My thoughts exactly.... that round ripped through that tank like wet toilette paper! 
I mean, that's some pretty high-tech weapondry that somebody is toting around. Where did this happen? If it's Afghanistan or Iraq, then someone in a pretty powerful position must be supplying those guerilla forces, there is no way they either have the technology (or the technological know-how) to make a high-powered weapon like that.
fOx
It was Iraq, and the thinking is now that it was an advanced/experimental form of RPG (I want to say RPX-22) that the Swiss (?) were working on. Sorry to be a little vague, but I can't remember where I saw that speculation so I can't check my facts.
Apparently this was only the second ever "mobility kill" ever suffered by an M1A1.
I would have to guess that if the Iraqi resistance movement had more of these we would have seen them used already, so this was probably only one of a very limited number.
I hope.
The suspicion is that it is an upgraded RPG-22, built in Russia. The Army however has classified the inspection efforts of the damage.
The RPG-22 is a short-range, tube-launched, disposable, infantry antitank rocket launcher, similar to the US LAW system. The lightweight, collapsible launch tube consists of two parts: the outer tube made of fiberglass and a sliding inner tube made of aluminum. The inner tube extends 10 centimeters to the front of the outer tube in firing position. It fires a 73-mm fin-stabilized rocket with an effective range of 250 meters and a HEAT warhead capable of penetrating approximately 390 millimeters of armor. The trigger and the pop-up rear peep sight are in the middle of the extended tube. The pop-up front sight is at the forward end of the outer tube. The front sight is calibrated for ranges of 50, 150, and 250 meters.
Thanks for the details, but I hope you needed to look that stuff up, otherwise you may be a little scary.
I did look it up...lol But I have access to lots of that type of stuff. I work in the defense industry so it is no real effort
I dunno....but a small projectile at that velocity says rail gun to me...I know rail guns need HUGE amounts of power....but stranger things have happened.
Reminds me of the "magic bullet" that killed JFK.
JDOG