Fast & Furious Part Deux

[E4 No More]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/01/20/rifle-capable-taking-down-helicopter-found-at-el-chapo-hideout-purchased-through-fast-and-furious-program.html?intcmp=hpbt2

 

I didn't know that a .50 cal rifle was intended to take down helicopters?

[monkeylizard]

They're saying that El Chapo's intention in having the rifle was to take down helicopters, not that taking down helis was the intention of the existence of the rifle.

 

Federal law enforcement sources told Fox News that ‘El Chapo’ would put his guardsmen on hilltops to be on guard for Mexican police helicopters that would fly through valleys conducting raids. The sole purpose of the guardsmen would be to shoot down those helicopters, sources said.

Edited January 20, 2016 by monkeylizard

[E4 No More]

They're saying that El Chapo's intention in having the rifle was to take down helicopters, not that taking down helis was the intention of the existence of the rifle.

That's what I get for trying to multi-task at work. I read down until they started going into the background of FF and stopped.  :P

Edited January 20, 2016 by SWJewellTN

[peejman]

Best of my (very little) knowledge, the .50 is not considered to be an anti-personnel weapon.  It's listed for being for disabling equipment.

[E4 No More]

Best of my (very little) knowledge, the .50 is not considered to be an anti-personnel weapon.  It's listed for being for disabling equipment.

Yes, when I first read it I was thinking that the round was designed for light armor long before the helicopter was a military weapon: therefore, it wasn't intended to take down choppers. Planes and trucks, yes.

[monkeylizard]

Actually, JMB developed the .50 BMG round for anti-aircraft purposes after WWI. Fixed-wing, not helis. It was of course used in the M2, which was vehicle mounted for AA purposes and aircraft mounted for, well, I guess you'd call that AA too. :) Our smart GIs figured out that the M2 worked pretty darn well against ground targets too, but it was first intended for AA use.

 

I don't really know what Barrett had in mind when he developed the M82, whether it was meant as anti-personnel or anti-light vehicle. It's of course used for both.

Edited January 20, 2016 by monkeylizard

[E4 No More]

Actually, JMB developed the .50 BMG round for anti-aircraft purposes after WWI. Fixed-wing, not helis. It was of course used in the M2, which was vehicle mounted for AA purposes and aircraft mounted for, well, I guess you'd call that AA too. :) Our smart GIs figured out that the M2 worked pretty darn well against ground targets too, but it was first intended for AA use.

 

I don't really know what Barrett had in mind when he developed the M82, whether it was meant as anti-personnel or anti-light vehicle. It's of course used for both.

I was including the plane as light armor in my thinking. No armor in the Zero was just a plus. :)

[Sam1]

50 bmg is an anti-material weapon, so yes, it would be designed to take out helicopters.

 

The problem you have is that it would probably need to be on the ground, loaded with fuel and running to have a chance at doing major damage.

[nightrunner]

Barrett designed his rifles as anti-material.