting info regarding the bus, route, time etc. Without knowing this I think it is very difficult to wait until a army bus come and blast the clamore.

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  79. goldeneagle,

    What can the LTTE do with a capture MBRL? You think this will significant shift their chances of capturing Jaffna?

    They'll need several RM70s and a huge supply of missiles (where do they get this). And this not enough. They'll need a lot more cadres, amazing tactics and a whole lot of luck...

    I don't see it happening. 40K well armed troops can't be beaten by 3k rebels.

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  80. "I don't see it happening. 40K well armed troops can't be beaten by 3k rebels. "

    As the saying goes, never say never, 17K well armed troops were 'beaten' (forced to retreat) by 3K rebels at EPS, numbers don't always matter if the tigers manage to cut off supplies, like they tried to last year (Trinco / Palaly).

    So it is always best to be prepared for any eventuality.

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  81. The most important fact:We need to save our soldiers lives.

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  82. EPS was a perfect storm where everything went right for LTTE and nothing went right for SLDF. SL air force was also limitted because LTTE SAMs shot a few planes down and then airforced backed off. Also, SLDF was vulnerable because of the single water supply (they didn't repair their filters that could have made the salted water drinkable). Many things like this went perfectly wrong for SLDF. Also, the SLDF didn't have good MBRLs and many of the soldiers ran away and fell into traps...

    This is ONE military complex, not the whole peninsula.

    Last year LTTE was around Trinco, now they can't disrupt shipping from Trinc.

    My "guess" is that LTTE is going to revert to terrorist tactics (like these claymore mine events) for a year and regrooup in the meantime. They are forceably recruiting many people, and those will take time to train.

    It is LESS LIKELY that LTTE can do damage in Jaffna this time around than last year... and they failed last year!

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  83. kbs the LTTE will do lots of damage by trying to kill or brutally murder a lot of soldiers(or captured soldiers) since we appear to have killed a lot of theirs.This is also a morale booster for LTTE and an LTTE diasphora money machine.

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  84. You're stating the obvious, srilankan. It's war!

    LTTE can't win the war, but they clearly will be able to kill some soldiers.

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  85. kbs-how many soldiers have to die in order to save jaffna...20,000?

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  86. "My "guess" is that LTTE is going to revert to terrorist tactics (like these claymore mine events) for a year and regrooup in the meantime." -ksb
    LTTE don't need to 'revert' to terror tactics; They do it all the time together with other tactics.
    LTTE got the first artilary gun from pulukunava STF camp. Then you know how they used it at mulathiv and what happened. Rest is hostory. Imagine IF they get a MBRL what can (not) happen! Not Jaffna even P'naruwa bocomes unsafe.

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  87. srilankan,

    What are you saying? Seems like you don't like the idea of soldiers dying in Jaffna battles. Death will occur, but as long as they suffer more losses we can stop the LTTE.

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  88. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  89. When IPKF came we was wondering how to get rid of em. After they left now same people wondering how nice if they come back (and fight with tigers). Though no one expect a repetition of that, possibility of UN force arival can't be ruled out. Check this;
    http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6756
    Though not relates to ongoing military matters directly, topic worth discussing I beleive.

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  90. Arjuna Ranathunge's theory is one which is largly appicable to fighting between LTTE and SLDF. Every one knows Australia is the best. "We need to do things better than em just for one day"-this is Ranathunge's theory and it worked. Bangladesh follows same theory and kicked out India. (I am talking about cricket.) LTTE is a no match to SLDF. For 364 days SLA better than LTTE and 1 day LTTE better than SLA means disastor. You need to be better than LTTE all the time with zero success rate for LTTE. Easy to say-difficult to do.

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  91. Jack

    You are right an UAV(depends on the type) can spot the heat signature of a just fired MBRL. But the ground reality is that destroying a MBRL because of its heat signature can get tricky. You must also take other variable factors into consideration.

    For example if the LTTE fired a captured army MBRL. It will take time for the rockets to fly and hit their targets. The LTTE would by then have already driven the MBRL away, right after firing it. Once the rockets land on the target area will most of our forces try to track the postion of fire and UAVs flying in the sky will be told to go the area where the fire came from. When they arrive there will be no MBRL in sight. Most likely the MBRL is 20km-30km away high-tailing out of the scene at high speed(a RM-70 MBRL can hit speeds of upto 85kmph). The LTTE MBRL could be driven into an underground hangar several kilometers away from the are where they fired from. Once a MBRL withdraws into an underground hangar its impossible to pick up its heat signature.

    If we have a fleet of UAVS prowling the skies 24/7, then we might be lucky enough to pick up the heat signature of a just fired MBRL. We won't know when and where the LTTE would fire their MBRL from, so the chances having an UAV close by to pick up on the heat signature is slim since we only have a handful on UAVs.

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  92. Thats why we must protect our MBRLs at all cost. We must not let even one of them fall into the hands of the LTTE.

    I would rather see an army MBRL blown up into tiny pieces than in the hands of the LTTE.

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  93. I suspect maybe the LTTE found a supplier(most likely from Eastern Europe or SE Asia) to supply them with 122mm rockets.

    After all the army's RM-70 MBRLs and Type 81 MBRLs use 122mm rockets which by the way is the same type of rocket used in the most widely used MBRL in the world the soviet built BM-21 Grad. There are many countries that use the BM-21 grad so its not impossible for some of the 122m rockets used in the BM-21s ending up in the black market.

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  94. I'm sorry, but why all the "LTTE want MBRL" talk. Are there rumours that they are planning an attack to capture one?

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  95. "I'm sorry, but why all the "LTTE want MBRL" talk. Are there rumours that they are planning an attack to capture one? "

    Hi KBS, yes that was the rumour, remember the opperation the carried out a few weeks back, where they hit that SLA ammo dump and the buffel was lost etc. Apparently part of the plan was to also capture an MBRL then.

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  96. Army had engaged group of terrorists today morning at around 4.30 in Thambalagamuwa area of Kanthale. Those terrorists are said to be on the way towards north from Thoppi. According to Sirasa an operation is still going on this area.

    Any news on this incident.......?

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  97. DefenceNet,

    “WE have around 24 BMP-3s”

    YES!!! Wonderful! But are you sure we got them?

    IF we got BMP-3 that is a great boost for our boys in armor! The tigers will dread it.
    It’s Fast, packs a great punch (with the 100mm Low recoil and 30mm 2a42), it’s on tracks and takes a squad of assault infantry wit it!


    Noltte=peace,

    Thanks man, I understand. What you say is very true. Our Civil monitoring and enforcement apparatus is corrupt to the bone! We need to depoliticize our defence and law enforcement system! We are also in dire need of an inter-organizational intelligence network.(East German STASI comes to mind!)
    It’s true; this fact is no secret with regard to the port and customs, police and other Gov. civil orgs. Innovation is a must.

    I hope the Gov, gets plenty of cluster bombs (ones with thermobaric bomblets would come in handy) more MI-17v1 or more bell212/412’s. and AISR platforms.


    GoldenEagle and Jack,


    We should have small demolition chargers with delay time fuzes issued to each gun/weapon crew so that our military hardware like Artillery pieces, MBRL’s, heavy mortars and Armored vehicles do not fall in to tiger hands.
    Atleast some AN-M14 incendiary grenades.

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  98. "I never said that our troops should wear bullet-proof vests while travelling in a bus"

    No, but SL did and someone else did, and I was responding to that.

    "I think that any infantryman who operates in the front lines should be wearing a bullet-proof vest. "

    It's not practical, GE. Take my word for it. I know 'cos I've worn flak vests. Even the regular ones are unbearably hot. Do you know how much a ceramic plate vest weighs? Add that to the regular ammo load-out and other kit a soldier has to wear, and you'll have guys carrying so much weight they'll be lumbering along like zombies, falling over booby traps and mines and getting shot in the HEAD because they can't move fast. Then add the buggers dropping like flies from heat stroke caused by the extra exertion, and you'll have units combat ineffective before they even get to grips with the Tigers. Why do you think no western army wears ceramic body armour on a regular basis -- 'cos they didn't think of it? There's a reason. Ceramic body armour is only worn by SWAT-type police and military HR and bomb teams in very high risk environments. As jack's link shows, most lightweight ballistic vests are no use in stopping high-velocity rounds.

    "Following the smoke trails on the rockets fired is a good idea in theory, but remember the LTTE would have already moved the MBRL when our airforce comes to attack"

    GE, for that to work, the LTTE would have to have the element of surprise, which means that they could only use the MBRL in the opening minutes of an attack and not thereafter as the SLAF would be airborne pretty fast. Also, hit and run attacks by MRLS will have negligable effect as their strength is in sustained fire by multiple vehicles.

    "The LTTE are mass murdering thugs but remember they are CUNNING mass murdering thugs."

    Yes, but they are not supermen, and are limited to the practicalities of the weapons systems they use. So let's not overestimate their abilities any more than we should underestimate them. The MBRL cannot move that fast off-road (I doubt the MBRL can move 20-30km in five minutes, which is about how long it'll take a UAV to arrive on station) and the terrain on the Jaffna peninsula doesn't have as much jungle cover as on the mainland. I repeat, that I doubt a single MBRL will be useful in capturing Jaffna.

    "Ever see how some of our army soldiers who operate in the jungles attach branches and other foliage to their helmets for camouflage purposes?"

    I know, I've done it myself:). The reason the Army MBRLs are so afffective is weight of numbers and the fact that we have air superiority, neither of which the LTTE will have.

    You are assuming that there's some "hell-bent" plan to capture an MBRL, but I've not seen any evidence of that. More likely that they want to knock the MBRLs out. In the event of capturing one, the LTTE would still have to obtain ammo for it which won't be quick or easy. Your "suspicion" that the LTTE has already obtained 122mm rockets is again just conjecture since none have been seen or found. You seem to take this MBRL-capture theory as a personal crusade, but frankly, GE, I think you're barking up the wrong palmyrah. You're also conveniently ignoring the fact that one MBRL won't be that useful to the Tigers.

    Many of you seem to think that the MBRL is some sort of magic wand -- wave it aand whoever has it wins. This isn't so. The MBRL is an artillery weapon like the others, hat has its strengths and weaknesses -- on the downside it's not as accurate as a gun, but can deliver a lot of fire fast. However, for it to be effective it MUST BE USED AS A BATTERY, not as a single vehicle. So you can all indulge in the fantasy of the "super gun" MBRL which will destroy Jaffna. But that's rubbish.

    Jack, EPS had just become too large to defend. 17,000 might have been beaten by 3,000 but in '91 a single Sinha battalion (6/SR), plus supporting arms held off 4,000 Tigers, without air support, until relieved. The military no longer has huge base complexes like EPS and Pooneryn (except where forced to, like at China Bay), but relies on smaller, interlocking ones like the ones that were so successful at Welioya.

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  99. There seems to be some hidden apprehension that if the hyenas capture Jaffna and declare a seperate state of whatever, it would instantly become irreversible history. It wouldn't.

    The EPRLF tried it in the late 1980's, a day before high tailing to India with the last of the departing IPKF. Didn't work since no nation recognised it. For the LTTE it would be even worse and even more humilating.

    This is a war that has every potential for going on indefintely. There is greater danger of nations such as the US calling 'enough is enough' based on the covert efforts going on right now to force the US miliatary assistance to cease by canvassing their law makers to demand a cease fire.

    Sri Lankans in the US need to understand their obligations to their nation at this time and contact the embassy and the expat associations to coordinate a counter campaign against this terror threat.

    While it is very encouraging to see the numbers of talented youngsters participating in these forums with great ideas and patritism, it is time for such people to understand that writing on internet websites achieves relatively little when comapred to the very real threat of the enemy's campaign to canvass foreign law-makers to do their bidding. This can be countered, with a concerted effort to get the message out that the tigers are terrorists, and to educate such law makers to the truth behind the war.

    Please do your utmost where it really matters.

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  100. DefenceNet,

    Sorry, May be its best we do not discuss the numbers of IFV/APC, and weapon systems in use with the forces? I mean wont that be a breach?

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  101. David,

    Reading about the 3 soldiers killed near a well in Jaffna, and all the talk about EPS, made me think of hydration.

    Back when EPS fell water had been a big problem. May be we should invest in water purifying equipment for the forces? These would come in handy even in a non-war disaster situation right?
    How much water does a solider carry in the canteens in his pack? 1LT?

    I would be great if some one could start making hydration bladder packs like the ones the Western forces use?
    2.5Lt on your back with a tube to drink out of…sound good ,at least one or two of these per squad might help our lads to be comfortable and in shape? Would come in handy for our LRRP boys eh?


    TropicalStorm,

    You are very correct. We must mobilize our patriotic Diaspora to keep the pressure on foreign Gov.’s

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  102. David

    One captured MBRL may not seem like much in the hands of the LTTE but the potential is there for them to wreck havoc by using it smartly. The LTTE already causes casaulties to the army by using their heavy artillery. From what I hear they don't use their heavy artillery guns in mass numbers. Often its just one gun being fired accurately that causes troop causaulties across the FDL.

    Look, I am not trying to scare the people here by saying that the LTTE is going hammer our army into submission with a captured MBRL. But we must be wary as to why the LTTE is so determined to capture a 122mm MBRL. Going through all this effort to capture a MBRL seems to be too much of an effort to show it off to the world media, diaspora and propaganda purposes. Thats what I think.

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  103. "From what I hear they don't use their heavy artillery guns in mass numbers. Often its just one gun being fired accurately that causes troop causaulties across the FDL. "

    That's my point, GE. Guns and howitzers are accurate weapons, whereas an MBRL isn't, which is why you need them in batteries.

    "Going through all this effort to capture a MBRL seems"

    As I said, you're assuming this. I think it's more likely they were trying to knock out the MBRLs.

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  104. David

    With regards to the body armor issue, I think that there is no free ride here. Body armor will protect the troops from otherwise lethal shots but is will be uncomfortable to wear in the hot weather.

    Even the US troops in Iraq wear heavy body armor in the sweltering heat of Iraq. Sometimes Iraq is hotter than Lanka.

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  105. David

    If the LTTE is able to capture a MBRL, they don't have to worry about accuracy. An single salvo of 40 rockets covers a large area compared to 1 artillery shell.

    The LTTE doesn't have to give a damn about civilian casaulties cause they already have a bad reputation in the world. The army has to worry about accuracy when firing their rockets cause if they cause civilian casaulties by mistake the whole world scorns us to it. So in that regards the lTTE can use the MBRL unrestrained compared to our troops.

    The LTTE could also use a captured MBRL to fire a full salvo of rockets into the general area where the army has its mass formation of MBRLs. Imagine how much damage it can cause our MBRL units stationed in the area and the trucks carrying the rockets.

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  106. "Body armor will protect the troops from otherwise lethal shots but is will be uncomfortable to wear in the hot weather"

    More than uncomfortable, GE. More like lethal, for the reasons I've already given, so kinda defeaats the purpose, no?

    "Even the US troops in Iraq wear heavy body armor "

    They wear regular body armour, like our own troops, not ceramic armour.

    "If the LTTE is able to capture a MBRL, they don't have to worry about accuracy. An single salvo of 40 rockets covers a large area compared to 1 artillery shell."

    A salvo of rockets that covers a large area and hits nothing of value, which has to move constantly and therefore cannot take ranging calculations vs a gun that can take out valuable targets with a few economical shots. You decide which is more useful.

    Look, GE, I've given you the real world reasons behind both the MBRL and flak vest issues. You can continue to come up with reasons why your theory is sound if you like, but it's a futile exercise.

    To sum up -- true bulletproof vests (ie heavy steel plate or ceramic ones) are too heavy and hot for continuous use. That's a fact, not a theory, and it's the reason why it's not issued to frontline troops ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. If you think our soldiers can miraculously cope with it, fine. With MBRLs, there is sound tactical principle behind the deployment and use of MBRLs. Read up on it and you'll realise why one or two of these aren't very useful. Again, if you feel the LTTE can magically circumvent these practical problems, so be it, it's a free world.

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  107. Hi All
    check this link

    http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6764

    noOne has answered the my openion of using the TacticalShield in the situations like petrlling!

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  108. Tactical shields are used in very specific scenarios like building assaults, and more suited to police SWAT teams rather than the military 'cos in the former case the cops aren't always prepared to return fire immediately and often have to pause while negotiations continue. The military prefers speed and aggression for both CQB and FIBUA.

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  109. KBS:At the current rate we will loose 14 soldiers for every LTTer if they use claymore mines to kill soldiers.they are ready for a long drawn out war..The longer the more soldiers will die.These soldiers are bread winners for their families which is bad enough but what about the repercussions on other member of the family?.No offence to you in person but "keyboard worriering" from overseas or from plush offices is one thing and actually fighting on the front lines is another.Do you have members of your family in the armed forces?If you do then you may understand why i dont want even a single soldier to die even if it amounts to fantasy.

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  110. What was the target of the 30 cadres who were at tambalagamuwa when they were intercepted by home guards/army...any ideas anyone?.

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  111. SL, if you don't want even a single soldier to die, then you shouldn't go to war. That's the irony of it -- most of the cheer leaders for war are unwilling to pay the price. War is about killing, simple as that.

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  112. Reuters say that
    "Sri Lanka military recovers LTTE bunker busting, intense heat generating thermobaric weapon in Verugal, Baticalo"

    Any further news on this? What kind a of a weapon is this? how do you use it?

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  113. Thanks David. Sadly your right.What option do we have now but to fight.

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  114. Some say that there is a bomb blast in Bamba....

    Do you have any news on this defencenet?

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  115. Hi Again,

    What I mean is we have to come up with specific strategies that very unique for the LTTE model.
    in this Shield scenario I personally believe that it can be use for many occasions at least soldiers can trust it as our facilities are not sufficient sometimes in Claymore scenarios,
    LTTE always comes up with new strategies.. We better have our own, because we can be the best using LTTE in counter terrorism and develop computer simulations to do test on the matter then go for Dry runs. Problem is we always depend on the western and warship their theories as examples: weapon, systems, strategies, technology what ever u names it…most of them are western!!!
    If Israel had been like this.. there is no Israel they even have spies among the spies very specific very innovative it’s their own that’s why they have survived and no one knows where is the Israeli military camps are located amazing isn’t it.

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  116. "Some say that there is a bomb blast in Bamba...."

    News just coming in. Looks like nothing serious. More details will follow.

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  117. Sorry about the lack of updates lately. But SLA yesterday found a Thermobaric weapon buried by LTTE near Thoppigala. (of course you all know about the SA-14 "Gremlin" launcher so no need to update on that).

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  118. bomb blast seems to be a false alarm. Cannot confirm right now.

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  119. hiru sorry mate didnt notice you already had posted about the Termobaric weapon discovery. It's not the usual RPG round our SF uses. can be used more like a flame thrower (with widespread destruction than the average flamethrower).

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  120. Guys,

    The thermobaric rocket found is a PF-89 made in china, 3 Light Antitank Weapons (LAW) like the US made M-72 have also been found.

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  121. "The thermobaric rocket found is a PF-89 made in "

    Hi nemesis, I don't think that is it, the PF-89 is an anti-tank weapon and uses a HEAT round ( a shaped charge warhead), not themobaric as far as I know, I don't think the themo weapon was in any of the photos?

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  122. Source: Tamilnet

    "It is extremely difficult for the people to enjoy their rights and dignity as equal citizens of a country as long as Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism prevails here," said the Bishop of Jaffna, Rev. Dr. Thomas Saundaranayagam Tuesday.

    "Instead of looking after the welfare and security of the people Government of Sri Lanka is engaging in acts of war, assisted with a propaganda campaign that proclaims to eradicate 'terrorism'," he said."

    I am very sadned seeing the above comments.... Unfortunately, Church being greedy and opportunistic to use this conflict supporting LTTE for their own pity gains of converting Hindu's and Buddhists to Christianity, plays a vital part in this conflict being dragged. LTTE terrorists get the world-wide Christian network support and lobbying power...and it prolongs the conflict and fuels terrorism.

    I do not want this to be any religious debate.. but this is the unfortunate situation.

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  123. I believe that LTTE had used PF-89 at Muhammalai.

    I can remember that they also had brought down to LAW 'disposable RPGs' to Colombo in one of the shoot-outs that took place in Borella (near the Castle Hospital) sometime in March 2000. Can not remember what was the make.

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  124. Jack, it is a thermobaric weapon: WPF89-1/2:

    http://www.sinodefence.com/army/small_arms/pf89.asp

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  125. Jack,

    You are right mate, the PF-89 fires a HEAT round.
    I was wondering why they called it Thermo my self, But then i realised that "bunker Busting" round is also made called a PF-89A.
    But what puzzles me is that the that the launcher has PF-89-0-1 stamped on it, This could be a manufactures lot no (the -0-1 part) or could be a versions of that model of the weapon.

    There is a Thermobaric version, but it’s called WPF-89. But that’s not what the launcher markings state.

    Our boys might have called a Thermobaric, Just because it's a used as a “bunker buster”

    Noltte=peace,

    I heard the same about Muhamali..
    I think the tigers use disposable RPG-18's and RPG-22 too.

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  126. LTTE is increasingly use high concentration of RPGs and LMG/GPMG combinations in attack formations. The formation is lethal for any defensive situation.

    Our boys need to be prepared to counter such offensives.

    T-56 is not effective on such situations.

    Any ideas and suggestions?

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  127. Oshada, thanks mate, so I guess one varient of the round is thermobaric:

    "and WPF89-1/2 thermobaric rocket"

    So does the SLA have confirmation that this is the round in this particular unit?

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  128. Oh and you too nemesis for the details.

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  129. David

    "A salvo of rockets that covers a large area and hits nothing of value"

    Well thats really a toss up. All in the law of probability. You maintain that it hits nothing of value I maintain that there IS a chance(not 100%) of it hitting something of value. Thats that.

    "You can continue to come up with reasons why your theory is sound if you like, but it's a futile exercise."

    I did not "come up" with reasons to support my view on the whole issue. This assumption is baseless. The tactic I described in my earlier post that the LTTE might use if they capture an army has a military term. Its called shoot-and-scoot, you are a military man you should know this. The american 227mm MLRS was designed to be able to perform the shoot-and-scoot tactic.

    With regards to the body armor issue, I am pretty sure the american interceptor body armor worn by the US soldiers in Iraq contain a few ceramic plates and in some cases even steel plates. Maybe those plates used in their armor are smaller or thinner to reduce the weight. They are usually good at taking punishment from the enemy's ak-47s.

    BTW do you know if the flak vests worn by SL soldiers contain thinner or smaller ceramic or steel plates?

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  130. srilankan,

    I also don't want soldiers to die, but my point before was that if LTTE does a mad attack on Jaffna this year then we would be able to kill a lot of them and be closer to ending the war.

    I said I think LTTE will not attack Jaffna and will try to kill soldiers using terrorist tactics (like claymores).

    This is war, there will be deaths. I was only pointing out that a full assault on Jaffna by LTTE will cause heavy casualties on their side and will allow us to further this war along to its end. Soldiers will die, live with it. I have relatives in the military, but yes, I am only a "keyboard warrior" unlike yourself...

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  131. I am not really worried about Jaffna, as there are highly expensive systems in place now to protect the peninsula from multi-facet attack.

    However, it is foremost that we protect MBRLs and destory LTTE arty as much as possible.

    I am worried about our ability to repulse any attack in Vanni region, as we have very low level of terrain advantage required to defend.

    Even if GOSL initiated the offensive, I am very much worried that LTTE will use the civilian issue to its maximum advantage to create a huge campaign against the government world-wide.

    We saw it in the beginning of the offensive in the East, but the government somehow past that phase without major injury (eventhough many PR mistakes were made).

    LTTE is now trapped and doing all what it can to avoid government advancing into their territory. They show lot of teeth and growl too.

    GOSL will win on any planned offensive made with full colse air support. However, GOSL need to prepare to effectively handle the exodus of IDPs before starting the offensive.

    I can not wait till the day that we completely eliminate this LTTE leadership to live peacefully with all the ethnicities.

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  132. noltte=peace have faith in the military.Peace brother.

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  133. LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has removed Soosai as the sea tiger leader.

    Reports emanating from Kilinochchi bared that Charles Anthony, the son of Prabhakaran is to replace him. Soosai is receiving treatment at the ICU of the Ponnambalam Memorial Hospital in Kilinochchi. It is also revealed that Wigneshwaran Thurairaja, a surgeon who had come from England had not been permitted to reach Kilinochchi to attend to Soosai. Accordingly, it is reported that the doctor had returned to England. Reports also said the condition of Soosai is critical. Sources from un-cleared areas attributed the claymore mine attack on Soosai to the dispute between him and the LTTE leader.

    http://www.itn.lk/news_02_20070801.html

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  134. conspiracytheory-Thankgod the doctor was not allowed to attend to soosai-(it is the guy with a cooksu**ing mouth?).Now the best thing that can happen is if he dies in severe pain.While dying i hope he sees hell in all its splendor.Murdering innocent people for 30 years i hope will help him go there.I am sure he will get citizenship there as opposed in the west.

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  135. Dnet: Are ya sure we have 24 BMP 24's ? Guys, 2 events: Space News July 16th issue "In another incident that demonstrated the increasing technical savy of renegade organisations, the Tamil Tigers separatist group in Sri Lanka hijacked unused transponder capacity on the Intelsat 12 satelite to broadcast its own programming into that country. For an undetermined period of time,Intelsat of Bermuda & Washington was unaware of the bandit broadcast"
    They believe ltte had sympathisers here in DC who were engineers, knew technical data which were passed on to Vanni Norwegian Supplied recievers. But, the buggers got caught !
    Second : on MSC TV out of Lebanon "Ulam "talk show gladly credited & blamed ltte as founders Suicide bombers that has plagued the Mid East.But she said 60's as the beginning which I think is false. The facade this buggers from Vanni is slowly crumbling and it's abt time ! Now get those Norwies to kick 'em out !
    Go Army,Navy & Air Force !

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  136. rajaratasurfer-it is an impossible situation.How many people do you know who wont be tempted by money.I am sure it cost the LTTE lots of money to tempt the enginerrs to supply them with the required data.that is the problem VP has made this a money game!.Sadly everyone has his prize except probably veera puranappu.

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  137. SriLankan.. are you talking about BBC Sinhala and Tamil service too?

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  138. The Norway delivered equipment are placed 20ft underground at 1-4 base.

    I am counting the days that our guys dig this out!

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  139. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  140. Hey Guys seems the 'bomb blast' was a movie scene being filmed:

    http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070801/ids_photos_wl/r2722294285.jpg

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  141. Three LTTEers killed
    Rafik Jalaldeen

    TRINCOMALEE: Three LTTE cadres were killed by the Security Forces in a confrontation in Thambalagamuwa, Trincomalee early yesterday morning.

    Weapons too were recovered following the incident.“A group of LTTE cadres fleeing Thoppigala after suffering defeat were intercepted while they were attempting to enter the Trincomalee jungle near Galmitiyawa, Thambalagamuwa at around 4.00 a.m”, Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.

    In a subsequent search operation troops recovered three bodies of Tiger cadres and five T56 assault riffles.

    “The search operation is continuing”, he added. Meanwhile, Security Forces conducting search operations recovered dumped two T56 assault riffles, two T56 magazines, a hand grenade, a belt and a communication set with antenna dumped in the North of Manirasakulam, Trincomalee yesterday morning.

    http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/08/02/sec01.asp

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  142. PF89-80-1
    80 is for 80mm . I think 1 is use once or disposable.

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  143. "Sadly your right.What option do we have now but to fight."

    We've had many options down the years, but have chosen badly. Now there is no option, true, but there will be more options soon, and we should prepare for that and make sure our leaders choose wisely when the time comes, so that we don't HAVE to fight again.

    Patriot, the Israelis didn't invent strategy. EVERY strategm they used in their early years were borrowed. For example their armoured warfare doctrine was Germany's 'blitzkrieg' doctrine, written by Heinz Guderian during the 1930s; the guerrilla warfare tactics they used during the fight for independence was taken wholesale from David Wingate's Chindit tactics (which he also taught them when he served as a British officer in Palestine). Realistically, there's nothing really new to be had in war, just adaptation of existing strategies.

    Noltte, why don't you stick to defence-related issues. We've just had a heated slanging match over religious issues which makes everyone look stupid. There are plenty of sites to discuss that issue if you wish. I won't respond to your accusations against Christianity for the moment, but if you continue, I will.

    BTW the Tigers used LAWs as far back as '96 in the Central Bank assault.

    "LTTE is increasingly use high concentration of RPGs and LMG/GPMG combinations in attack formations. "

    It's the same on both sides. An average infantry section will carry one PK GPMG, one T562 LMG, 3-4 RPG launchers, plus T56s, grenades, claymores, etc.

    "You maintain that it hits nothing of value I maintain that there IS a chance(not 100%) of it hitting something of value."

    Yes, GE, so why put all that effort into stealing something that has only a chance (your words) of hitting something when there are far more effective weapons available.

    "The american 227mm MLRS was designed to be able to perform the shoot-and-scoot tactic."

    GE, it's getting really tiresome to repeat myself. The US doesn't use one or two MLRS at a time -- they used huge massed batteries of them. The US always has air superiority, and FACs calling the fire from airborne platforms. It's precisely because I know this that I told you that a single MBRL is not worth much. You're flogging a dead horse.

    "They are usually good at taking punishment from the enemy's ak-47s"

    US Interceptor body armour cannot stop an AK round except at extreme range or high angles of impact.

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  144. Seems some folks need convincing on the limitations of plate armour as well, bottom line guys is Hollywood doesn't quite get it right :)

    box o truth #24

    http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot24.htm

    He did not test anything higher than a .223 rifle round, but that was because this was a question posed to him by a SWAT sniper who faced a perp wearing 3 vests and 3 plates one on top of the other (in the end the SWAT sniper took him with a head shot, but still wanted to know if they could have shot him through the armour he had on).

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  145. sorry should add he did test a .308 which went through 2 plates and was stopped by the 3rd, but still left a nasty crater in the clay, which would mean probably internal injuries or broken ribs etc depending where you got the shot.

    So basicly you need 3 layers of plate and vest to stop something like a .308, an AK 7.62 round is very similar to the .308 depending of course on the brass used and amount of powder and how much pressure is generated etc but you get the idea.

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  146. David

    "Yes, GE, so why put all that effort into stealing something that has only a chance (your words) of hitting something when there are far more effective weapons available"

    Yes but it still has a chance of hitting. You refuse to take that into account. The 122mm MBRLs the army uses are DESIGNED TO DELIVER FIRE COVERAGE OVER LARGE AREAS. Thats why when it comes to MBRLs(unlike their artillery guns) the LTTE doesn't have to worry about accuracy. A salvo of 40 rockets delivers more fire power than even 10 artillery shells, it may not be as accurate as artillery shells but it more than compensates for that by delivering much more destructive firepower that affects a MUCH LARGER swath of land.

    "The US doesn't use one or two MLRS at a time -- they used huge massed batteries of them. The US always has air superiority, and FACs calling the fire from airborne platforms. It's precisely because I know this that I told you that a single MBRL is not worth much. You're flogging a dead horse"

    Sheesh man, the LTTE doesn't fight like a conventional army. LTTE already use small 107mm 12 barreled MBRLs. They don't use them in huge massed batteries like a convential army, yet they managed to surprise us by giving us a bloody nose in their last attempt to capture Jaffna. They continue to use their 107mm MBRLs somewhat effectively against our army today, they showed us that they don't have to use their puny 12 barreled 107mm MBRLs in huge massed batteries to have success against our army. With that in mind, I'd say it would be naive to think that the LTTE won't be able give us serious trouble with 1 or 2 captured army MBRLs just cause they won't be able to used them in massed batteries.
    -------------------------

    I think we are both getting tired of this debate. We are just arguing in circles. We won't know who is right on this issue until the LTTE manages to capture an army MBRL(hopefully that will never happen) and try to use it against our troops.

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  147. noltte=peace

    "I am not really worried about Jaffna, as there are highly expensive systems in place now to protect the peninsula from multi-facet attack."

    Could you tell us if these highly expensive systems are land based? How many of them do we have?

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  148. Thanks,defencenet! thats wonderful!.have we lost any to the tigers?captured?.can u also confrm if tigers use the older BMP 1/2'S.tkx

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  149. "have we lost any to the tigers?captured?."

    We have not lost any BMP-3s to the tigers.

    "can u also confrm if tigers use the older BMP 1/2'S."

    They have few (around 9-12) T55 Main Battle Tanks captured from the army. Several of these were immobile due to lack of spare parts. But MI has warned that tigers used parts recovered from MBTs lost in Muhamalai offensive to repair the existing ones.
    Tiger released video of 1996 Mullaithiv battle showed one (or maybe two) of their T55s along with infantry support attacking army defence lines of Mullaithiv base (which they later overran).

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  150. defencenet

    Can u tell us if the army plans to buy new tanks or BMP-3s in the future?

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  151. goldeneagle,
    There are indeed plans to further strengthen the armored division. But the type of hardware to be added or when it will be added are still unconfirmed.

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  152. DefenceNet:
    Do you have any details about Charles Anthony / Soosai news please?

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  153. David Blacker, Jack,

    DragonSkin does indeed protect against Level III (7.62mm rounds). I'm lazy so I'll just link to Wikipedia.

    link

    It is not science fiction. However it is rather expensive and not even used by all US conventional forces due to lack of funds. Wikipedia says that Dragonskin can also protect against Level IV and Level V impact - but I do not personally believe this.

    For everyone else, flak jackets in use by the SL military are incredibly heavy, incredibly uncomfortable and almost impossible to wear for extended periods. They (along with all conventional body armour in use today) do not give any protection against shaped charges or IEDs - they can't protect against the mass transfer of kinetic energy due to explosives.

    Can you guys stop arguing about this shit now? thanks.

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  154. GE, what are you smoking? Can I make this ANY simpler than I already have? This isn't a Hollywood movie where Rambo can kill 200 NVA with a never-ending 100-round belt of 7.62-mm bullets.

    "Yes but it still has a chance of hitting"

    Yes, we know it has a CHANCE. A SMALL chance. You fire 40 rockets and MAYBE you'll hit something that you could hit quickly and economically with a gun. Do you get it now? Or shall I use smaller words? Would you risk time, effort and lives to try and steal something that IS NOT AS USEFUL TO YOU as a conventional artillery gun?

    "hats why when it comes to MBRLs(unlike their artillery guns) the LTTE doesn't have to worry about accuracy."

    Which planet are you on? OF COURSE you have to worry about accuracy. If you can't hit anything you might as well piss on it. The Army gets around the accuracy issue by pouring on the fire. How can you pour it on with just one MBRL??? They'd have to fire one salvo, hope they hit the target FIRST TIME with NO RANGING, then scoot before the SLAF nails 'em, then try it again. They'd have run out of ammo in a day. You think these are magic heat-seeking missiles like in the comics?

    "Sheesh man, the LTTE doesn't fight like a conventional army."

    That's EXACTLY why MBRLs won't work for them. It is a conventional force weapon that can be used in conjunction with the other arms and with air superiority -- exactly how the SL Army uses it.

    "LTTE already use small 107mm 12 barreled MBRLs. They don't use them in huge massed batteries like a convential army, yet they managed to surprise us by giving us a bloody nose in their last attempt to capture Jaffna."

    The effectivity of the Tiger MBRLs have been miniscule. Most of the damage is done by artillery and heavy mortars. If you knew enough about hardware to analyse the battles, you'd know that. Bloody noses may be good in a boxing fight, but this is war. The Tiger MBRLs were usable when the combat was still static earlier this year, but once it became fluid (as at Vakarai and Toppigala) the Tigers were forced to discontinue its use.

    "they showed us that they don't have to use their puny 12 barreled 107mm MBRLs in huge massed batteries to have success against our army"

    WHAT success? Killing a few soldiers here and there is meaningless. You were suggesting thaat with a single MBRL the Tigers could take Jaffna, which is utter rubbish.

    "We are just arguing in circles."

    Not really. I've told you exactly how, why and where MBRLs can be used, and why exactly they are no good as single weapons. You don't believe me. If you call that an argument, you're welcome to it. It's like me trying to tell you why a man can't paste feathers on his arms and fly, while you claim that in some exceptional circumstance he can. Forgive me if I doubt it.

    "We won't know who is right on this issue until the LTTE manages to capture an army MBRL"

    I don't think they'll bother. If they overrun an MBRL intact, I've no doubt they'll take it away, but they won't bother mounting an operation specifically to capture one.

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  155. GE, maybe you're unaware of the basic role of the MBRL, so let me tell you the basics.

    It is a covering weapon, used best in the offensive. Massive batteries of MBRLs open fire at the tail-end of the prepping phase, and just before the mobile force (armour and infantry) arrive within range of the enemy defenses. THAT'S why accuracy isn't important because the idea is to swamp the defenses and force the defenders to keep their heads down until the attackers are practically on top of them.

    Though not ideally suited for defence, MBRLs can be used to break up an attack if the defenders have ample warning of the avenue of attack. Here again, accuracy is not so important as volume of fire and plenty of resupply ammo, so that the MBRLs can set a curtain of fire between attacker and defender.

    A third lesser-used role is as an AA weapon. The Arabs demonstrated this against the Israelis in the Yom Kippur War by massing batteries of Katushkas around targets and creating a curtain of fire through which the Israeli Phantoms and Skyhawks had to fly. Again, you need massed batteries.

    The Tigers cannot use the MBRL in any of these roles unless they have several batteries of 'em. Even if they haver ample ammo, it's no good, because duration of fire isn't as important as immediate volume.

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  156. Thanks for the link, Scipio, but I was talking about the Interceptor body armour that GE mentioned, which does not stop 7.62-mm.

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  157. David

    "Yes, we know it has a CHANCE. A SMALL chance. You fire 40 rockets and MAYBE you'll hit something that you could hit quickly and economically with a gun."

    Wrong again. If they aim and fire into a column of troops or to a posution where a bunch of our artillery guns are located, then they have a serious chance causing a lot of damage to our forces.

    "Which planet are you on? OF COURSE you have to worry about accuracy. If you can't hit anything you might as well piss on it"

    Wrong again. I already told you in my previous post. Even if they fire ONE salvo of 40 122mm rockets it can still can cover a very large area with fire. Here I'll say it again since you probably won't get it the first time, ONE salvo of 40 122mm rockets can cover a large area with fire. So the lack of accuracy neutralised because it provides fire coverage oer large areas in a single salvo. Much more fire coverage than a single more accurate artillery shell. Get it now?

    "The effectivity of the Tiger MBRLs have been miniscule."

    If I remember correctly, our troops had no real reply when they first used it the last time they wanted to capture Jaffna.

    "You were suggesting thaat with a single MBRL the Tigers could take Jaffna, which is utter rubbish."

    You are acting incredibly foolish. I never suggested that the LTTE could recapture Jaffna with a single MBRL. Those are your words not mine. I said that a captured army 122mm MBRL could become useful to them in their next incursion into Jaffna. It can deliver more firepower in one salvo than anything they have at the moment. I never said that the LTTE would take Jaffna with one MBRL. Maybe if you spoke of what was actually said in my previous post, instead of what you'd like me to have said so you could take your cheap shot at me.

    In the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war rockets were used cunning to create fear and destruction and in normally secure Israel. In Israel sirens would go off when the rockets were approaching a town or city, there were still Israeli civilian casaulties. Sure Hezbollah didn't have truck mounted MBRLs but they used rockets that could have been used in MBRLs. Even heavy aerial bombardment by the Israeli airforce could not supress the rocket fire coming into Israel. So terrorists armed with rockets and rocket launchers can be a handful and the world took note of the lessons learned during this brief conflict.

    "I don't think they'll bother. If they overrun an MBRL intact, I've no doubt they'll take it away, but they won't bother mounting an operation specifically to capture one."

    I disagree with you here. There are rumors and MI reports that point that the LTTE wants to capture at least one of them. I am not the paranoid conspiracy type of guy, but I think the LTTE is trying to capture a MBRL for more than just propaganda purposes.

    BTW, please spare me the lecture about the basic roles of MBRLs. The LTTE has shown in the past that they can find innovative ways to use weapons and surprise our troops. I Wouldn't put it past them to make good use of a captured 122mm MBRL.

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  158. David is the LTTE trying to capture MBRL(assumed)just so that the army cant use it against them.I think they feel that if they had a "fair playing field" their infantry will be better off against the army (ie much more army casualties).Could they be also trying to capture a MBRL(again assumed) so that they can launch an attack against several villages and create an exodus of civilians away from "their" areas even if it is a waste of ammo(rockets)-because you can dress the dead civilians in army uniforms and entertain diasphora & because these guys like to kill anyone who cant fightback..
    I remember that yom kippur war... as far as i remember the isreals lost 60% of their air force in the attacks initially

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  159. Anyone what is the range of a MBRL?

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  160. noltte=peace.you said
    SriLankan.. are you talking about BBC Sinhala and Tamil service too?

    I am a bit lost sorry-can u elaborate-

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  161. Mygod did anyone see the inventory of LTTE arms captured in thoppigala?

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  162. Sri Lankan

    The 9M522 rocket manufactured in Russia has a range upto 37.5 km.

    Most of the types of rockets that are used in the 122mm MBRLs have a range of 20km-30km.

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  163. What is this story about a major fro Palali trying to pass sensitive military information to LTTE? Sad, if it is true that someone is tryong to kill his fellow commrades and sell the country for personal gains.

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  164. thanks goldeneagle-so capturing one MBRL(if that is what the LTTE are planning) can hit a number of villages let alone convoys or irrigation/power projects in trinco etc.

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  165. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  166. hi scipio,

    DragonSkin isn't without its issues either, and it weighs twice as much as the Interceptor armour.

    Good read here:

    news item on DragonSkin

    But of course I am in agreement with your point no body armour is going to help you much in close proximity to an IED going off. Which is the bottom line here to those suggesting troops need body armour. The better solution as others pointed out is better transport.

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  167. Thanks ,defencenet! can u pls tell me where i can access that video of the mullaitivu battle?if posible,give me the link.

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  168. "Story is on sinhalanet"

    maybe the little piggy will oink when all the right buttons are pushed. a good catch MI, he may prove useful for grassing on other wannabe traitors.

    then shoot the fucker. he knew the risks.

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  169. Jiffy-I hope they make sure that he does not have any copies.Also his name and town must be released to the public.It may be an idea to turn him and supply him with false maps to provoke a "conventional" terrorist attack which we will be ready for..

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  170. This situation is unbelieveable.this is what the LTTe and others have been waiting for...

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  171. "where i can access that video of the mullaitivu battle"

    The video is not online.

    And the story of the army major is true. He will be presented in Military court soon.

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  172. "It may be an idea to turn him and supply him with false maps to provoke a "conventional" terrorist attack which we will be ready for..
    "

    Hi SL, well now that it is all over the news I think the LTTE would know already not to rely on his info. BUT how much has he already given out? And how about others like him!

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  173. So the LTTE DID NOT get the information? Was he caught early enough to prevent information from reaching LTTE?

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  174. DAMN. A full military breakdown of SLDF in Jaffna peninsula. LTTE could do so much with that info.....

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  175. Jack your right..the info should not have been given to the papers.This is probably why these LTTE coolies have been so successful in the past.It takes a special kind of criminal to betray the lives of his friends/colleagues and place the lives of 1000' of innocent people in jeopardy.

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  176. "DAMN. A full military breakdown of SLDF in Jaffna peninsula. LTTE could do so much with that info..... "

    Yes this is interesting, why does a Major have access to so much info? Or was he gathering it himself?

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  177. thankgod we detected it..otherwise that dead coolie balasinghams prediction of 10,000 body bags would have come true sooner than later.

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  178. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  179. tamilnut reported changing a tamil street name into sinhala and placing a buddha statue in recently captured areas in east. right or wrong we should not do these kind of things. we won't gain any thing by these sort of things at this time and this is giving fuel to tamil racism which is the foundation of current problem. those sinhala budhist patriots should wait at least wanni is cleared.

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  180. ccc-are there any tamil street names in colombo?

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  181. Hey DefenceNet

    Sarath fonseka has said to the divaina news paper that army has done a limited operation in vanni yesterday and killed more than 20 terras .. where is it and what hppn?

    http://www.divaina.com/2007/08/03/news39.html

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  182. "thankgod we detected it..otherwise that dead coolie balasinghams prediction of 10,000 body bags would have come true sooner than later."

    So you still expect those deaths to happen?

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  183. DefenceNet:(when you have the time)-How do home guard units detect LTTE cadres moving in the dark?

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  184. Any estimates on the number of families that LTTE can tap for thir new conscription? Many of the families under their control already have sent member(s) to LTTE, so we can't include those.

    I have a feeling they are adding 10k people this year easily, which means their next serious Jaffna attack won't come for a while. In the meantime, we gotta prevent these corrupt people from giving them military secrets....

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  185. ?....fellas .... do the mutts in Vanni still beam TV or did the Air force bomb the tower ? A bunch of Spec ops.trainers from Pearl Harbour plan to train Navy guys soon. Any mustard to that ?

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  186. Another stupid thing; Sayline for LTTE.
    http://www.lankadeepa.lk/2007/08/03/front_news/06.html

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  187. Srilankan,

    Usually, the dogs belonging to Homeguards detect LTTE cadres in most occasions. Else, it is vigilance for movement.

    There have been many family dogs killed by terrorists for the same reason.

    I can remember in one occasion, LTTE had thrown poisoned meat at dogs before hacking the families to death.

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  188. "DAMN. A full military breakdown of SLDF in Jaffna peninsula. LTTE could do so much with that info....."

    Well its unfortunate that this has happened. The only thing we can do now is to entirely change the way our defence network is setup in Jaffna peninsula. We can do this within a month if we step on the gas. In the future we must not let majors have files and DVDs/CDs that outline the entire military FDL formations in Jaffna.

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  189. GE, so you fear that the information could have made it to the LTTE?

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  190. Hey guys BTW looks like MCNS retracted the thermobaraic weapon statement:

    "The weapon (see picture bellow) that was recovered from Verugal on 31st July 2007 is not a thermobaric weapon as reported earlier but a rocket launcher used to engage armoured vehicles and bunkers. Experts have identified the weapon as PF-89."

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  191. I wonder if the experts they are quoting are some of the folks who ID'd it here LOL.

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  192. kbs

    I think we should play it safe. No one knows if that info really made it to the LTTE. Buts its always better to be safe than sorry if you ask me.

    Jack

    "I wonder if the experts they are quoting are some of the folks who ID'd it here LOL."

    A real possibility.

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  193. "Wrong again. If they aim and fire into a column of troops" etc

    GE, your lack of knowledge about military hardware is lettting you down. The impact area of an MBRL salvo is elleptical, with the long axis in the direction of fire. Therefore a column would cut across the diametre of the impact area, and the majority of the rounds would impact around the column and not on it. To do damage to the column (and you're assuming the Tigers could get the exact range PERFECTLY with ONE salvo :)!) you'd need multiple MBRLs covering the length of the column, and even then the majority of the rockets would be wasted. Mortars or guns would do far more damage. Your awe of this weapon is clouding your mind.

    "Here I'll say it again since you probably won't get it the first time, ONE salvo of 40 122mm rockets can cover a large area with fire."

    Repeating your mistake won't correct it, GE. COVERING a large area and HITTING the target are two different things. Do you understand that? Why do you think carpet bombing isn't practiced anymore? Come on, GE, read up a bit on ground warfare and educate yourself. You're arguing like a child.

    "If I remember correctly, our troops had no real reply when they first used it the last time they wanted to capture Jaffna. "

    Did it escape you that they failed?

    "You are acting incredibly foolish. I never suggested that the LTTE could recapture Jaffna with a single MBRL."

    Actually you did. Here are your exact words:
    "I think if the LTTE managed to capture an army MBRL they will use it their attempt to re-capture Jaffna. I think that the whole LTTE offensive into Jaffna city will be build around this powerful weapon." Utter rubbish.

    "In the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war rockets were used cunning to create fear and destruction and in normally secure Israel"

    yes, you can cause terror & destruction with random fire into civilian areas but you cannot take a city by doing this. your point was that the LTTE would use an MBRL to try and capture Jaffna. Don't now start searching for other ways they can use it.

    The reason the Israelis couldn't nail the Hizbollah rockets were because they were dismantled after firing and hidden in residential areas. They weren't speeding off with the IAF in pursuit.

    "I Wouldn't put it past them to make good use of a captured 122mm MBRL."

    Neither would I. But they haven't been able to put their own MBRLs to good use, and they will not be able to use a captured one in the waay you've suggested (as the focal point for an intended capture of Jaffna).

    I'm sorry if you don't want the hard facts (about how MBRLs are used), but if you don't know the facts, you can't really argue.

    "David is the LTTE trying to capture MBRL(assumed)just so that the army cant use it against them."

    SL, the LTTE doesn't need to capture and MBRL to prevent its use, all they have to do is knock 'em out. The latter's easier than the former, obviously.

    I won't discount the fact that the captured MBRL can be used against civilians (as Hizbollah does), but I think there are other less costly ways for the LTTE to do that. My argument with GE is that the MBRL isn't some wonder weapon, the possession of which ensures victory. Obviously it has its uses, but in conjuncture with other conventional weapons.

    Most of the IAF losses were to ZSU-23-2s and 4s, not Katushkas.

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  194. Relax! LTTE isn't going to capture any MBRLs, so you both can stop arguing.

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