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.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The M240 240mm Heavy Mortar

Source: Reddit

     A soldier of the 3rd. Assault Brigade poses next to one of the unit's handful of colossal M240 240mm heavy mortars. The M240 mortars in use by Ukraine had been in storage until an unknown number were withdrawn, refurbished, and put back into service. Today, the M240 is the largest mortar in operational service in the world. Sometimes classified as a siege mortar, the M240 is designed to bombard fortified positions and the initial design commenced in 1944, being a scaled up version of the PM-43 160mm heavy mortar. Prototypes of the M240 were tested into 1950 and once accepted for service, production started in 1951 with units receiving the M240 commencing in 1953. In total, 329 examples of the M240 were built when production ended in 1958.

     With a combat weight of 4.6 tons and a barrel length alone of 17.6 feet, the M240 requires a maximum crew of 11 to operate effectively. A tow vehicle (usually a MT-LB tracked prime mover or a Ural 373 series 6x6 truck) moves the M240 about as well as carries the crew. Between one to two additional vehicles normally accompany the mortar with one containing ammunition while the other carries equipment and apparatus to assist in emplacing the M240 into a chosen firing position. The maximum tow speed is 25 miles per hour.

     The barrel is of the smooth-bore type and uses a breech-block. The 2-wheel carriage permits a total traverse of 18 degrees and the barrel can be elevated to a minimum of 45 degrees to a maximum of 65 degrees. Both traverse and elevation is manually controlled using gears situated on the left side of the barrel. Sighting is done using older MP-46 or MP-46M panoramic sights or by using a K-1 collimator sight. The carriage is equipped with a recoil assembly, used to reduce firing vibration and be the bridge between the barrel and the mount.

     Loading the M240 is no simple process. As the mortar is a breech loader and cannot be loaded while the barrel is elevated, the barrel is brought down to a horizontal position. The standard 3OF-864 HE (High-Explosive) bomb has a total weight of 290 pounds of which 75 pounds accounts for the explosive in the bomb's warhead. The bomb is brought to the M240 using a 2-wheeled trolley and once near the breech, long-handled tongs are used to pick up the bomb with two men on either side of the projectile providing the lift. A fifth man stands behind the bomb, making sure the bomb's fins are steady and not damaged. Once the bomb is pushed into the barrel, the breech is closed and the M240's barrel returned to battery. A well trained crew can manage a rate of fire of 1 round per minute.

     The M240 is capable of lobbing the 3OF-864 bomb out to a maximum range of 6 miles. A RAP (Rocket Assisted Projectile) version of the 3OF-864 (designated the 3F2 Gagara), fitted with 3M15 rocket motors, can extend that range out to 12 miles. However, even with the RAP bomb, the M240 is within counterbattery range of guns such as the 122mm D-30 howitzer, BM-21 Grad MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System), and drones such as the ZALA Lancet loitering munition as well as other FPV drones. Bringing the M240 into action takes up to 25 minutes from the halt and with apparatus to assist with the set up. The M240 can only fire from firm ground and if the ground is too hard, explosive charges are used to blow a pit into the ground for the base plate to settle into. While preparing to fire may go unnoticed, after the first bomb is fired, detection may only be a matter of time. It takes up to 15 minutes to return the M240 to traveling condition and this makes “shoot and scoot” tactics of very limited value. This issue is the main reason the Soviet Union developed the 2S4 Tyulpan (“Tulip”) which is a tracked, self-propelled mounting of the 240mm 2B8 mortar (a modified M240) that entered service starting in 1975.

     Other than the common 3OF-864 ammunition, it is believed the Ukrainians also have some stockpiles of the 3F2 Gagara bombs and a more limited availability of the 1K113 Smelchak (“Daredevil”) semi-active, laser-guided mortar bomb. The latter is composed of a 3F5 240mm HE projectile, a optoelectronic correction head, four adjustable fins, and six solid-fuel rocket motors. In order to effectively utilize the 3F5 bomb, it requires soldiers on the ground equipped with either a 1D15 or 1D20 laser rangefinder/designator. The 1D15 has a maximum range of 3 miles while the 1D20 has a 4 mile maximum range. The 1K113 itself has a maximum range of 5.7 miles.

     Doctrine in using the 1K113 as designed involves aiming the M240 towards the designated target and firing a standard round. The observation team, already in place (and usually no more than 5 miles from the target), reports the impact and calls back adjustments to the firing unit. After the gunner makes the corrections, the 1K113 is then loaded and fired. The soldier manning the 1D15 or 1D20 unit aims the designator at the target where it receives a radio signal from the M240 firing position regarding the bomb's trajectory. As the bomb nears the target, the designator switches to targeting mode, “painting” the target with laser pulses which the bomb's correction head picks up via reflection. Around .5 of a mile from impact, the rocket motors are utilized to make any corrections to the flight path to ensure successful impact. The usual deviation from the aim point is no more than 1.8 meters.

     As of July 28, 2025, the Russians have lost a total of sixty-one 2S4 Tyulpan (10% of the total production run) while the Ukrainians have not lost any of their M240 towed mortars.

Russo-Ukrainian War: T-80BVM obr. 2022

Source: Reddit.

     A Russian T-80BVM obr. 2022 belonging to the 67th. Motorized Rifle Division (the unit's tactical symbol is on the side of the turret), displaying a rather extensive array of passive and active defenses. It is being transported by what looks to be a KamAZ-65225 tank transporter and was photographed sometime in January 2025. The T-80BVM is a modernization of the T-80BV which first appeared in service with the Soviet Army in 1985. The first T-80BVM made its public debut in 2017.

     Power for the 46-ton T-80BVM comes from a GTD-1250TF gas turbine engine that develops 1,250 horsepower and can propel the T-80BVM along roads at a maximum speed of 43 miles per hour and off-road, up to 34 miles per hour terrain depending. The GTD-1250 consumes fuel at a very high rate and had a much higher production cost in comparison to a standard diesel engine. Thus, the T-80BVM has a maximum cruise range of 208 miles (via 290 gallons of onboard fuel) and as such, the tank is often equipped with two external fuel tanks (total of 195 additional gallons) to increase the range to 310 miles. The engine is paired to a manual planetary transmission with a 6-speed gearbox (5 forward, 1 reverse). The external fuel tanks are secured to racks on the rear of the tank and here, they are not present.

     The main armament is a 2A46M-5 (or 2A46M-4 in some sources) 125mm smoothbore cannon which is mounted to a 2-axis, electro-hydraulic 2E26M stabilizer. The turret provides for 360 degrees of traverse while the gun mount allows for a maximum of 14 degrees of elevation and up to 5 degrees of depression. As with most Russian tanks, the cannon is provided with a updated Korzina automatic loader which is fed from a carousel that sits beneath the turret at the bottom of the hull. It holds 28 rounds of ammunition and with it, a rate of fire between 4 to 6 rounds per minute is possible. A further 17 rounds of ammunition are carried, kept both in the turret and hull, along with 6 Refleks-M missiles (see below). Accuracy is aided by a 1A45T Irtysh fire control system (FCS). The gunner is provided with a stabilized Sosna-U sight which incorporates a day sight, thermal sight, laser rangefinder, and a ballistic computer. Some late T-80BVM may utilize the PNM-T sight which is Sosna-U alternative built from wholly Russian components. Typical ammunition used includes APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot), HE (High-Explosive), and HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) rounds plus the 9K119M Refleks-M tube-launched, laser guided anti-tank missile (NATO reporting name AT-11 Sniper). The 3BM59 “Svinets-1” APFSDS round can penetrate around 315mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) at a 60 degree slope at 1.2 miles. At a 0 degree slope, the 3BM59 can penetrate 540mm of RHA at the same range. The 3BK31 HEAT round can penetrate 350mm of RHA at a 60 degree slope at a range of 1.9 miles.   The 3OF26 HE round can be fired out to a range of 2.5 miles while the Refleks-M can attain a range of 3 miles and drill through a maximum of 700mm of armor at a 90 degree slope after ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) thanks to its tandem charge warhead. The gunner provides the guidance to target using a modulated laser beam. Secondary armament consists of a coaxial PKT 7.62mm machine-gun while mounted on the turret near the commander's hatch is a NSVT 12.7mm heavy machine-gun. 1,250 rounds of ammunition are available for the PKT while a total of 300 rounds are carried for the NSVT of which 50 rounds is ready ammunition.

     For protection, the T-80BMV uses composite armor on the hull and turret with the cheeks of the turret having additional defense called Combination K which consists of a cavity filled with ultra-porcelain ceramic rods arranged in a matrix. This gives the turret front the equivalent of 550mm of steel armor. The front glacis plate uses a sandwich-style of composite armor consisting of an outer layer of 80mm thick steel which is backed by 105mm of glass-reinforced plastic then a 20mm thick base layer of steel armor. This gives the front hull of the T-80BMV the equivalent of over 500mm of armor. In addition to the base armor, the T-80BMV utilizes Relikt explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks on the upper front hull, turret front, hull sides, and the top of the turret. Cage armor is fitted to the rear of the tank hull, offering a measure of protection to the engine compartment from HEAT munitions. The T-80BVM can be fitted with 4S24 Karkas ERA and this is the case here in the photograph in the form of large metal blocks on the turret sides and here, unusually, on top of the side Relikt ERA. The crew has added rubber and mesh appliqué armor to the turret sides and front plus ad-hoc bar armor to the rear area of the turret. In addition, the crew has created a large anti-drone cage consisting of metal framing with what looks like chicken wire. Additional defense comes from a 902B Tucha smoke grenade launcher system consisting of two banks of four launcher tubes on the turret sides. The T-80BMV can also be fitted with active protective systems such as Arena but it is not standard. Atop the anti-drone cage are antenna for drone jammers, added there by the crew rather than it being standard.

     Other systems of the T-80BVM include a TVN-5 night sight for the driver, internal crew intercom system, TKN-4S Agat-MR day/night sight & TKN-3M day sight for the commander, automatic fire suppression system, PDT-7151 auxiliary sight, DVE-BS turret roof mounted meteorological sensor, R-168 series VHF radio station, and a ZETS-11-2 NBC protection system (Nuclear Biological Chemical). 

     The T-80BVM obr. 2022 specifically uses Kontakt-5 ERA on the turret roof to provide for more protective coverage and cage armor is added to the rear of the hull and turret (though only the rear hull piece appears intact). Another feature of the T-80BVM obr. 2022 is the removal of the rear side cage armor and replacing it with Relikt ERA panels. Finally, Relikt ERA is built into the tank's front mud guards. Some T-80BVM obr. 2022 tanks may have elderly 1PN96MT-02 thermal gun sights due to shortages of the Sosna-U.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The RPV-16 Thermobaric Weapon

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

     A soldier of the 30th. Mechanized Brigade “Konstantin Ostrozky” showing off a RPV-16. The RPV-16 is a Ukrainian designed and built rocket-assisted thermobaric weapon, akin to the Russian RPO-A Shmel. The RPV-16 first appeared around January 2022, just prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Since then, it has seen continued combat though it isn't often seen in photographs.

     The 93mm thermobaric warhead is designed to engage enemy infantry, especially those within bunkers or hardened positions. It does this by generating a fireball upon detonation which can reach temperatures approaching 2,500 degrees Celsius (about 4,532 degrees Fahrenheit) in addition to causing a overpressure wave from the blast. What isn't incinerated at the epicenter of the blast, the lethality of the RPV-16's explosion extends out to a radius of 262 feet. In a more confined space, the overpressure wave is compressed by walls and other surfaces, increasing the effect against infantry. Besides death, the wave's force can cause internal bleeding and even break bones.

     The RPV-16 comes standard with a dioptric sight (seen here in the photograph) which permits targeting between 100 meters out to 600 meters which is the optimum engagement range bracket. The weapon can fire out to a maximum range of 1,000 meters (.6 of a mile). The sight can be replaced with more advanced optics for aiming. Firing is through a electrical circuit trigger and there is a safety switch to prevent accidental firing. While the launch tube is one-use, the rest of the RPV-16's hardware can be re-used by securing it around a fresh tube via three latches. Loaded, the RPV-16 has a weight of 24 pounds and a length of 3 feet.

     Usually, the RPV-16 is fielded by a unit's CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) company (which the 30th. Mechanized Brigade has) though it is not exclusive to such companies.

 

Russo-Ukrainian War: The 'Hetman Sahaidachny'

 

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

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

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

Originally posted on March 5, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Ukrainian Special Forces in Irpin

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

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

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

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

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

Originally posted on March 5, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Abandoned 2K22 Tunguska

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Originally posted on March 3, 2022.

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

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

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

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

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

Originally posted on March 2, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The 2S19 Msta-S

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Originally posted on March 1, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: 113th. Territorial Defense Brigade

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

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

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

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

Originally posted on February 28, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Demolished Russian T-72B3

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

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

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

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

Originally posted on February 26, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Ukrainian Troops Outside Kharkiv

 

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

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

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

Originally posted on February 25, 2022.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Infiltration into Kyiv

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

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

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

Originally posted on February 25, 2022.
 

 

Russo-Ukrainian War: 108th. Territorial Defense Brigade

     Ukrainian men, belonging to the 108th. Territorial Defense Brigade, training. While there is a Ukrainian national socialist movement, Putin's excuse that the Ukrainian government is riddled with Nazis and drug addicts and needs to be overthrown by the Ukrainian military is laughable.

Originally posted on February 25, 2022.

Natalia Fedorovna Bode: Haunted by the War

     Soviet photojournalist Natalia Fedorovna Bode poses beside a T-28 medium tank. Born December 30, 1914 in Kiev, Bode began her journalistic career in 1934 with the коммунист (Communist) and by 1938, she was working as a columnist for the Ukrainian bureau of the Russian News Agency TASS. 

     When war broke out, Bode would lose her husband Boris Kozyuk (also a photographer) and so she volunteered to cover the combat with the newspaper Krasnaya Armia (Red Army) and she would spend the remainder of the war covering actions on the Central and Southwest Front as well as the First Belarussian Front. A skilled photographer, Bode was not above taking risks to obtain compelling imagery. Her photographs were published in numerous other Russian newspapers and press outlets and they would also see worldwide publication as well. For her dedication, acclaimed work, and service, Bode was given the rank of First Lieutenant and she earned the Order of the Red Star, Order of the Patriotic War, Medal of Courage, and the Medal for the Defense of Stalingrad. 

     Bode would remarry to Yevgeny Dolmatovsky, a poet who worked for Pravda to whom she’d met during the war. Bode would continue her photojournalistic career with the Ukrainian newspaper Radyansʹka Kulʹtura (Soviet Culture). She died on July 2, 1996 and upon her death, it was discovered she’d hidden away much of her wartime photographs, most unpublished, as Bode wished not to remind herself of the war and all that came with it.

The Russian OSV-96: The 12.7mm "Burglar"

(Mustafa Karali, Associated Press)

     Taken in 2012, a rebel fighter in Syria took the time to pose for Associated Press war photographer Mustafa Karali. He is holding a captured Russian OSV-96 sniper/anti-material rifle which had been seized from Syrian army forces during combat actions in the city of Maraat al-Numan. The OSV-96 is the refined and improved result of the initial rifle designated the V-94 “Volga” which was designed in the early 1990s by the Instrument Design Bureau (KBP in Russian abbreviation). 

     The OSV-96 fires a special 12.7X108mm cartridge (with the nomenclature of 7N34) to ensure accuracy at long range. If need be, the OSV-96 can fire more standard 12.7X108mm ammunition but typically at the cost of accuracy at range. The weapon uses a free-floating barrel and a sizable muzzle brake to reduce recoil. The weapon has a nickname, “Взломщик”, which means “Burglar” in English. 

     Entering service with Russian forces in 1996, users today also include India’s elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS), Belarus, Vietnam (who makes the rifle under license), and as illustrated by this photograph, Syria (rebels and government).