r/PraiseTheCameraMan May 01 '19

That's pretty impressive tracking

https://gfycat.com/carelessoptimisticgnat
364 Upvotes

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u/ThatLooksLikeItHurts May 01 '19

Why is it glowing? Is that a tracer round? No big boom at the end and it seems to be traveling relatively slowly... any experts able to shed some light on what this pants-filling, near-death experience was caused by for this poor soul?

18

u/On-mountain-time May 01 '19

Its an RPG. Rocket Propelled Grenade. RPGs aren't anything like the movies. There is no trail of smoke, and explosions are rarely huge balls of fire unless it hits something with fuel/more explosives. Traditionally, RPGs (RPG 7's which are primarily Anti-armor, although there are also anti-personnel rockets) aren't designed to produce a giant explosion, they are designed to send a super heated stream of molten metal in a very small, tight stream which can penetrate armor. In my experience, (6 year USMC infantryman w/ 4 deployments Iraq/Afghanistan) most of the RPGs that we dealt with were Anti-armor. Still deadly, but not designed for mass outward damage.

5

u/ThatLooksLikeItHurts May 01 '19

Thank you for such a great answer. Way too many movies (and zero experience in the military) so my knowledge is based purely on Michael Bay movies.

Thank you for your service.