A US jet destroyed a Russian-made T-72 battle tank in 'self-defense' in Syria

[7962]

Source: Business Insider

A US jet operating in Syria destroyed a Russian-made T-72 battle tank near Al Tabiyeh, Syria, on Saturday, a Pentagon representative confirmed to Business Insider on Tuesday.

"The tank had been maneuvering with coordinated indirect fire on a defensive position occupied by Syrian Democratic Forces and Coalition advisers," US Marine Corps Maj. Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway said, adding that the SDF's "position was within effective range of the hostile weapons systems."

The US has been training, equipping, and backing the SDF rebels in Syria's civil war for years as Russia has provided similar assistance to forces loyal to the Syrian government in close proximity.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson first reported the news of the tank's destruction and said three crew members were killed, though their identities and affiliations were unclear. Tomlinson said the tank was destroyed after "pro-regime forces" fired on US special operations troops near the location where 500 pro-government forces attacked a headquarters used by SDF and US troops last week.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/a-us-jet-destroyed-a-russian-t-72-battle-tank-in-self-defense-in-syria-2018-2?r=UK&IR=T

[C_U_L8R]

1. Pootie's gonna be pissed

[lark]

2. Unless he ordered this to provide cover for his top asset -

drumpf.

[IronLionZion]

3. I bet things are crowded over there

US should get out of Syria and let Russia handle it.

Focus on Iraq.

[DeminPennswoods]

4. What type of aircraft was it?

Story doesn't say what model aircraft. A-10s are the AF's tank killers.

[7962]

11. The A-10 Thunderbolt is my favorite military aircraft.

Used to work on a USAF base in an area with the civilian engineers who ran the weapons program for that jet. They had some awesome videos of the GAU-8 at work!

[SkyDaddy7]

15. Yeah, I love them too!

I read an account by someone who had interviewed Saddam’s Republican Gaurd & they had become so terrified of the A-10s that even the rumor of one in the area caused 100s if not more to flee their post.

[7962]

18. I heard that as well! Their distinct engine sound would send them running.

Heres a video that captures that sound

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. I don't see why "self-defense" is in quotes in the headline.

Are the U.S. troops supposed to just wait for the tank to arrive? I think a little phone call to an air base or artillery base would be prudent as the tank approaches.

Self defense. Not "Self defense".

[7962]

9. Agreed.

[Ramsey Barner]

6. So why say "a Russian-made T-72"?

Presumably it had a Syrian Army crew?

[TomVilmer]

10. T-72 is also the production year for the tank...

... so yes, it is not a "Russian" tank, but an old construction from the Soviet. And it was also build on license in India and Poland and other places. So the word "Russian" is just in the story to make it smell of WIII.

[metalbot]

17. Small nit

The 72 is from the year that production on the model began. There are plenty of T-72's that have been manufactured long after 1972.
Much the same as the AK-47 is a nomenclature given to a rifle that was put into production in 1947.

As to the origins of this particular tank, it's almost certainly of Russian origin, simply because Syria has been a long time client of Soviet and subsequently Russian military hardware. The Soviets didn't generally license manufacturing rights to other countries who would compete with them in the global marketplace. But still, intentionally sensationalist...

[xor]

20. They have modernized versions of the T-72 that have been produced well after the early 70's.

The wording of this headline is a bit silly, though. Stupid media trying to make things sound "exciting"

Although, the wording isn't much different than what we see when US origin tanks in other militaries are destroyed or blow up a school on accident. Take for example the Saudi Abrams that was blown up with an anti-tank missile a ways back.

example: https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201508311026381040-fagot-abrams-missile/

[tazkcmo]

12. I know.

No big surprise a modern, state of the art, multi million dollar air craft (A10 or other type, they're all multi million dollar) destroyed an almost 40 year old, Soviet made and was a piece of shit even when it was brand new tank. Not like it's a slow news day.

[wobblie]

7. we are the ones in Syria illegally

Does anyone care that there is no legal justification under international law for the US to be in Syria. We are the invaders. They are within there rights to shoot at us since we are violating there sovereignty. Since ISIS was destroyed we do not even have the fig leaf of anti-terrorism as justification.

[Cold War Spook]

19. And after we topple Bashar al-Assad

does the US happen to know which rebel group we will back when all the rebel forces will be fighting each other for power?

[ancianita]

8. 45: Hey, Vlad. Got a tank I can hit to create doubt about 'our thing'? Vlad: Sure. Got bone yard

coordinates right here. You know the drill.

[DavidDvorkin]

13. Syria is providing a test bed for US vs. Russian weapons

Much as Spain did for the Fascists vs. the West before WWII.

[Blue_Tires]

14. Putin had to know this would happen once he started sending tanks

[Igel]

16. The T-72 is an old tank.

Syria could easily have bought this back in the '70s or '80s or '90s or '00s.

We're assuming that the tank was a recent acquisition because the way the narrative is frame in the article suggests this, the Russianness of its manufacture is somehow pertinent. While the selection of facts often has a bias, in this case the selection of facts is pretty obviously manipulative.

Personally, "Cold-War era, 45-year-old tank" is more relevant. Even though it had some revisions and continued in production for quite some time, it's still a really old design. And so "relevant" to things that Russia turned a lot of them over to the DNR folk for their Ukraine war, probably from the 10s of thousands that Russia mothballed in the last 15 years. (So, yes, it's even possible it's a recent import. But it's basically military trash as far as the Russians are concerned.)