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History, Reference, Research, and GrogTalk => Organizations and Equipment => Topic started by: eyebiter on June 05, 2013, 06:45:36 PM

Title: Recoiless rifles appear on the Syrian Battlefield
Post by: eyebiter on June 05, 2013, 06:45:36 PM
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/05/ancient-us-weapon-in-syria/

"Until recently, the 106mm hadn't seen much action in the irregular wars that have swept the globe. Then M40s somehow came into the hands of rebels in Libya and Syria. Suddenly, the 106mm – light, cheap, easily transportable, simple to operate, and packing a punch all out of proportion to its modest size — has emerged as a possible Great Asymmetric Weapon of the Day."
Title: Re: Recoiless rifles appear on the Syrian Battlefield
Post by: besilarius on June 05, 2013, 07:03:11 PM
Anyone have some of the old Ontos developed by the marines?
With six recoilless rifles, they could be useful in a firefight.
Title: Re: Recoiless rifles appear on the Syrian Battlefield
Post by: Staggerwing on June 05, 2013, 07:12:22 PM
^Maybe, but the problem is that each barrel has no magazine so someone has to get out and reload each one. Arguably, that task is somewhat less than fun while under fire...


(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F3%2F34%2FOntos.jpg&hash=bc64fdef73a097c7cd95ad5e66d8f7940b08d649)

Still, it does look like something from a Warhammer40k workshop...
Title: Re: Recoiless rifles appear on the Syrian Battlefield
Post by: LongBlade on June 05, 2013, 09:15:41 PM
Quote from: Staggerwing on June 05, 2013, 07:12:22 PM
^Maybe, but the problem is that each barrel has no magazine so someone has to get out and reload each one. Arguably, that task is somewhat less than fun while under fire...

...yeah, but adding an autoloader takes the fun out of it.
Title: Re: Recoiless rifles appear on the Syrian Battlefield
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 06, 2013, 05:37:51 AM
Quote from: besilarius on June 05, 2013, 07:03:11 PMAnyone have some of the old Ontos developed by the marines?

Several years ago, Smuck actually posted a photo of me with the Ontos on display at the Marine Museum in Quantico from when he gave me the tour of the place.
Title: Re: Recoiless rifles appear on the Syrian Battlefield
Post by: Centurion40 on June 06, 2013, 08:23:18 AM
Quote from: Staggerwing on June 05, 2013, 07:12:22 PM
^Maybe, but the problem is that each barrel has no magazine so someone has to get out and reload each one. Arguably, that task is somewhat less than fun while under fire...


(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F3%2F34%2FOntos.jpg&hash=bc64fdef73a097c7cd95ad5e66d8f7940b08d649)

Still, it does look like something from a Warhammer40k workshop...

Um, am I seeing it correctly?  Do each of the recoilless rifles have its own .50 cal spotting rifle?
Title: Re: Recoiless rifles appear on the Syrian Battlefield
Post by: besilarius on June 06, 2013, 05:19:37 PM
It's been way too long, but I think you are right.
There was at least one occasion when they teamed an Ontos with the M163 which was an M113 track armed with a 20mm Vulcan.
Tremendous suppresion!
Title: Re: Recoiless rifles appear on the Syrian Battlefield
Post by: MIGMaster on June 10, 2013, 12:07:28 PM
I betcha that little bugger rocked like crazy when all the guns were fired at once  ;)
Title: Re: Recoiless rifles appear on the Syrian Battlefield
Post by: LongBlade on June 10, 2013, 01:32:40 PM
Quote from: MIGMaster on June 10, 2013, 12:07:28 PM
I betcha that little bugger rocked like crazy when all the guns were fired at once  ;)

'Tis better to give than receive. (https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1081.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj349%2Flongblade%2FSmilies%2Fmobilearty.gif&hash=cebd4a9f2ab79d11a3e3faf1e21af368ef06ab33)
Title: Re: Recoiless rifles appear on the Syrian Battlefield
Post by: bob48 on June 10, 2013, 01:59:24 PM
Its an Ontos, and I think they saw some use in 'Nam as bunker busters.

I had a really nice plastic kit of one back in the day, made by 'Frog' if memory serves me right. Also had an M42 Duster by them as well.
Title: Re: Recoiless rifles appear on the Syrian Battlefield
Post by: bayonetbrant on June 12, 2013, 07:37:51 AM
while looking for somethign else, I found the thread where Smuck had posted the pic of me with the Ontos back in the olde country

http://wargamer.com/forums/posts.asp?t=291891

but the forum 'upgrade' 2 years ago killed the image links