ITOW

[Eagledriver]

This one's an answer for Zofo. ITOW is the acronym for Improved Tube launched, Optically sighted, Wire guided. Note the standoff probe on the front of the missile. The first models did not have this. The probe improves the effectiveness of the blast effects. :idea: :idea:

[Zofo]

In this case "to improve blast effects" would mean punching a hole into the armour like a sabot round?
This is some mean weapon - is the AFV a specific type equipped with ITOW or can it be "blistered" onto any Bradley?

[Eagledriver]

The TOW missile system is indigenous to the BFV. However, there are also mounts on the 113 APC and the HMMWV(the Hummer) for firing from those two platforms and also a ground mount for firing from the ground. And no, it doesn't punch a hole in the armor like a sabot. Rather, it is a shaped charge that actually burns through the armor. The process is so fast as to look like an explosion. :|

[Eagledriver]

A postscript: the tow can also be mounted and fired from a helicopter.

[Zofo]

Thanks for that info Irving.
Did you get to fire this kit? I expect that US expeditures are the same as Brit costs and you get to fire simulators not the real thing but in Desert Storm were you able to "deploy" the weapon?

[Eagledriver]

As I stated earlier, I was a Platoon Sergeant in a mech infantry outfit. Yes, I did fire the tow missile system, but it was not until well after Desert Storm that the ITOW came out. We made do with the first model which lacked the standoff probe. It was quite an efficient weapon and reached supersonic speeds. During training we were forced to use non-explosive dummy missiles not because of costs but there were a couple of instances of the missile actually doing what we call a 180(reversing course.) and coming back. This made for some highly exciting moments as you can imagine. We do have a simulator for the Bradley called the M-COFT, which stands for Mobile Conduct of Fire Trainer. This is nothing more than a big computer system with a turret mockup for the commander and gunner and a station for the instructor/operator. Hope this helps.


:D

[Zofo]

I'm glad to see that it's not just us with design faults! I never got to use really expensive and/or violent weapons per se, the only thing that remotely came close was our milan system (http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/2069/password//sort/1/cat/543/page/1)

but this was only a dummy missile - a simulator tacked onto the firing post. The only time anything silly happened was a mate of mine elevating a mortar too high with the result that the round went straight up and after hanging about for a bit (giving us time to leg it!) came straight back down onto the position - luckily a smoke round but we were not flavour of the month with the DS!