Artillerisystem 08 Archer: Articulated...Just Not THAT Articulated

Source: Ken Dominy on Facebook

     Whenever this particular image appeared on social media platforms, one could almost count on some anti-Ukrainian individual stating this is how the Ukrainian Army treats the aid they've gotten. The Ukrainian Army does field the Artillerisystem 08 Archer but the one in the image belongs to the 19th. Regiment Royal Artillery “The Scottish Gunners”. The accident took place in the summer of 2025 during exercises held at the Salisbury Plain Training Area, Wiltshire, England.

     The reason the British Army is utilizing a Swedish artillery platform (14 in all to date) is due to the fact Britain first donated 32 British AS90 155mm self-propelled howitzers (SPH) to Ukraine in 2023. However, a report by Ivan Khomenko for United24 Media dated May 5, 2025 discussed that the British Army fully retired the AS90 and sent the entirety of the fleet (approximately 92 vehicles) to Ukraine with the second and third waves of deliveries occurring in April 2024 and September 2024 respectively. The report says 68 combat ready AS90 vehicles have been issued, divided up between the 58th. Motorized Brigade “Ivan Vyhovskyi”, 117th. Heavy Mechanized Brigade, and the 151st. Mechanized Brigade. It should be mentioned the German Kiel Institute's Ukraine Support Tracker states 66 AS90s were delivered rather than 68. Returning to the United24 Media article, the remainder of the AS90 vehicles were not combat ready (having been in storage) and are to be utilized for parts to keep the deployed AS90s combat ready.

     The tipped over cab illustrates well the articulated nature of the Archer which uses the chassis of a Volvo A30D dump truck. The connection joint permits the cab to steer 45 degrees to the left or right of center and while there is a measure of vertical articulation, it has its limits and clearly, that limit was exceeded. Although it appears like the underside of the cab has some form of blast deflecting shaping, this is the same as on the A30D. The Volvo AH 64 front axle is clear to see and all of the Archer's axles feature transversal differential locks, fully floating axle shafts, and planetary hub reductions. The Archer uses 750/65R25 low-profile tires which provide better stability, traction, and improved steering performance. The Fälthaubits 77, fitted in the rear mounted turret, is in travel position, the barrel housed within is covered travel lock. Beneath the turret can be seen one of the two stabilizers, also in traveling position.

For further information on the Artillerisystem 08 Archer, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2025/09/russo-ukrainian-war-artillerisystem-08.html

The German Empire's "Flying Tank": The Junkers J.I

Source: Author's collection

     Military aviation in 1918 was, in many respects, a far cry from where it was in 1914. Aircraft were faster, more maneuverable, better armed, and more reliable. Aerial observation was a role aircraft fulfilled throughout World War I where the “eye in the sky” conducted reconnaissance on enemy positions and movements, served as spotters for artillery, and other tasks. Such missions were fraught with danger as the deployment of aircraft in roles which brought them close to the enemy meant the enemy developed the means to destroy them. By 1918, the advances of anti-aircraft weapons from ad-hoc solutions to dedicated anti-aircraft guns made the skies hazardous. In 1917, the Inspektion der Fliegertruppen (abbreviated to Idflieg; Inspectorate of Flying Troops) introduced the “J-class” of aircraft which were armored dual-role liaison/ground attack airplanes fitted with armor plate to reduce their vulnerability to ground fire. Typically, J-class planes were simply existing models with added armor. However, there was one such plane whose features would herald future ground attack aircraft: the Junkers J.I.

     In the photograph, a British soldier casts his gaze on the remains of a Junkers J.I (or it could be in the process of being scrapped postwar) and the wreckage amply displays the key features of the J.I. The J.I was of all-metal construction but as can be clearly seen, the J.I incorporated a fully armored “bathtub” which encompassed the 200hp Benz Bz.IV engine, pilot, and the observer. The armor, 5mm thick, also protected the fuel tanks and radio equipment. Other features which were designed to improve survivability included push-rod and bell cranks to operate the flight control surfaces instead of the usual steel cabling and a gravity feed fuel tank which enabled continued fuel flow to the engine in case the fuel pump failed. If the fuel in the gravity tank was exhausted, the J.I had a manual fuel pump the observer could use to move fuel from the main tanks into the engine. 

     For defensive armament, the observer had a rear firing, flexible mounted 7.92mm MG14 machine-gun with five ammunition drums of 200 rounds each. The J.I could also be fitted with two downward firing machine-guns when deployed as a ground attack craft though this was rarely done. 

     The first J.I aircraft were taken into service in August of 1917 with the first combat deployment occurring during Germany’s Spring Offensive (Kaiserschlacht; Kaiser’s Battle) which commenced in March 1918. Crews of the J.I nicknamed it the “Möbelwagen” (“Furniture Van”) due to the sluggish handling but they appreciated the protection. Source depending, either no J.I aircraft were lost to enemy fire or only a single J.I was brought down, the French claiming one from an anti-aircraft machine-gun firing armor piercing ammunition. In all, 227 J.I aircraft were built.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Polaris MVRS 700 UTV

Source: @inukraine.official on Instagram

    In early March 2024, Russian Federation forces launched an attack near Lyman, Donetsk Oblast. The initial assault included tanks and IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) and in the way was the Ukrainian 60th. Mechanized Brigade. In short order, the assault's first push was repulsed but the Russian forces were not done and a second assault was launched...with “golf carts”. The “golf carts” were Aodes Desertcross 1000-3 utility task vehicles (UTVs). Crammed with soldiers, the unarmored UTVs were quickly destroyed. Russia has purchased over 2,000 of the Desertcross UTV from China to issue to troops in Ukraine. The first confirmed appearance of them in Ukraine occurred in November 2023. Initially, they were utilized for rear-area tasks but in was not long before they were used in direct attacks on Ukrainian lines with the expected catastrophic results.

    Ukrainian forces also make use of UTVs to fulfill logistical, medical, and fast reaction roles. The advantages of UTVs are a smaller size, a quieter engine, and high speed. This makes them more difficult to both see and hear, even from reconnaissance drones, while the high speed enables the UTVs to move through terrain quickly. Of course, the main disadvantage is UTVs lack any sort of armor, leaving the driver and any passengers completely vulnerable to enemy fire. For logistical tasks, UTVs are used to resupply troops with ammunition, rations, etc. as well as transport soldiers to and from the front during rotations. Casualties can be evacuated to the rear using UTVs. The Ukrainians also use UTVs as as fast reaction units. For example, the 93rd. Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar” uses UTVs fitted with Stugna-P ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles). UTVs used in this role are like “fire brigades”, rapidly moving to sections of the front to engage enemy armor. As the Stugna-P has a maximum range of 3.4 miles (in daytime) and 1.9 miles (at night), these units have a measure of stand-off distance from the direct front lines though they remain vulnerable to FPVs and artillery fire. The screen capture here is from a Ukrainian soldier's smartphone video and shows one of the UTVs used by Ukrainian forces: the Polaris MVRS 700.

    The .8-ton MVRS 700 (Multiple Vehicle Reentry System) is powered by a Polaris 2-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke engine with electronic fuel injection (EFI). The engine develops 45 horsepower (683cc) and is paired to a Polaris Variable Transmission with a 3-speed gearbox (2 forward, 1 reverse). This gives the MVRS 700 a top road speed of 42 miles per hour. Fuel capacity is 13 gallons and depending on how the UTV is driven, range can vary between 55 to 80 miles.

    The front rack of the MVRS 700 can carry up to 100 pounds while the rear box bed (which can be tipped) can hold 1,000 pounds. The maximum capacity of the MVRS 700 is 1,600 pounds. A trailer hitch on the rear of the UTV can tow up to 1,750 pounds. Run-flat Goodyear Tracker Mud Runner tires ensure limited mobility is retained after damage. In the front is a self-recovery winch with a 2-ton capacity.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The KPS-53AV Gun/Bomb Sight

Source: @qnesko007 on Instagram

     A screen capture from a video, taken from the weapon systems officer's (WSO or “Wizzo”) forward view from his cockpit, located in the nose of a Mil Mi-24D gunship (NATO reporting name Hind-D). Directly in front of him is the KPS-53AV gun/bomb sight system which takes up a good portion of his available cockpit space.

     The KPS-53AV is used by the WSO to aim the Yakushev-Borzov YakB-12.7 4-barrel rotary heavy machine gun mounted in a USPU-24 chin turret. In fact, the end of the YakB-12.7 can be seen just above the sight. The toggle on the left front side of the sight reads “ВКЛ СЧИСЛЕНИЕ” which translates as “On Counting” while the red triggers on either side of the unit have “ОГОНЬ” on them which means “Fire”. The angled KS-53 sight glass is in the center. The knobbed grip on the left side of the sight is used to traverse the chin turret (60 degrees to either side of the centerline) with the entire KPS-53AV swiveling to allow the WSO to track targets. On the right side, the other grip controls the elevation and depression of the YakB-12.7 (20 degrees and 40 degrees respectively). The KPS-53AV is stabilized and includes a VSB-24 analog ballistic calculator. Linked to a air pressure sensor and a angle-of-attack sensor mounted in a boom on the exterior of the helicopter (not visible in this screen capture), the calculator takes the data from the sensors and combines them with the ballistics of the YakB-12.7 to provide aiming correction. The KPS-53AV also has a range finder that can determine target distance but the WSO must manually input the size of the intended target. Built into the KPS-53AV is a PAU-457-2M gun camera which records engagements. The camera uses 16mm film and has a 8 frame per second shoot rate. The KPS-53AV is also used by the WSO to deliver unguided bombs. While the pilot has some control over the helicopter's weapons (and has his own sights), only the WSO can accurately conduct bombing runs. The pilot doesn't have a bomb sight though he can jettison the bombs in the cases of emergencies.

     The YakB-12.7 in the Mi-24D is provided with 1,470 rounds of ammunition and unlike most rotary weapons, the YakB-12.7 is purely gas operated and does not need an external motor to drive the barrels. The maximum rate of fire is between 4,000 to 5,000 rounds per minute so with such a ravenous consumption, the WSO will typically fire short bursts in order to conserve ammunition.

     To the left of the KPS-53AV is a radar altimeter which measures the height (altitude) of the helicopter above the ground immediately below it. A look at the reading and at the time of the screen capture, the helicopter was flying a little over 21 feet off the ground. To the right is the screen for a GPS. 

Russo-Ukrainian War: The BTS-4 ARV

Source: Arslom Xudosi

     Early on in the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Russian Federation forces were utilizing elderly equipment and this is evidenced here. Photographed on March 31, 2022, an abandoned Russian BTS-4 armored recovery vehicle (ARV) fell into Ukrainian hands, a soldier posing with the trophy. BTS stands for Bronetankoviy Tyagach Sredniy which translates as Medium Armored Tractor and the BTS line of ARVs started with the BTS-1 which was simply a T-54 tank with the turret replaced with a cargo platform. The BTS-2 appeared in service in 1955 and was essentially the BTS-1 but with a collapsible 3-ton capacity jib-crane and a rear mounted winch added to the hull.

     However, this particular vehicle, in some reporting, is said to be a BTS-4A when, in fact, it is not. It is a BTS-4 which does not use the T-54 chassis but instead, uses older T-44 chassis. The BTS-4A, like the BTS-1 and BTS-2, uses the T-54 chassis. The differences are very subtle as the final T-44 modernization, the T-44M, used a lot of components from the T-54 to include the tracks and running gear (idler, bogie wheels, and drive sprocket). From this left side view, the main indicator it is a BTS-4 and not a BTS-4A is the curved dip in the plate behind the front mudguard. On a BTS-4A, it would be flush with the rest of the fender. Another possible indicator of a BTS-4 is the reinforcement on the rear spade's edge. The BTS-4 entered Soviet service in 1965. As mentioned, the BTS-4 is built using the chassis of T-44 medium tanks. The T-44, whose design started in 1943, entered Soviet Army service in November 1944 though it did not participate in World War Two. The T-44 had a brief frontline service life with the T-54 entering service in 1948 and quickly replacing the older tank by the early 1950s. The last major model, the T-44M, appeared in 1961.

     The 31-ton BTS-4 is powered by a V-54-E diesel engine that develops 520 horsepower and this provides for a maximum road speed of 31 miles per hour. In first gear, the top speed is 4.3 miles per hour. Enough fuel is carried (261 gallons worth) to give the BTS-4 an operational range of no more than 310 miles but if towing a tank, the range drops significantly to a maximum of 124 miles.

     Like the BTS-2, the BTS-4 is fitted with a collapsible jib-crane. In the photograph, the column portion of the crane is seen laying between the commander's cupola and the cargo platform. The column fits into a base on the right side of the vehicle and the assembled jib-crane has a traverse of 230 degrees. The boom arm is stored on the right side of the vehicle, along the hull side. Operation of the crane is completely manual. The total load capacity of the crane is 3.3 tons. At maximum extension (9.8 feet), the crane could hook lift a maximum of 2.8 tons while at minimum extension, it could manage 4.6 tons. Also like the BTS-2, the BTS-4 has a rear mounted winch (in the photograph, the apparatus between the open radiator grill and the spade) which has a maximum traction force of 25 tons. The winch is mechanically driven, being connected to the engine via a gearbox. By using block and tackle, the traction force can be increased to 50 or even 75 tons depending on the method used. Total length of the winch cable is 656 feet. Again like the BTS-2, a cargo platform is situated almost in the center of the BTS-4. It has fold-down sides (missing in the photograph) and has a maximum capacity of 4.4 tons. Usually, spare parts, additional tools, and other equipment would be carried. Other common equipment carried is four tow cables and at least two rigid tow bars. Finally, both the BTS-2 and BTS-4 have a rear mounted spade (sometimes referred to as a coulter in some sources). The spade, which is manually winched up or down, is used primarily to give the BTS-4 traction when conducting winching operations. Other equipment seen on the BTS-4 is night vision devices for the crew, a GPK-48 gyroscopic compass, a R-113 radio, and a wooden unditching beam (which, curiously, is secured to the snorkel in the photograph rather than the right hull side of the vehicle).

     Unlike the BTS-2, the BTS-4 added one new piece of equipment. This would be the long “chimney” snorkel which, here, is in traveling position. When in use, the snorkel would be hinged forward and secured to the raised commander's cupola. Without the snorkel, the BTS-4 can wade through no more than 4.3 feet deep water. But, with the snorkel, the BTS-4 can wade into as much as 16 feet deep water that permits it to cross water obstacles but also recover disabled vehicles from deeper depths.

     The BTS-4 has a crew of two, consisting of the commander (who doubles as the radio operator and crane/winch operator) and the driver (who is also a mechanic). As the hull is that of a T-44, the crew enjoys 90mm of frontal rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) with the upper glacis having a 60 degree slope angle and the lower glacis having a 45 degree slope. The hull sides have 75mm thick armor but lack any sloping. The rear of the hull supports between 30mm to 45mm of armor with the hull top having 20mm of armor and the hull bottom having only 15mm thick armor. The BTS-4 has no defensive armament and relies solely on small arms and any grenades carried by the crew.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Wild Hornets Sting Loitering Munition

Source: Reddit

     A constant in the skies of Ukraine are waves of Russian drones destined for mostly civilian targets with additional targets being military or infrastructure such as power plants. On a daily basis, an average of 180 to 200 or more drones are launched against Ukraine. Typically, these are HESA Shahed 136 drones purchased from Iran, the Russian produced version called the Geran-2, and decoy lookalikes designated as the Gerbera. The Shahed 136 carries a 110 pound warhead, the Geran-2 either a 115 pound or 200 pound warhead, while the Gerbera can carry a 22 pound warhead if fitted with one. Monthly totals average about 5,000 drones. In some individual attacks, the drone count can rise to as many as 600 in order to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and ensure successful strikes. While these defenses are managing a kill score of 87 to 89 percent, the sheer volume means drones get through. While ammunition for machine-guns and small caliber cannon is relatively inexpensive and plentiful, usage of air defense missiles is far more costly and replenishment of expended munitions is not a guaranty. To this end, designers of the Wild Hornets Charitable Fund have created an inexpensive loitering munition designed specifically to engage and destroy large Russian drones such as the Geran-2. It is called the “Zhalo”, meaning “Sting”.

     The Sting was developed sometime in 2024 with the first knowledge of the drone appearing in the media in October 2024. The Sting is a “hit-to-kill” weapon and as that suggests, it knocks down Russian drones by flying right into them. Because of this expendability, the Sting is built as cheaply as possible and as simply as possible to permit production in volume. It is estimated that a single Sting has a price tag of $2,500USD. Compare this to the estimated $30,000 to $80,000 for a single Geran-2 drone. In addition, consider that even old missiles such as the Vympel R-73 (NATO reporting name AA-11 Archer) have costs into the tens of thousands of dollars while FIM-92 Stinger missiles can have a cost of $480,000USD or more in price. Thus, it can be seen that the Sting is a very cost effective means to destroy drones.

     The Sting's body, wings, and rotor pylons are built using 3-D printers (made by Bambu Labs and Elegoo). This can be seen in wings where the sunlight shows the lattice structures within the wings which provide rigidity while keeping the weight down. Although the photograph angle makes the Sting look large, it is not and though no specific height has been given, it is under 2 feet tall and easily held in a single hand. It is a quadcopter, using four electric motors. The reported top speed of the Sting is 196 miles per hour, more than adequate to catch the Shahed and Geran-2 which top out at 115 miles per hour. The Sting does have an explosive warhead but how large it is has not been disclosed. Given range is 16 miles up to a ceiling of 10,000 feet. The Sting is a FPV (First Person View) munition and is flown using a hand-held controller and  VR goggles, the latter using a Hornet Vision digital video link. The pilot's view comes from a Odd Systems designed and built Kurbas 640 Alpha thermal imaging camera fixed to the Sting's body. The Wild Hornets Charitable Fund provide night pilot training with the Sting and the basics can be learned in a three day course.

     A typical Sting mission profile begins when incoming Russian drones are detected and estimates made on their heading. Air defense units will mobilize and rapid reaction groups will move towards the flight path of the drones. At this time, Sting equipped units will set up the drones which can take up to 15 minutes to do. Next, radar confirmation is required to ensure accurate location of Russian drones and once received and within range, the pilot launches the Sting. The Sting takes off vertically and can do so from any flat surface. Once airborne, it transitions to level flight. The radar operator relays telemetry data to the pilot who guides the Sting towards the target. Once close, the Sting's thermal camera can provide visual target confirmation and it is up to the pilot to successfully fly the Sting into the drone, effecting detonation of the warhead and obtain the shoot-down. Typically, a Sting pilot has around 10 minutes from launch to locate and effect the attack on the drone before the drone flies out of range of the Sting. With effective guidance, the average kill time can be as low as 10 to 15 seconds which means that in a “target rich” environment, pilots can fly more than one intercept mission in optimal conditions.

     The Sting appears to have entered troop trials around May 2025 and by August 2025, was in more widespread usage. By October 2025, it is reported that the Sting has been responsible for downing over 1,000 Russian drones. Currently, 100 Sting drones are built and assembled per day with the goal to ramp up production capability and capacity so that 600 to 800 Sting drones can be completed per day.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The BTS-4M Armored Recovery Vehicle

Source: Sofiia Gatilova (Reuters)

     Rolling through a Ukrainian town in Kharkiv Oblast in March 2025 is a upgraded BTS-4 armored recovery vehicle (ARV). The BTS-4 is the successor to the earlier BTS-2 that entered service in 1955 and utilized T-54 chassis. The BTS-4, on the other hand, used the chassis of the T-55, T-54, and even older T-44 medium tanks (the latter being surplus). The primary difference between the BTS-2 and the BTS-4 is that the BTS-4 added a large snorkel for deep wading. When not in use, the snorkel folds rearwards, laying across the back of the vehicle. The nomenclature of the BTS-4 is actually more granular when it was used in Soviet Army service. The BTS-4 used T-44 chassis, the BTS-4A utilized T-54 chassis, the BTS-4B used pre-production T-54-1 and T-54-2 tank chassis, the BTS-4M used T-55 chassis, and the BTS-4V series utilized T-62 chassis. Externally, they look much alike and the only real way to tell the difference without looking inside the vehicle is by the separation distance between the bogie wheels or other very minor differences. Typically, in Ukrainian Army service, the granular designation isn't always used. In 2020-2021, the Lviv Armored Plant (a part of Ukroboronprom) conducted an upgrade to BTS-4 vehicles in service with the Ukrainian Army.

     The 32-ton BTS-4 (assuming a BTS-4M) is powered by a V-54 diesel engine that develops 520 horsepower. This permits a top road speed of 31 miles per hour though speeds when towing a vehicle are lower with the tow speed being based on the weight of the tank or armored vehicle being towed. Enough onboard fuel is carried to permit a maximum operational range of 310 miles (unloaded). The Ukrainian BTS-4 upgrade increases the weight to 38 tons and replaces the V-54 engine with a more powerful one that develops 580 horsepower but because of the added weight, the maximum speed is reduced to 24 miles per hour. Additional fuel capacity is added in the form of two external fuel drums on the rear but how much additional range this provides isn't stated. The crew of the Ukrainian BTS-4 is three men as opposed to the standard two-man crew of the regular BTS-4.

     Because the BTS-4 is based on the T-55 tank, it shares the same cast steel armor profile. The front hull supports 100mm thick armor though with a 60 degree slope angle on the upper glacis and a 55 degree slope on the lower glacis, the effective armor thickness is higher. The hull sides support 80mm thick armor (without much angling) while the rear has between 20mm to 45mm of armor. The hull roof has 15mm thick armor and the hull bottom has 20mm of armor.

     As befitting a recovery vehicle, the Lviv Armored Plant upgrade swaps out the original BTS-4's 3-ton capacity crane with a new hydraulic driven crane capable of lifting up to 12 tons. The crane is fitted to the left side of the vehicle, the mounting point/turntable situated near the driver's hatch. When not in use, the crane is swung directly backwards along the top of the hull. On the hull front is a dozer blade which is used to clear obstacles, debris, or even dig out a defensive position. The primary winch, with block and tackle, is capable of pulling up to 100 tons. Total cable length is 656 feet. There is also a smaller, secondary winch that also has the same cable length. In the rear of the BTS-4 is a spade that can be deployed to stabilize the vehicle when conducting recovery tasks with the winch. Situated towards the center of the vehicle is a open cargo platform which is used for spare parts, tool boxes, supplies, and other equipment. There are also multiple storage boxes carried on the hull exterior as well as a unditching beam stored just above the rear spade. To assist in field repairs, there is a arc welding apparatus (including a generator) carried on the BTS-4 as standard equipment. From the Lviv Armored Plant, the upgraded BTS-4 includes the snorkel but in the photograph here, it has been removed. In Ukrainian service, the BTS-4 serves as a more economical supplement to the BREM-1 ARV which is derived from the T-72 chassis.

     To date, the Ukrainian Army has lost 19 BTS-4 vehicles with 14 destroyed, 4 damaged, and 1 captured by Russian forces. The Russians, which also utilize the BTS-4, have lost 27 to date with 18 being destroyed, 4 damaged, 4 abandoned, and 1 captured by Ukrainian forces. The Russians have also lost a single, more modern BTS-4V.

Remnants of War: Panzerkampfwagen 17R 730(f)

Source: Paul Cooper on X™

     Situated along the coast of northern Norway near the village of Kongsfjord resides the remains of Veinesodden Batteri (Gun Battery Veinesodden). Built in 1942 by occupying German forces, the battery consisted of five captured World War One era French Canon de 155 L Modèle 1917 155mm howitzers. Each gun was emplaced in an open, circular pit with a center ring to which the entire gun (carriage and all) was mounted, allowing it a 360 degree rotation. The howitzers were capable of lobbing shells out to 11 miles. Bunkers blasted into the bedrock behind the gun positions housed ammunition and billets for the 140 man strong battery unit. 

     The battery was expanded, to include ex-French Renault FT-17 light tanks (which had the German designation of Panzerkampfwagen 17R 730(f)) of which one remains to this day, situated in a position overlooking the sea. Left to rust and be picked over by souvenir hunters and scrappers, little was left. As a side note, the round parts just behind the turret is the clutch and brake assembly. Fortunately, preservationists received permission from the Armed Forces Museum located in Oslo, Norway to preserve and restore the tank. Missing parts were reconstructed by local metal workers and the FT-17 was given an external restoration where it rested. By 2008, the restoration was complete but not long after, scrappers vandalized the tank and removed several of the rear plates. 

     As for the battery, it was abandoned in October 1944. Four of the guns were removed but the fifth gun and other parts of the battery’s emplacements were blown up by the retreating Germans. The remains of the battery, along with the FT-17, can be visited to this day.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The 2A65 Msta-B 152mm Howitzer

Source: Alexey Konovalov/TASS

     In a well-prepared position, a Russian crew of a 2A65 Msta-B 152mm howitzer ready a round for firing. Named after the Msta River that flows through Novgorod and Tver Oblasts in Russia, the 2A65 first entered service in 1987. The “B” stands for “buksiruemyi” which translates to “towed”. In 2024, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated that Russian artillery units had a approximate total of 400 2A65 howitzers. To date, the Russians have lost 131 documented Msta-B howitzers with 78 being destroyed, 17 suffering damage, one abandoned, and the remainder having falling into Ukrainian hands.

     Speaking of damaged, the 2A65 in the photograph has clearly endured its fair share. It is missing the left gun shield and the remaining shield is peppered with what could be shrapnel damage which has caused rust to start. The wheels have been removed and what one sees beneath the gun shield is the pneumatic drum brake system for the right wheel. Finally, the howitzer is missing the spring-operated rammer. This is the reason the soldier behind the loader wields a stout stick which he will use to ram the projectile and powder charge into the breech.

     The caliber of the 2A65 is, specifically, 152.4mm and with the muzzle brake, the barrel is 26.8 feet long. The combat weight of the 2A65 is 7.5 tons. The howitzer uses a split trail carriage (here, almost buried in fine grain dirt) and the mounting permits a maximum elevation of 70 degrees to a maximum depression of 3.5 degrees. Traverse is limited to 28 degrees without moving the entire howitzer. All adjustments to gun direction are manual. Just visible on the front of the howitzer is a circular hydraulic firing jack which is lowered to add stabilization to the howitzer, augmenting the spade on each end of the trailing arms. With a full crew of 11 men, a Msta-B can achieve a 5 to 6 round a minute rate of fire. Usually, the tow vehicle is a KrAZ-260 or Ural 4320 6x6 truck though any vehicle with a tow hitch and capable of hauling the Msta-B can be utilized.

     While the Msta-B can fire any legacy 152mm projectile used by older howitzers, it primarily fires more modern munitions. The main projectile is the OF45 HE (High-Explosive) round and with a maximum charge, it can be fired out to a range of 15.3 miles. Speaking of charges, the gunner can select from three types depending on the engagement range. They are: OF73 (short range), OF58 (standard charge), and OF72 (maximum charge). For additional range, the base-bleed OF61 projectile can be utilized and this achieves a maximum range of 18 miles. Other munitions include the OF23 which contains 42 HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) submunitions which can penetrate 100mm of conventional (not rolled homogeneous) armor, the HS30 EW (Electronic Warfare) round which creates interference, and the 2K25 Krasnopol base-bleed, fin-stabilized, semi-automatic, laser-guided munition. The latter, however, requires forward observers to effectively use the round (by “painting” targets with lasers) and the effective firing range is 12 miles. A panoramic sight is used for indirect fire while a second sight is used if the Msta-B has to engage in direct fire.

     The Ukrainian Army also utilizes the Msta-B with some 70 noted as being in service in the 2024 “The Military Balance” report issued by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Of these, to date, 8 have been lost with 3 destroyed, 2 damaged, 2 abandoned, and one captured by Russian Forces.

Artillerie-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III, 75. Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment

Source: Author's collection

     As World War Two continued, the German military utilized more and more self-propelled artillery though such guns were never able to fully replace horse-drawn or those guns drawn by half-tracks or other soft-skinned vehicles. Of course, for artillery of any kind to be truly effective during the war, it required forward observers who would watch the fall of the rounds and radio back corrections to the firing batteries to ensure that as much of the incoming fire was as close to on-target as possible and thus maximize the destruction. These forward observers were often small teams on foot or moved about the battlefield in lightly armored vehicles such as armored cars or light tanks. By 1943, such vehicles had a very limited lifespan. Typically artillery was used defensively to break up an attack or was used on the offense to soften up the enemy prior to committing ground troops. Either way, it meant the forward observers had to be in the vicinity of the action in order to witness the incoming fire missions and correct as needed. Thus, it was seen that something better was needed to support the self-propelled artillery batteries and give forward observers the means to survive the front lines. The initial answer was the Artillerie-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III (PzBeobWg III).

     The Artillery Tank Observation Vehicle III was, in reality, a stop-gap measure which was undertaken to provide such a vehicle while development of a purpose-built armored observation vehicle was conducted (something that did not happen). Using war-weary and obsolete Ausf E through Ausf H models of the Panzerkampfwagen III medium tank, several modifications were done to convert them to their new role. The biggest change was the removal of the main gun armament. In place of the main gun, a Maschínengewehr 34 (MG 34) in a ball mounting was fitted and provided with 1,500 rounds of ammunition. The weight savings by not having a main gun nor the associated shells allowed for the fitting of an additional 30mm of armor plate on the hull front and on the entire rear of the tank. In addition, a new gun mantlet replaced the original, increasing the thickness from 30mm to 50mm. A feature of this mantlet was the addition of a dummy gun fitted to the right of the MG 34. The hull machine-gun was removed and the hole for the machine-gun was fitted with a metal plug. For radio equipment to allow communication back to the battery, the PzBeobWg III was fitted with a Funkgerät 4 (FuG 4) and the FuG 8. The FuG 4 utilized a 2 meter tall star antenna though specifics about it are not well known. The FuG 8 was heavily used for divisional communication with later models using a 30 watt transmitter, MW receiver C, and had a frequency band of 835 to 3,000 kilocycles per second. It used a 8 meter tall mast antenna. The FuG 4 had a much shorter range, with a Wireless Telegraph (WT) range of 2.3 miles and a Radiotelephone (RT) range of 1.2 miles. The FuG 8, on the other hand had a WT range of 31.1 miles and a RT range of 6.2 miles. In all, 262 PzBeobWg III vehicles were constructed between February 1943 to April 1944 and two such vehicles were deployed to each Hummel (“Bumblebee”) or Wespe (“Wasp”) self-propelled gun batteries as supply permitted.

     The photograph was reportedly taken following the German defeat at the hands of the Soviets following Unternehmen Frühlingserwachen (Operation Spring Awakening) in mid-March 1945 near Lake Balaton, Hungary. If this is accurate, then the PzBeobWg III belonged to 75. Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment underneath the III. Panzerkorps, 6. Armee, Heeresgruppe Süd. This unit was equipped with “Wespe“ 10.5cm self-propelled guns on the Panzerkampfwagen II chassis. It is difficult to assess what model the PzBeobWg III shown was built on but given the late date in the war, it is likely an Ausf H version. The crew had secured three links of track to the front of the tank in an effort to increase the protection. Since the hull machine-gun was not fitted, the track covered where it had been but one can see a portion of the track missing to allow the driver to see through his vision block. Just visible are the schürzen (armored skirts) fitted to the turret and hull. The front part of the skirt on the hull can be made out to the right (as one looks at the photograph) of the Soviet soldier. The turret skirt is visible just behind the dummy gun mantlet. These skirts were designed to reduce the velocity or divert the trajectory of incoming kinetic rounds. In the upper, right corner of the photograph is the star antenna for the FuG 4 radio. 

     Of interest, however, is the dummy gun itself. The crew of this PzBeobWg III fashioned an entirely new dummy gun and fit it over the existing one. The likely reason for this is because the standard dummy gun gave the appearance of the far weaker short 5cm KwK L/42 or the 3.7cm KwK L/46.5. By adding the additional wooden mantlet sleeve and the longer wooden barrel with a muzzle brake, it gave the PzBeobWg III the appearance of a Panzerkampfwagen IV fitted with the potent 7.5cm KwK40 L/48 gun. This was made more so by the use of the schürzen which many late-war PzKpfw IV tanks were equipped with. In so doing, the elaborate wooden dummy gun assembly helped the PzBeobWg III blend in more and not be singled out. Of course, the Soviet soldier hefting the broken gun tube for the camera means it didn't make much of a difference for this PzBeobWg III.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The 2S19 Msta-S 152mm SPH

Source: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

     Somewhere in Russian occupied Ukraine, a Russian 2S19 Msta-S 152mm SPH (Self-Propelled Howitzer) moves into a position on October 29, 2025. The symbol on the hull front, below the blurred image of the driver, is what is sometimes termed as a “theater tactical” symbol. These are used to identify Russian vehicles from Ukrainian ones since in many cases, both sides are using the same equipment. This particular theater tactical symbol first appeared in May 2024 on Russian vehicles during combat actions in Kharkiv Oblast.

     The 2S19 is liberally draped in rubber panels made from conveyor belts. Fairly easy to obtain, conveyor belts often find use as appliqué armor where they are cut into pieces and applied as best possible to combat vehicles. The main purpose is to offer a small measure of protection from HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) munitions. The turret of the 2S19 has a metal frame to which the panels are hung and a portion of that frame can be seen above the turret. A panel hangs down from the front of the 2S19, protecting the lower glacis while panels on the sides of the 2S19 hang almost to the ground. Atop the entire turret is a camouflage net. What could be a video camera can just be seen attached to the visible portion of the metal frame.

     Since the 2S19 isn't meant to be on the front lines, relying on the range of its howitzer to keep it further back from the majority of prowling FPV drones, it doesn't carry the extensive anti-drone defenses seen on vehicles much closer to the front. Such defenses include drone jammers, more extensive screen armor, explosive reactive armor blocks, and wire/cable “spike” armor.

For more information on the 2S19 Msta-S, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2023/07/russo-ukrainian-war-2s19-msta.html

Russo-Ukrainian War: The FV103 Spartan

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     Photographed around August 2024, a FV103 Spartan belonging to the 82nd. Air Assault Brigade traverses a muddy field. The FV103 is an armored personnel carrier (APC) and was part of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) family of vehicles. The CVR(T) program was developed by the British company Alvis PLC and spawned a number of vehicles based around a common chassis of which the FV103 was one. The FV103 Spartan first entered British Army service in 1978 and was used as a armored transport for specialist combat teams (artillery spotter teams, anti-aircraft missile teams, etc.) which is why the passenger capacity is limited to 4 personnel, not including the 3 man crew of commander, driver, and gunner. As part of the British military aid to Ukraine, decommissioned FV103 vehicles were provided to Ukraine in 2022 while crowdfunding by Ukrainian charities have also seen the procurement of additional FV103 Spartans between 2022 and 2023.

     The 9-ton FV103 was originally fitted with a Jaguar J60 4.2 litre, DOHC (Dual Overhead Cam), 6-cylinder, inline petrol engine but later, a Cummins BTA 5.9 litre diesel motor was installed. Assuming this is the primary engine used in Ukrainian FV103 APCs, the Cummins develops 190 to 195 horsepower. This is paired to a TN15X transmission made by the British company Self-Changing Gears. On roads, the FV103 can attain a top speed of 50 miles per hour and with 112 gallons of diesel fuel carried onboard, the FV103 has a maximum operational range of 300 miles.

     The FV103 is protected with welded, aluminum alloy armor plating. From the front, the steep slope of the FV103 provides the equivalent of 60mm thick protection and this is enough to shrug off rounds of up to (and including) 14.5mm heavy machinegun ammunition. However, the rest of the FV103 is not as heavily armored nor has the slope angle to bolster defense. As such, the remainder of the FV103 is only proof against 7.62mm assault rifle ammunition at a maximum. It should be noted that as the engine is placed in the right front of the hull, this offers another layer of protection that might increase crew survival. The only other defensive system are two banks of smoke dischargers, each bank with  4 launch tubes, on the front of the FV103's hull.

     Defensive armament consists of a single mount for a general purpose machinegun up to 7.62mm in caliber. In British service, this would have been a L43A1 FN MAG with 3,000 rounds of ammunition. The mount is attached to a No.16 cupola which allows for the weapon to be aimed and fired from within the FV103. The FV103 does not have gun ports for the personnel in the troop compartment to deploy their weapons.

     It is likely that FV103 vehicles sent to Ukraine were demilitarized, especially those purchased from private dealers authorized to sell ex-British Army vehicles. The FV103 was retired from British Army service in 1985. The commander has a total of 8 periscopes and a single monocular sight that offers up to 10x magnification. The gunner has two periscopes while each passenger in the troop compartment has a periscope and there is one in the rear door. Systems likely removed from the FV103 upon sale to the civilian market include the ZB 298 battlefield surveillance radar (if fitted), the Rank Precision Industries built passive night sight, and military radio sets.

     What the FV103 in the photograph is towing cannot be determined with certainty. The basis looks to be a single-axle dolly used for cargo box trailers but what is upon the dolly is not clear.

     To date, the Ukrainian military has lost 35 FV103 vehicles with 28 of them be destroyed, 3 damaged, 2 abandoned, and the final 2 vehicles having been captured by Russian forces.

Flieger Otto Vieth, 1. Lw.-Kriegsberichter-Kompanie (mot.) z.b.V.

Source: Author's collection

     During a lull in the combat that raged through the streets and buildings of Stalingrad from August 23, 1942 to February 2, 1943, Luftwaffe Kriegsberichter Otto Vieth enjoys a cigar while resting on the fender of a Mercedes-Benz truck. Vieth was part of 1. Lw.-Kriegsberichter-Kompanie (mot.) z.b.V. which was short for 1st. Luftwaffe War Correspondent Company (motorized) zur besonderen Verfügung. Units with the designation z.b.V. were units that had no subordinate combat troops and thus were on special deployment or special duty. Vieth was a contributor to the Luftwaffe's biweekly magazine “Der Adler” (“The Eagle”).

     This color photograph of Vieth shows him with the rank of Flieger, the lowest rank which was equivalent to a Airman Basic in the U.S. Air Force. This is denoted by the single “gull wing” rank pip pinned through his collar tabs. The collar tabs on his fliegerbluse are gold-yellow (goldgelb) which was the Luftwaffe waffenfarbe (corps color) for both men in aviation units (pilots and ground personnel) as well as Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers). This same color was used on the piping of his uniform's shoulder boards. Vieth was not a Fallschirmjäger but he was a glider pilot and we know this from the insignia seen below his medal. This is the Segelflieger B Abzeichen Gleitfliegerprüfung which translates to Glider Pilot Level B Proficiency Badge. The badge was awarded to glider students in the Deutscher Luftsportverband (DLV; German Air Sports Association) which was, more or less, a training organization for the future Luftwaffe. The DLV was established in March 1933 and then absorbed into the Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps (NSFK; National Socialist Flyers Corps) on April 15, 1937. The badge consisted of a round base of blue-gray material with a machine-embroidered circle with two gulls within it. This particular badge was the middle of three proficiency levels with A being the lowest proficiency and C being the highest. To earn the B level proficiency required the student to make a 60 second free flight and execute a “S” turn maneuver. Those who earned the B and C level proficiency badges were allowed to wear them on Luftwaffe uniforms even though they were not Luftwaffe awards. Returning to the medal, it is the Deutsches Sportabzeichen (German Sports Badge) which was awarded for excellence in physical endurance, speed, strength, and agility. Though not too visible, the letters DRL are within the wreath which stood for Deutsche Reichsauszeichnung für Leibesübungen meaning German Reich Award for Physical Exercise.

     Not visible in this particular photograph of Vieth is the cuff title (Ärmelband) on the lower right sleeve of his fliegerbluse which read “Kriegsberichter der Luftwaffe”. This was a blue band with the words (in a Fraktur-style script) embroidered in white thread. Also not visible, but on the lower left sleeve, was his Fliegendes Personal (flying personnel) badge. This badge had a blue-gray material background with a embroidered four-bladed propeller superimposed over a pair of wings in white threading. This particular badge was worn by flying personnel not eligible to wear the Pilotenabzeichen (Pilot's Badge).

     For a camera, Vieth is using a manual Leica IIIc 35mm rangefinder camera. This particular model was produced from 1940 into 1946, the Leica IIIc used a die-cast body, pin bearing equipped shutter, cold shoe flash mount, and a M39 lens mount. The viewfinder of the camera was set for the standard 50mm lens and if other lens were used, then the user had to fit an alternate viewfinder on the camera's accessory socket.

     Little is known about Vieth's Luftwaffe career. What we do know is that he worked exclusively for “Der Adler” and was a highly experienced photographer as his pictures were often used for the covers of the magazine. As a reporter, Vieth spent time in France, the Eastern Front, North Africa, Italy, as well as in Germany. From surviving photographs of Vieth, at some point in time, he was promoted to Unteroffizier (equivalent to a U.S. Air Force Sergeant) and was able to earn either the Fliegerschützenabzeichen (Air Gunner Badge) or the Fliegerschützenabzeichen für Bordfunker (Air Gunner Badge for Radio Operators) as there is a photograph of him wearing one of these two badges on his Luftwaffe service shirt in a 1943 photograph taken of him while in Russia. At that time, he was still using his Leica IIIc camera. Another photograph shows him as a Fahnenjunker-Unterfeldwebel, having been promoted again to Unterfeldwebel (equivalent to a Staff Sergeant) and then selected for officer training but there is no date associated with the photograph. Even though the last issue of “Der Adler” came out on September 12, 1944, Vieth continued to work as a photographer as the Bundesarchiv Bildarchiv (Federal Image Archive) in Germany has cataloged photographs attributed to Vieth into 1945. It is presumed he survived the war.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Protector UGV

Source: Ukrainian Armor

     The Ukrainian Army has been facing a severe shortage of recruits which is leaving the available manpower of units sharply decreased. Without replacements for losses, the Ukrainian Army has not been able to conduct more strategic counterattacks to Russian advances and so must contend with only local actions. Another constant problem is resupplying troops along the front lines as well as evacuating casualties. Typically, this is done using a single SUV or pickup truck with a 2-3 man crew. However, it means running a gauntlet of drone infested skies which has become known to Ukrainian troops and drone operators as the “Kill Zone” where anything that is perceived as an enemy is subjected to FPV drone strikes. As a consequence, the risk is high for those tasked with conducting these missions. As a solution, in September 2024, Ukrainian Armor debuted its Protector UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) at the MSPO International Defense Industry Exhibition held in Kielce, Poland. On June 27, 2025, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine formally accepted the Protector for service and to date, the Protector is the largest UGV in use by the Ukrainian Army.

     The 4.4-ton Protector looks to be based on Ukrainian Armor's Novator 4x4 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier), at least in the external appearance. It is fitted with a 3-litre diesel engine that develops 190 horsepower and on roads, the Protector can achieve a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour.  The Protector features all-wheel drive to enhance off-road mobility. As befitting a cargo carrier, the Protector has a payload capacity of 1,543 pounds and has been shown to be capable of towing a trailer with 6,000 pounds of cargo onboard.

     The operator's view comes from a day/night optical suite fitted onto a centrally mounted mast and in more built-up terrain, the maximum control range is around 4 miles but in open terrain, control range can be anywhere between 7.5 miles to a maximum of 9 miles. The operator has three independent links to the Protector via an external antenna on the UGV which allows the operator to switch control frequencies if electronic jamming is impacting signal transmissions. Although this operational distance seems relatively short ranged, it does allow the Protector to navigate through portions of the “Kill Zone” though in some sectors of the front, the “Kill Zone” can be as much as 19 miles wide. Besides the electronics which control the vehicle, the Protector is also fitted with the ICOMWare situational awareness system. Connected to a secured mesh network, the ICOMWare system permits real-time communication and information sharing. With it, the Protector can transmit feeds to any unit connected to the network. As a redundant control mechanism, the Protector is fitted with a Stalink terminal. Enough fuel is carried to provide the Protector with a maximum operational range of 249 miles.

     The Protector is encased in STANAG 4569 Level 1 armor. This means it is capable of defeating up to the 7.62x51mm NATO ball round (the 147-grain M80 cartridge) at 30 meters. It can also withstand being hit by 155mm shell fragments from a range of 100 meters. Assuming the armor protection extends to the underside, the Protector can shrug off hand grenade explosions, small anti-personnel explosives, and some artillery dispersed fragmentation submunitions. In addition, the Protector is fitted with run-flat tires, allowing the UGV to retain mobility after receiving damage to the tire(s).

     The Protector UGV has been shown in at least four variants in Ukrainian Armor literature. One is fitted with a RWS (Remote Weapon Station) fitted with a 14.5mm KPV heavy machine-gun and designed as a infantry support vehicle while a second retains the RWS but adds mast-mounted EW (Electronic Warfare) equipment. A third variant is a tank destroyer, fitted with two ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) while the fourth variant is a engineering vehicle with a front mounted dozer blade, RWS, and what appears to be lane marker dispensers. To date, none of these variants have been accepted for service.

Photograph via Ukrainian Armor.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The M114A1 155mm Howitzer

Source: Anatolii Stepanov (Reuters)

     Artillery units of the Ukrainian Army are fielding two artillery pieces whose service debut occured during World War Two. The first is the M101A1 105mm howitzer which first entered service with the U.S. Army in 1941. Lithuania, Portugal, and Slovenia have provided Ukraine with a combined total of 43 M101A1 howitzers between 2022 and 2024. The second is shown in action here in service with the 152nd. Jäger Brigade, the M114A1 155mm howitzer. The M114A1 first saw service with the U.S. Army in 1942 and despite the age, 21 countries still use the M114A1 with Turkey and Greece maintaining the largest stocks. In fact, the M114A1 shown in the photograph is a former Hellenic Army weapon. In early 2024, Greece and the Czech Republic entered into an agreement where the Czech Republic would purchase 70 M114A1 howitzers which were surplus to the Hellenic Army's needs. Upon completion of the sale, Greece will deliver the M114A1s to Ukraine. From appearances, this sale has completed but how many of the purchase have been delivered to date is not known.

     Captured by the cameraman in full recoil, the M114A1's barrel is 12.5 feet long and it uses a slow-cone, interrupted screw breech. This means that it takes two actions on the part of the gunner to open the breech rather then one action for a steep-cone type. The combat weight of the M114A1 is 5.6 tons and requires a crew of 11 men though operating the howitzer can be done with less crew if necessary. The M1A2 carriage is a split trail style and the gun mount permits a maximum barrel elevation of 63 degrees and in the right conditions, a maximum gun depression of 2 degrees. Traverse is limited to 25 degrees to the left and right of center. Elevation, depression, and traverse is all affected manually using cranks. Any additional traverse requires the entire howitzer to be repositioned. The only recoil reduction comes from the hydro-pneumatic mechanism as the M114A1 does not use a muzzle brake. The crew is provided with a minimal gun shield that offers a limited defense against some small arms fire and shell fragments.

     Despite the breech type, a trained crew can run 4 rounds through the M114A1 during burst firing. A sustained fire rate is 1 round every minute but not exceeding 40 rounds per hour. As a comparison, the M777 155mm howitzer, which entered U.S. Army service in 2005 and is in use by some Ukrainian artillery units, can maintain a sustained fire rate of between 2 to 4 rounds every minute and a burst fire of no more than 16 rounds in 2 minutes. Sighting is done using a M12 panoramic telescope.

     It is not known if the Ukrainian M114A1 howitzers will be firing RAP (Rocket Assisted Projectiles) munitions (on the assumption the venerable howitzer is not designed to withstand the breech pressures) and it certainly is not compatible with the M982 Excalibur guided projectile. It is unlikely that extended-range projectiles using base-bleed would be fired from the M114A1 and instead, would be reserved for more modern systems such as the M777. This, then, leaves the M107 HE (High-Explosive) projectile as the most likely ammunition to be issued to and used by M114A1 crews. The M107 has a weight of 90 pounds of which 15 pounds is composed of TNT. The ammunition is two-part, consisting of the M107 projectile and the propelling charge. The maximum charge, the M4A1, contains a base charge and four incremental charges. This collection of propellent powder weighs just under 14 pounds. Using the M4A1 charge, the M114A1 can fire the M107 shell out to a maximum range of 9.2 miles. As another comparison, the M777 can fire the same M107 shell to a maximum range of 13 miles. Against hard targets, a M107 shell fired from the M114A1 can penetrate a maximum of 488mm of concrete at a meet angle of 0 degrees at a range of 2.8 miles.

     To date, no Ukrainian M114A1 has been lost in action. The photograph was taken on October 15, 2025, the crew firing on Russian positions near Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The FN MAG General-Purpose Machine Gun

Source: @inukraine.official on Instagram

     Somewhere above Ukrainian held territory, a Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) helicopter of the Ukrainian Army Aviation branch prepares to engage a Russian Geran-2 loitering munition. The Mi-8 has two door gun positions. The first is seen here, situated on the left side of the fuselage, behind the cockpit. A second position is in the rear of the fuselage, firing out from a opening in the right hand clamshell cargo door. Normally, the 7.62mm PK machine-gun would have been the standard defensive weapon but here, the gunner has elected to use a 7.62x51mm FN MAG machine-gun. Countries that have sent FN MAG machine-guns to Ukraine include Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The gunner's FN MAG looks to have been one provided to Ukraine by France. The FN MAG, the original developed and built by the Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal, entered service in 1958 and today, it is deployed by dozens of countries. Several countries license build the FN MAG and they are the United Kingdom (as the L7A1), Canada (as the C6), Indonesia (as the SM2), Sweden (as the Kulspruta 58), and the United States (as the M240).

     The FN MAG is, as mentioned, chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, and it uses a gas operated, long-stroke bolt action which fires from an open bolt. The rate of fire varies from 650 rounds per minute up to 1,000 rounds per minute. This variance is created by the gunner adjusting the gas valve which permits him to accommodate various cartridge loadings, to overcome barrel fouling, and modify the rate of fire to suit the target being engaged. The empty weight of the FN MAG is 26 pounds though this particular FN MAG uses a polymer plastic buttstock that lightens the mass to a small degree. The FN MAG feeds from the left, ammunition being held in either the M13 disintegrating link belt or the non-disintegrating DM1 belt. Each belt holds 50 rounds and belts can be connected to create longer ones. A quick-change barrel allows for rapid switching in case of barrel failure or to allow a barrel to cool after prolonged sustained fire. When firing from a bipod, the effective range of the FN MAG is .5 of a mile (800 meters) but if using a tripod, the effective range increases to 1.1 miles. The maximum range of the round is 2.1 miles.

     The regular sights of the FN MAG consists of a front blade sight and a rear mounted folding leaf sight with both an aperture and a notch. As this example of the FN MAG is fitted with a Picatinny rail, the gunner has added what looks to be a Thermion 2 thermal imager rifle scope made by the Lithuanian based company Pulsar. The Thermion 2 series is offered in two objective lens sizes: F35 and F50. The Thermion 2 uses a AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display with a magnification ranging between 2.5X up to 12X depending on the model. Other features of the Thermion 2 scope series include Wi-Fi for connecting to smartphones (the thermal imager can be operated from a compatible smartphone), reticle style customization, color options for the reticle and display, photograph and video recording (16 GB of internal memory storage), and IPX7 (Level 7) waterproofing. This means the scope can be fully submerged in water up to a depth of 3.2 feet for no longer than 30 minutes without permanent damage. Detection range is between .8 of a mile up to 1.1 miles for the larger model. The FN MAG has a brass catcher bag fitted to collect ejected empty cartridges so that they do not roll around the floor of the compartment, causing a slip hazard for the crew. 

     As it turned out, the gunner was able to successfully engage the Geran-2, shooting it down where the drone crashed into a copse of trees before exploding when its warhead detonated.

Messerschmitt Me 163B V13: Abandoned in Pölzen

Source: U.S. Army Signal Corps

     Found by troops of Combat Command A, 9th. Armored Division, 1st. U.S. Army in April 1945 was the remains of Messerschmitt Me 163B V13, Werk Nummer (W.Nr.) 10022, fuselage code VD+EV. The location was a airfield hangar in Pölzen, Germany located to the northeast of Leipzig. While the men of Combat Command A likely did not know it at the time they came across the ruins of the aircraft, the V13 had been the start of the further development of the Me 163 rocket fighter that ultimately culminated in the Messerschmitt Me 263 (also designated as the Junkers Ju 248).

     One of the most serious problems with the Me 163B rocket interceptor was the ravenous consumption the Walther HWK 509 A-2 bi-fuel rocket motor had for the reactant propellants, T-Stoff and C-Stoff. Once the Me 163B achieved operating altitude, the aircraft had only 2.5 minutes worth of powered flight left before the tanks ran dry. Typically, given the volatile and explosive nature of the fuels, pilots would often exhaust the entire fuel supply rather than risk having fuel onboard while in combat, let alone coming to a landing which risked causing a detonation if the touchdown was rough. In combat operations, it meant that the range of the Me 163B was severely restricted and unless airfields operating the rocket fighter were near known bomber routes, the Me 163B was more or less impotent. In fact, when U.S. Intelligence determined an airfield was housing a Me 163 unit, they advised U.S. Army Air Force bomber units to simply plot bombing strike avenues to avoid the airfield. Another problem with the Me 163B was that is had no landing gear outside of a central skid. It took off atop a two-wheeled dolly which was then jettisoned once the plane was airborne. Upon landing, it had to be recovered by a special trailer pulled by a three-wheeled tractor called a Scheuschlepper. The V13 was the first step in overcoming the first of these two main concerns with the fighter.

     The V13 was the first to trial a new Walther rocket engine, the HWK 509 C. While the fuels were the same, the biggest difference was the addition of a cruise chamber. The HWK 509 C's main chamber produced 3,750 pounds of thrust but the cruise chamber only provided 660 pounds of thrust. The idea was that for take-off, both chambers would be engaged for a total of 4,410 pounds of thrust. Once the aircraft was at operational altitude, the main chamber would be shut off and the aircraft would fly only on the cruise chamber. As such, the new engine provided up to 6.5 minutes of powered flight before the fuel ran out. The V13 was much the same as the standard Me 163B except that the tail was modified to accommodate the cruise chamber which was to be used in the new development of the aircraft which was then called the Me 163D. The first flight of the V13 took place in December 1943 and the last known flight occurred on May 14, 1944. Two other Me 163B aircraft were part of the Me 163D project and these were the V10 (W.Nr. 10019, fuselage code VD+ES) and the V18 (W.Nr. 10027, fuselage code VA+SP). The V10, having originally been used to test a BMW rocket motor and a revised fuel tank system, was repurposed to trial the tricycle landing gear that was to be used on the Me 163D. The V18 was also refitted with a HWK 509 C engine and on July 6, 1944, pilot Rudolf Opitz took the aircraft up for a calibration flight and the engine was at maximum thrust and as it accelerated, the critical Mach number was exceeded. Opitz cut fuel to the engine which put the V18 into a steep dive Optiz was only able to recover feet from the waters of the Baltic Sea. After landing, the entire rudder was missing and readings taken during the flight showed the V18 had attained a speed of 702mph.

     The results of testing with the V10, V13, and V18 culminated in the Ju 248 which was a nearly complete redesign of the Me 163 fighter. The designation Junkers Ju 248 came into play as work on the project was shifted to Junkers in the spring of 1944 in light of the Messerschmitt company's other development work and production obligations. The name would revert to Me 263 by August of 1944. The new aircraft utilized a new fuselage that incorporated a bubble canopy, retractable landing gear, and a HWK 509 C-4 bi-fuel engine which it was estimated would give the Ju 248 a maximum powered endurance of between 9 to 15 minutes altitude depending. While better than the maximum 7.5 minutes of total powered endurance with the Me 163B, it was not a significant increase overall though the ability to be more mobile on the ground lowered the time it took to for ground crews to turn the aircraft around for another sortie. 

     As it was, the Ju 248 V1 was completed and performed well in unpowered, towed testing but it was never flown under power and ended up captured by the Soviets who shipped it back to Russia for study. The Mikoyan-Gurevich I-270 rocket interceptor, first flown in 1946, drew heavily from the Me 263 but the entire concept of a rocket powered, point interceptor was flawed and the I-270 was abandoned.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The GP-25 "Kostyor" 40mm Grenade Launcher

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     A soldier of the 128th. Mountain Assault Brigade “Zakarpattia” trains with a interesting modification of the 40mm GP-25 Kostyor (“Bonfire”) under-barrel grenade launcher. The GP-25, first issued to Soviet Army units in 1978, is designed to be mounted underneath the barrel of AK-47 and AK-74 assault rifles along with other compatible AK series weapons. However, as can be seen here, the GP-25 has been fitted with a conversion kit that allows it to be used as a stand-alone grenade launcher.

     Emblazoned on the telescoping stock is the company name Gun Power Nation, the company's logo seen on the front pistol grip mounting bracket. Gun Power Nation, based in Kyiv, Ukraine, sells the conversion kit under SKU number 7297 with a retail cost of $108 U.S. dollars. The kit consists of the stock, forward grip, and the mounting hardware...all of which are made of 7075 aluminium alloy (primary alloying element being zinc) and steel. The weight of the kit is 2 pounds, added to the 3.3 pound weight of the GP-25.

     The GP-25 uses 40x53mm grenades which makes the GP-25 incompatible with U.S. 40x46mm cased grenades. As the 40x53mm grenades do not have a case, when fired, it leaves the GP-25's barrel empty and thus immediately ready for a new grenade. The GP-25 is muzzle loaded and sighting is normally done using a left side-mounted, notched quadrant sight. With a low muzzle velocity of 251 feet per second, the maximum range is no more than 400 meters with an effective range usually being around 150 meters. A trained operator can fire up to 4 grenades every minute.

     The typical grenade is the VOG-25 HE-FRAG (High-Explosive Fragmentation) which has 1.7 ounces of A-IX-1 explosive in the nose. Upon firing, the VOG-25 arms itself by the time it reaches 40 meters downrange and upon detonation, a lethal blast radius of 20 feet is created. The VOG-25 (as well as all the grenades used by the GP-25) is fitted with a fuse that when it reaches between 14 to 19 seconds, it will detonate the grenade. A variant of the VOG-25 is the VOG-25P “bouncing” HE-FRAG grenade. Containing 1.3 ounces of TNT, when the VOG-25P impacts the ground, a small charge in the nose goes off and “bounces” the grenade up into the air to a maximum height of 5 feet. At that point, the VOG-25P explodes, having much the same lethality radius as the standard VOG-25. Another common grenade is the GRD series of smoke grenades. Besides the original GRD-40 smoke grenade, the newer GRD-50, GRD-100, and GRD-200 smoke grenades are used to lay down a smoke screen covering 706 cubic feet per grenade. In low wind speeds (below 3.3 miles per hour), the smoke persists for 1 minute. The numbers of the newer grenades refer to the range from the operator, in meters, at which the grenade will commence to release smoke.

     The GP-25 can fire most any 40x53mm grenade designed for single-shot and/or under-barrel grenade launchers. The Bulgarian arms manufacturer Arsenal JSCo illustrates the numerous additional grenade offerings for the GP-25. The HEDP (High-Explosive Dual-Purpose) grenade has the same lethal radius as the VOG-25 but adds the ability to penetrate 50mm of rolled homogeneous plate (RHA) which makes lightly armored vehicles vulnerable to the grenade. The company offers a more potent HE-FRAG grenade that increases the lethal radius to 30 feet. The AD (Anti-Diver) grenade is designed for  use by naval troops, permitting them to engage enemy frogmen to a maximum depth of 15 meters. The TBC-3 thermobaric explosive warhead creates a lethal radius of 98 feet and a disorientating effect to divers out to 328 feet. The TB (Thermobaric) grenade has a warhead packed with 3 ounces of TBC-2 explosive which, when the AF41 fuze is activated, dispenses the TBC-2 into the air which immediately detonates upon reaction with oxygen. This generates intense heat and overpressure within the burst radius. The CS grenade creates a cloud of irritant CS gas 7,062 cubic feet in size while the S&F (Sound & Flash) grenade is another non-lethal munition which is essentially a “flash bang” round, creating a near deafening noise upon detonation coupled with a flash that temporarily blinds anyone looking at it. Finally, TP or P (Target Practice or Practice) are used for training while ILL (Illumination) grenades (“star shells”) are fired into the air and upon detonation, release a parachute to slow descent while white, red, green, or yellow flares burn. Color depending, the candlepower ranges from 8,000 (green) up to 90,000 (white). The burn time for the ILL grenade is 25 seconds.

     The weapon in the background is a 7.62x54mmR PKM general purpose machine-gun while of interest, the GP-25 operator has a patch on his helmet of the flag reportedly flown by the pirate Edward “Blackbeard” Teach though no evidence exists to prove it.

7.5cm PaK40/2 auf Fgst Pz.Kpfw II (Sf) "Marder II": Demolitioned Outside Rome

Source: U.S. Signal Corps

     Somewhere outside Rome on June 5, 1944, a U.S. soldier from the 5th. Army examines what is left of a German 7.5cm PaK40/2 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II (Sd.Kfz 131) tank destroyer which was, mercifully, simply called the Marder II. The need to both bolster and improve tank destroying capability resulted in two tank destroyers utilizing the chassis of the Panzerkampfwagen II light tank. 

     The first version was designated the Panzer Selbstfahrlafette 1 für 7.62cm PaK36(r) auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf D¹ und D² (Sd.Kfz 132). Sometimes (again, mercifully) known as the LaS 762, this tank destroyer utilized Panzer II ausf. D and E as well as Flammpanzer II (a flamethrower variant of the Panzer II) chassis and mounted a captured Soviet 76.2mm F-22 Model 1930 field gun rechambered to fire the 75mm round used by the potent PaK 40 anti-tank gun. The LaS 762 was a stop-gap design while more purpose-built tank destroyers were designed and put into production. It was characterized by its tall profile and 201 vehicles were converted between April 1942 and June 1943.

     The second version was the Sd.Kfz 131, a more dedicated tank destroyer design, and it used war weary Panzer II ausf. A, B, and C chassis (but would later use factory "fresh" ausf. F chassis). The Marder II had the excellent 75mm PaK 40 gun as its main weapon. All told, 651 Marder II were produced between June 1942 and March 1944 and saw service on all fronts (though the majority were deployed to the Eastern Front). Both the German Army (Heer) and Waffen-SS were heavy users of the Marder II, equipping the panzerjäger abteilungen of panzer divisions. In addition, some Luftwaffe ground forces used the Marder II in their own tank destroyer units.

     The Marder II in the photograph has lost its entire superstructure save the forward portion and the front of the hull has been completely blown out as has the back of the vehicle. Given the extent of the damage and most notably by the burst barrel of the PaK 40, this particular Marder II was destroyed by the crew using demolition charges. This was not too uncommon when the vehicle could not be recovered from whatever circumstance disabled it (mired in the ground, mechanical breakdown, or battle damage) and so blowing the vehicle up denied its use by the enemy.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The M-84A4 Sniper

Source: @global_tanks on Instagram

     Sometime in 2024, Croatia provided the Ukrainian Army with thirty former Croatian Army M-84A4 Sniper (“Snayper” in Ukrainian) main battle tanks. One of these tanks is shown here, operated by the 141st. Mechanized Brigade. The M-84 is a Yugoslavian variant of the Soviet export model of the T-72A, designated the T-72M. Produced between 1979 and 1983 by the Croatian company Đuro Đaković Grupa d.d., some 680 tanks rolled off the lines. Ever since, the tanks have undergone modernization over the decades while in Croatian and also Serbian service. The M-84A4 Sniper is the final variant of the M-84A series and by 2008, the entirety of the Croatian Army's tanks were brought up to the M-84A4 standard. The type remains the mainstay of Croatian Army tank units and this is because the next modernization program, designated the M-84D, is extensive and costly. To date, only two M-84D tanks have been built.

     The 42-ton M-84A4 is powered by a V-46TK 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled, supercharged, multi-fuel diesel engine that develops 1,000 horsepower. According to Đuro Đaković's promotional material, an optional “power pack” 1,000 horsepower engine is available and some believe this to be of German manufacture. The V-46TK is paired with a hydromechanical transmission featuring a 8-speed gearbox (7 forward, 1 reverse). Maximum road speed is 42 miles per hour. A 330 gallon fuel capacity gives the M-84A4 a total operational range between 310 to 434 miles.

     The main armament of the M-84A4 is a turret-mounted 2A46 125mm smoothbore gun. The 2A46 sits within a 2-plane stabilizer with the mount providing 13.5 degrees of elevation and 6 degrees of depression. The turret gives a full 360 degree traverse. The original SUV-M-84 fire control system (FCS) is replaced by a more modern EFCS-3 FCS which is equipped with a DBR-84 ballistic computer. The gunner is provided with a DNNS-2 day/night sight and a laser rangefinder. Like all T-72 based tanks, the M-84A4 uses a automatic loader with 22 ready rounds of ammunition within the carousel situated beneath the turret basket. A further 20 rounds are stored throughout the tank's interior.

     The 2A46 can fire a wide array of 125mm rounds. A typical APFSDS (Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot) round may be the 3BM26 which can penetrate 410mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) at a 0 degree angle at 1.2 miles. At a 60 degree, slope, the penetration is 200mm of RHA. The 3BK21B HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) can go through 260mm of RHA at a 60 degree slope to a range of 1.9 miles. The 3OF28 HE (High-Explosive) round contains 11 pounds of explosive and can be fired out to a range of 2.5 miles. The M-84A4 is not outfitted as standard to fire tube-launched ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) such as the 9K119 Refleks (NATO reporting name AT-11 Sniper) and 9K120 Svir (a variant of the Refleks) or the older 9K112 Kobra (NATO reporting name AT-8 Songster).

     Secondary armament of the M-84A4 consists of a co-axial 7.62mm PKT which is provided with 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Maximum range (not effective) is 1.1 miles with a rate of fire of 250 rounds per minute. The commander is provided with a 12.7mm NSV mounted heavy machine-gun outside his cupola on the turret top. A total of 360 rounds are carried for the NSV with the mounting providing for an elevation of 75 degrees and a maximum depression of 5 degrees.

     To protect the 3-man crew (commander, driver, and gunner), the armor profile of the M-84A4 is much the same as the tank it is based on, the T-72A. The front hull supports 205mm of actual composite alloy armor but with an approximate slope of 68 degrees, the effective armor thickness is much higher. The turret is heavily protected with what the Soviet's called K-Combination. This is a laminate armor using hardened steel on the exterior turret shell behind which is a cavity containing a silicate (sand or granite), RHA steel, and ceramics. From the front, the turret has an effective 410mm to 500mm of armor thickness against APFSDS ammunition and between 500mm to 560mm of effective armor against HEAT rounds. The M-84A4 does not come with explosive reactive armor (ERA) as standard. Additional defensive equipment include an automatic fire extinguishing system, 12 smoke grenade launchers on the turret front for creating smoke screens, and a NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) system using filters and overpressure to seal the crew compartments.

     Other equipment utilized on the M-84A4 includes a meteorological sensor (positioned right behind the gun on the turret top) and a Racal produced Jaguar V communication suite. The latter replaced the older, more conventional FM and UHF receivers. The Jaguar V uses UHF only receivers that feature the ability to hop across narrow or wide band frequencies to resist jamming. A TELDIX navigation system, DNKS-2 day/night commander's periscope, TNPO-168V driver's periscope, and a TNPA-65 auxiliary periscope round out the main equipment installations.

     The Ukrainian M-84A4 shown here presents the breadth of add-on defenses Ukrainian units place on their tanks to give a measure of survival against enemy anti-tank weapons, FPV drones, and UAVs. As the M-84A4 does not come with ERA, Kontakt-1 blocks have been fitted to the upper and lower front hull and on the turret. Next, a complete metal frame cage supporting wire fencing has been secured to the turret. The open front of the cage is protected with weighted chains to foul drone propellers or the drone itself. Hanging down from the front of the tank are metal or rubber panels to provide a measure of defense against FPV drones looking to strike the thinner lower hull armor below the ERA blocks. Slat armor panels are secured along the tank's sides which have some effectiveness against HEAT munitions. Finally, the rear of the tank's upper deck is surrounded by what appear to be civilian radio antennas which, again, offer some defense against FPV drones or as a deterrent to attacks, forcing the FPV operator to try a more difficult vector to try to strike the tank.