Russo-Ukrainian War: The 'Hetman Sahaidachny'

 

     The pride of the Ukrainian Navy's small fleet, the frigate Hetman Sahaidachny, has been scuttled in its moorings at Mykolaiv. The ship, a Krivak III-class frigate displacing 3,100 tons, was under repair in Mykolaiv when the commander of the ship ordered it scuttled by flooding the vessel's hull. This was done, it is said, on February 27. The scuttling was confirmed by Ukrainian defense minister Oleksiy Reznikov.

     The battle for Mykolaiv is still ongoing. Initial skirmishes occurred on February 26 with some Russian units penetrating into the city but were repulsed. Following the taking of Kherson, the bulk of the Russian forces pushed again on Mykolaiv, commencing an attack on February 28 through the city of Bashtanka, located just to the north of Mykolaiv. This attack, however, was blunted by Ukrainian forces. As of March 4, the governor of Mykolaiv Oblast, Vitaly Kim, reported that Russian forces had been repulsed from the city limits but Russian counterattacks were ongoing from three directions, leaving only the western side of the city free from attack. Ukrainian forces also retook Kulbakino Airport which is located close to 7 miles to the southeast of Mykolaiv's city center.

     The Hetman Sahaidachny, named after Ukrainian political and civic leader Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachny, Hetman of the Zaporozhian Cossacks (b. 1582 d. 1622), was the flagship of Ukraine's navy and it is believed the ship was scuttled in order to deny the Russians the propaganda coup of capturing the ship intact. The ship is armed with a single AK-100 100mm gun, two AK-630 30mm Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), two quad-tube 533mm torpedo launchers, and two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers. It can carry up to two Kamov Ka-27 helicopters.

Originally posted on March 5, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Ukrainian Special Forces in Irpin

     To some analysts, Kyiv should have fallen by now. With the well publicized “40 mile” convoy of Russian vehicles, some pointed to this being the build-up to finally taking down Kyiv. Except it hasn't happened. The city is under bombardment from Russian rockets, namely from M-21OF 122mm rockets fired from BM-21 “Grad” launchers. Rocket type depending, the M-21OF has a maximum range of between 8 miles to as much as 25 miles. But so far, the Russians have been unable to penetrate into Kyiv proper.

     The convoy has stalled and is now being subjected to Ukrainian attacks at the hands of small Ukrainian units and drone strikes. To the Ukrainian military, hitting supply lines only exacerbates an existing problem of Russian combat units being low on fuel and troops low on food. Russian tanks and vehicles cannot run if they have no petrol. This leads to the relatively common sight of abandoned trucks and vehicles that fall into the hands of Ukrainian forces.

     The photograph here shows a man by the first name of Volodymyr (in the soft cap), a Special Forces team leader, with two of his men. The team is operating in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin', some 14 miles from the city center of Kyiv. Bucha, another suburb just to the north of Irpin', has also been the scene of combat between the Russians and Ukrainians. Special Forces are playing a significant role in repelling numerous attempts by the Russians to push into both suburbs. These units operate at night, some even using tactical drones of their own with thermal optics to pinpoint Russian targets. Poor weather has seen the Russian Air Force limit sorties though Ukrainian troops are equipped with U.S. built FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missiles supplied by Lithuania, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Germany. Such weapons have already claimed some Russian aircraft. For anti-tank work, the units are using British supplied NLAWs (Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon).

     Fitted into Volodymyr's tactical vest are three 40mm HE-SD (High-Explosive Self-Destruct) grenades (next to a "BIC" lighter) for the under-barrel GP-25 or GP-30 grenade launcher. The SD feature is important when fighting within urban environments. After launch, the fuze will arm and within 14 to 19 seconds, the grenade will detonate. Thus, if the grenade doesn't explode upon impact, the grenade will still detonate and thus not pose a hazard to Ukrainian troops or civilians which would not be the case with the standard 40mm grenade that would remain active if it failed to detonate. The gloved soldier has his hands on what could be a silencer or suppressor for his AK-74 assault rifle. It could be a PBS-1 silencer which was more of a sound suppressor, only reducing the discharge by 15 decibels (dB) from 150 dB. Also, as the phrase “An army marches on its stomach”, spoken by Frederick the Great and Napoleon, still holds true today, the soldier in the background has a plastic spoon tucked into his gear, ready for use when the next meal comes around.

     All three men are using caution tape for identification and possibly could belong to the 72nd. Information Warfare and Psychological Operations Center (based in Brovary, a suburb of Kyiv) or from the Special Operations Forces Command which is based in Kyiv proper.

Originally posted on March 5, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Abandoned 2K22 Tunguska

     One of the more curious aspects of the war is the lack of Russian air power in the skies. In a November 2021 report from Flight International, the Ukrainian Air Force fielded 37 Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum multi-role fighters, 12 Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer attack jets, 17 Su-25 Frogfoot attack/close air support jets, and 32 Su-27 Flanker multi-role fighters. Against these 98 combat aircraft (Ukraine has no bombers any longer), the Russians have arrayed at least 300 combat aircraft in the region. Yet, even now, Ukrainian pilots are still able to sortie against Russian ground targets and engage in low-level aerial combat with what Russian aviation is about in the sky.

     So why is this the case? There are many opinions out there. The first is a lack of PGMs (Precision Guided Munitions) coupled with the inability to accurately deliver said ordnance. The latter is due to inadequate pilot training. It is believed that Russia's inventory of PGMs is very low and thus if any strikes were to be carried out, it would be done with unguided bombs and rockets. By having to use such munitions, it forces the aircraft into range of Ukrainian surface-to-air missiles, especially man-portable ones.

     Another factor is the fear that Russian ground forces will shoot first and ask questions later. Considering that a decent portion of Russian troops are conscripts, this fear is very much valid. Combine this with the fact the Ukrainian Air Force flies the same exact types of aircraft the Russian Air Force does, the risk is very real and the last thing the Russian Air Force wants is lost planes due to friendly fire.

     Finally, some think that the typical Russian pilot lacks flight hours, and thus the needed skill to engage in actual combat successfully, in comparison to Western pilots. On average, a Russian pilot gets under 100 hours in the cockpit every year while, for example, U.S. Air Force pilots can get up to 240 hours each year.

     The photograph here shows an abandoned 2K22 Tunguska somewhere around Kharkiv. The 2K22 is the replacement for the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, a rather lethal self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) that entered service in 1960. So lethal was the Shilka that many NATO nations stated in their infantry combat doctrine that any time a ZSU-23-4 was spotted in a column being ambushed, it was to be destroyed immediately before any other target as the quadruple 23mm cannons would quickly put an end to the attack. Although the Russian Marines still deploy the Shilka, the Russian Army uses the 2K22.

     The 2K22 is built on a GM tracked chassis, powered by a V-46-6-MS turbocharged, V-12, fuel-injected, water-cooled diesel engine developing between 780 to 840 horsepower. This gives a top road speed of 40 miles per hour and enough fuel for a 310 mile operational range. The SPAAG is equipped with the Hot Shot (NATO code-name) system that combines a parabolic E-band target acquisition radar (what we see in the folded position in the photograph) with a J-band monopulse tracking radar fitted in the center of the turret front. The target acquisition radar has a 360 degree field of view, can detect aerial targets out to 11 miles and flying as low as 50 feet off the ground. It can track targets starting within 10 miles at an altitude of 2 miles or less. Engagement can occur when the target speed is 1,640 feet per second or less with the response time of the weapon systems being 6-8 seconds. The Hot Shot system is all-weather, day and night.

     Speaking of weapons, the 2K22 is fitted with two 2A38M 30mm guns with each gun provided with 1,904 rounds of ammunition. Underneath each gun is a battery of four 9M311 surface-to-air missiles (NATO code-name SA-19 Grison), for a total of eight ready-to-fire missiles. The combined fire of both cannons is 3,900 to 5,000 rounds per minute but the usual is brief bursts of 83 to 250 rounds target depending. The maximum effective range is 2,000 meters while with the 9M311, the maximum range is between 5 miles to 6.2 miles. The missiles cannot be fired while the 2K22 is on the move though the guns can when set to full automatic computer controlled engagement. If need be, the gunner is provided with a stabilized sight for manual engagement, using the radar for range data.

     The 2K22's armor protects the four man crew from small arms fire and shell fragments but it is incapable of surviving hits by anything heavier. It is well equipped with good ventilation, heating system, NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) system, automatic fire suppression, night vision, extensive communication equipment, and navigational systems.

     The Ukrainian Army had, in a 2012 report, 70 Tunguska on strength but built on a 2S6 chassis rather than a GM chassis. How many remain in service now is unknown. It is believed that this example may have ultimately been destroyed by Ukrainian forces. This assumes the Russians rendered the 2K22 unusable prior to abandoning it.

Originally posted on March 3, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Abandoned Russian D-30 in Kherson Oblast

     It should be noted that Ukraine is not being invaded by one country, Russia, but also Belarus and Chechnya. The latter is a de facto independent state but is within the Russian republic while Belarus is an independent country. Both of these countries have supplied troops to the invasion and in the case of Belarus, allowed Russian troop movements through their territory.

     The city of Kherson, located in south Ukraine, is being reported as surrendering to Russian forces as of March 2. The city's mayor, Igor Kolykhaev, stated that Russian soldiers are within the city and that there are no Ukrainian military forces within the city limits. However, other reports state there are still skirmishes occurring outside the city proper. If Kherson is, indeed, under Russian occupation, it gives the Russians a vital port on the Black Sea and secures a base of operations to launch attacks against Odessa. The Kherson Oblast (region) continues to see combat with several battles having been fought and still ongoing within the area. Cities lost to Russian forces include Melitopol and Berdiansk while the cities of Mykolaiv and Zaporozhzhia are still being contested.

     The photograph here shows a part of a Russian column destroyed somewhere within the Kherson Oblast. The gun being towed is a D-30 122mm howitzer. This is a weapon nearly 60 years old, having entered service in 1963. Although no longer built in Russia, the Russian military still has some 4,750 D-30 howitzers in service. It is still built in other countries and over 60 nations (including Ukraine with a reported 129 examples) have the D-30 in their military arsenals. This is a testament to its design and robustness. When deployed in action, the D-30 unfurls three stabilizers with the gun in the center, fitted atop a turntable that allows 360 degree rotation. The hydro-pneumatic recoil system sits on top of the gun barrel which allows for a low profile of the D-30. The gun has a maximum elevation of 70 degrees and a maximum depression of 7 degrees. The D-30 uses a semi-automatic, vertical sliding-wedge breech. The howitzer has a crew of seven and a trained team can run 10 to 12 rounds through the gun per minute though in practice, it is usually half that rate of fire. In part, this is because the muzzle brake is so large (in order to absorb half the recoil forces) that is creates a massive over-pressure around the gun. This means the crew typically uses a long lanyard to fire the gun and stands well away from it, reducing load times. The low profile also means the D-30 can be used for direct fire and comes with a telescope sight for anti-tank duties. The typical range of the D-30 using standard high-explosive rounds is 9.6 miles but with rocket-assisted shells, it can attain a range of 13.6 miles.

     The truck the howitzer is being towed by appears to be either a ZiL-131 or a Ural 4320. The white “Z” on the rear gate has been the subject of a number of online articles. Some state the “Z” means the unit is part of the thrust into Ukraine from the east. A “Z” with a white square around it indicates forces coming up from Crimea (from the south) into Ukraine while a “O” means units from the north that pushed into Ukraine from Belarus. Chechen units are believed to use a white “X”, special forces a white “A”, and Russian Marines a white “V”. Some other sources state these may simply be general identification marks to avoid friendly fire incidents without any specific allocation to where units are going within Ukraine.

Originally posted on March 2, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The 2S19 Msta

 

     I am no expert on current Russian military tactics. However, I do have access to IAG-13-U-78 “Soviet Army Operations”, dated April 1978. This is an intelligence manual created by U.S. Army Intelligence and released by the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. Now, I hear you say, of what good is a manual nearly 44 years old? If one examines the chapter on attacking a defending enemy (Section IV, page 3-61), there are some clear parallels to the current situation in Ukraine which suggests that the tactics referenced in this publication aren't so out of date after all.

     Russian forces are reported to have largely bypassed Kharkiv in order to push deeper into Ukraine. This lines up with the tactic of bypassing an enemy in a deliberate defense (of which a city can be considered such) rather than engage it. This may account for lighter forces around the city and use of artillery to keep the defenders in the city. It is doubtful that a concentrated Ukrainian force would engage the Russians in open terrain and lose the benefit of the concealment and cover a urban warzone provides them. As such, outside of aerial attack or artillery, Russian forces are a bit more secure from massed infantry assaults.

     Let us move to Kyiv. It is reported that a military convoy some 40 miles long is moving towards the city. This lines up with the first action in the manual that states the first step towards an attack of an enemy in deliberate defense is the buildup of required forces. If, indeed, the convoy is slated for the assault on Kyiv, the evidence is clear. Once the forces are in the field of battle, they will be organized. If they are following the 1978 tactics, the bulk of the forces will be amassed at the planned direction of attack. Russian tactics also allow for feints or ruses to divert the enemy attention away from the main thrust. In such attacks, the Russians, according to the manual, want to have a 4-5 to 1 advantage in troops, 6-8 to 1 in artillery, and 3-5 to 1 in tanks. This is certainly achievable today and likely has not changed much.

     The Russians, as they have been since World War II, are big believers in massed artillery and rocket batteries (as seen in the superiority ratio above) and prior to the commencement of the attack, Kyiv would be subjected to a heavy bombardment. In the attack, again, if following these tactics, the Russians will not spread their forces out but instead would reduce unit frontages and have a front line of no more than 4km. Follow-on units behind the main lines would be spread further apart. This allows them to maximize their firepower and focus it towards the enemy. It is possible that the incursions in the suburbs of Kyiv by Russian forces are reconnaissance to attempt to pinpoint Ukrainian positions and capability in preparation of the main attack.

     The only hope for the Ukrainian defenders in Kyiv is to withstand the initial assault and bog the Russians down which would break their momentum. Why is this important? According to the manual, the tempo of the attack is to be swift with a fast rate of advance to limit losses and overrun weak positions quickly. If it becomes a brutal, house-to-house fight, it favors the defender who knows the terrain and if Russian objectives are not achieved, it may become a serious problem.

     One of the self-propelled artillery assets the Russians have deployed in Ukraine is the 2S19 Msta (after the Msta River). This particular example was abandoned somewhere in Sumy Oblast after the convoy it was traveling with was hit. As one can see, the travel lock for the 2A65 152mm howitzer is still engaged. The gun can fire base bleed shells out to 16 miles or if using rocket assisted ammunition, out to 18 miles. Thanks to a automatic loader, the standard 2S19 can fire up to 8 rounds every minute. A total of 50 rounds of ammunition is carried in the vehicle. The turret has a full 360 degree rotation while the gun can be elevated up to 68 degrees and depressed to a maximum of 4 degrees. For defense, the 2S19 is fitted with a pintle mounted 12.7mm NSVT heavy machine-gun (not seen here) with 300 rounds of ammunition. Built on a T-80 main battle tank chassis, the V-84A 840 horsepower engine can move the 2S19 to a maximum speed of 37 miles per hour (on roads) with a power to weight ratio of 20 horsepower per ton. Speaking of weight, loaded, the 2S19 is 42 tons, is 23.5 feet long, 11.1 feet wide, and 9.10 feet tall with a crew of 5. Armor thickness is unknown but while proof against small arms fire, it would be no defense against anti-tank missiles. It is NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protected.

     The 2S19 entered service in 1989 and the Ukrainian army had 40 of them as of 2017 though how many remain in service isn't known. However, it is highly likely this abandoned one will be turned around against its former owner.

Originally posted on March 1, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: 113th. Territorial Defense Brigade

     Kharkiv remains contested with light Russian units attempting to penetrate into the city but so far, they continue to be repulsed. On February 28, the Russians again sought to push into the northeastern suburbs, subjecting the area with rocket fire which claimed 1 civilian dead, 16 civilians wounded, and 15 soldiers wounded. Once more, they were forced to withdraw. This daily tally is via the Kharkiv city council. The total dead in the last 3-4 days of combat is 2 civilians killed, 5 soldiers killed, 20 soldiers wounded, and 24 civilians wounded. It would appear that, to date, the Russians have not deployed heavier armor and tanks to support the infantry as they attempt to push into the city. Instead, they are using GAZ-233014 “Tigr” 4X4 armored IMVs (Infantry Mobility Vehicles) and the burned out example shown here was destroyed somewhere in the suburbs of Kharhiv.

     The Tigr entered Russian service in 2005 and has a crew of 2 and can carry between 9 to 11 infantrymen model depending. The 7.9 ton vehicle is fitted with a 5.9 liter, 6-cylinder, 180 horsepower engine paired to, most often, a 5-speed manual transmission. This provides the Tigr with a maximum road speed of 87 miles per hour and a top off-road speed of 50 miles per hour (terrain depending). Enough fuel is carried to give the Tigr a 620 mile operational range. For armor, the thickness ranges from 5mm to a maximum of 7mm. While this is proof against small caliber weapon fire, it is worthless against heavier weapons, let alone anti-armor missiles or rockets. For example, the 12.7X108mm DShK heavy machine gun used by Ukraine can punch through 20mm of armor up to 500 meters. Even the common RPK machine-gun, chambered for the 7.62X39mm round, can fire a standard armor-piercing ammunition that can penetrate 6mm of armor at 300 meters while another armor-piercing round, the 7N23, uses a steel penetrator to further increase the round's ability to punch through armor. For defense, it is fitted with smoke grenade launchers and has a pintle mount for either a 7.62mm PKP machine-gun, a 12.7mm Kord heavy machine-gun, or a 30mm AGS-17 grenade launcher.

     The latter is what is being recovered from the wreckage, no doubt to be checked out if it can be returned to service. The Plamya (“Flame”) is an old weapon, entering service in 1970 but has yet to be fully replaced by the lighter AGS-30 Atlant. The weapon is fed by a belt that holds twenty-nine 30X29mm grenades. The belt is contained in a drum fitted to the right side of the weapon. The Plamya can fire High-Explosive (HE), smoke, or practice rounds. Sighting is done using iron posts with the option for optical sights. The weapon has a low muzzle velocity of 606 feet per second, enough to provide a maximum effective range of 1,700 meters. The maximum rate of fire is 400 rounds per minute. It would appear that before the Tigr was hit, the gunner fired off at least four grenades judging by the empty belt hanging out of the feed. The fire was enough to burn off much of the Tigr's paint and burst the bullet proof glass. The Plamya itself seems no worse for the wear, the fire apparently not having discharged the remaining grenades in the drum magazine and a likely reason these soldiers are recovering it.

     Attempting to get current unit patch identification is pretty difficult and it is highly likely such information on existing unit insignia is purposely suppressed so as not to provide intelligence to the Russians. However, these are men of the 113th. Territorial Defense Brigade. Of note, the soldier in the foreground has a well-worn AKMS, the most numerous folding stock version of the AK-47. It can be told apart from the earlier AKS-47 by the two ridges on the receiver cover (as the AKS-47 had a smooth cover). Also note that he has tied off his medical pouch to his tactical vest with cord. Snaps can come loose on gear and this prevents it from being lost.

Originally posted on February 28, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Azov Battalion

     There is an elephant in the room which some media outlets have mentioned and certainly is a part of Putin's accusation of “Nazis” in the Ukrainian government. The elephant? Special Operations Detachment “Azov”, better known as the Azov Battalion.

     Formed in 2014, the Azov Battalion is a right-wing, neo-Nazi infantry unit. The manpower of the Azov Battalion has been put as low as 300 personnel and as much as 900 men and women. However, this count was from 2015 and it is likely much larger today. It also includes many foreign fighters from the U.S. and Europe that follow a fascist ideology. The Azov Battalion is, today, classified as a regiment and has a regimental HQ, two commando battalions, the 5th. Tank Battalion, a field artillery battery, and other supporting units such as engineer, signal, maintenance, and reconnaissance companies and even a NBC defense platoon among others. Azov Battalion detachments are stationed in Kyiv, Berdiansk, and Mariupol.

     The Azov Battalion first saw action in the Donbas War which commenced on April 6, 2014 and, even today, hasn't ended though a ceasefire went into effect in September 2014. In that same month, the Azov Battalion entered into the National Guard of Ukraine. In 2016, the political leadership split from the military component of the battalion and formed the National Corps political party. Today, the National Corps has between 10,000 to 15,000 members but in the 2019 elections, the party failed to reach 5% of the popular vote and so there are no National Corps representatives in the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada). In local elective offices, the National Corps has 23 elected officials, a mere .04% of all available seats (158,399 country-wide).

     The Azov Battalion remains a unit within the National Guard and is currently on the front lines. This fact is being played up by Russian state-controlled news agencies as evidence that the Ukrainians have “Nazi battalions” fighting for them and a reason to overthrow the Ukrainian government despite the fact there are no National Corps members in parliament. A recent Twitter post appears to show Azov fighters soaking their bullets in pig fat with a message to Muslim Chechen soldiers that are deployed by Russia into Ukraine to return home, that there will be no heaven for them.

     The photograph here dates from 2014 but readily shows the adoption of German World War II military regalia by members of the unit. This includes the wearing of a field cap styled after the West German model that, itself, was derived from the World War II M43 feldmütze. The badge on the front of the cap is styled after the badge used by the wartime Schutzmannschaft, or Auxiliary Police, which were local police formations created by the Germans in occupied territories which included Ukraine. Here, the badge uses a trident rather than a swastika. The patch on the man's equipment pouch reads “Azov” (A3OB) and utilizes the “black sun” (a sun wheel made up of twelve sig runes) and the Wolfsangel heraldic charge. Both were adopted by the Nazis in World War II as part of their symbology and both remain in use today by various neo-Nazi groups. Also, the man is wearing German “Flecktarn” camouflage.

     It should be noted that the U.S. attempted to classify the Azov Battalion as a terrorist organization but failed to get the unit listed. The Azov Battalion has been linked to war crimes such as looting, torture, and unlawful detention by members of the unit during the time the Azov Battalion was deployed during the Donbas War. It has been said the Azov Battalion is anti-Semitic but the unit has a number of Jewish fighters in its ranks and also Jewish members of the political party.

Originally posted on February 28, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Bayraktar TB2

 

     Appearing on some of the Instagram feeds are nocturnal aerial strikes against Russian supply convoys. Where are the strikes coming from? They are coming from Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) fitted with MAM laser-guided smart bombs. MAM stands for Mini Akıllı Mühimmat, or Smart Micro Munition).

     The TB2 is built by the Turkish firm Baykar and entered service in 2014. Currently, the Ukrainian Air Force has six TB2 UCAVs known to be in active service though in October 2020, an order for 48 more drones was submitted. How many of those were ultimately delivered isn't known. The Ukrainian Navy also operates a handful of drones with an order for another four examples likely on hold due to the conflict.

     The TB2 requires a three man crew in the ground control station and the UCAV itself is 21 feet long with a wingspan of 39 feet. Power comes from a 100 horsepower IC (internal combustion) petrol engine which can push the drone to a maximum speed of 138 miles per hour with a regular cruise speed of 80 miles per hour. A 79 gallon fuel capacity can provide up to 27 hours of endurance. Range is limited to 93 miles with communication between the drone and control station occurring via line-of-sight propagation (that is, direct communication from the control station to the drone). The TB2 has a maximum ceiling of 27,000 feet though the usual operational altitude is lower at 18,000 feet.

     The TB2 has four hardpoints to mount laser-guided smart munitions. To deliver the ordnance, the TB2 has Electro-Optic/Infrared/Laser Designation imaging/targeting sensor systems. This can be switched out with multi-mode Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar if mission requirements demand it.

     Ukrainian TB2s are usually outfitted with the MAM-C or the MAM-L. The MAM series of weapons is also built by Turkey, developed by ROKETSAN and entering service around 2016. The MAM-C has a semi-active laser seeker with a maximum range of nearly 5 miles. It can be fitted with either a multi-purpose warhead (combining blast fragmentation, incendiary, and armor piercing capability) or a more standard high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The larger MAM-L also has a nearly 5 mile range but if fitted with a GPS system, it can reach a little over 8 miles. Like the MAM-C, the MAM-L can be fitted with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead but also a tandem High-Explosive Anti-Tank to defeat ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) typically fitted to main battle tanks or can be fitted with a lethal thermobaric warhead which consumes oxygen to create a massive explosion and shock wave. Also, the MAM-L can be set to detonate on impact or proximity detonate.

     Some of the video feeds show TB2 strikes on Russian self-propelled surface-to-air missile systems (such as the 9K37 Buk, NATO codenamed SA-11 Gadfly or the modernized version, the SA-17 Grizzly) as well as supply vehicles. The former is a prime target as such missiles pose a very real threat to Ukrainian air power. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Ukrainian army fields some 72 9K37 systems though how many of them survived the initial Russian strike is unknown. As for hitting supply columns, some of the feeds show hits against fuel tankers or trucks likely to be carrying munitions. It would appear that these attacks on supply lines is having an effect as other reports state that Russian equipment is simply being abandoned for lack of fuel. A military runs on “beans and bullets” but also fuel and lubricants. Machinery cannot move if it has no fuel to run.

     It is also shocking the lack of convoy discipline in the Russian columns within the combat theater of operations. They use closed column which means less than 100 meters between vehicles. In some cases, the vehicles are back to back. This makes them highly vulnerable to air attack and any hit to one vehicle will most likely cause damage to surrounding vehicles. For example, U.S. Marine Corps doctrine is open column in active war zones with spacing of up to 200 meters between vehicles to reduce the vulnerability against air strikes and lessen the chance one hit on a vehicle takes out others. Of course, the further apart vehicles are reduces mutual support.

Originally posted on February 27, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: War Booty Near Kharkiv

     Ukrainian troops outside Kharkiv collect weapons and equipment from a destroyed Russian column. Besides looking for intelligence information in the wrecked vehicles, it is certain that any usable weapons and ammunition that is captured will be turned around and used against the Russians. Since there is commonality between some Russian and Ukrainian weapons, such captured guns can be used to replace inoperable ones as well as bolster the inventory of available weapons and ammunition.

     The captured weapons here include a 12.7mm Kord machine-gun in its vehicle mount configuration. The large box is for the 9M131 anti-tank missile used with the Russian Metis-M system. NATO code-named AT-13 “Saxhorn”, Metis-M is used by both Russia and Ukraine. There is what appears to be some form of disposable anti-tank weapon though it is difficult to say which make as much of it is covered up. Laying on top of the launch tube are two rockets for the RPG-7, if only judging by the size and the nozzles for the rocket. Although the RPG-7 was put into service in 1961, it remains in use around the world in modernized forms. Again, both Russia and Ukraine utilize the RPG-7.

     Each soldier looks to have a RPG-26 Algen single-shot, disposable anti-tank launcher over their shoulder but again, positive identification is difficult as much of the tube is hidden. The grenadier (who is touching the ushanka hat) is equipped with a AK-74M with an under-barrel 40mm GP-25 Kostyor (“Bonfire”) grenade launcher. Additional rounds of the caseless grenades are kept in a bandoleer. The other soldier has a AKS-74, characterized by the folding stock. It also has ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic polymer stock/grip furniture due to the plum coloration.

     Russian troops have penetrated into Kharkiv's suburbs but these have been light attack units rather than the committal of heavier assets. These skirmishes have occurred on the outskirts of the city proper and no Russian forces have made it deeper. Reports show that Russian columns are bypassing Kharkiv which suggests that Russian troops deployed in the area may be there to contain Ukrainian forces or prevent reinforcements and/or supplies from getting into the city by blockading it. Given Kharkiv has some 1.4 million residents, a full scale assault into the city itself would be very costly.

Originally posted on February 27, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Demolished Russian T-72B3

      Situated some 65 miles to the north of Kyiv, the city of Chernihiv sits along a main route from the country of Belarus into Kyiv. As such, the area around the city has become contested with Russian forces having surrounded the city on three sides in an effort to cut off the defenders from any support and commence their push on the city from three directions. This three pronged attack would have, as one objective, to spread out Ukrainian military forces across a wider front rather than allow them to concentrate their defense on one or two avenues of attack. Nevertheless, Ukrainian tank hunters around Chernihiv have destroyed, according to reports, more than 30 Russian tanks following attacks on Russian columns and the photograph here shows one of those kills.

     The demolished T-72B3 main battle tank was hit by a Javelin anti-tank missile with devastating effect. Where the missile struck is difficult to say but a side shot into the back portion of the tank is one possibility. Such a location has thinner armor and is usually not protected by reactive armor. Another is that the missile struck the top of the rear deck where the armor is not very thick. The Javelin, designated the FGM-148, is a U.S. designed missile, the replacement for the earlier M47 Dragon. The Javelin entered service in 1996 and remains in service with U.S. forces as well as the military forces of over 20 countries, including Ukraine. It is reported that there are some 377 launchers and 1,200 missiles in Ukrainian military hands based on purchase contracts prior to the outbreak of hostilities. Whether additional missiles can be delivered to replenish the stock remains to be seen.

     The Javelin consists of two parts: the Command Launch Unit (CLU) and the Launch Tube Assembly (LTA). The CLU contains all the needed optics to enable the gunner to acquire targets in day or night conditions. The LTA contains the missile inside a disposable tube. The CLU is fitted to the LTA and after firing, the CLU is detached and fitted to the next ready LTA. A typical Javelin team is two men. The missile uses a tandem-charge HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) shaped charge warhead which allows it to defeat ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) and strike the main armor of the target. When used by infantry, the standard CLU permits a maximum effective range of 1.6 miles. The 19 pound warhead can penetrate over 750mm of regular RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) or if facing tanks with ERA, the penetration drops to 600mm. The missile can use two attack profiles: a top attack profile to come down on top of the tank and a direct attack profile.

     So far, no Russian troops have moved into Chernihiv successfully, being repulsed by the defenders but given their isolated situation, it is difficult to say how long they can hold out.

Originally posted on February 26, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Call To Arms in Dnipro

     The city of Dnipro is some 240 miles to the southeast of Kyiv. While it has been subjected to Russian missile/rocket strikes, it has yet to be threatened by Russian ground forces though Russian troops are in battle with Ukrainian forces around Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mariupol which if one looks at map, means the city is practically surrounded by hostile forces except for the western side of Dnipro.

     The call to arms by this family in Dnipro is pretty evident in the photograph and that call means any weapon that is functional will be brought into action. While the shotgun is modern enough, the pistol beneath it is certainly not. It is a Mauser C96, better known by the nickname “Broomhandle” or in Chinese, the “Hézipào” or “Box Cannon”. The pistol entered service with Germany in 1896 and the popularity of the pistol saw it come in all kinds of varieties (mainly in ammunition caliber) and was copied by the Spanish gunmaker Astra and in China in Shanxi province by warlord Yen Hsi-shan. There have also been several copies of the C96 made as well throughout the decades. Over one million German built C96 pistols were produced with a unknown number of copies and variants. What version the pistol is cannot be readily said from this photograph but it does show that this venerable pistol may yet see battle once more.

Originally posted on February 26, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Ukrainian Troops Outside Kharkiv

 

     The resolve of the Ukrainian defenders is borne out by the fact the Russians have failed to meet any of their first day mission objectives. Of course, the Russians have the ability to throw more men and material into the grinder and given time, can eventually wear down the Ukrainian defenses. The question is if Putin will commit those forces and continue to pay the price in Russian soldier blood.

     The photograph here shows Ukrainian soldiers outside Kharkiv, situated in positions to repel Russian attacks. The men are around a knocked out or disabled Russian MT-LB multi-purpose tracked vehicle. The MT-LB can carry eleven infantrymen but more often, it was used as a command vehicle, artillery tractor, or engineer/specialist vehicle. With a paltry 3mm to a maximum of 10mm of armor, the MT-LB is highly vulnerable to just about everything on the battlefield.

     To the far left of the photograph is a Ukrainian BMP-1 or a imported Czechoslovak BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicle. The Ukrainian army also fields an upgraded version, the BMP-1U and BMP-1M “Shkval” (“Squall”) which is equipped with a new turret fitted with a KBA-2 30mm autocannon, 9M113 Konkurs (“Contest”) anti-tank guided missile, and a AGS-17 “Plamya” (“Flame”) 30mm automatic grenade launcher.

Originally posted on February 25, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Infiltration into Kyiv

     Russian troops claim to have taken Antonov Airport outside Hostomel which is northwest of Kyiv. It has been the focus of back and forth battle and if the Russians hold it, it means they can land very large transport planes there. There are also reports of firefights in the Obolonskyi District of Kyiv to the north of the city center. Ukrainian troops are fortifying the main city center, bridge crossings, and the Podil District.

     Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, warned that the Russians would use infiltration tactics by wearing Ukrainian military uniforms, penetrating Ukrainian lines, and conducting sabotage operations. This photograph, if captioned correctly, appears to bear that out. The vehicle is a Russian Ural-4320 6X6 truck which is used by the Russian military but also the Ukrainian military so, it would be an obvious choice for a infiltration vehicle. Fitted in the bed of the truck is a ZU-23-2 which is a twin-barrel, 23mm anti-aircraft. Though developed in the 1950s, it remains in widespread service around the world to include, again, both Russia and the Ukraine. There are numerous instances in which Ukrainian trucks and even armored fighting vehicles were fitted with the ZU-23-2 for use by the Ukrainian military so, once more, it makes sense to set up the truck in such a fashion as it would not be totally out of line. The two dead men are reported to be Russians wearing Ukrainian uniforms and one can see numerous bullet impacts on the door and cab along with hits that blew oil all over the cab and ground. Fuel appears to be leaking from underneath the truck. The man on the ground was likely manning the ZU-23-2 as there is at least one bullet hit on the ammunition box.

     Of interest, the Ukrainian medic is wearing a mixture of military and civilian uniform items and equipment.

Originally posted on February 25, 2022.