Australian solders left for dead in Afghanistan by Dutch Apache helicopters - Polidicks

That's what you get for having the Dutch at your back.

[QUOTE=Harland Mason;25559496]That's no reason at all to puss out and leave your allies for (possible) dead in a situation like that.[/QUOTE] All you have the word of a ground soldier who was injured in the fight and has a reason to be mad at the Dutch pilots, which has been puffed up by a small-time newspaper trying to make a story out of his press release. There is really no way to know whether what they did was justified or not. Who are you or I to say?

[QUOTE=TH89;25559339]So, a retired soldier publishes a book, makes an inflammatory press release about how some Dutch helicopter pilots, in all probability, did what they were trained to do, and an Australian rag writes an even more inflammatory article about it. Despite what they'd have you believe Apache helicopters are not designed to withstand RPGs[/QUOTE] You realize an Apache can sit well out the range of RPG-7s and drop a ridiculous amount of firepower on enemy positions right? That's the problem here. It's not like the Dutch pilots were at any major risk.

[QUOTE=Victis;25560350]Not sure, but it might have been due to the dutch being really against going to afghanistan in the first place, all the general populace wanted was to get their boys back from afghanistan, Now rather than Later[/QUOTE] This incident happened a few years back. the Dutch have already fucked off now.

I declare we invade the Dutch with sling shots and sticks and WE SHARE the stick and see if Dutch would fight back

I love how everyone's raging on them for not risking their lives when honestly you'd all be even less likely to try.

There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch.

[QUOTE=Chilean;25560415]I love how everyone's raging on them for not risking their lives when honestly you'd all be even less likely to try.[/QUOTE] if i was a trained helicopter pilot in a tank that could fly i'd fuck shit up

[QUOTE=Chilean;25560415]I love how everyone's raging on them for not risking their lives when honestly you'd all be even less likely to try.[/QUOTE] Did you even fucking read the article? They refused to drop [B]below 5000m[/B]. The [B]MAX[/B] range of an RPG-7 is 1000m, and that's assuming the operator could even fire one at such an angle without killing himself. The Apaches can sit in a position of no danger, and still fire on enemy positions, which they refused to do.

[QUOTE=JaegerMonster;25560469]Did you even fucking read the article? They refused to drop [B]below 5000m[/B]. The [B]MAX[/B] range of an RPG-7 is 1000m, and that's assuming the operator could even fire one at such an angle without killing himself. The Apaches can sit in a position of no danger, and still fire on enemy positions, which they refused to do.[/QUOTE] That's fucked up

TH98 knows military helicopters guys we should trust him

[QUOTE=TH89;25560370]All you have the word of a ground soldier who was injured in the fight and has a reason to be mad at the Dutch pilots, which has been puffed up by a small-time newspaper trying to make a story out of his press release. There is really no way to know whether what they did was justified or not. Who are you or I to say?[/QUOTE] From the details he gave, either the author is lying, the pilots were cowards or the dutch rules of engagement are fucked up. The Apaches are equipped to handle that kind of situation and the chances of them hitting a single aircraft with RPGs from that distance is miniscule and they are armoured enough that small arms fire wouldn't make a difference. The threat to them was small and they didn't even engage at all. If it was an Australian helicopter it would of assisted and because the Dutch are supposed to be assisting the Australians with air support, they should at least do something.

[QUOTE=TH89;25559339]So, a retired soldier publishes a book, makes an inflammatory press release about how some Dutch helicopter pilots, in all probability, did what they were trained to do, and an Australian rag writes an even more inflammatory article about it. Despite what they'd have you believe Apache helicopters are not designed to withstand RPGs[/QUOTE] Dumb. Apaches can engage from over 2km with their weapons. An RPG would have no chance in hell hitting a moving target firing from over a km away. If those Apaches were British or American, they would have lit that place the fuck up. [editline]22nd October 2010[/editline] Fuck the Dutch.

[QUOTE=TH89;25559339]Despite what they'd have you believe Apache helicopters are not designed to withstand RPGs[/QUOTE] RPGs aren't very accurate. They could've afforded to come down a bit lower. I doubt an RPG moves fast enough that they could make an accurate, direct hit [I]anyway[/I] as long as the chopper didn't move in an especially predictable pattern.

[QUOTE=TH89;25559339] Despite what they'd have you believe Apache helicopters are not designed to withstand RPGs[/QUOTE] The human body isn't designed to withstand RPGs either, but at least the guys on the ground grew some sack and did their job. Can't say the same for the pilots. If you're going to spend the millions to create a flying killing machine, you might as well put it to use.

[QUOTE=Jenkem;25560636]RPGs aren't very accurate. They could've afforded to come down a bit lower. I doubt an RPG moves fast enough that they could make an accurate, direct hit [I]anyway[/I] as long as the chopper didn't move in an especially predictable pattern.[/QUOTE] Even if they engage at 500m, it still takes the RPG a full 5 seconds to get to them once fired. They know where the fire is coming from and can easily take evasive measures so even if they have Jesus with an RPG down there, they can probably still avoid it.

Dutch have been known to be incompetent of the battlefield numerous times. Shit wasn't new for them.

[QUOTE=Jimpy;25560420]There's only two things I hate in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch.[/QUOTE] well you know they DO share a border with belgium

[QUOTE=Jake Nukem;25560683]Dutch have been known to be incompetent of the battlefield numerous times. Shit wasn't new for them.[/QUOTE] Heard a few reports that the Taliban try to engage the Dutch more because they will run away. Australians will fight back but the Dutch just make easy targets. Was from an Australian soldier though so take it with a grain of salt.

[QUOTE=TH89;25559658]Tell that to the Somalis. [img_thumb]http://imgur.com/XfsEl.jpg[/img_thumb][/QUOTE] One in a million shot, a near stationary Black Hawk presents a much different target than an attacking Apache. With its typical loadout, the Apache should have been able to safely engage targets on the ground without putting themselves in harms way.

[QUOTE=Devodiere;25560674]Even if they engage at 500m, it still takes the RPG a full 5 seconds to get to them once fired. They know where the fire is coming from and can easily take evasive measures so even if they have Jesus with an RPG down there, they can probably still avoid it.[/QUOTE] Your post inspired me to google image "Jesus with bazooka" and the 16th image (with safe search off) is Hermione Granger as a cat-girl. What the fuck.

Grain of salt, eh? Australian soldiers are one of the better trained forces in this world.

If there were dutch soldiers on the ground those pilots would have been down there in seconds.

[QUOTE=hehe;25560873]If there were dutch soldiers on the ground those pilots would have been down there in seconds.[/QUOTE] Nope, they woulda both packed up and fucked off.

[QUOTE=GetBent;25560760]Your post inspired me to google image "Jesus with bazooka" and the 16th image (with safe search off) is Hermione Granger as a cat-girl. What the fuck.[/QUOTE] [img]http://s2.b3ta.com/host/creative/66904/1234616845/Bazooka.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Jake Nukem;25560809]Grain of salt, eh? Australian soldiers are one of the better trained forces in this world.[/QUOTE] A lot of the guys I know aren't really that well trained or whatever, it's just that there's a fair bit of innate fighting skill. I guess it's comparable to scottish divisions in the UK armed forces that they aren't particularly well trained but are still good fighters. Also these guys were SAS so not like they're going to be anything but tough as nails.

[QUOTE=MegaChalupa;25560734]One in a million shot[/QUOTE] I think you might be understating the odds. They destroyed two helicopters that day and crippled a third. [QUOTE=RG4ORDR;25560522]TH98 knows military helicopters guys we should trust him[/QUOTE] I don't know helicopters but I know journalism and I can tell you this article has pretty much the worst sourcing it's possible to have: a press release by a guy who needs publicity.

[QUOTE=TH89;25560968]I think you might be understating the odds. They destroyed two helicopters that day and crippled a third.[/QUOTE] That wasn't a one in a million shot but the circumstances surrounding it are nowhere near the same as this. It might have been proven that RPG-s can take down helicopters but they require exceptional circumstances to do so.

[QUOTE=TH89;25559339]Despite what they'd have you believe Apache helicopters are not designed to withstand RPGs[/QUOTE] And Soldiers are not designed to withstand bullets. [editline]21st October 2010[/editline] Also what everyone else said.

[QUOTE=TH89;25560968]I think you might be understating the odds. They destroyed two helicopters that day and crippled a third. [/QUOTE] The Somalians had SPG-9's, .50 caliber weapons along with RPG's. The helicopters weren't rocking it out at 1000m shooting the shit out of everything, they were flying low, almost stationary to offload troops.