M3 Light Tank "Capt Gore" (10 Troop, C Squadron, 2/6th Armored Regiment, Australian Army)

Source: Author's collection

     "Capt Gore", an M3 light tank belonging to 10 Troop, C Squadron, 2/6th Armored Regiment of the Australian Army, sits abandoned in a field of kunai grass near the "New Strip", a decoy landing strip, within the Buna area of Papua, New Guinea. The 2/6th Armored Regiment sent B and C Squadrons in December 1942 to bolster Allied forces during the Battle of Buna–Gona which raged from November 16, 1942 to January 22, 1943. The squadrons from the 2/6th Armored Regiment were attached to the 2/9th Battalion (Infantry) of the Australian 18th. Brigade and they rolled into battle on December 18, 1942. 

     The tenacious Japanese defenders fought hard and three M3 tanks were lost the first day but it was not enough to stop the Australians and American forces from making good progress. The drive would continue and on December 24, 1942, the remaining four tanks were deployed in support of the U.S. 1st. Battalion, 126th. Infantry Regiment (32nd. Division) and the Australian 2/10th Battalion (Infantry) that were tasked with taking "New Strip". The Japanese, lacking in anti-tank weapons, used anti-aircraft guns in their place. The most common, the Type 96 25mm gun, was capable of firing an armor-piercing round that could penetrate 42mm out to a range of 100m. The M3, at most, had 51mm of armor with a minimum of 10mm. Given the terrain, the Japanese guns were well concealed and took the tanks under fire at very close range and thus the M3 was vulnerable to these weapons. In short order, all four tanks were lost.

     In the case of "Capt Gore", it appears that it was a victim of the ground underneath the kunai grass which was often wet and thus tanks were susceptible to bogging down in the soft earth. There does appear to be some damage to the tank from shell hits, such as through the air filter case and a small ricochet indent just beneath the cupola but nothing from this view that suggests it was knocked out by gun fire. The tank was abandoned and stripped of equipment, to include the .30cal. machine-gun that was mounted on the pintel next to the cupola. It is unknown if the tank was recovered but photographs exist of another M3 from the same battle still in the fields in 1952. The name of "Capt Gore" was applied to the tank for an Australian propaganda film and never removed before deployment. The other M3 tanks in 10 Troop, C Squadron were "Capt Kidd" and "Capt Blood". 

     The Battle of Buna–Gona ended in a Allied victory but at a heavy cost. It was the first time soldiers faced the ferocious nature of the Japanese when on the defensive and all told, the Allies suffered 1,991 killed in action and 12,300 wounded out of some 20,000 men deployed. The savage defense of the Japanese can be seen in the under 300 Japanese soldiers captured by the Allies out of a total force count of 12,000. The rest were either killed in battle (4,000), died from disease (3,000), or were wounded in action (1,200; these men were able to be evacuated).

Russo-Ukrainian War: The ZSh-7 Flight Helmet

Source: Reddit

     A pilot belonging to the 39th. Tactical Aviation Brigade, wearing a ZSh-7 flight helmet. The helmet entered service in 1987 and is designed for pilots of the Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum). In 1990, the ZSh-7AP helmet appeared for both MiG-29 pilots and pilots of the Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name Flanker). The 39th. was initially equipped with the MiG-29 until December 2008 when it transitioned to the Su-27 which the unit still flies to this day.

     The main difference between the ZSh-7 and the ZSh-7AP is the latter features a front bracket “out of the box” to which NVE (Night Vision Equipment) can be mounted or the Shchel-3UM-1 target designator. The Shchel-3UM-1, which entered service in 1981, is used with the Vympel R-73 AAM (Air-to-Air Missile; NATO reporting name AA-11 Archer) permits the pilot to simply look at the intended target and the R-73 will be guided towards it. This keeps the pilot's head out of the cockpit and allows for “off-boresight” attacks. The Shchel-3UM-1 is also backwards compatible with the older Vympel R-60 AAM (NATO reporting name AA-8 Aphid).

     That this helmet is a ZSh-7 is because the bracket seen is affixed to his helmet using an adhesive or is secured using screws on the inside of the helmet. An issued ZSh-7AP uses a bracket that is mounted higher up on the shell and is secured using screws.

     The hose resting on his shoulder and running up into the back of his helmet connects to a occipital bladder. The hose connects to the port coming out of the left side of his KM-34 oxygen mask. This port can swivel and usually is pointed to face to the rear to allow for easier connection of the hose. When the pilot pulls high “G” maneuvers, the oxygen system will automatically inflate the bladder which pushes the pilot's head forward, pressing the oxygen mask to his face. This ensures the mask is fully sealed and tight against the face to maintain maximum oxygen flow to the pilot. This is vital as such maneuvers can shift a mask around, letting oxygen leak out. Without adequate oxygen, G-LOC (G-induced Loss Of Consciousness) can occur as the blood supply is pushed away from the head by the G-forces. The result is cerebral hypoxia which is essentially oxygen starvation. The bladder inflation makes sure the mask is tightly secured to the face and the rubber portion of the KM-34 mask forms a complete seal. Thus, there is no loss of oxygen to the pilot and this prevents a blackout.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Artillerisystem 08 Archer 155mm SPH

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     One of the more unique artillery systems in use by Ukrainian Army artillery units is shown here, the Artillerisystem 08. Better known simply as the Archer, this vehicle is in service with one of the four artillery battalions of the 43rd. Artillery Regiment “Hetman Taras Triasylo”. Sweden, as part of the country's military aid to Ukraine, has provided 8 Archer systems and in September 2025, pledged another 18 systems. Of the eight, one was damaged by a Russian drone attack on March 3, 2024 with a second destroyed on August 4, 2025. Designed by the Swedish company Bofors between 1995 and 2009, the Archer entered production in 2010, being built by BAE Systems AB. To date, only 48 Archer systems have rolled off the line with over twice that on purchase orders from the Latvian Land Forces, Swedish Army, and Ukrainian Army.

     The basis of the 34-ton Archer is the Volvo A30D articulated 6x6 vehicle chassis which is used in the civilian construction industry (usually as a dump truck). Power comes from a Volvo D9BACE3 inline-6, intercooled diesel engine with a turbocharger that develops 340 horsepower. This is mated to a Volvo PT1560 automatic planetary transmission with a 8-speed gearbox (6 forward, 2 reverse). Three Volvo AH64 axles feature transversal differential locks with full floating axle shafts. The driver can select 6x4 or 6x6 drive on the fly. The maximum road speed is 43 miles per hour while the top reverse speed is 8 miles per hour. 105 gallons of diesel fuel provide for a maximum operational range of 400 miles.

     Situated on the very back of the chassis is the heart of the Archer, a turret mounted Fälthaubits 77 (FH77) L/52 155mm howitzer. The turret is able to traverse a total of 170 degrees and elevate the gun to a maximum of 70 degrees. Total depression is 1 degree. Housed within the turret is a fully automatic gun loading system and electronic fuze setter. Total onboard ammunition is 21 shells with a total of 126 modular propellant charges. The shells have their own magazine while the propellant charges are in a separate magazine of 18 rows which contain 6 full charges and 1 half-charge. Once all of the ammunition is expended, it takes the crew 10 minutes to reload assuming they have the Archer-specific reloading device that moves ammunition from the accompanying munitions carrier into the magazines.

     The turret itself is unmanned and instead, the gunner operates it from the cab. A FCS (Fire Control System) utilizing NABK (NATO Armament Ballistic Kernel) software generates ballistic tables for any ammunition being used along with both tabular and graphical firing tables. The FCS also automates bringing the howitzer onto target, positioning the turret without manual guidance. This is assisted by a SAGEM Sigma 30 inertial navigation system (INS). The howitzer has several fire modes to include burst fire (3 rounds every 20 seconds), sustained fire (54 rounds every 35 minutes), bombardment (21 rounds in 3 minutes), and MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact). With MRSI, the FCS calculates the trajectory then handles the firing of 4 to 6 rounds so that all rounds impact on the target at the same time. The Archer is compatible with any NATO standard 155mm projectile with standard HE (High-Explosive) shells having a range of around 19 miles, extended range HE shells reaching out to 25 miles, and M982 Excalibur guided shells can attain a range of 31 miles. If need be, the Archer can engage in direct fire, out to a range of 1.2 miles. Shell speed upon exiting the barrel is measured by a Weibel MVRS-700SC muzzle velocity radar. From the halt, the Archer can be ready to fire in under 30 seconds. Stability during fire missions is provided by two rear-mounted stabilizers. Likewise, the Archer can be ready to move to a new position, also in under 30 seconds.

     For local defense, a Vapenstation 01 RCWS (Remote Controlled Weapon Station) can be fitted to the cab roof. The Vapenstation 01 is the Swedish designation for the M151 Protector RCWS which can be fitted either with a Browning M2 12.7mm heavy machine-gun or a Mk.19 40mm automatic grenade launcher (among other weapon fits). While the Vapenstation 01 is not seen in the photograph, there are some Ukrainian Archers which use it.

     The Archer's cab (holding the 4 man crew) is protected by STANAG 4569 Level 3 steel armor which provides proof against 7.62x51mm AP (Armor-Piercing) ammunition at 30 meters as well as 155mm shell fragments from 60 meters. Below the cab, the Archer supports STANAG 4569 Level 2b mine protection which permits the Archer to survive the blast from a mine packed with at most 13 pounds of explosive. Air filters and a crew cab overpressure system provides NBC defense (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical). In the photograph, the Archer is covered by a Saab Barracuda MCS (Mobile Camouflage System) which consists of fitted panels which is a multi-spectral camouflage. It features a high UV reflectance, patterns that match NIR (Near IR) reflections of the surrounding environment, SWIR (Short-Wave IR) management by adjusting spectral reflections of the environment, TIR (Thermal IR) reduction (utilizing convection, reflection, radiation, and insulation), as well as providing protection against SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) systems.

300-Pounder (10") Parrott Rifle, Battery Strong, Morris Island: Down But Not Out

Source: Library of Congress

     Situated on Morris Island in South Carolina, its barrel broken, is one of only three 300-pounder Parrott rifles operated by Union forces during the Civil War. Part of Battery Strong, this particular Parrott rifle saw action during the Second Battle of Charleston Harbor which ran from July 18, 1863 until September 7, 1893 where it participated in the bombardment of Fort Wagner (also on Morris Island) which was defended by Confederate troops who had already defeated two Union assaults which attempted to take the fort.

     The Parrott rifle, designed by Captain Robert Parker Parrott, was heavily used by both Union and Confederate artillery forces. The 10-pounder Parrott rifle first appeared in 1860 and by 1862, larger Parrott rifles had appeared, to include the 20-pounder Parrott rifle (used as a field gun) and 30-pounder. In time, heavy artillery for siege warfare and bombardment saw the 100-pounder, 150-pounder, 200-pounder, and the rarest of them all, the 300-pounder Parrott rifle enter service by 1863.

     The Parrott rifle, regardless of caliber, was made of cast iron and this was chosen to extend the life of the rifling within the barrel. However, cast iron was brittle and was prone to splitting or cracking under the pressure created by the gasses of detonating gun powder. To reduce this risk, Parrott rifles had a wrought iron band around the breech. Parrott rifles were inexpensive, the 10-pounder only costing $187 to produce, and the Parrott rifle could be built quickly. Not surprisingly, the common 10-pounder and 20-pounder Parrott rifles were in widespread Union service. Despite the banding, the Parrott rifle was still susceptible to barrel bursts or damage.

     The 300-pounder (equivalent to a 10” caliber) had a length of 13 feet and a combat weight of 13.5 tons. Two primary shells were fired, one a sabot shell while the other was called a bolt. The sabot shell, a high-explosive munition, featured a metal ring (sabot) around the base of the shell and it was this ring that engaged the rifling within the barrel. Two fuzes were used, one being the Parrott time fuze while the other was a impact fuze. The Parrott time fuze consisted of a Zink plug in the nose of the sabot shell and within was a length of paper. The time delay until the shell exploded was derived by cutting the paper to a specific length. The impact fuze consisted of a percussion cap that was placed in the shell's nose and when the shell hit the target, the cap deformed and created a flame that set off the shell's charge. The bolt was a solid projectile and was mainly used to bludgeon through the armor of ironclad ships though it could also be used to smash into the stone and masonry walls of fortifications and shatter it. These shells had a weight between 222 to 300 pounds each and the typical powder charge weighed 26 pounds. The 300-pounder was muzzle loaded and though the crew size is not known, it was sizable. The 100-pounder Parrott rifle, as an example, required a crew of 17 men. With the barrel at a 30 degree elevation, the 300-pounder could hurl either a shell or bolt to a range of 5 miles.

     Returning to the 300-pounder in the photograph, on August 20, 1863, a shell burst towards the end of the barrel, blowing it apart. Exactly what unit was operating the Parrott rifle isn't known but it was either attached to a detachment from the 7th. Connecticut Infantry Regiment or was crewed by men from the regiment. This is because one Captain Sylvester Gray, who served with C Company, 7th. Connecticut, ordered the crew to take up tools and chisel and file away at the jagged end of the barrel until it was clear of any protrusions. With the remaining barrel unobstructed, the crew brought the Parrott rifle back into action with little loss in accuracy. 

     Fort Wagner held out, enduring near daily bombardment for two months, until September 6, 1863 when the remnants of the Confederate men within the fort (some 400 troops) abandoned it along with Morris Island, ceding it to Union forces.

Photograph taken by Philip Haas/Washington Peale.

Russo-Ukrainian War: "Office" of the 2S1 Gvozdika 122mm SPH

Source: inukraine.official on Instagram

     The “office” of a Ukrainian 2S1 Gvozdika (“Carnation”) 122mm SPH (Self-Propelled Howitzer), a screen shot from a social media video. The 2S1, first entering service in 1972, is the second oldest self-propelled gun currently in use with the Ukrainian Army. Only the 2S3 Akatsiya (“Acacia”) 152mm SPH is the oldest, having first entered service in 1971.

     The breech belongs to the vehicle's 2A18 122mm howitzer, a variant of the towed D-30 howitzer. The 2A18 uses a horizontal, sliding-wedge, semi-automatic breech. The latter means the empty shell case is automatically ejected from the breech after firing. One empty case can be seen on the turret floor. Above the breech are the howitzer's hydropneumatic recuperator system which assists in absorbing recoil energy after firing. The lever with the horizontal grip operates the breech while the more vertical positioned lever to the left of the breech with the round grip is a manual trigger for the howitzer. The curved plate above the howitzer is the barrel mantlet.

     Along the inside of the turret are racks for ready projectiles and propellant charge cases. All told, the turret holds 24 complete rounds (projectile + propellant case) while another 16 rounds are stored in the rear hull. Spent cases can be reused though they need to be returned to a ammunition manufacturer to effect the refurbishment. This includes a thorough cleaning followed by inspection for damage, deformity, or other flaws. After passing inspection, the case is provided with new primer and propellant charges.

     The loader's position is to the right of the gun and he is assisted with a power rammer whose tray and arm can just be seen at the far right of the image. The loader will first open the breech (it is closed in the image) then places the projectile into the tray. With a push, the loader slides the rammer apparatus so that it is lined up with the breech. After the loader hits the activation switch, the rammer engages and pushes the projectile into the breech. The loader next places the propellant case onto the tray, hits the activation switch, and the rammer pushes the case into the breech. At this point, the breech closes and the rammer apparatus automatically shifts to the right, out of the way of the breech. The howitzer is now ready to fire.

     The gunner sits to the left of the gun and he can just be seen at the very left edge of the image wearing a t-shirt (above and behind him is the commander). After quickly checking his targeting information, he pushes down on the vertical lever and this fires the howitzer. The empty propellant case is then ejected out of the breech and falls to the turret floor. The breech remains open, ready for the next shell.

     A trained crew can run up to 5 rounds per minute through the 2A18 but a more sustained rate of fire is between 1 to 2 rounds every minute.

Sanitäter, Infanterieregiment Nr. 12

Source: Author's collection

     World War One remains the only conflict in which poison gas was utilized openly and on a significant scale. It was the French who first deployed chemical weapons, using tear gas filled 26mm grenades in August 1914. The Germans, in October 1914, would use an irritant gas against the British. It was the Germans, however, who were the first to use gas enmasse, launching some 18,000 tear gas filled artillery shells on Russian positions during the Battle of Bolimov in January 1915. The frigid temperatures actually caused the gas molecules to freeze but despite this failure, the usage of gas escalated from simply using irritants to incapacitate to poison gas designed to kill. The Germans were the first to use such gas, sending clouds of poisonous chlorine towards British positions on January 2, 1915 with both lethal and psychological effect. 

     By the close of the war, the French, British, Germans, and Austrians had used a host of chemical agents which fell into one of five categories: acute lung irritants, lachrymators (tear producers), paralysants, sternutators (sensory irritants), and vesicants (namely dichlorethyl sulphide a.k.a. mustard gas). Countermeasures to such weapons were swift. At first, they were simple gauze pads held to the mouth and nose. Often, they would be wetted down with water (effective against chlorine gas), a bicarbonate solution, or in some cases, even urine. These crude masks would give way to more effective masks using oiled leather, fabric, or rubberized material along with attached filters to purge the air of the chemical agent as well as protect the eyes from irritant agents.

     This photograph depicts a medic of the 12th. Infantry Regiment (as denoted by the "12" on his Pickelhaube helmet cover). He is wearing a mask made up of discarded cotton stuffed into gauze padding. Soldiers issued with this type of mask also were issued a bottle containing a solution made up of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in water to dampen the mask. This was done upon a chemical attack being detected so as to allow the longest effectiveness before the mask dried up. 

     Across his chest, the medic is carrying an oxygen resuscitator. These were utilized to treat soldiers who suffered only a mild chemical attack injury as it was believed that if uncontaminated air could be flushed into the victim's lungs, it would give them a better chance at a more successful recovery.

Panzerhaubitze M109G (4. Batterie, Artillerielehrbataillon 145)

Source: Author's collection

     Most likely a publicity photograph, one gets a good view of the business end of a Bundeswehr Panzerhaubitze M109G self-propelled gun (SPG). Between 1964 and 1972, the Bundeswehr purchased a mixture of M109A1 and M109A2 SPGs from the United States. In two waves, the SPGs were sent to Rheinmetall AG who performed a myriad of improvements and adaptations to make them suitable for German service. The original 155mm howitzer was replaced with a Rheinmetall version which featured a new barrel, fume extractor, two-chamber muzzle brake, and a flat wedge breech block. The exterior appearance of the new gun still bore a resemblance to the original M109's short M126 155mm howitzer. The panoramic telescope and sighting scope were replaced with German optics while the M109G's commander was provided with a cupola and vision blocks taken directly from the M113 armored personnel carrier which was in use by the Bundeswehr. Other changes included replacing the 12.7mm M2 heavy machine-gun with the German built 7.62mm Maschinengewehr 3 (MG 3) and fitting German smoke grenade dischargers to the turret front.

     The M109G had a crew of six which consisted of the commander, driver, gunner, two loaders, and two ammunition handlers. The M109G was powered by a 450hp Detroit Diesel 8V71T turbo 8-cylinder, water-cooled engine paired with a 6-speed (4 forward, 2 reverse gears) Allison XTG-411-4A hydro-mechanical manual transmission. This was enough to move the M109G along at a top speed of 35mph with an operational range of 216 miles. The German howitzer had a maximum range of a little over 11 miles and a trained gun crew could sustain a rate of fire of one round every minute. The need for four men to feed the gun was due to the ammunition coming in two separate components; the shell and the bagged powder charge. Because of this, the M109G was only able to carry 28 rounds and thus relied on ammunition carriers to resupply it in the field as the onboard ammunition could be easily expended in a short period of time. Thus, having the extra hands allowed the M109G to be quickly replenished from ammunition carriers.

     As the M109G continued in service, it received one major upgrade in the early 1980s and that was to the M109A3GA1 standard. The gun was replaced with a longer barreled howitzer derived from the towed Feldhaubitze FH155-1 (which gave a maximum range of 15 miles), onboard ammunition capacity was increased to 35 rounds, IFAB (Integrierte Feuerleitmittel Artillerie Batterie) fire control system integration was added, and the installation of the AURORA (Autonome Richt- und Orientierungsaustattung Rohrartillerie; Autonomous Straightening and Orientation Equipment, Tube Artillery) targeting system enhanced the strike capability of the M109A3GA1. By the 1990s, the M109G was being phased out and replaced with the Panzerhaubitze 2000 but it was seen that the PzH 2000 would not be available in enough numbers to quickly replace the M109G and so 262 of the M109A3GA1 were given a further upgrade to the M109A3GEA2 standard. This included expanding the IFAB capability, improving the communication equipment, and incorporating the M109 into the ADLER (Artillerie-, Daten-, Lage- und Einsatz-Rechnerverbund; Artillery, Data, Situation and Deployment Computer Network) system. The ADLER system is a radio assisted artillery command, control, and weapon deployment network. To ease the burden of the loaders and ammunition handlers, a lifting aid and automatic loader was fitted but proved unreliable and so they were often disabled by the crew. The M109 was finally retired from German service in mid-2007.

     The content on the left side of the lower hull is the military symbology for the M109G's unit. The rectangle, called the frame in military terms, represents a unit. The squashed oval with the dot in the center represents a self-propelled howitzer or gun. The line to the right of the oval represents “gun system equipped” while the little line on top of the frame designates a battery. The number 4 is the battery the M109G belongs to while the 145 designates the battalion the battery belongs to. Thus, the unit would the 4. Batterie, Artillerielehrbataillon 145. This unit is no longer in existence with the current artillery units being Artillerielehrbataillon 131, Artillerielehrbataillon 295, Artillerielehrbataillon 325, and Artillerielehrbataillon 345. With the exception of Artillerielehrbataillon 295 (which is under the Franco-German Brigade), the other units are division level assets.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Corsair ATGM

Source: Deccan Herald

     A Ukrainian anti-tank team on the practice range with a “Корсар” (“Corsair”) anti-tank guided missile system. In some publications, the entire system is designated the RK-3 “Корсар” based on the nomenclature of the missiles. Speaking of such, the 107mm missile leaving the tube is a РК–3ОФ (RK-3OF) HE-FRAG (High-Explosive Fragmentation) munition, one of three missile types the Корсар is able to fire. The other two are the РК–3К (RK-3K) tandem-warhead AT (Anti-Tank) missile and РК–3И (RK-3I) inert warhead practice missile. The Корсар isn't a new system with State Design Bureau “Luch” out of Kyiv, Ukraine having commenced development in 2013. After trials, the first 50 examples of the Корсар were delivered to the Ukrainian Army in 2017. In 2018, testing with the Корсар was done using a thermal imaging camera and the final version, shown in this photograph, was accepted for service in 2020.

     The Корсар is designed to be lightweight portable missile system to facilitate not only lessen the burden of infantrymen who have to “hump” the Корсар around the battlefield but also to utilize the missile system on armored vehicles without adding unnecessary weight to the overall vehicle. The SPU-3 tripod, with the thermal imager, weighs 26 pounds while the PN-KU guidance system with the launch rail weighs 18 pounds. The average missile weight is 34 pounds. The typical Корсар crew is 2 men. The Корсар breaks down into four components: the SPU-3, the thermal imager, the PN-KU, and the launch rail. These components can be carried in nylon/water resistant backpacks while the PN-KU and thermal sight are carried in a plastic, impact resistant dry box carry case.

     The Корсар's missiles utilize SALG (Semi-Automatic Laser Guidance). SALG works by “painting” the target with a laser beam but the missile's seeker doesn't “ride” the beam towards the target. Instead, it picks up the reflected laser energy and aligns itself towards the strongest reflection. SALG is not as robust as true laser beam guidance and targets using HR (Highly Reflective) paint can affect the laser's energy reflection strength while smoke can also interfere with the laser. In addition, laser warning systems can pick up SALG laser designators. The PN-KU does utilize a low power laser to reduce the detectability by laser warning systems. Where SALG excels is in low cost, the ability to lock onto other types of laser designators (manufacturer agnostic), and the ability for the Корсар system to shift positions after launch. The latter is important given the launch signature of the Корсар which would betray the anti-tank team's location and that the operator needs to keep the target “painted” until the the missile hits. The ability to move to another location and reacquire the target without the missile instantly going out of control during the few seconds the guidance stops, even if only a few feet from the initial launch point, can increase team survivability against retaliatory fire. In regards to the backblast, injury would result to anyone within a 30 degree cone from the rear of the launch tube, out to a distance of 32 feet.

     The RK-3OF is meant to engage emplacements, soft targets, buildings, and bunkers out to a range of 1.5 miles. The thermal imager permits night engagements out to a range of 1 mile in addition to aiding in target identification. The missile is also equipped with a shock core which is a shaped charge that lets it more easily penetrate hardened fortifications made from concrete and other similar materials. The missile can also drill through 50mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) which makes the Корсар lethal to many IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles), APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers), and IMVs (Infantry Mobility Vehicles). However, against tanks, the RK-3OF would struggle. As such, the RK-3K missile would be used to engage tanks as the missile can penetrate 550mm of RHA armor after ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor).

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Rheinmetall Oerlikon Skynex® SHORAD System

Source: inukraine.official on Instagram

     Germany, as part of its continued military support to Ukraine, has pledged four Rheinmetall Oerlikon Skynex® air defense systems. Of the four, one was delivered in January 2024 with the second in April 2024. The third and fourth systems have yet to be received. Skynex® is what is termed a SHORAD (Short-Range Air Defense) system and the Ukrainian military has deployed them as part of the air defense network that protects critical infrastructure. The first public appearance of Skynex® in Ukrainian service occurred when the Ukrainian Air Force released a video showing the system in action in September 2024 and the image here, a screen capture from a video, appeared in social media in July 2025. The Skynex® system is designed to be modular and a benefit to Ukraine, given the varied sensors made by different manufacturers deployed by the Ukrainian military, is that Skynex® is compatible with some of them.

     The Skynex® system, as offered by Rheinmetall, consists of four components. The first is the Oerlikon Skymaster® BMS (Battle Management System). Sometimes referred to as a C2 system (Command and Control), the BMS takes in data from radar/sensor systems, processes that data, and outputs a COP (Common Operational Picture) to commanders. From this information, situational awareness is provided, decisions can be quickly made, and coordination can be maintained between subordinate units. The Skymaster® BMS is specifically designed to manage both tactical and strategic air defense networks though it can be adapted for other roles based on requirements of the purchaser.

     The second piece of Skynex® is the Oerlikon X-TAR3D® tactical acquisition radar. The X-TAR3D, a phased-array pulse Doppler radar, is situated within a square metal container which is placed upon a solid surface, elevation/stabilization jacks on each corner of the container. The container houses all of the apparatus needed to operate the radar. The radar itself works in the X-band frequency range which is 8 to 12 gigahertz. This is a short wavelength but offers high target resolution along with the added benefit of needing a small antenna that makes concealment easier. The X-TAR3D is also a 3-dimensional radar, meaning it provides not only range and azimuth information but also elevation data. The X-TAR3D can track up to 16 targets simultaneously and it can identify aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, UAVs, and even unguided rockets and mortar bombs. Maximum range is 31 miles.

     The third component within the Skynex® system is the Oerlikon MSU (Multi-Sensor Unit). As the name suggests, the MSU is packed with various sensor suites and search radars. Like the radar, the MSU is within a metal container, approximately the size of a 10 foot standard shipping container. The roof of the container has two hatches which, upon being opened, the MSU is raised up and out. The suites consist of 3-dimension AESA radars (Active Electronically Scanned Array), panoramic EO (Electro-Optical) sensors (in a remote controlled turret atop the MSU), ECCM (Electronic Counter-Countermeasures), clutter mapping capability (which allows the radars to ignore stationary objects), and the ability to use either active or passive target tracking functions. The MSU is thus able to detect a host of threats in any weather conditions, day or night, in a 360 degree radius. Maximum detection range is 19 miles. The MSU fully interfaces with the Skymaster® BMS. The MSU can be upgraded with IFF (Identification Friend or Foe), additional ELINT sensors (Electronic Intelligence), and zenith radar. The latter is a specific type of radar that operates in the Ka-band (34.8 GHz) and is typically used to measure atmospheric conditions.

     The final piece of Skynex® is the Oerlikon Revolver Gun® Mk.3. Chambered for the 35x228mm round (which, as a note, is also used by the Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard that is in service with the Ukrainian military), the Revolver Gun Mk.3 can spit out 1,000 rounds per minute though the more regular rate is a long burst of 200 rounds per minute. The gun sits within a unmanned turret situated on a ground plate. The turret can rotate a full 360 degrees at a rate of 115 degrees per second and so this means the turret can revolve fully in 3.1 seconds. Gun elevation is a maximum of 85 degrees while the maximum depression is 10 degrees. Elevation speed is 57 degrees per second and so from 0 degrees, it can reach its maximum elevation in 1.5 seconds. Ready ammunition capacity is 252 rounds. The Revolver Gun can fire a wide array of 35mm ammunition to include Oerlikon's AHEAD KETF (Kinetic Energy Time Fuze) round. The “AHEAD” comes from the fact the round doesn't directly strike the target but instead, it creates a cone shaped cloud of 152 cylindrical, aerodynamic tungsten alloy submunitions (each with a weight of .12 of an ounce) ahead of the target. The fuze is set electronically as the round leaves the barrel. Other ammunition types include HEI (High-Explosive Incendiary), HEI-T (High-Explosive Incendiary Tracer), FAP (Frangible Armor Piercing), and TP-T (Target Practice Tracer). The typical range for the 35x228mm round is 3.4 miles. The weapon is also able to engage in C-RAM fire missions. Standing for Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar, this means the Revolver Cannon Mk.3 can engage incoming unguided rockets, artillery rounds, or mortar bombs.

     The Revolver Gun Mk.3, by itself, is a self-contained SHORAD. It has either a X-band or Ku-band tracking radar (19 mile range) along with a EO sensor suite consisting of a HD CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) TV camera, a cooled MWIR (Mid-Wave Infrared) IR camera, laser range finder, and a video tracking system. It can be fitted with an optional S-band or X-band ARES search radar. The Revolver Gun Mk.3 platform can detect, identify, track, and engage targets fully autonomously. Of course, the weapon is meant to be tied into the BMS as well as take advantage of the X-TAR3D and MSU components. In addition, the BMS can manage up to eight Revolver Gun Mk.3 systems.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The MP-120 120mm Mortar

Source: USA Today

     Crew of a MP-120 120mm mortar in action somewhere in Ukraine, August 2025. The MP-120 is designed and built by Ukrainian Armor, LLC, a company headquartered in Kyiv, Ukraine. The MP-120, being constructed within Ukraine, allows supply of a heavy mortar to the Ukrainian Army without dependence on external military aid to replace combat losses or bolster units with additional mortars. Another benefit of the MP-120 is the replacement of older Soviet-era 120mm mortars which remain in use such as the 2B11, the 2S12 “Sani” (“Sleigh”), and any remaining 120-PM-38 that have lingered on in service. The MP-120 is also replacing another Ukrainian produced mortar, the M120-15 “Molot” (“Hammer”). The latter, produced by Ukroboronprom Mayak Plant PJSC, entered service in 2016 but has proven unreliable with tube failures having killed and injured over five dozen soldiers by 2021. The MP-120 was accepted for service on January 25, 2022, a little under a month before the Russian invasion.

     The MP-120 has a combat weight of 36 pounds and it takes a trained crew between 2 to 3 minutes to ready the mortar for action. In the background of the photograph, the two-wheeled transport carriage can be seen. This is used to tow the mortar behind a vehicle as well as permit the crew to push the mortar along the ground to the firing position. Once the baseplate is firmly emplaced in the ground, the mortar's barrel bottom is connected to the plate via a ball-and-socket style joint. This permits a full 360 degrees of traverse without having to reposition the entire mortar. The bipod permits elevation and a limited amount of left or right traverse for more fine barrel positioning. The MP-120's barrel utilizes steel construction which prioritizes robustness. This was well illustrated during the MP-120's trials prior to acceptance in which 5,500 rounds were fired through one example. This amount usually resulted in the need for a complete barrel replacement with existing service mortars but the MP-120 showed only .2mm of barrel wear. As a consequence, the MP-120 can effectively fire over 10,000 rounds before the barrel needs replacement.

     Sighting is done using a MUM-706 UMS (Unified Mortar Sight) which has a 2.5x magnification, a 9 degree field of view, 2 inch parallax, 360 degree range of horizontal sighting, between 35 to 90 degree angle of elevation, and plus or minus 30 degrees of angle of inclination in the vertical plane. A benefit of using a UMS is that the sight can be used on other calibers of mortars which include 60mm, 81mm, and 82mm mortars.

     The MP-120 is able to use any 120mm mortar bomb which is designed to be fired through the 2B11 and 2S12. It is also compatible with bombs made for the venerable 120-PM-38 mortar and for the 120-PM-43. Range can vary depending on the bomb. One of the more potent munitions is the 3OF53 HE-FRAG (High-Explosive Fragmentation) bomb. Weighing 35 pounds of which 7.6 pounds is explosive, the 3OF53 can be fired out to a maximum range of 3.5 miles. When it bursts, it creates a lethal fragmentation radius against infantry of 2,690 yards. The MP-120 can fire bombs capable of using surcharges which are supplementary propellant bags (that are horseshoe shaped) which can be added to the bomb's tail. These can extend the range with the MP-120 able to fire such bombs to a maximum range of 4.4 miles. A trained crew can fire up to 15 rounds per minute. The MP-120 also has a safety feature to prevent double loading. This consists of a mechanical interlock that prevents another bomb from being put loaded until the bomb already in the barrel is fired. Also, the MP-120 has a BAD (Blast Attenuation Device) on the muzzle which reduces the blast effects that occur during firing.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The AHS Krab 155mm SPG

Source: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

     In all, the Ukrainian Army obtained a total of 108 examples of the vehicle shown here, the 48-ton Polish AHS Krab 155mm Self-Propelled Gun (SPG). As part of Poland's military aid to Ukraine, the country provided the first 18 vehicles which were received by the close of 2022. The remainder were obtained via purchase orders with Poland. The ArmatoHaubica Samobieżna (AHS; Self-Propelled Gun-Howitzer) Krab (meaning “Crab“ in Polish) is a joint development by the Polish company Huta Stalowa Wota (HSW), the British firm BAE Systems, and the South Korean entity Samsung Techwin. Work began on the Krab in 1997 and it finally entered production in 2016 with Polish artillery units receiving the Krab soon after.

     Samsung Techwin's contribution to the Krab is the PK9 chassis which is a variant of the chassis used by the South Korean K9 Thunder 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH). Power comes from a MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH built MT881 Ka-500 8-cylinder, water-cooled diesel engine that develops 1,000 horsepower. This is paired to a Allison X1100-5A3 transmission with a 6-speed gearbox (4 forward, 2 reverse gears). On roads, the Krab can top out at 37 miles per hour while offroad, in favorable terrain, up to 19 miles per hour can be achieved. Enough onboard diesel fuel is carried to provide for a maximum operational range of 250 miles. The all-welded chassis uses tempered steel armor plating produced by the Australian company Bisalloy with a maximum thickness of 19mm. This provides the approximate equivalent to STANAG 4569 Level 4 protection which means the armor is capable of withstanding up to and including 14.5x114mm API (Armor Piercing Incendiary) ammunition at a minimum distance of 200 meters as well as shrug off 155mm artillery shell fragments as close as 25 meters. Of the five man crew, only the driver sits within the hull.

     The Krab's turret is much the same as that used on the British AS-90 155mm SPH which had been designed by Vickers Shipbuilding & Engineering, a division of BAE Systems. Like the hull, the turret supports the same Bisalloy armor and offers the identical STANAG 4569 Level 4 protection for the four men within. Situated within the turret is a HSW license built 155mm L/52 gun-howitzer. The gun mount provides for up to 70 degrees of elevation and 3.5 degrees of gun depression while the turret can fully traverse 360 degrees. The gun-howitzer uses a sliding block breech and there is a power loader which permits a burst fire rate of 3 rounds in only ten seconds. For three minutes, the Krab can fire 6 rounds for each of those minutes. A sustained fire rate is 2 rounds per minute. All told, the Krab holds 29 projectiles and 28 powder charges in the turret while the hull holds an additional 11 projectiles and 20 charges. The Krab can utilize any NATO compliant 155mm projectile to include the M982 Excalibur extended range, guided projectile. The latter can attain a range of 25 miles. A typical base bleed projectile can reach a maximum range of 19 miles. The gun-howitzer enjoys the benefit of a ZZKO Topaz FCS (Fire Control System) which consists of an automatic aiming system, ballistic computer, laser rangefinder, and both commander and gunner sights interlinked into the FCS. Outside the turret, situated on top of the gun mantlet, is a MVRS-700 SCD ballistic radar to measure the velocity of shells as they leave the barrel. In case of electrical failure, the turret can be manually traversed while the gun can also be manually elevated and depressed as well as loaded by hand. Also, should the Krab find itself in dire straits, it has a gunner's sight to allow it to engage in direct fire. For anti-air and local defense, the Krab can be fitted with a pintle mounted 12.7mm heavy machine-gun on the turret top.

     Other protective systems within the Krab include an automatic fire detection/suppression system while there is a filtered ventilation system that gives a measure of crew protection against biological, chemical, and radioactive substances and agents. The Krab also utilizes the OBRA-3 SSP-1 warning and self-defense system. This consists of external sensors which detect lasers that are “painting” the Krab. Such lasers are often utilized by anti-tank missile systems. The OBRA-3 will warn the crew and designate the direction the laser is coming from. In addition, the OBRA-3 is tied into the Krab's two banks of 81mm dischargers, each bank with four launch tubes. These banks are located on the turret front, one bank on each side of the gun barrel. The OBRA-3 can be set to automatically launch smoke grenades to obscure the Krab and interfere with the laser designator or if desired, the commander can manually trigger the grenades.

     Other systems include a FONET internal communication system for the crew (made by the WB Group), a RRC 9311AP RF digital radio station, FIN 311OL land navigation system, DD-9620 terminal for providing targeting data, GPS system, day/night sights for the commander and driver, and a 5.5 kilowatt output auxiliary generator (for powering the Krab with the engine off).

     The Krab shown here belongs to Operational Strategic Group Dnipro, likely within Tactical Group Kharkiv or Tactical Group Starobilsk which are the group's two subordinate units. The crew has added metal mesh anti-drone screens to the turret, decking, and hull sides. Cutouts have been made in the frontal turret screens to accommodate the 81mm grenade launchers. The Krab looks to have kept its original Polish Army camouflage paint pattern.

     As of September 9, 2025, the visually confirmed Ukrainian AHS Krab losses stand at 41. Of these, 35 have been destroyed beyond repair with the remaining 6 having suffered damage of varying severity.

Char B1 bis (n° 416) “Hautvillers”: Knocked Out at Stonne

Source: Reddit

     Looking at a map of France, today the village of Stonne is a tiny speck consisting of 2.77 square miles of land area and 39 residents. Yet, between May 15 and May 17, 1940, Stonne was the epicenter of a brutal see-saw battle between an ad-hoc force of French Army troops and the German Army, led by the 10th. Panzer Division along with other elements, to include the crack Infanterie-Regiment "Großdeutschland".

     While Stonne itself had absolutely no military value, the land it was situated on most certainly did. Immediately to the north of Stonne sits Mont-Dieu (God's Mountain) which is heavily wooded with only the D 30 road running through it and into Stonne. The village itself sits atop a 330 meter (1,082 foot) elevation with a very steep drop-off into the thick woods north of the village. To the east of Stonne, near the D 30 road's turn into the village, is Le Pain de Sucre (Sugarloaf) which is a conical shaped hill some 335 meters (1,099 feet) high.“Zuckerhut“ (also meaning Sugarloaf), as the point was called in German, offered an excellent observation point. The French realized that the area around Stonne was a natural obstacle to check the German advance further south and so they quickly fortified the area with pillboxes and set up barriers to slow down German troops.

     During the Battle of Stonne, the village exchanged hands seventeen times. The initial day saw elements of the 3e Division d'Infanterie Motorisée already positioned in Stonne but by 0800 hours, Stonne was in German hands, led by 1. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment "Großdeutschland". In the course of the day's combat, Char B1 bis tanks belonging to 3e Compagnie, 49e Bataillon de Chars, would see action against the Germans and the knocked out tank shown here was one of them. The tank, n° 416 and named “Hautvillers“, was commanded by Sous-lieutenant Jacques Klein and driven by Caporal-chef Emile Chanel. The names of the radio operator and assistant driver (who was usually a mechanic) that completed the crew are not known. The tank was received by the unit on March 25, 1940. 

     At approximately 1000 hours,“Hautvillers“ had been advancing north towards Stonne over the ground between the D 30 and D 24 roads. A Panzerkampfwagen IV, belonging to Panzer-Regiment 8, spotted the French tank and took it under fire. The Pz.IV's gunner, one Karl Koch, was able to hit “Hautvillers“ three to four times. The results of the successful engagement saw “Hautvillers“ turret jammed, the 47mm gun fitted to it bent, the right side track severed, and a non-penetrating hit on the armor near Caporal-chef Chanel's station. The spalling of the armor on the interior by the strike caused superficial injuries to Chanel and triggered a fire in the tank's electrical system. With such crippling hits, the crew abandoned the tank though all four men would later be captured by German troops. Given the photograph, it is clear the fire consumed the tank, probably causing an ammunition detonation which blew apart much of the upper hull, causing the turret to fall inward. This particular photograph was likely taken well after the battle as much of the debris following the tank's demise is no longer seen laying on the ground. Based on the many photographs taken of the tank by German soldiers, the location of the wreck may be at the intersection of Route de la Berlière (D 24) and Rue du Paquis which is located just outside Stonne proper.

     While German forces ultimately won the Battle of Stonne, the area would not be completely pacified until May 25, 1940.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Accuracy International AXMC

Source: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

     A sniper belonging to the 4th. Rapid Reaction Brigade “Rubizh” (“Frontier”) who looks to be equipped with a AXMC bolt-action rifle designed and built by the British company Accuracy International. The AXMC (MC standing for Multi-Caliber) is a rifle available on the open market, typically costing well over $7,500USD or more depending on the options added and what caliber is desired. The rifle finds use by military, law enforcement, and civilian sharpshooters. Of interest, the soldier is wearing the patch of the U.S. Army's 1st. Infantry Division, known as the "Big Red One".

     Ukrainian snipers are known to favor the .308 Winchester cartridge (made specifically for the civilian market) as it offers a much higher pressure and accuracy than the very similar military 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. The .308 Winchester can attain velocities of up to 3,500 feet per second. Another benefit of having a rifle chambered for the .308 Winchester round is that the rifle can also utilize the military 7.62x51mm cartridge without any concerns. However, not all battle rifles using the 7.62x51mm cartridge can handle the .308 Winchester without risk of problems such as cartridge case rupture or splitting. In the hands of a trained sniper and the right conditions, the .308 Winchester round can hit targets out to .5 of a mile. The AXMC is also available in .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges.

     The barrel of the AXMC is made of match grade, stainless steel and uses Accuracy International's Quickloc system which permits the operator to change barrels without needing tools. The proofed steel action features a leaf spring extractor and a bolt whose handle is turned 60 degrees. The rifle has a 3-position safety along with a 2-stage trigger. From appearances, the rifle in the photograph looks to be fitted with a 27” barrel. Magazine capacity is 10 rounds.

     The AXMC utilizes a configurable pistol grip (as it is detachable and easy replaced with another style) and a buttstock which offers the ability to adjust stock length. There is also an adjustable cheek piece at the top of the stock and a rear grip along the bottom of the stock. The latter can use an optional butt spike. When not needed, the stock can fold forward, resting along the right side of the rifle.

     It is difficult to say what suppressor is fitted but most AX model rifles are built to accept suppressors made by the Swiss company B&T AG. Also, the AXMC has a top Picatinny rail (MIL-STD 1913). Additional rails can be added to the sides and bottom of the forend using Accuracy International's KeySlot™ system and the soldier here has added a bottom rail which supports a folding bipod. The scope mounted atop the rifle appears to be a Nightforce Optics ATACR series rifle scope.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Zlin Z-137T Agro-Turbo

Source: Reddit

     Anyone that monitors news feeds and social media images and videos of the Russo-Ukrainian War will often notice that much of the land in which engagements happen is on flat and open fields punctuated by thin lines of trees. There is good reason for that and why Ukraine is called the “Breadbasket of Europe”; some 71% of Ukraine's entire land mass is agricultural and Ukraine is one of the top three exporters of grain such as wheat. As such, it should not be surprising that crop dusting aircraft would be in use to service farmers and their fields. Except, in this instance, insects are not the targets but instead, Russian drones are. Some bloggers have nicknamed the aircraft shown here “Stuka” after the Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber of World War Two fame (or infamy depending on one's outlook). While there is a very superficial Ju 87 resemblance based on the aircraft's angle in this smartphone video screen capture, the aircraft is in actuality a Zlin Z-137T Agro-Turbo agricultural aircraft.

     Built by the Czech company Zlin Aircraft Otrokovice (formally Moravan Otrokovice), the Z-137T is derived from the earlier Zlin Z-37 Čmelák (“Bumblebee”). The prototype first flew in 1981 with production commencing in 1998 and when manufacturing ceased in 2007, a total of 56 aircraft were built (of which five were prototypes). A factory fresh Z-137T in 1998 carried a price tag of $230,000USD fully equipped for agricultural duty.

     The Z-137T is a single-seat aircraft with maximum agricultural work take-off weight of 5,566 pounds. Length is 34.3 feet, height of 11.5 feet, a wingspan of 44.7 feet, and a wing area of 256 square feet. Power comes from a Motorlet Walter M601Z reverse-flow, axial-centrifugal turboprop engine which develops 490 shaft horsepower. The engine drives a three-bladed, constant-speed propeller built by Avia. At an altitude of 500 meters, the maximum cruise speed is 157 miles per hour while the absolute maximum speed of the Z-137T is 177 miles per hour. Climb rate is 827 feet per minute. The service ceiling is 18,054 feet and with 92.5 gallons of onboard fuel, the maximum range is 216 miles. The Z-137T needs 1,905 feet of runway for take-off and 2,365 feet for landing.

     The Z-137T has a auxiliary 30 kilowatt drive system which operates the agricultural attachments such as chemical spraying gear or a rotary duster for dry fertilizers or pesticides. The former has a spray swath width of 131 feet while the duster has a 98 foot spread width.

     Of course, this modified Z-137T has replaced any agricultural apparatus for missile pylons. The Z-137T does have four hardpoints, two per wing, which are normally used for external fuel tanks to increase the aircraft's range. Here, the two inner hardpoints are fitted with fuel tanks (which, as a note, cannot be released by the pilot) while on each outer hardpoint is a single Vympel R-73 (NATO reporting name AA-11 Archer) short-range, infrared homing air-to-air missile (AAM). As Ukraine has a sizable stockpile of R-73 missiles, many of them have been repurposed for use as surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and, as indicated here, allocated to drone-hunting aircraft. The Z-137T, because of its speed, is well suited to drone interdiction in comparison to jet fighters. The typical Geran-2 drone has a maximum speed of 115 miles per hour and so the Z-137T can catch up to them even at cruise speed. It can also launch the R-73 towards the drone without the worry of overtaking the target and risking getting caught in any detonation of the drone's warhead. This is very much a risk for much faster moving jet fighters. Also, the slower close rate of the Z-137T against a drone means a longer time for the pilot to line up the target and achieve the best chance for a missile lock. Finally, aircraft such as the Z-137T are optimized for low altitude flight and can better operate at lower altitudes. The R-73, when used by fighter aircraft, is tied into the pilot's helmet-mounted sight. With but a glance to the target, the information is sent to the missile prior to launch. It is not known if the Z-137T's pilot has a HMS or if targeting is dependent on getting close enough to the targeted drone for the R-73's seeker to pick up the heat signature. The R-73 has a top speed of Mach 2.5 thanks to its solid-fuel rocket engine and it can carry its 16 pound warhead out to a range of 19 miles.

Jagdtigers of 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512: Demolitioned Near Letmathe

Source: Author's collection.

     The remains of two Jagdtigers of 2nd. Kompanie, Schwere Panzerjäger Abteilung 512 (2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512) sit alongside a road near the German town of Letmathe. On April 11, 1945, 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512, commanded by Hauptmann Walter Scherf, was part of Kampfgruppe (Battle Group) Ernst and set up in hidden positions to check U.S. advances to the Ruhr River. That day, the Jagdtigers fired high explosive ammunition out to 3 miles and the group was able to cause enough havoc to force the U.S. forces to retreat. Despite the victory, 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512 was ordered to withdraw and so during the night, Scherf positioned his Jagdtigers on high ground outside the village of Kalthof. The next day, the Jagdtigers shot up U.S. tanks, again halting the advance of U.S. forces. Nevertheless, 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512 continued to withdraw and by April 14, was in the village of Ergste. 

     The Jagdtigers were situated in a wooded area near Letmathe where mechanics worked to effect repairs. Scherf could see that his men had no fight left and when word came that 1/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512 was all but finished, that was the final straw. 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512 was ordered to destroy their Jagdtigers and on April 15, 1945, 2/s.Pz.Jg.Abt.512 surrendered. 

     Thus, when the Allies passed through, they found these two Jagdtigers. The second one is difficult to make out but it is parked immediately behind the Jagdtiger in the foreground and it is believed that this Jagdtiger had towed the other after it suffered a mechanical breakdown.

The "Übungsfaust": Practice Makes Perfect

Source: Bundesarchiv

     Curiously, the books in my library that discuss the Panzerfaust (”Tank Fist”) and all of its variants leave out one variant that can be clearly seen in the photograph here. In fact, this particular image is pretty widely used in many books and articles. It depicts a Bataillonsführer (denoted by the four rank pips on the black tabs affixed to his great coat collar) of the German Volkssturm overseeing training of Volkssturm militiamen in the usage of the Panzerfaust. It is believed the location was somewhere in Berlin, spring of 1945. For the interested, the Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archives) identification code for this picture is 183-J31391. Anyone familiar with the Panzerfaust's profile will notice some peculiarities with the Panzerfaust the Volkssturmmann (Private) is holding. What he is holding is not a live Panzerfaust at all and it is what today would be termed a Übungsschießgerät, meaning Practice Shooting Device. What it was called in 1945 is not known nor is it known how many of them were actually produced. Besides this photograph, I have another photograph showing a U.S. Army soldier guarding a collection of German weapons and in the background, one of these training devices can be seen. In keeping with the naming theme for the Panzerfaust and its variants, I am going to call it the Übungsfaust (meaning Practice Fist) throughout the rest of this article. Again, there is no historical evidence this name was ever used.

     The Panzerfaust was one of the most important anti-tank weapons available to the German infantrymen. It was simple to build, cheap (costing at most 25 Reichsmarks or $22USD in 1945), and was available in large quantities and the most common variant was the Panzerfaust 60 (Pzf 60). The number referred to the effective range of the projectile, in this case 60 meters. Although the warhead looks like a rocket, the Panzerfaust is technically a recoilless rifle. Within the metal tube was an explosive charge and when triggered, the blast propelled the warhead out of the front of the tube while the rearward blast forces vented out the back of the tube canceled out any recoil. Aiming was accomplished using a flip-up sight and usage of the top mounted trigger would set off the charge. Once the warhead left the tube, four metal fins would unfurl to provide stability in flight. The Panzerfaust 60 was able to penetrate up to 200mm of armor...more than enough to defeat nearly all Allied tanks. The Panzerfaust was also a one-shot, disposable weapon. Once fired, the soldier would discard the empty tube. While it is true that the Panzerfaust deployed during World War Two could not be reloaded by soldiers in the field, the tubes could be reloaded by the manufacturers that produced Panzerfaust. Thus, if German troops held the battlefield where Panzerfaust were used (and if the situation allowed it), the tubes would be collected and sent back to the factories to be reused. In part, this was an attempt to conserve war critical materials.

     So, why was there a need for something like the Übungsfaust? Over 8 million Panzerfaust (of all variants) were built from 1942 to 1945 so surely there were plenty to spare for training. It should be mentioned that Panzerfaust were sold to other Axis countries, namely Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Italy, and Romania. Also, around one in eight Panzerfaust were rejected by inspectors and the parts recycled and of those that were issued, around 10% were returned to the factories as defective. Finally, up to 6% of the issued Panzerfaust either misfired or failed to detonate against the target. Combine these factors, that number dwindles rapidly. As such, there can be seen a use for something like the Übungsfaust to ensure as many Panzerfaust can be put into the hands of German and allied Axis troops. 

     According to the website bergflak.com, there were at least three different types of  Übungsfaust and diagrams and plans on how to construct them were distributed via the publication series “Von der Front für die Front" (“From the Front, For the Front”). The publication can be compared to the U.S. Army's “PS Magazine” which contained bulletins on the care of equipment and tricks and tips submitted by soldiers for useful modifications, service/repair methods, and field adaptations. 

     The Übungsfaust was built using spent Panzerfaust. One might also presume that tubes rejected by the factories could also be repurposed for constructing Übungsfaust but given the intent was to have units in the field construct the Übungsfaust, the most likely source were tubes from Panzerfaust which have been discharged. The Übungsfaust permitted the trainee to get familiar with the weapon as it retained the same tube (and heft), sight, and trigger mechanism. The warhead was made of solid wood with no TNT or hexogen explosive inside. This dummy warhead allowed the trainee to practice loading the tube as in some cases, Panzerfaust were shipped without the warhead installed. Another reason for needing a warhead is that part of the aiming process required the warhead to be present. With the sight in position, the operator tucked the tube underneath the arm, peered through the sight, and aligned the range gradients by looking over the top of the warhead's widest point where a protrusion called the korn (literally front sight) was situated.

     The main modification to create the Übungsfaust consisted of inserting a circular chamber piece (with a cap) into the tube, just behind the trigger. In a live Panzerfaust, this is where the treibladung (propellant charge) would have been. To prepare the Übungsfaust, it required two 7.92x57mm Platzpatrone 33 blank cartridges. The wooden bullet was removed from the cartridge and the powder, enveloped in felt wadding, was extracted. The powder charges were placed into chamber and the chamber had a perforation in the front (facing the warhead) and a second perforation facing to the rear. The cap was then closed. An ignitor, using the existing trigger, would set off the powder in the chamber. The resultant detonation, while not as powerful as a genuine Panzerfaust, would still give the trainee some experience of what it would be like to fire the weapon but more importantly, demonstrate the backblast effects which were even more dangerous with the Panzerfaust. In fact, the backblast of a Panzerfaust 60 was lethal out to 3 meters (10 feet). Exactly how far the wooden warhead would be flung from the tube isn't known but distance wasn't the point. The warhead would be collected and assuming it wasn't too beat up, it would be reused. It is said some units would reinforce the warhead with metal bands or sheath it in iron to keep it from being damaged too rapidly.

     Of interest, the Übungsfaust wasn't the only training device for the Wehrmacht's man-portable anti-tank weapons. The other tank buster was the Raketenpanzerbüchse 54 (RPzB 54), better known as the Panzerschreck (“Tank Terror”). This was the German response to the M1 “Bazooka”. Again, documents exist which show how unserviceable RPzB 54 launchers could be modified into training devices by using a heavily cut down Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifle. To facilitate the training process, a wooden facsimile of a 88mm RPzB. Gr. 4312 rocket was fitted to the barrel end of the rifle. The rifle itself was loaded with between one to five Platzpatrone 33 blank rounds. This entire assembly was then loaded into the rear of the tube by the loader in the same fashion as a genuine rocket round. There was even a fake wire and contact so that the loader could practice preparing the rocket (which was electrically fired when the trigger was pulled). The trigger of the RPzB 54 was connected to the rifle's trigger via a rod. When the operator squeezed the trigger, the rod pushed the rifle's trigger backwards, firing off the blank round which then pushed the dummy rocket out the front of the launch tube. There was recoil due to the rifle, something which would not occur when firing a operational RPzB 54.

Big Screen Weapons: The Smith & Wesson Performance Center® Model 945

© New Regency Productions, Strike Entertainment, 20th. Century Fox

     In the late 1990s, Smith & Wesson's Dick Mochak decided to combine the Smith & Wesson SW1911 and the Model 4006. The result, when it debuted in 1996, was the Performance Center® Model 945. The following year, it was made available for purchase and today, examples of the Model 945 command a fairly high price tag. Condition depending, the Model 945 can sell for as little as $1,250 to a bit over $2,000.

     The Model 945 is a single action, semi-automatic pistol which is chambered for the .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge. The round, appearing in 1905, is typically a 230 grain with a round-nose bullet. Average muzzle velocity is 830 feet per second. The frame mounted, thumb activated safety is ambidextrous and thus can be operated by a left handed shooter as well as a right handed shooter. This is backed up by a beavertail grip safety. To fire the pistol when the frame mounted safety is set to “fire”, the grip must be held tightly to fully depress the safety. The “beavertail” is a curved portion of the safety which protects the hand from the rearward motion of the slide and hammer.

     Two versions were offered, one in a bead blasted stainless steel finish while the other featured a polished blackened finish. It also features a hand polished barrel ramp and a hand-fitted titanium-coated barrel bushing. While the Model 945 looks like the SW1911, the Model 945 cannot utilize magazines from the SW1911 (or any Colt built M1911). As such, the Model 945 is only compatible with its own 8-round magazines. Trigger weight is between 2.75 to 3 pounds. 

     With the 5” barrel, the overall length of the Model 945 is 8.75 inches with a weight of 2.7 pounds. Out of the box, the pistol uses post front sight and a BoMar rear sight that permits micro adjustments for elevation and windage.

     The stainless steel, 5” barrel Model 945 is shown here in the hands of Sylvia Weis (played by actress Amanda Seyfried) in the 2011 science-fiction movie “In Time” which also starred Justin Timberlake as Will Salas.

     Given the Model 945s relative rarity, it has not seen much use as a weapon in movies. In fact, “In Time” is the only U.S. produced film that used it. The two other appearances of the Model 945 is in the German movie “Jerry Cotton” (2010) and the Taiwanese action flick “Black & White Episode 1: The Dawn of Assault” (2012).

Russo-Ukrainian War: The BM-27 Uragan 220mm MLRS (BAZ-69092 Chassis)

Source: Reddit

     A mainstay within Russian heavy rocket artillery units is the BM-27 Uragan (“Hurricane”) 220mm MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System). Entering service with the Soviet Army in 1975, the Uragan is still in limited production in more modern forms but the vast majority of the BM-27 MLRS in Russian Federation service still utilize the original ZIL-135 8x8 chassis. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in 2024, the Russian Army has 218 BM-27 MLRS in service and the ability to call on another 550 of them which remain in storage (assuming they are in a condition enough to warrant returning to service). Nevertheless, the sanctions being applied to Russia since 2022 have had some impact on the ability of Russia to both produce new military hardware and also maintain older vehicles. The ZIL-135 falls into the latter category as production ceased for it in 1994, requiring Russia to source outside of itself. To that end, the photograph of the burned out remains of a Russian Federation BM-27 illustrate Russia's answer to ensuring BM-27 production: using the BAZ-69092 6x6 chassis rather than the ZIL-135. 

     The 13-ton BAZ-69092 isn't new, having appeared in service around 2017, though its history goes back to the 1990s. The key factor is that Bryansk Automobile Plant (BAZ) is able to build the chassis entirely of Russian produced components. Performance mounting the 9P140 220mm rocket launcher complex on the BAZ-69092 (to create the BM-27) isn't known so any performance values are based solely on the BAZ-69092 without any mounted apparatus.

     Power comes from a YaMZ-8491.10-032 turbocharged diesel engine that develops 450 horsepower and this is tied into a YaMZ-2393-10 gearbox. Usage of a mechanical transmission permits all-wheel drive while there is a 2-stage transfer case and locking cross-axle differentials. Top road speed is 50 miles per hour with enough fuel for a maximum operational range (empty of payload) of 621 miles.

     Mounted in front of the engine is the crew cab and normally, this is unarmored. However, the BAZ-69092 can be fitted with an armored cab which does offer some defense against select small arms calibers and shell fragments. Additional crew protection comes in the form of NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) systems such as the FVUA-100a-24 filtration system and anti-radiation screens. In the photograph, anti-drone screens have been added to the cab and 16-tube launcher...not that they were effective. The two cylindrical objects just behind the rocket launcher are the engine exhausts. In front of the exhausts is where a spare tire would be kept.

     The capability of the 220mm rockets utilized by the BM-27 offer a range comparable to heavy artillery, if not exceeding guns such as the 2A65 152mm Msta-B. Only the powerful 2A44 203mm gun used on the 2S7 Pion SPG (Self-Propelled Gun) can out-range the BM-27. The launcher is aimed using a PG-1 panoramic telescopic sight and with a full six man crew, the BM-27 can be prepared for firing or broken down for  movement in three minutes. The rockets can be fired one at a time or in salvo with all sixteen rockets capable of being fired in 20 seconds. Assuming the BM-27 is accompanied with a transloader vehicle (which has a crane), reloading the BM-27 fully can take approximately 20 minutes

     The most utilized rocket is the 220mm 9M27F HE-FRAG (High-Explosive Fragmentation) rocket that packs 220 pounds of explosive within a fragmentation casing warhead. Weighing 620 pounds with a length of 15.8 feet, the 9M27F has a maximum range of 21 miles. Another type of rocket is the 9M27K series. These are rockets which disperse submunitions across a target area. The rockets are the 9M27K1 which dispenses thirty 9N210 anti-material bomblets, the 9M27K2 which drops twenty-four PGMDM or PTM-1 anti-tank mines, while the third is the 9M27K3 which disperses three hundred and twelve PFM-1 anti-personnel mines. All three types have a maximum 21 mile range. Two other rocket types include the 9M27S incendiary rocket and the 9M59 rocket which can dispense nine PTM-3 shaped charge anti-tank mines. Like the other rockets, their maximum range is no more than 21 miles.

Oberleutnant Heinz Halmes (Luftlandebrigade 25)

Source: Author's collection.

     Little is known about the military history of Heinz Halmes. Much of what is known comes from scattered sources including, among others, a 2015 auction in München, Germany of award documents and the soldbuch (pay book) which belonged to Halmes. Halmes was born in Aachen, Germany on April 6, 1923 and his military career, at least what has been found in documentation, started sometime in 1942 when Halmes entered into the Luftwaffe as a Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) and held the rank of Gefreiter (equivalent to a U.S. Air Force Airman rank). His initial posting was with Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5. This was a unit first formed in May 1942 and consisted of three battalions. I. Bataillon and III. Bataillon trained for Unternehmen Herkules (Operation Hercules, the invasion of Malta) at Truppenübungsplatz Mourmelon (Military Training Area Mourmelon) which was located near Reims, France while II. Bataillon was shipped to Africa and placed under Fallschirmjäger-Brigade Ramcke. However, the Allied landings in Algeria on November 7, 1942 (and the eventual cancellation of the Malta invasion that same month) saw the two battalions in France sent to Tunisia to join up with the II. Bataillon. The regiment saw heavy combat in defensive positions around Medjez El Bab starting on November 20, 1942 and in the face of American armored attacks, gave ground five days later. II. Bataillon suffered severe casualties and further action south of Tunis against British paratroopers saw the III. Bataillon worn down. Enough reinforcements arrived to reconstitute the II. Bataillon but by December 1942, hard, but successful, defensive combat around Tebourba and Fourna stymied the Allied advance towards Tunis. What remained of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5 was renamed as Jäger-Regiment "Hermann Göring" in January 1943 and operated under Panzer Division "Hermann Göring". It saw extensive combat from April 1943 to May 6, 1943 and suffered very heavy casualties in the fighting. Many of the survivors went into captivity but others, including a sizable number from the remains of II. Bataillon, managed to be evacuated by ship to Italy. The survivors were assembled into II./ Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5 and placed under the 2. Fallschirmjäger Division where the battalion fought briefly in Italy through September 1943 before being transferred along with the 2. Fallschirmjäger Division to the Eastern Front in October 1943. The battalion saw action around Kirovograd but in January 1944, the battalion was withdrawn and sent to France where it would become Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 16, 6. Fallschirmjäger-Division.

     Prior to the unit change to Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 16, Halmes had been promoted to Unteroffizier (other sources say Oberjäger) which was equivalent to a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. In this period of time, Halmes had earned the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd. Class) on December 19, 1942, the Verwundetenabzeichen 3. Klasse (Wound Badge in Black) on May 6, 1943, the Medaille für den Italienisch-Deutschen Feldzug in Afrika (Italo-German Campaign Medal in Africa) on June 30, 1943, the Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge) on July 10, 1943, the Ärmelband Afrika (Africa campaign cufftitle) on July 14, 1943, and the Fallschirmschützenabzeichen der Luftwaffe (Parachutist Badge) on September 23, 1943.

     As 1944 arrived, Halmes was promoted again, this time to a Fähnrich (officer candidate) and he was made Zugführer (platoon leader) of 1. Zug (1st. Platoon), 11. Kompanie, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 16. The 6. Fallschirmjäger-Division saw combat during the Normandy Invasion but Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 16 was pulled from the West Front in June 1944 and shifted to Heeresgruppe Nord (Army Group North) on the Eastern Front. It saw brief combat in Lithuania under Kampfgruppe Oberst Schirmer from July 1944 to September 1944. On September 24, 1944, the unit was renamed to Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Division 3 "Hermann Göring" while in Radom, Poland. On October 28, 1944, he was made company commander of 11. Kompanie, III. Bataillon, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 16. By this time, Halmes had received the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (Iron Cross 1st. Class) on April 5, 1944 and the Deutsches Kreuz im Gold (German Cross in Gold) on October 19, 1944. Halmes, for a very brief period of time, had been transferred into Fallschirmjäger-Regiment z.b.V. which was formed on November 25, 1944. By the close of December 1944, Halmes was the company commander for 7. Kompanie, Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 ”Hermann Göring”. In this brief period, Halmes was awarded the Nahkampfspange in Silber (Close Combat Clasp in Silver) and the Panzerkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe 3. Klasse (Luftwaffe Tank Battle Badge 3rd. Class), both dated December 15, 1944. At some point late in 1944, Halmes was promoted to Oberfähnrich (the highest rank of officer candidate) as in 1945, he graduated and was commissioned as a Leutnant. His last award was the Verwundetenabzeichen 2. Klasse (Wound Badge in Silver) which was received on January 24, 1945.

     What happened to Halmer following World War Two isn't known. However, this photograph of him shows that he survived any captivity and entered into the Bundeswehr as, not surprisingly, a paratrooper. On his left shoulder is the patch for Luftlandebrigade 25 ”Schwarzwald“ (Airborne Brigade 25 “Black Forest”) of the 1. Luftlandedivision. His rank, as denoted by the two rank pips on his shoulder boards, is that of a Oberleutnant (1st. Lieutenant). His ribbon bar consists solely of his World War Two decorations as per the 1957 regulations. The top row, from the left, is his German Cross, Iron Cross 1st. Class, Iron Cross 2nd. Class, and the Close Combat Clasp. The second row is his Wound Badge in Silver, Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge, Luftwaffe Tank Battle Badge, and the Africa Campaign Title. The last row is his Parachutist Badge and the Italo-German Campaign Medal in Africa.

     Halmer died on July 14, 2009 in St. Ingbert-Hassel, Germany at the age of 86.