BS: RPGs and CSI:Miami

Subject: RE: BS: RPGs and CSI:Miami
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 07:17 AM

Ah, hence the saying 'so cold they were snapping dogs off lamp posts' so beloved of another Mudcatter.....

I'm a CSI fan too... and yes, some of their science is stretched a little, but hey, it's TV.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: RPGs and CSI:Miami
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 04:34 AM

Thanks. Yes it makes sense that if it is dirty and the rocket exhaust is restricted it will act more like a normal gun and recoil.

I'd heard about it being so cold in the arctic or antarctic that urine froze before it hit the ground. Don't think I'd get my willy out if it's that cold - give me a cathater and a bag.

Subject: RE: BS: RPGs and CSI:Miami
From: Peace
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 05:51 PM

We had 55 below once in the NWT. For the heck of it I tossed a glass of water into the air. What wasn't frozen when it hit the ground froze within three seconds, tops. I did not repeat that experiment because it was cold standing outside in my FOTLs. FYI.

Subject: RE: BS: RPGs and CSI:Miami
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 05:45 PM

Most of the science in that deservres to be take with a bucket of salt. It's no worse than most other science on TV, and unlike various documentaries, at least doesn't claim to be be accurate...

Subject: RE: BS: RPGs and CSI:Miami
From: jeffp
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 11:09 AM

I remember reading once, long ago, that the temperature at which spit will freeze before it hits the ground is around 50 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Can't swear to it, but that's what I remember. Definitely won't happen at home or commercial freezer temps.

Subject: RE: BS: RPGs and CSI:Miami
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 08:20 AM

PP, you must have laughed if you ever saw " The Day After Tomorow", but I remember in one of Jack London's Alaska stories, it was said to be really cold when your spit crackled, freezing as it fell.

Re RPG, it has a long narrow exhaust tube, unlike the weapons I compared it to. I can see how Artbrook's Wikopedia find could be true.

Subject: RE: BS: RPGs and CSI:Miami
From: Pied Piper
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 07:56 AM

I like the show and usually watch it when it's on but don't take the science too seriously. In one episode a man was found dead in a meat freezer and to account for the unusual pattern of "spatter" they squirted blood from a syringe into cold air and the droplets froze and bounced of the floor.
This is obviously complete bollox; blood is mostly water with a very hi specific heat capacity and would have no were near enough time in contact with cold air for it's temperature to drop from 37 C too 0 C and freeze.

PP

Subject: RE: BS: RPGs and CSI:Miami
From: artbrooks
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 07:00 AM

My experience is similar to Keith A's, but this quote from Wikipedia on RPGs indicates that perhaps their operator maintenance program was poor: The launcher must be cleaned periodically, as built-up residue will result in an excess of over-pressure, causing the sight to be driven into the operator's eye when the rocket is fired. Blindness in one eye often results..

Subject: RE: BS: RPGs and CSI:Miami
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 05:54 AM

Not fired the RPG but I imagine it is similar to the 66mm rocket launcher and the old 84mm Carl Gustav.
These do not produce a recoil for the reason you give, but there is a concussion. The 84 had a telescopic sight, which I never knew to leave a mark on anyone.

Subject: BS: RPGs and CSI:Miami
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 04:42 AM

Watched my first ever CSI programme last night and thought it was okay-nothing special. But the main piece of evidence linking a suspect to the firing of a Soviet RPG was the damage the sights did to the eye from the recoil. Now I've never fired anything like this but I would have thought that there would not be excessive recoil as the rocket thrust vents out the back of the launch tube whilst the grenade hurtles out the front of the tube. Is this correct? Or are there other factors?