# In warfare, do you need RPGs to take down a technical or will small arms do it **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion\ **Created:** [March 31, 2022, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030 "2022-03-31T03:33:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/41 "2022-04-06T03:27:45Z")
In my youth, I was drunk and dumb and mad about a bunch of bullshit going on at the time so I threw a rock, not really _at_ anything, but it hit the ground just in front my car, had a weird bounce and went up into the radiator. Which then immediate puked coolent all over the ground. Could only drive a mile or so before it would overheat and needed to cool off. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/42 "2022-04-06T03:42:11Z")
Ooof, it sounds like the radiator was already ready to give at the point of the rock’s destination if it proceeded to puke out coolant. Maybe a larger hole than a smaller round might make (but a 5.56 on its side is pretty wide). But, you cared about the car, and let it cool down. Someone in retreat may not care so much about the engine’s longevity. Even if they did, a mile might get them to safety. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/43 "2022-04-06T03:43:22Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > But, you cared about the car, and let it cool down. Someone in retreat may not care so much about the engine’s longevity. Even if they did, a mile might get them to safety. Either way, they are out of the fight. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/44 "2022-04-06T03:45:17Z")
True, until they get another radiator. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/45 "2022-04-06T03:56:57Z")
Let me rephrase… Either way, they are out of _that_ fight. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/46 "2022-04-06T03:58:55Z")
Yeah, wish I could give a “thumbs up”. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/47 "2022-04-06T12:24:36Z")
Yeah, a .177 will take out a radiator too. Voice of experience here. It WAS an accident (sort of) ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/48 "2022-04-06T12:36:10Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > The technical isn’t an APC or tank. If they are smart they will be shooting at you from a thousand meters away with an .50 M2 Browning machinegun or Oerlikon 20mm antiaircraft gun or whatever heavy weapon they bolted to the bed. Much of the OP question hinges on the scenario (typical for any “best weapon” question). Is it coming straight at you guns blazing? Is it a parked target of opportunity some distance away? Are you preparing an ambush? Playing cops-and-robbers in urbanized terrain? All these scenarios have different considerations. But if the question is simply “which round will most reliably remove a technical from the enemy’s table of usable equipment, assuming it impacts as intended”, I still think an RPG will more often be a better answer than small arms. If you poke a hole in the door (and the occupants), they just get more occupants. Disable the radiator, they just get a new radiator. Cracking the engine block is tougher and more expensive fix, but that’s still just one component. OTOH an RPG hit would likely necessitate replacement of multiple systems as well as structural compromise, rendering it immobile and a total loss, likely with some casualties to boot. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/49 "2022-04-06T13:14:39Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > “which round will most reliably remove a technical from the enemy’s table of usable equipment, assuming it impacts as intended”, Using that logic, every technical should be hit with a MOAB. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/50 "2022-04-06T13:52:35Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Using that logic, every technical should be hit with a MOAB. 😛 I stayed within the constraints of the OP (small arms vs. RPG). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/51 "2022-04-06T22:32:06Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Using that logic, every technical should be hit with a MOAB. 😛 Ellen Ripley would disagree. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030/52 "2022-04-06T22:43:23Z")
It’s not like she’s _wrong_… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-warfare-do-you-need-rpgs-to-take-down-a-technical-or-will-small-arms-do-it/962030.md?page=2)