Define: Tactical

[Cyphre Iredell]

I don't particularly care which manner of regulations it is derived from, but its well known, and one of those in a lengthy list of idiotic gestures by nations who deem a particular weapon barbaric in its usage. None of which terribly mattering as every nation has equipped itself accordingly and avoided things like chemical warfare for quite some tie (although drilled in the event it does happen).

Provided you strike the spine, the cavitation enacted by the round can sever a man in half. Decapitation doesn't happen because there is no head to decapitate. However, they aren't often used because as a long-range weapon, it has a very noticeable signature, and is a very heavy weapon with very expensive ammo versus the traditional .308 or future .300 winmag.

API rounds have been quite suitable at disabling vehicles by hitting the engine directly. Granted, civilian vehicles, as there hasn't been conflicts with opposing military-class vehicles in quite some time.

[Ron Bleac]

I don't particularly care which manner of regulations it is derived from, but its well known, and one of those in a lengthy list of idiotic gestures by nations who deem a particular weapon barbaric in its usage. None of which terribly mattering as every nation has equipped itself accordingly and avoided things like chemical warfare for quite some tie (although drilled in the event it does happen).

It is barbaric, though.

It's exactly due to conventions like these that the US or Soviet Union no longer has their massive stockpiles and readily available production capacity of 60 million Sarin, Agent Blue, infected insect bomblets, biological (black plague, leprosy, anthrax etc) or chemical bomblets. All of those were produced in the hundreds of thousands, though. That's enough nasties to coat the entire Western hemisphere, most of Africa and Eastern Europe in a blanket of death, sickness and misery as long as you have the jet fuel or ballistic missiles to deliver this birthday cake right to your choice of doorstep. But who cares, it's an idiotic gesture because nobody will ever even think about reintroducing them because it's totally not the most effective, easiest to produce and the most readily available option, right? It costs less money to produce a simple aluminium bomblet and stuff it full of infected mosquitoes than it costs to create 100 pops of 7.62.

It's still considered totally tactical and acceptable too, as witnessed by the Iran-Iraq war, First Gulf War and the Soviet war in Afghanistan. All of those are within the last 30 years and in military terms, the service life of that kind of weapon is pretty long, mosquitoes discounted. I think the world would be an even scarier place if that piece of paper wasn't there to say "no, this isn't right" which makes it sadder, because anyone in their right mind should see that bombing someone with chemicals that will leave them alive and cause hundreds of years of genetic damage isn't right.

Those conventions are there for a pretty gosh darned good reason. Not just for chemical weapons, either!

[Huttser]

I'm not gonna state my posistion on said conventions/protocols and the application of weapons prohibited under them, but I can fast see this thread de-railing onto a conversation we really shouldn't be having. Lets try to avoid it shall we.

[Aryte]

[Agares Tretiak]

Since the thread is derailed, I will now post cute kittens.

Why?

Because Ffff you, that's why.

I hope my point is clear.

[RazorFox]

I said adds benefit, not adds stupid.

(benefit to the purpose of the weapon or an impending operation)

The ability to conveniently open bottles of beer for consumption is beneficial to squad morale.

[Lanny Ansar]

I like having those little loops on the bottom of the Pistol Grip. That way I can never lose my Car Keys.