Question for Army guys

[Jerk]

Will thermite melt through the top armor of a MBT, like the Abrams?

Just curious. Really. I don't plan on assaulting any tanks.

[GoOwls]

Thermite is some pretty intense stuff... I would be surprised if the armor held up.

Then again, tank armor is pretty intense as well.

[olevetonahill]

Heres ya a Home recipe if ya want it . :D
http://how2dostuff.blogspot.com/2006/01/how-to-make-thermite.html

[Jerk]

Heres ya a Home recipe if ya want it . :D
http://how2dostuff.blogspot.com/2006/01/how-to-make-thermite.html

There's also a few videos on youtube. The stuff gets 4,500 degrees.

[olevetonahill]

There's also a few videos on youtube. The stuff gets 4,500 degrees.

Loyalfan can tell ya . he was a Tank Company comander in the Nam

[yermom]

i'd be very surprised if it wouldn't

[Jerk]

i'd be very surprised if it wouldn't

It might not with some of the exotic metals that the military uses for armor, like depleted uranium.

[StoopTroup]

I think Yermom would look cool riding around as a Tank Commander. :D

[shaun4411]

you should throw some on your foot and see if bones are strong enough to hold through it

[yermom]

It might not with some of the exotic metals that the military uses for armor, like depleted uranium.

i would think it would depend on where the layers of ceramic are

the depleted Uranium would appear to be an issue as well, i wonder how much of that they use...

after reading, i'd probably consider myself "surprised" in general, but i'm not sure about the "top" armor

[Harry Beanbag]

I think Yermom would look cool riding around as a Tank Commander. :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A2ttNBz938&feature=related

[BudSooner]

Will thermite melt through the top armor of a MBT, like the Abrams?

Just curious. Really. I don't plan on assaulting any tanks.

Probably, but then again...some of my farts could easily put large holes in tank armor.
Your welcome. ;)

[Sooner5030]

"thermite" as a type of weapon is more used to disable mechanical parts rather than a compartmental troop killer. I guess if you directed the heat towards the engine it would be effective against any element that has a melting point.

However, there are so called "thermal Brigade" insurgents that use a grenade type weapon with a shape charge on the end that replicates a small "explosively formed penetrator" type effect. It's the use of the concentrated "aimed" energy from the blast to make the copper a magma-like quality that penetrates the armor and creates spawl that will make everything inside (including flesh) look like scrambled eggs.

It's pretty farking sick. Thank god every day you do not have to look at the pictures.

[LoyalFan]

Loyalfan can tell ya . he was a Tank Company comander in the Nam


Welllll...never (luckily) encountered Thermite but ANYTHING that can reach 4500F will burn through virtually anything else, at least any metal of which I am aware.
I was one reasonably lucky pup over there. In fact, so much so that on an occasion when we were ambushed while performing an old traditional Cavalry job..."wagon train"...escort no less than five RPG warheads impacted against my turret and ALL were duds. Another of my tanks took an even dozen hits and those were all duds.
I'll bet Inspector #23 was "terminated" (and I don't mean fired) when word got back to Hanoi.
Oh, the final score? No US KIA. The other team wasn't so lucky. Seems one of my platoon sergeants took it all rather personally so he and the other tank with him turned 90 degrees to starboard and charged, the Plt. Sgt. making his Fiddy Cal mo-sheen gun sing and the loader humping 90mm Beehive rounds so fast that an angry swarm of steel darts..."Flechettes"...exited the muzzle of the main gun every three to four second as my two big boys galloped into the woodline.
I initially scorched the radio airwaves in an effort to get them back in column so we could follow SOP and haul arse, but to no avail. Soooooo...I ordered the wheeled and lightly armored stuff to scoot and then the rest of us did a 90-Right and joined the fun. (My tank and the other 3 from that platoon.)
Confirmed body count was, as I recall, 23.
When it was all over but the decomposing...a warm afternoon, y'see...I sought out the errant sergeant, intending to ream him thoroughly, but by the time I got to him I was already framing the words for the recommendation that ultimately got him the Silver Star. (3rd highest award for valor.)
Sorry for reliving all this in public, but sometimes it's better to let it out.
Memorial Day is always a tad rough for me.

LF
Radio Call Sign: "Lancer6"

[olevetonahill]

Good Jorb .
One of My Buddies got the bronse for Fallin on his Face and doing the Pray and Spray
Seems we wuz tryin to set up an Ambush and walked right Smack dab into ONE :eek:
He wuz Point, shat his Drawers, fell On his face and Opened up with the 16 held up over his Head that was buried in the Mud :D
He did Earn us the time to Take Cover and return Fire
I still LMFAO at him today when ever we Talk
I call him the Only Chickensaht , to ever earn a Bronze ;)
Like I said in My spek to you
You and Homey as far as I know are the Only Two Ill Say Sir to .:cool:

[StoopTroup]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A2ttNBz938&feature=related

My favorite movie eva...

Brought a tear to my ear just then...

[olevetonahill]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A2ttNBz938&feature=related

They would Draw and 1/4 any troops That pulled anything Like that today
Whatever happened to the saying
" To the Victor goes the Spoils" :cool:

[soonerboomer93]

Tengsten has a higher melting point then thermite

carbon also has a high melting point, so increasing the carbon content could act as a barrier

[olevetonahill]

Ok
Yall remember My Lil BuddyThat was a Tank driver in Iraq ?
Hes Now a Tank comander
I asked him about this
He said
Maybe 10 Thermite Grenades one after the Other Might do it
Troys words Not Mine

[MR2-Sooner86]

Will thermite melt through the top armor of a MBT, like the Abrams?

I know Abrams aren't indestructable but from what I hear you have to hit the armor in the weakest points. Not even thermite will affect it in the thickest parts.

[Jerk]

This is nice to know because thermite is easily made.

I'd hate to be in a tank if a thermite grenade could destroy it.

We sure have some good engineers.