YouTuber Has A Go Firing 'US Army's Most Powerful Rocket Launcher'

A YouTuber had a go firing the US army's 'most powerful rocket launcher'. Check it out here:

Sam Eckholm joined up with the Colorado National Guard to have a go using the US army's High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

The YouTuber said: "Capable of firing a flurry of rockets at distances up to 70 km, this thing is capable of decimating the battlefield.

"If you've ever wondered what capabilities our soldiers have when in comes to artillery and firepower, then you better strap in for this one."

YouTube/Sam Eckholm

The system is used to provide both close and long range precision missile fire and is operated by a crew of three, with all six rockets able to be fired within just 45 seconds.

Sam climbed aboard to have a stab at firing a missile himself, and wearing his ballistic vest, he was shocked by how bumpy the ride was.

Then, when the moment arrived, he was given the command to fire - and it became much bumpier still.

That wasn't the end of Sam's day though, 'cause once he'd hopped out of the HIMARS, the troops proceeded to put on a show for him, firing many more rockets.

You'd think they'd be quite stingy with them, wouldn't ya? But apparently not.

YouTube/Sam Eckholm

Meanwhile, in other rocket news, William Shatner recently made history by launching into space.

The actor, who famously played Captain James T Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, hitched a ride with three others in the Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule, developed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

At 90 years of age, he became the oldest person to visit space - breaking the record set in July by 82-year-old Wally Funk - and he was overwhelmed upon landing back on Earth following the 10-minute flight last Wednesday (13 October).

NBC News/Blue Origin

Addressing Bezos, he said: "What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine.

"I'm so filled with emotion about what just happened. It's extraordinary.

"I hope I never recover from this. I hope that I can maintain what I feel now, I don't wanna lose it. It's so much larger than me and life."

He added: "Everyone in the world needs to do this.

"It was so moving to me. This experience has been unbelievable."

Topics: Viral, Interesting, Community, YouTube

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey