MESOP : ALL ABOUT THE PESHMERGA HARDWARE / AN ANATOMY OF WEAPONRY

As The Kurds Mobilize In Iraq, Here’s A Look At What They Have In Their Arsenal

JEREMY BENDER  TOMORROW AT – Business Insider Australia – 30.6.2014 – A member of the Kurdish security forces takes up position with his weapon while guarding an oil refinery, on the outskirts of Mosul, June 22, 2014.

As the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) continues its blitz across northern and central Iraq, the Kurdish Peshmerga forces have emerged as the most credible military challenger to the jihadi threat.

In the early days of ISIS’s recent onslaught, the Peshmerga took the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, under the pretense of protecting it after the Iraqi Army fled. Since that expansion of Kurdish control, the Peshmerga has dug in around Kurdistan’s borders in an attempt to deter any ISIS advance into its territory. ISIS would have a serious conflict on its hands if it focused its offensive on Kurdistan. The Peshmerga number upwards of 190,000 official fighters, not counting militia members who can be called upon to swell its ranks. The Peshmerga also has a range of equipment dating from its time as a guerrilla force — as well as more modern U.S.-supplied weaponry. For more information on the Peshmerga and its capabilities, check out this 2005 masters’ disertation by former intelligence officer Michael G. Lortz.

The BGM-71 TOW

(image url=’http://static.businessinsider.com/image/5352fe22eab8eaf51a4e08e7-1200-924/tow-missile-system.jpg’   alt=’TOW  missile system’ link=’lightbox’ size=’primary’ align=’center’ clear=’true’ )The BGM-71 TOW is a U.S.-built anti-tank missile. TOW missiles were produced by Raytheon and entered service in the 1970s. The system has an operational range of 3,750 meters. TOW missiles have highly effective anti-armour, anti-bunker, and anti-fortification capabilities.

In the 1990 Gulf War, U.S. M2 and M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles armed with TOW missiles were more effective against Iraqi armour than even the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank.

As the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) continues its blitz across northern and central Iraq, the Kurdish Peshmerga forces have emerged as the most credible military challenger to the jihadi threat.

In the early days of ISIS’s recent onslaught, the Peshmerga took the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, under the pretense of protecting it after the Iraqi Army fled. Since that expansion of Kurdish control, the Peshmerga has dug in around Kurdistan’s borders in an attempt to deter any ISIS advance into its territory.

ISIS would have a serious conflict on its hands if it focused its offensive on Kurdistan. The Peshmerga number upwards of 190,000 official fighters, not counting militia members who can be called upon to swell its ranks.

The Peshmerga also has a range of equipment dating from its time as a guerrilla force — as well as more modern U.S.-supplied weaponry. For more information on the Peshmerga and its capabilities, check out this 2005 masters’ disertation by former intelligence officer Michael G. Lortz.

Humvees

(image url=’http://static.businessinsider.com/image/53adb12269bedd6e5a4f8cb5-1200-924/kurdish-security-forces-iraq-9.jpg’ alt=’Kurdish Security Forces Iraq’ link=’lightbox’ size=’primary’ align=’center’ clear=’true’)

The United States has provided Humvees to the Iraqi Army and to the Peshmerga. Armoured Humvees allow for quick and effective movement of Peshmerga forces across rougher terrain than most other vehicles would allow.

The Humvee’s heavy armour also protects Peshmerga forces against small-arms fire. Humvees can also provide protection against collateral damage from indirect explosions — although the vehicles offer little protection against land mines or buried IEDs.

As the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) continues its blitz across northern and central Iraq, the Kurdish Peshmerga forces have emerged as the most credible military challenger to the jihadi threat.

In the early days of ISIS’s recent onslaught, the Peshmerga took the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, under the pretense of protecting it after the Iraqi Army fled. Since that expansion of Kurdish control, the Peshmerga has dug in around Kurdistan’s borders in an attempt to deter any ISIS advance into its territory.

ISIS would have a serious conflict on its hands if it focused its offensive on Kurdistan. The Peshmerga number upwards of 190,000 official fighters, not counting militia members who can be called upon to swell its ranks. The Peshmerga also has a range of equipment dating from its time as a guerrilla force — as well as more modern U.S.-supplied weaponry. For more information on the Peshmerga and its capabilities, check out this 2005 masters’ disertation by former intelligence officer Michael G. Lortz.

D-30 Howitzer

(image url=’http://static.businessinsider.com/image/53adb60b69bedda46f4f8cb5-1200-600/peshmerga-122mm-howitzer.jpg’ alt=’Peshmerga 122mm Howitzer’ link=’lightbox’ size=’primary’ align=’center’ clear=’true’)

The D-30 122 mm howitzer is a Soviet-made artillery gun.

It’s an older model of howitzer, and must be towed into position by a truck or armoured tractor. Age aside, the D-30 can still pack a considerable punch.

The D-30 can fire anywhere between four to eight rounds a minute at distances of up to 15 kilometers. It can fire multiple types of rounds, including smoke and incendiary shells.

As the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) continues its blitz across northern and central Iraq, the Kurdish Peshmerga forces have emerged as the most credible military challenger to the jihadi threat.In the early days of ISIS’s recent onslaught, the Peshmerga took the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, under the pretense of protecting it after the Iraqi Army fled. Since that expansion of Kurdish control, the Peshmerga has dug in around Kurdistan’s borders in an attempt to deter any ISIS advance into its territory.

ISIS would have a serious conflict on its hands if it focused its offensive on Kurdistan. The Peshmerga number upwards of 190,000 official fighters, not counting militia members who can be called upon to swell its ranks.

The Peshmerga also has a range of equipment dating from its time as a guerrilla force — as well as more modern U.S.-supplied weaponry. For more information on the Peshmerga and its capabilities, check out this 2005 masters’ disertation by former intelligence officer Michael G. Lortz. Read all the rest : http://www.businessinsider.com.au/peshmerga-military-equipment-2014-6#the-bgm-71-tow-1