Tag: Ukraine Russia War

Russian Anti-Drone AK-Buckshot Rounds

We have previously examined a couple of Russian efforts to develop small arms-based anti-drone weapons including the single-shot shotgun insert for GP-25 under-barrel grenade launchers and in the future we’ll examine the efforts to develop an anti-drone shotgun muzzle device which is now in production at several Russian companies. All of these efforts have one thing in common – they are seeking to turn the individual soldier’s rifle into a weapon capable of countering the enormous drone threat they are facing.

In this article/video we’ll examine perhaps the simplest attempt at creating counter-drone ammunition I’ve come across so far. While a number of Russian companies have developed specialist shotgun ammunition for increasing the probability of shooting down drones with 12 gauge shotguns there has been no official or commercial efforts to develop an anti-drone 5.45x39mm rifle round. The efforts examined here all appear to be localised with the concept disseminated via social media.

In early July, a video showing a Russian combatant making home-made buckshot cartridges for their AK-74 pattern rifles was shared. The quoted caption read: “To combat annoying drones, our soldiers are remaking AK cartridges by inserting buckshot charges in them in a dielectric heat shrink.” In the video the Russian combatant demonstrates filling a length of electrical wire insulation sleeving with ball bearings, pushing them in with what appears to be a tent peg. He then uses a candle to heat shrink the sleeve around the ball bearings and then takes a 5.45x39mm cartridge, with the projectile pre-extracted, and places the ball bearings into the cartridge case, down on top of the propellant. He then heat shrinks the exposed ball bearings and hand crimps the case neck around them.

Since the July video I didn’t come across any imagery showing the buckshot until November, when interest in the concept seems to have increased with a flurry of posts on Russian telegram channels discussing the manufacture of the rounds and their pros and cons. The first of the second wave of posts came on 12 November, with a telegram channel sharing a photograph of two buckshot 5.45x39mm cartridges alongside two sleeves of seven ball bearings. The post makes some interesting observations; suggesting alternating the loading the magazine with the buckshot and tracer rounds. The post also mentions that the 4.5mm diameter of the shot is smaller than the diameter of the barrel and that this will likely impact ‘accuracy’ – though I suspect this is just one of numerous factors which will impact on effectiveness of the rounds. The post also notes that the plastic sleeving is likely to gum up the barrel’s rifling which will in turn impact the accuracy of the rifle and could lead to catastrophic fouling. The post concludes by suggesting while the idea is flawed if you don’t have a shotgun available the improvised buckshot is better than nothing.

Two days later on the 14 November, a video showing the assembly of a buckshot round identical to those seen in the previous photograph was shared. A Russian combatant fills a cable sleeve with seven Crossman 4.5mm (.177) ball bearings, he heat shrinks it with a lighter and then puts the shot into another slightly wider piece of sleeve which he also heat shrinks. Then he hand seats the shot in a standard 7N6 cartridge case and uses a pair of pliers to crimp the case neck.

On 16 November, the first video claiming to show the buckshot in action was posted. The clip begins with a drone feed video showing a lone Russian combatant in a trench system before cutting to helmet camera footage showing the combatant firing up at a passing FPV drone, he appears to successfully clip one of the drone’s rotors. The footage may have been filmed at a training range. Alongside the video they posted a photograph of a magazine loaded with the buckshot. The post’s caption again recommends alternately loading the magazine, this time with a sequence of ball ammunition and buckshot, claiming that “this sequence allows you to fight air targets as effectively as possible”.

On the 18 November, the same channel shared a short post explaining how the buckshot cartridges are assembled and what is needed. The post shows the same photograph that was shared on 12 November. This post suggests using the buckshot with a mix of tracer when firing from vehicles and standard ball ammunition when on foot.

Another Russian channel uploaded a pair of videos on the 29 November, one showing the assembly of a buckshot cartridge and a demonstration video. The first video shows several individuals in a workshop assembling the buckshot cartridges. Several individuals are working on different states of assembly with one feeding the shot into the plastic sleeving, another using a heat gun to shrink form the sleeving, another pulling projectiles from 5.45x39mm cartridges and another cutting the sleeve of shot to length, about six ball bearings, before seating it in a cartridge. This process shows production at a more significant scale.

The second video shows a demonstration of the rounds being fired from an AK-74. In the video the combatant recommends not using the rifles standard muzzle-brake to in feat of the shot striking it. The combatant then empties a magazine of buckshot, though its difficult to make out if the entire magazine is buckshot or if there is a mix. The video then shows the target downrange, a sheet of metal, perforated with a significant dispersal pattern.

A post on another Russian telegram channel shared on 3 December, included the earlier videos along with a couple of photographs of a pair of jungle-taped magazines alternately loaded with the buckshot and a mix of ball and what appears to be black-tip armour piercing 7N22. Interestingly, the post suggests that the alternated non-buckshot rounds ‘clean’ the bore of any residue from the plastic sleeving.

The most recent sighting of the buckshot, at the time of writing, were published on 5 December. They include a range video which demonstrates the buckshot, with the caption claiming that from 14 rounds fired there were “41 punctures in the target”, the target appears to be about 25 feet (8 metres) away. It is worth noting that the rifle’s muzzle-brake has been removed. In the replies to the post a photo of some buckshot rounds was shared showing them alongside a length of sleeving filled with shot and a bottle of Crosman ball bearings.

The final video shared on 5 December again shows the typical production of the home-made buckshot rounds. This time lead shotgun pellets are used rather than ball bearings. The caption of the video notes that it is essential to clean the rifle after using the buckshot ammunition. It also notes that the main strength of the home-made ammunition is that its simple and instantly on hand if a soldier carries a magazine loaded with it, then he can quickly load and engage a drone.

The development of the home-made 5.45x39mm buckshot is certainly intriguing and at short ranges, from the available imagery, appears to have some merit. It enable an combatant armed with an AK-74 to theoretically engage a drone with a potentially slightly improved hit probability – though they may have to operate with their muzzle-brake permanently removed. Drones remain one of the key battlefield threats for combatants in Ukraine but it is unlikely this ad hoc solution is effective against drones at ranges of more than 20 yards. The dispersion of the five to seven shot is extremely unpredictable given it is being fired from a rifled barrel and there is not choke.

Many Russian posts discuss the potential for damage to the rifle and while this is certainly possible, especially when using the steel BBs rather than lead shot, the user however, is unlikely to be firing hundreds of rounds of the buckshot – especially given how time consuming production appears to be. Fouling from the plastic cable sleeves used may also have detrimental effects and cause barrel obstructions. It’s also unclear how reliably the round will feed given the varied projectile length and lack of rigidity when feeding. Additionally, once in field conditions significant temperature changes could impact the integrity of the plastic sleeves. Never the less the idea is ingenious but it illustrates how urgently defences against FPVs and other drones are needed by troops in the field.

Update – 22/12/24: A clip of a Ukrainian testing a version of the ammunition with 6 ball bearings. He feels the concept has enough merit for it to be of some use. (Source)

Update – 24/12/24: Additional video of scaled production of the 5.45x39mm ‘buckshot’ rounds shared via telegram.

Update – 9/1/25: Another clip of Ukrainian’s testing the ‘AK buckshot’ concept.

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! You can also find us on the History of Weapons & War app. Thank you for your support!

3D Printed Anti-Personnel Mines

In this article/video we’ll examine an an interesting and very simple 3D printed anti-personnel mine developed by the Ukrainians. The mines are similar in purpose and size to the Russian PFM-1, the so-called ‘Butterfly’ mines. However, their shape and form factor is similar to that of the larger PMN-4, but they are significantly simpler.

3D printed mine found in the field (via social media)

The 3D printed mine’s explosive filling is said to be around 30g, with an overall weight of 55g. The mine is made up of a two-part outer shell printed in PLA, or another similar plastic. The two pieces screw together and a layer of plastic explosive is in the bottom half of the shell along with a percussion initiator of some sort. The top half of the mine has a small  metal Philips-head screw protruding down through the top, this acts as a striker for the initiator. There is a tube protruding up from the lower half of the mine, printed as part of the body, which likely guides the screw and holds the initiator.

The mine appears to work along the principle of when stepped on the outer shell breaks and compacts allowing the screw to strike the initiator, detonating the mine.

An illustration of the mine’s layout and components (Alexis Midy/Midy Infographie)

The design is extremely simple and cost effective to produce, requiring only the simplest 3D printer, a screw and an initiator and explosive.

The first sighting of the mines I’ve been able to find was in a telegram post by a Russian sapper. In the post, on 6 October, he shared several photos of the mines found in the field and warned that Ukrainian drones are dropping them in the Kursk and Belgorod regions. Another photo of one of the mines was shared by another Russian combatant on 8 October.

A Russian telegram channel, enginner25, shared post showing multiple images of the mines and a video showing the internals.

3D printed mine opened to show explosive filling (via social media)

In another photo we can see that the mines are apparently dropped from plastic tubes suspended below drones. The photo only shows the top of the tube but it’s clear that a number of tubes are carrying a significant number of mines. The release mechanism for the lids of the carrier tubes appears to use something like 3mm Visco fuze, commonly used with fireworks, or igniter cord. Once initiated the fuze/cord burns away and releases the mines with the drone scattering them as it flies over an area.

The design of the mine is extremely simple but appears to be potentially quite effective, relying on the brittleness of the 3D printed shell to work. The mines seem to have been engineered to be quickly produced at scale rather than to make them undetectable to Russian sappers. However, if a non-metallic striker replaced the screw the mines would be even more difficult to detect.

Assorted 3D printed mines (via social media)

While not the first 3D printed explosive device to emerge from the fighting in Ukraine, this mine is certainly one of the smallest and simplest. How widespread their deployment is, is still unclear but they seem they would be a useful part of Ukraine’s drone-deployed mine interdiction efforts behind Russian lines.

Thank you to Roy for drawing my attention to these mines.

Update 22/12/24: A new Russian video showing the internals of the mine and giving a better look at the percussion initiator (source).

Update 5/7/25: A Ukrainian video showing the testing of a 3D printed mine.

https://twitter.com/GrandpaRoy2/status/1941188821229658422

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! You can also find us on the History of Weapons & War app. Thank you for your support!

A Pair of Interesting Heckler & Koch Marksman Rifles Appear in Ukraine

This week has seen photographs of two intriguing 7.62x51mm Heckler & Koch rifles appear, they feature what appears to be an iconic, and extremely rare, PSG1 and an HK G28E. The first photograph was shared by pmc_ua and universal_mobility_group on Instagram on 14 November. In the photograph a pair of two Ukrainian marksmen pose with an SVD and a PSG1, no further images of the rifle have been shared.

What appears to be a PGS1 at a Ukrainian range session (via social media)

The PSG1 was introduced by HK in the early 1970s as a semi-automatic precision rifle. It is unclear where the PSG1 was acquired from but this is the first time I’ve seen one of the rifles appear in Ukraine. The PSG1 is based on the G3, and as such uses a roller-delayed blowback operating system. Its accuracy is reputed to be better than 1 MOA, the rifle appears to have an original  Hensoldt ZF 6×42 PSG1 scope.

Illustration from an H&K catalogue page for the PSG1

PMC_ua, who shared the photograph, confirmed that the rifle is “used where there is an opportunity, fighting and training” but gave no further details. The PSG1 may have been acquired via civilian channels or may have been transferred to Ukraine as aid by one of the many countries who acquired the PSG1 in small numbers over the years. While the PSG1 is of Cold War vintage, the rifle continued to be offered into the 2010s by HK and it is still a very accurate, capable rifle.

The second image was shared on Instagram, on the 17 November, and features what at first glance appeared to be an HK G28 but may also be the civilian-available HK G28Z. The rifle is held by a member of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade and is equipped with a thermal weapon sight.

A probable HK MR308 A3-28 at a Ukrainian range (via social media)

The rifle has free-floated 16.5 inch barrel, a bi-pod and a vertical front grip mounted on its forend. It is loaded with a 10-round magazine and is fitted with what appears to be an Ase Utra DUAL762-S-BL suppressor. A small number of the RAL 8000-coloured MR308 A3-28s have recently appeared on the civilian market in Ukraine, with one private listing one of the rifles for 29,5000 UAH or $7,145.

HK G28Z (Heckler & Koch)
HK G28 (Heckler & Koch)

An additional photograph showing the rifle being fired was shared in an Instagram story by one of the individuals in the first photograph. This photograph gives us a better look at the receiver of the rifle and shows that the upper is painted/coated rather than treated. This indicates that the rifle is either a G28 or the civilian G28Z variant. [Thank you to CaliFlori for pointing out this detail].

It’s not uncommon to see civilian, semi-automatic, firearms used by Ukrainian personnel. This is more common in terms of precision platforms but various semi-automatic 5.56x45mm platforms are also regularly seen, including HK MR223s and patrol variants of the MR308.

A second photograph of the MR308 A3-28 at the range (via social media)

Two subsequent photographs shared by one of the individuals in the initial photograph clearly show the rifle’s lower receiver markings, confirming that the rifle is an HK G28E, not a commercial G28Z. The ‘E’ suffix indicates ‘export’.

The same Ukrainian combatant, who appears to be a member of the GUR, also shared a photograph of ammunition he is using with the rifle. US-manufactured Mk316 Mod 0 is a match-grade cartridge which uses a 175gr projectile. While the ammunition was likely provided by the US, the origins of the rifle are unconfirmed.

It is intriguing to see two generations of Heckler & Koch’s semi-automatic precision rifles appear in Ukraine within days of each other.

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! You can also find us on the History of Weapons & War app. Thank you for your support!


Is Russia Using North Korean Type 73s?

On 7 November, photographs began circulating on Russian telegram channels of North Korean Type 73 general purpose machine guns said to be in Russia. The appearance of the photographs led to suggestions the weapons are now in Russia service. This claim is somewhat supported by the appearance of Russian E.M.R. camouflage in the top right corner of one of the photographs.

A North Korean Type 73 complete with magazine (via Russian social media)

The Type 73 is a fairly rare weapon though it has surfaced in conflicts areas such as Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon over the years. Thought to have entered service in the early 1970s, it is a somewhat unusual machine gun, it is gas-operated, using a long-stroke gas system, it fires from an open-bolt and is chambered in the long serving 7.62x54mmR cartridge. It is derived from the PK-pattern machine gun and as such feeds from standard Russian metal non-disintegrating belts but also is able to feed from proprietary box-magazines (which look a little like over-sized AK magazines). The magazine is dual stack, single feed which is designed to allow the Type 73’s bolt to pull cartridges out of its rear. Check out Forgotten Weapons’ video on the weapon for a better look at the action. The dual-feed design appears to have been influenced by the Czech vz.52/57. The Type 73 has a longitudinal fluted barrel with its front portion, ahead of the gas block, machined as a spigot to enable it to fire rifle grenades, it comes with a removable barrel shroud which acts as a muzzle device. Also visible in the photographs are the segments of cleaning rod which sit in channels in the weapons’ bipod.

Three North Korean Type 73s complete with magazines and belt boxes (via Russian social media)

The dates and locations of when the photographs were taken is unclear and various Russian telegram channels are claiming a range of explanations varying from – the weapons were brought along with the North Korean troops who have reportedly arrived in Russia in recent weeks, to – they were provided to Russia as part of the military aid being provided by the DPRK. However, the photographs may also have been taken during a past exercise involving Russian and North Korean troops. The environmental conditions in the photographs do, however, correlate with the photographs being taken recently.

The photographs of the Type 73 emerged as a series of, as yet unverified, videos and photographs of North Korean troops in Russia have surfaced in recent days. Intriguingly, it was reported that the Ukrainian GUR had claimed that North Korean troops in Russia would be equipped with Russian small arms and light weapons including: AK-12s, RPK and PKM pattern machine guns, and RPG-7 shoulder-launched anti-tank rocket launchers.

Top view of a Type 73 (via Russian social media)

The available imagery shows three Type 73s together in one photograph and then three detail photographs of another weapon on its own. The visible serial numbers on the guns include ‘904023’, ‘905012’ and a partially visible serial number which appears to read ’904032′ is seen in another photograph. Which places these three weapons relatively close to each other in the serial number range. Intriguingly, the typical star and model number aren’t visible in the above photograph.

If these images are verified and we see more evidence of their use it is extremely intriguing to see these weapons appear in Russia. It raises questions as to why Russia needs North Korean GPMGs – is Russia suffering from a shortage? The presence of some RPD light machine guns appearing in imagery of Russian forces training may also support this.

Left-side view of a Type 73 (via Russian social media)

The origins of the guns is also unclear, while the obvious source would be North Korea themselves, if so it is interesting that they would choose to supply Type 73s rather than their own straight copy of the PKM, the Type 82. If these guns are to be used for training purposes, or indeed in the field, then it would make more logistical and operational sense to acquire Type 82s so troops have commonality and familiarity with Russian PK-pattern machine guns. An another alternative potential origin for the guns is Russia’s other ally -Iran. Iran is reported to have acquired large numbers of Type 73s during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) and has since provided them to their proxies and allies. It may be that Iran has provided a shipment of these machine guns as part of their aid to Russia.

It remains to be seen if the Type 73 will enter service with Russian troops or indeed if we will see evidence of any other North Korean small arms.

Update 22/12/24: A short video appeared Russian telegrams of a Russian combatant examining a North Korean Type 73.

Update – 15/1/25:

A North Korean Type 73 GPMG mounted on a Russian motorbike & sidecar. No North Korean's in view. Interesting.More on the Type 73 in #Ukraine here: armourersbench.com/2024/11/17/i…#UkraineRussiaWar #SALW

— Matthew Moss – Armourer's Bench (@matthewmoss.bsky.social) 2025-01-15T12:32:48.413Z

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! You can also find us on the History of Weapons & War app. Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

North Korean Small Arms, SADR, H. Hong, D. Shea, (source)

North Korean Small Arms and Light Weapons, Small Arms Survey, M. Schroeder (source)

North Korean Type 73, Forgotten Weapons, (source)

North Korean Type 73 GPMGs in Iraq, Syria & Yemen, ARES, A. Richter, (source)

Polish Rifle Grenades for Ukrainian Drones

Earlier this summer, Polish PGN-60 rifle grenades began to appear in the hands of various Ukrainian units. These 68mm fin-stabilised, High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) grenades were developed in the 1950s, to provide Polish infantry with a ranged anti-tank and anti-personnel weapon.

Introduced in the early 1960s they were used in conjunction with the specially adapted Karabinek-granatnik wzór 1960 (Carbine-grenade launcher M1960) which had a spigot onto which the grenade’s tail was slid. The grenade was launched by a blank UNM ‘Universal Propellant Cartridge’. The 7.62×39mm wz.1960 and later wz.1960/72 are long out of Polish service, but it seems that the Polish military decided to retain the rifle grenades in storage. The rifle grenade concept was superseded in Polish service by the issuing of the lightweight RPG-76 Komar anti-armour rocket propelled grenade. These have also appeared in Ukraine.

Polish manual illustrations showing PGN-60 and KGN rifle grenades (source)

The stated penetrating power of the PGN-60 varies depending on the source; some say 160mm others suggest up to 200mm of RHA plate. The grenade itself is either Impact or Graze fuze initiated.

While we have seen use of improvised rifle grenades in Ukraine, it is unlikely the PGN-60s have been used for their original purpose, instead they appear to have been either harvested for their explosive content or used as warheads for FPV (First Person View) drones.

One example of the use of the rifle grenades by a drone team was shared by Joe McDonald, a British volunteer serving with the Ukrainian Marines in Kherson. Joe kindly shared some photos of a consignment of Polish rifle grenades his unit received in July. Included in the consignment were not only the PGN-60 HEAT grenades but also Polish KGN anti-personnel grenades. The first sighting of one of the KGN grenades came earlier, back in mid-April 2024. Sources suggest that the KGN grenades contain nearly 250 fragmentation pieces. One of Joe’s photograph shows 10 PGN-60s and five KGNs, along with their detached tail assemblies.

PGN-60 & KGN rifle grenades, July 2024 (Joe McDonald)

The yellow label markings are instructions on how to use the rifle grenade, they read [machine translated]:

  1. Unload the rifle
  2. Load magazine with propellant cartridges
  3. Put the rifle on safe
  4. Seat the grenade
  5. Chamber a propellant cartridge
  6. After each shot put the weapon on safe

Other markings include various factory, year and lot markings.

PGN-60 markings (Joe McDonald)

Joe noted that the KGN grenades have either been used as drone-dropped munitions or have been mounted on 7-inch first person view (FPV) drones in addition to a quantity of additional plastic explosive. Joe recently shared some video of five of the PGN-60 warheads electronically wired and ready for mounting on an FPV drone, these are some of the last of the grenades his unit received in July.

PGN-60 rifle grenades prepared for mounting on FPV drones (Joe McDonald)

The PGN-60s aren’t the only interesting rifle grenades to turn up. In September a photograph of a 1990-dated French 58mm PAB F2 anti-tank rifle grenade was shared. France may have provided them for their explosive content or to accompany the 1,000 FAMAS F1 Valorise rifles which have been transferred to Ukraine. Only one image of this type of rifle grenade has surface so far but from the image it appears it’s tail assembly has been removed and is likely to be utilised as part of an FPV.

A French PAB F2 anti-tank rifle grenade (via French Aid to Ukraine)

It is currently unclear just how many Polish and French rifle grenades have been transferred to Ukraine. The imagery sample featured in this article/video represents all of the imagery I have been able to find. If you have come across any additional sightings of the grenades I’d love to hear from you.

Special thanks to Joe for his help with this video. Check out Joe’s channel here.

Update – 27/10/25:

Another PGN-60 was seen in a short video shared by an officer with Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces in February 2024.

Bibliography:

Karabinek-granatnik wzór 1960/72 Rifle-grenade launcher, AK-Info, (source)

Grenades for rifle-grenade launcher systems kbkg wz.60 and kbkg wz.60/72, AK-Info, (source)

PGN-60, CAT-UXO, (source)

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! You can also find us on the History of Weapons & War app. Thank you for your support!

Mk14 EBRs in Ukraine

In an earlier video/article we examined the M14s which appeared in Ukraine back in March 2022, since then there have been a number of intriguing sightings of what, at a glance, appear to be Mk14 Enhanced Battle Rifles or M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifles. The EBR and EMR emerged during the Global War on Terror in the early 2000s as an improved variant of the 7.62x51mm M14.

The project to develop a more compact, improved M14 reportedly evolved from a request from US Navy SEALs in 2000 for a rifle for Arctic warfare. This eventually developed into what became the Mk14 EBR with development led by Naval Special Warfare Centre Crane and input from commercial specialists and manufacturers including Smith Enterprise, Inc. and Sage International. The result was a rifle with a 18 inch barrel and new flash hider, with changes to the operating rod guide, a new stock chassis and a raft of accessories. A number of different variants were built including the Mk14 Mod 0, Mod 1 and Mod 2, the M14 EBR-RI and the USMC’s M39 EMR. In total between 2003 and 2011 just over 9,000 of these upgraded variants were assembled.  

An NSCW Crane Mk14 Mod 1 EBR, c.2006 (source)

Given the significant number assembled and the fact they have been replaced by rifles such as the M110 Semi Automatic Sniper System (which has already been seen in Ukraine) and the M110A1 CSASS it would not be unsurprising to see Mk14 EBR variants turn up in Ukraine.

Over the past two years I’ve been tracking sightings of what appear to be Mk14 EBR variants but on closer examination some of them are not what they initially seemed to be, several were in fact kit builds using the standard configuration M14s which reached Ukraine in early 2022. Some, however, do appear to be surplus Mk14s.

Yuri’s Mk14 EBR clone at the range (Nucking_Futs_Yuri)

First, let’s examine some of the kit builds seen in theatre. The first appears to have been assembled by Nucking_Futs_Yuri, an American volunteer who enlisted in the Ukrainian Army in early 2022. Yuri explained to me that in late 2022, following combat experience where he wasn’t satisfied with how well 5.56x45mm suppressed a Russian position he decided to assemble an EBR clone using a donated chassis. Yuri noted that parts for the rifle began to arrive in December 2022 and by January the rifle had been assembled. Yuri was seen with the rifle in numerous photographs and in several configurations. It had a standard 22 inch barrel, a Sage International M14ALCS chassis and a M14DCSB (Detachable Cantilevered Sight Base). He mounted a 1.5-6x Elcan SpectreDR optic on the rifle, opting for more of a battle rifle-style set up. The rifle was damaged in February 2023 by a Kornet ATGM blast which bent both the barrel and the chassis.

Yuri’s damaged Mk14 EBR clone (Nucking_Futs_Yuri)

In early May 2023, another rifle which resembled an M14 EBR-RI, with a 22in barrel and a black Sage International M14ALCS chassis, appeared in use with a member an International Legion team. This individual and his rifle was seen again in May 2024 appearing in a number of interviews with Ukrainian media. His callsign was revealed to be ‘Solo’ and he was described as a marksman and a squad leader with a unit of the International Legion’s 3rd Special Purpose Battalion. In the interview he explained that the rifle has originally been a wooden stocked M14 converted with a SAGE chassis sent to him by a friend in the US. Interestingly, between May 2023 and May 2024, it appears the rifle’s set up has evolved with new FDE rail covers added and a short tan Kydex handguard replacing the initial black longer handguard. These parts were likely acquired in Ukraine.

‘Solo’ with his Mk14 clone built off a standard M14 (Суспільне Донбас)

Most intriguingly, in November 2023, the first Mk14 Mod 1 appeared. Mod 1s are characterised by their shorter 18in barrels, a Sage M14ALCS/CV-BS with Magpul CTR FDE stock (with a cheek riser) mounted on a buffer tube extension rather than the earlier collapsing stock. The rifles also have LaRue LT-608 extended Picatinny risers and short tan handguards. The rifle is equipped with a Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25×56 scope.

A Mk14 Mod 1 EBR with Schmidt & Bender PMII, Nov. 2023 (via social media)

The Mk14 Mod 1 was assembled at NSWC Crane in 2006, around 500 were assembled. The shorter barrel and the general configuration of parts and accessories suggest that this may be a surplus rifle transferred by the US.

A recent sighting of a Mk14 Mod 1 EBR (via Tysk)

Most recently, on 18 October, Ukrainian telegram channel Tysk shared a series of photos of a Ukrainian combatant at the range with another Mk14 Mod 1. This rifle’s parts and accessories closely match those assembled by Crane for the Mod 1, including: an 18in barrel with a SureFire FH762KM14 muzzle device, a TangoDown BG-16 FDE pistol grip, a Sage M14ALCS/CV-BS with a Magpul CTR FDE stock (this time without the cheek riser), a TangoDown BGV-MK46 FDE vertical foregrip, and a TangoDown ACB-4 FDE bipod. The rifle is also equipped with a NightForce NXS 2.5-10x24mm optic and a DOCTER MS01 3.5 MOA red dot sight which were selected to be paired with the Mod 1. [It has been noted that the Mod 1s may also be clones due to some small differences in the chassis profile and accessories used – for instance the model of VFG, scope rings, cheek riser, and the machining on the chassis. If this is the case someone has gone to an improbable amount of trouble to ‘clone’ a Mod 1, a considerable level of effort to expend in a war zone. Thanks to tanodized for input.]

From the very limited imagery available of Mk14 EBR-pattern rifles in Ukraine it appears that numerous clone builds have been assembled in-country and that the only EBRs which can be identified as potential US transfers are the two Mk14 Mod 1 variants seen so far.

A squad designated marksman with an Mk14 EBR-RI (the most common EBR variant), 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, 2012 (US Army)

If the US was to transfer a significant number of Mk14-pattern rifles I would expect them to be the Mk14 EBR-RI, the most common variant, some 6,000 of which were assembled by Rock Island Armory – TACOM [Tank-automotive and Armaments Command]. It is unsurprising clone rifles have been assembled by combatants in Ukraine as Sage International and a number of other US manufacturers offer EBR-pattern chassis which do offer some improvements over the traditional M14 configuration.

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! You can also find us on the History of Weapons & War app. Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

M14 to MK 14 Evolution of a Battle Rifle, D. Armstrong, via DTIC, (source)

The M14 EBR – a Continuing Evolution D. Armstrong, via DTIC, (source)

The History and Development of the M14 EBR (source)

MRSATURN7085’s ‘M14EBR’ data sheet (source)

Sage International, EBR (source)

Thank you to colleagues who consulted on this video and to Yuri.

Russian Company Develops Polymer PK Belts

In previous videos we’ve looked at Ukrainian efforts to manufacture polymer belts for PK-pattern general purpose machine guns. These were developed by Ukrainian company RAROG who has been selling them since the summer of 2022. Now PUFGUN, a Russian company has also developed a polymer PK belt.

Traditionally, the 7.62x54mmR belts used by the PK series of guns have been made from metal and are non-disintegrating, meaning they remain linked together after they’ve been used, while NATO machine guns tend to use disintegrating belts that fall apart once the rounds held in them have been fired.

On 3 September, PUFGUN announced the introduction of the new disintegrating belts, explaining some of their features:

“The tape is made of high-strength polymer – a light and durable material. 3 times lighter than metal analogues. The total weight of the package for 100 links is 220g
Due to the physical properties of the polymer, the loading of the PUFGUN loose belt is carried out faster than that of a metal belt.
Maintains functionality in temperature conditions from -40C to +70C.
Not subject to corrosion, does not require special conditions for long-term storage.”

Packs of 100 links are being sold for 548 Rubles or $5.75 on PUFGUN’s website.

PUFGUN shared a pair of photos, on 10 September, comparing the weight of a loaded traditional metal belt with one of their non-disintegrating belts, with the metal belt weighing 2.8kgs while the polymer belt weighed in at 2.37kgs. In the caption they claim that the photos were taken by Russian special forces unit Grom. OSN “Thunder”, who they state has been testing the belts since late August. The post claims Grom’s first impression was ‘quite good’. The post on PUFGUN’s telegram has since been deleted.

On 14 September a video showcasing the belts was posted by Mikha Mikhalych, a Russian gun content-creator, reviewing the belts. In the video two types of belt are featured; the disintegrating belt and a non-disintegrating one. The video also features a polymer belt box developed by PUFGUN, which is said to weigh around 150g. Combining the box with the polymer belts appears to be a meaningful push towards reducing the weight of the PK’s ammunition carriage system.

On 26 September, PUFGUN announced the non-disintegrating polymer belts on their social media. These belts share the same technical specifications as the disintegrating belts but notable are made from a clear plastic rather than a black plastic. While these have previously appeared in the earlier video they are not, at the time of publication, available for purchase on the company’s site. It appears that the links will be sold in packs of 100, with a starter tab and four disintegrating connector links which allows 25-round belts to be linked together.

On 9 October, PUFGUN shared a short clip showing their non-disintegrating belt being loaded by an Rakov belt-filling machine. This video was made in collaboration with ‘Granit’, a Russian living history group which appears to have links to the Russian military. Granit also shared their own longer video showing the belts being used in a variety of old and new Russian machine guns ranging from a vintage SG-43 to the latest PK variant the 6P41M.

Much like the Ukrainian KS-122 polymer belts from RAROG, the PUFGUN belts do significantly reduce the weight on the gun itself and more broadly for transporting ready ammunition. PUFGUN have sought to address the need for both disintegrating belts, useful for troops on the move that don’t want to be encumbered by trailing empty belts, while the non-disintegrating belts are more easily reloaded and better suited to use in vehicles or static positions. It’s interesting to see both sides commercially developing polymer belts to address a perceived need shared by both sides.

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! You can also find us on the History of Weapons & War app. Thank you for your support!

Dismounted 2A28s as Improvised Support Guns

The 2A28 Grom is the main armament of the BMP-1 and BMD-1 infantry fighting vehicles, it is essentially a 73mm low-pressure gun which fires a variety rounds ranging from HEAT to HE-Frag. Developed in the early 1960s it has been in Russian service ever since.

While it is the same calibre as its tripod-mounted cousin the SPG-9 it is designed to fire rounds with less propellant charge. In the last six months there have been a series of sightings of Russian troops testing 2A28s which have been dismounted from vehicles and mounted on craft-made or repurposed carriages for use as infantry support guns.

A 2A28 on what appears to be a 2B9 carriage (via social media)

The first of these I’ve been able to find appeared on 27 May, this example was seen in a short video being test fired. The gun itself appears to have been mounted on a carriage similar to that used by the 2B9 Vasilek automatic mortar, though there are some differences in the trails. The crew of a gunner and loader are able to get of 10 rounds in 40 seconds with the gunner adjusting his aim several times. In the background there appears to be a team training with a conventional SPG-9. It could be argued that the wheeled carriage offers and advantage over the SPG-9 which has to be deployed on foot by its crew. The dismounted 2A28s could be seen as DIY analogues of the old Swedish PV-1110s which have seen limited service with the Ukrainians.

A 2A28 mounted on a commercial trailer which is removed when setting up to fire (via social media)

Several months later on the 1 July, another dismounted 2A28 appeared. The first of two videos showed the gun being towed into position by a tractor. The 2.37 minute-long video shows the crew bringing the gun into action: uncoupling it from the tractor, fitting the trails and front support. The carriage itself has been fabricated using a commercial trailer which is removed from a frame once the trials and supports have been fitted. The frame is built around a ring for the BMP-1’s original turret ring to sit on. This appears to allow rotation using the turret ring. The BMP-1’s turret has been cutaway to enable the gunner to access the breech. A couple of photographs of the salvaged turret being adapted were also shared with the videos. It takes the crew approximately 1 minute 40 seconds to bring the gun into action, the design is quite ingenious if unwieldy. The video concludes with the gunner refusing a lanyard and firing the gun personally.

The second shorter video shows a gunner operating the gun alone loading and firing another four rounds in 17 seconds. The gun jumps and moves back significantly despite the carriage’s trails having spades to reduce recoil movement. Some sources claim the unit is part of the 25th Combined Arms Army, the Russian combatant filming the video mentions the ‘3rd Battalion’ but does not mention a regiment or brigade.

On the 26 July, a short video of a pair of 2A28s mounted on well built craft-made carriages, which appear to share a common design, was shared. While the design of the carriage appears to be the same they have different sized tyres.

Another well made dismounted gun based on a 2B9 carriage (via social media)

Most recently, on 6 September, a Russian engineer shared a couple of photos of a carriage-mounted 2A28 he came across at a unit near the front. The carriage again appears to be from a 2B9 Vasilek mortar. The 2A28’s trunion appears to be mounted directly on to the carriage.

The idea of re-purposing the 2A28 isn’t a new one with the guns seen dismounted around the world with examples from past and current conflicts in Libya, Syria and Africa. According to open source figures from Oryx an estimated 824 Russian BMP-1s had been damaged or destroyed. These knocked out BMP-1s and others which have broken down in the field are likely the source of the 2A28s in use in the craft-made support guns.

The rarity with which these DIY support guns have appeared on social media suggests that they may not be an entirely practical weapon system though their existence points to a perceived need for infantry support guns in the field. The 2A28’s effective battlefield range is likely around 500 yards, but given the guns are now unstably mounted on ad-hoc carriages, rather than a 13 tonne BMP-1 they suffer from greater recoil which may be a detriment to their effectiveness.

A pair of dismounted 2A28s testing at a range (via social media)

If the guns are to be used to harass, suppress or saturate a target at medium ranges they may be more effective but the Ukrainian battlefield is not an ideal space for an exposed crew to be manning a 2A28. With large stretches of open ground dominated by artillery and drones the dismounted 2A28s are likely to be of little value, even if crews attempted to tow them into optimal range. The dismounted 2A28, however, might prove more effective in the urban battlespace where support guns are valuable for dislodging enemy defenders from positions. Given I’ve not been able to find any verified footage of the guns in use in combat so far it is difficult to objectively gauge their effectiveness without speculation.

Update – 17/2/25:

Update – 7/10/25:

A Russian ad hoc technical with a 73mm 2A28 cannon mounted on what appears to be a chopped Moskvich 412. Date and location of the video is unconfirmed.

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! You can also find us on the History of Weapons & War app. Thank you for your support!

Rare Sightings of Heckler & Koch G36 & HK433s in Ukraine

In mid-August there began to be sightings of small numbers of interesting Heckler & Koch rifles with Ukrainian special operations units. We’ve previously seen HK416s in use with a variety of units, check out our earlier article/video on those. However, it now appears that alongside H416s there are now a limited number of G36s and HK433s in use in Ukraine.

The first image of these appeared on 12 August, when Assault Bastards, a team affiliated with Ukraine’s Intelligence Directorate’s (the GUR) Kraken regiment, shared a photograph of a combatant with a suppressed G36KA4 at the range. On the 18 August, shybenyk.squad, a team associated with the Kraken Operations Unit, posted a team photo with the caption “GUR MOrning. Kill & travel”, with one combatant on the far right seen holding an HK G36KA4. The rifle has an HKey forend, HK’s proprietary mounting system, and is equipped with an Aimpoint RDS and a 3X-C magnifier and an Ase Utra DUAL556-S-BL suppressor.

On 23 August, shybenyk.squad shared a group photo posing in front of a signpost for the village of Lyptsi in the Kharkiv oblast. In the photo we can make out a pair of G36KA4s. Intriguingly both appear to be loaded with STANAG pattern polymer magazines rather than HK’s translucent magazines. This would indicate that either some of the rifles were shipped with magazine well adapters or were shipped with them.

Shortly after these photos emerged a member of the Kraken regiment shared a close up photo of one of the G36KA4s with my colleagues at StreakingDelilah. It has an HK translucent magazine and is fitted with an Aimpoint T2 RDS and Aimpoint 3X-C magnifier and an Ase Utra DUAL556-S-BL [Correction: DUAL QM-2] suppressor. This appears to be the common setup and likely how the rifles were shipped. On the HKey forend we can see a short rail segment has been attached for mounting a light or laser aiming device. The rifle looks in great condition, appearing as if new out the box.

shybenyk.squad shared another group photo alongside the Assault Bastards group on the 24 August. The photo again features two previously seen G36KA4s. Speaking to Shybenyk.squad they noted that they only received a couple of the rifles.

On the 26 August another member of Kraken shared photographs of himself firing a G36KA4 at a range. The rifle has the usual accessories and is loaded with an HK translucet 30-round magazine. On 30 August, shybenyk.squad shared another image of a combatant with an G36KA4 again fitted with Aimpoint optics and an Ase Utra suppressor. The rifle has been painted up and is seen loaded with a polymer MAG (what appears to be a Mission First Tactical Extreme Duty Magazine). Again indicating magazine well adaptors are in use.

But there may have been some earlier sightings dating back to 2023. In mid-June 2023, Tysk shared a series of three photos of a Ukrainian serviceman with a G36K with a railed forend. The rifle doesn’t have any optics mounted and the folding back-up iron sights are deployed. Tysk noted that they had been sent the photos by a serving subscriber but there was no further detail on where the photos were taken – be it in Ukraine or during training abroad.

Several months later in October, a member of the 12th Assault Brigade (Azov) shared a photograph of another G36K series rifle, again with no optics and a paint job similar to the earlier rifle. The combatant who shared the photograph noted that it wasn’t his rifle but claimed that a number of them were in his unit’s armoury for a time. In early November, a German colleague DEAidUA, contacted the BMVg (German MoD) who stated to him that they had “no knowledge of the transfer of these weapons to Ukraine.” Additionally, there has been no mention of the rifles on the German government’s extensive list of aid to Ukraine. The only small arms mentioned include a number of pistols, some MG3s and the HK MG5s we’ve examined in a previous article/video.

HK433

In addition to the G36s yet another Heckler & Koch rifle has appeared in Ukraine recently – the HK433. The first sighting of an HK433 in Ukraine actually predates the recent sightings of G36s. At the very end of July a member of Kraken posted a photograph featuring an HK433 equipped with a Aimpoint T2 RDS, an Aimpoint 3X-C magnifier, a Magpul RGV front grip, a Steiner DBAL A2 laser aiming module and a Norwegian A-TEC ‘A-Flow’ suppressor. The combatant who shared the photo stated that his platoon had received 10 of these rifles for testing and evaluation purposes, though he did not state if they had been provided directly by HK. On speaking to the combatant about the rifles he noted that they had performed well but that they had not yet been used in combat but they had been taken out on operations.

It was over a month before another image of the HK433s surfaced, on 18 September four HK433s, three with Aimpoint Micro T2s and magnifiers and one with an EOTECH XPS and a magnifier, they all appear to have the A-TEC suppressors. The photo appears to be of a recce squad and was shared by Kraken’s 3rd assault company.

The most recent photo of an HK433 to surface was shared on Telegram with a caption noting the combatant that submitted the photo was part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and operating in the Kharkiv oblast. The combatant is possibly part of the National Guard’s 12th Assault Brigade.

It would seem that Ukraine has received small numbers of G36s and HK433s and that these have been issued to teams associated with. the Kraken regiment and the 12th Assault Brigade. The source of these rifles is unclear, while the G36KA4s may have come from one of the Baltic nations the HK433s are newer, less common rifles and have not yet been adopted by any militaries in the 5.56x45mm configuration. This may indicate that the rifles were provided by Heckler & Koch themselves, its unclear if the G36s may have been included in the same batch.

Update – 5/10/24: Another G36 with magazine adapter and PMAG. (Source)

Update – 6/10/24: The hammer insignia would suggest the combatant is from the same unit as the rifle pictured above.

Update – 7/10/24:

A couple of additional images of HK G636s in Ukrainian service shared by Ukrainian Special Military on IG. Again the rifles are seen evidently using magazine adapters. The rifle on the right has an unusual magazine adapter, which I’ve so far been unable to ID. It seems to be either in-the-white or, perhaps more likely, 3D printed.

Intriguingly, in photograph on the right the rifle’s serial number and markings are visible. With an ’84’ serial number prefix and a ‘DE’ marking visible. It’s pictograph selector markings (rather than S-E-F) are also visible.

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! You can also find us on the History of Weapons & War app. Thank you for your support!

RPG-FPV – Rocket Launcher Drones in Ukraine

In a recent video/article I mentioned that the Ukraine-aligned Georgian Legion had mounted an RPG-7 on an drone and successfully tested it. Several days later video of another drone equipped with disposable RPG was shared. Posted on 10 September it shows a Queen Hornet FPV equipped with an RPG-18 anti-armour weapon. The drone is seen taking off at a range and hovering. The short clip does not show the RPG-18 being fired.

This isn’t the first time a drone with a disposable RPG mounted on it has been seen in Ukraine. In January 2023, a photograph surfaced of a heavy-lift DJI Agras T-30 armed with a gimbal mounted PK-pattern machine gun and a Bulgarian Bullspike anti-armour weapon. The photo has since been shared regularly but with no further context. One post claimed it was associated with a GUR unit (Solnyshko DRB).

Still showing Bulava’s RPG-FPV (via Wild Hornets)

On 13 September, the Wild Hornets (a Ukrainian drone manufacturing organisation) shared a video of another RPG-FPV. The 56 second video, soundtracked by music from Terminator 2, showed a Queen Hornet drone equipped with what appears to be a Bulgarian Bullspike-AT. The efforts to develop an RPG-FPV based on the Queen Hornet appear to be lead by the Bulava drone team, part of the 3rd battalion of the Separate Presidential Brigade. The Bullspike-AT is produced by VMZ and fired a PG-22 pattern warhead, it has an effective range of 500m and can penetrate up to 400mm of armour. It weighs in at around 3.4kg, which is well within the Queen Hornet’s 9.5kg (21lbs) payload. The video shows the RPG-FPV take off and fire at a target down range. The drone can be seen pitching down to aim and then returning level before landing. This appears to have been a test of the assembly of the system to confirm the concept. In the photographs at the beginning of the video it appears that the weapon is fired by a servo arm which depresses the weapon’s trigger.

The Bulava RPG-FPV was again briefly seen in a fundraising video shared by the unit on 15 September. A close-up of the drone shows an RPG being attached to the drone with a zip-tie and the servo arm trigger mechanism is again visible.

On the 17 September, Wild Hornets shared another short video from the Bulava team, claiming that the team had been working on ‘calibrating the drone grenade launcher’ leading to the ‘shots [becoming] more accurate.’

RPG-FPVs are something that Russia has also begun developing with one showcased at the recent ARMY 2024 defence exposition. The drone appears to consist of a ‘Gortensia’ quadcopter armed with an RPG-26 anti-armour weapon. The drones was developed by Гортензия (Gortensia) and has a range of 10km and a payload of up to 6kg. On an info sheet shared at ARMY 2024 the company claims they are developing a system that allows the drone to jettison the empty RPG tube once it has fired. Images from ARMY 2024 show a dovetail-type attachment with a cradle attached to the RPG’s tube. On 18 August, the company shared two videos of test launches of the RPG-armed Gortensia drone. The videos show the drone take off and then the drone pitches down to aim and then fires. On firing the RPG’s tube detaches from the drone, seemingly using the weapon’s recoil to jettison it. In the second video, the drone travels further down range and fires on the target at a flatter trajectory, again the tube detaches from the drone.

‘Gortensia’ quadcopter with an RPG-26 (via social media)

In mid-September Russian government organisation People’s Front shared a short video showing a octocopter armed with an RPG-22 being tested at the range. The RPG-22 is mounted on its side The long body of the extended RPG-22 body, at 850mm long, seems to somewhat impact the balance of the drone. Despite this the test fire appears to be successful, it’s unclear if this is a development by a drone company or a Russian unit.

While the RPG-FPV has more firepower than the gun-armed drones which have begun to emerge they are still a concept in development. The major positive of the RPG-FPV is the use of an anti-armour weapon which means that the drones aren’t a part of the munition, as in the case of the kamikaze/one-way FPVs, and can be reused. Similarly, the firing of the RPG’s warhead means the drone does not have to be directly over its target as with a bomber drone. This means the RPG-FPV can engage at stand-off distance and has increased survivability. The difficulty, as we’ve seen with the gun-armed drones, is aiming the launcher accurately. It’s still unclear if the drone operators are using the FPV’s primary camera to aim the weapon, this would mean the aiming process might be impacted by latency, the lack of a reticle and poor feed quality. One way to increase hit probability might be to mount the RPG vertically as Nammo did in their tests of an M72-armed drone back in late 2021. The technology and doctrine for RPG-FPVs is still developing so it will be interesting to see how these drones evolve and are employed tactically.

Update 22/9/24:

A video of an RPG-FPV, developed by an unspecified manufacturer, was shared by MASH with the caption (machine translated):

“Meet the new product in the SVO zone – the flying RPG-26. The drone has already passed tests and will soon delight the military on the front lines.

According to our information, the request for the device came from the Ugledar direction, since ours went on the offensive. The first batch of fighters is preparing for flights.

Features: stabilization mode, which does not throw the drone back after firing. On the contrary, the drone returns to the base to replace the grenade launcher. It is equipped with an RPG-26 with armor penetration of 440 mm (and the prospect of installing a “Shmel” flamethrower). It carries up to 12 kg, rises to 800 meters, flies 30 km at a speed of up to 60 km / h. The miracle costs about 600 thousand rubles, the footage shows winter tests.”

Update – 14/1024: A Wall Street Journal article (by Isabel Coles) featured photographs of one of the Ukrainian RPG-FPVs pictured during assembly and range testing.

Update – 8/11/24: An ArmyInform video looking at the Bulava RPG-FPV. It appears to show the same test launch featured in earlier videos.

Update – 29/12/24: A Russia RPG-FPV fires on a building.

A Russian FPV hits a building with a rocket launcher, possibly an RPG-18.The rocket motor burns out completely in the launch tube, so the FPV isn’t hit by backblast.

— Roy (@grandparoy2.bsky.social) 2024-12-29T03:59:36.520Z

Update – 15/2/25: Russian with RPG-FPV, no further information available. (Source)

Update – 28/2/25:

Ukraine’s Presidential Brigade shared a video showcasing the work of its drone teams. In the video an AK-FPV is highlighted.

Update – 13/5/25:

WildHornets have shared what they report is the first combat use of their RPG-armed drone.

Additional footage from WildHornets gives us a closer look at the drone:

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! You can also find us on the History of Weapons & War app. Thank you for your support!