January 09, 2009 .... Dangerous Perceptions.

As per the following images, which give some indication, the comparison between the Nazis' V1 and V2 rockets would seem ridiculous. The V1 is about the size of the Hellfire equipped drones which cruise over Pakistan and Afghanistan, and has a warhead capacity of just under one ton of high explosives. The V2 is about twice the size of a Russian Iskander 2 missile, and is equipped with just under one ton of high explosives. Both the V1 and V2 were technological marvels of their time, and employed tens-of-thousands of slave-labourers in their design, testing, construction and launch.

The Qassam, on the other hand, appears to be of somewhat more modest design and capability. However, like its V-Weapon counterparts, it has no discriminatory capability over where and what it will impact: building/s, person/s, etc. And even though its warhead payload capability ranges from 0.5 Kg to 10 kg, given the numbers that Qassams are launched in, on daily basis, the combined destructive capability spread over a wide area, can easily exceed the destructive capacity of a V-Weapon, even though a V-Weapon's impact is confined to a more limited area.

The Qassam is also deceptive in its complexity to untrained eye. This is because a Qassam is sophisticated in its simplicity, which allows it to be made with very modest manufacturing capabilities. Which is why pretty much any metal workshop can manufacture Qassams and their launcher racks. Although not reported at this time, it is probable that considerable CAD resources are expended in Iran and other foreign countries to achieve this sophistication-in-simplicity design, and this is probably well tested in remote locations to prove the design, and limits of manufacturing tolerances.

For example: Instead of a more difficult to achieve nozzle design of a single coaxial exhaust port, requiring access to a lathe, new designs make use of a number of carefully spaced and angled holes within the base plate, requiring nothing more than a power drill and a simple alignment tool.

In addition to the direct explosive and/or potential for death and/or serious injury from shrapnel and/or embedded metal objects within the explosive charge, the destructive capacity of a Qassam also includes the mass, ranging from under 10 Kg to over 50 Kg, and travelling at a velocity in excess of 250 Km/Hour is devastating when a person is directly hit. As many images of Qassam strikes have clearly shown, a Qassam strike can badly damage a concrete block dwelling by punching a huge hole through a wall or a roof.

Therefore, when considered from a range of perspectives not limited to thinking of a Qassam rocket as a primitive fire-cracker, the Qassam, in numbers, is actually as dangerous as a Nazi era V-Weapon--in a smaller and simpler form to be sure--and is the equivalent of an MRV (Multiple/Missile Reentry Vehicle).