This is the MSD-5, a small, hand-held shotgun-like device which has been suggested as an anti-drone weapon. With the massive increase in UAV and (first person view) FPV drone use various means of combatting them ranging from electronic warfare to simple hunting shotguns have been deployed by both sides.
In recent weeks a number of Ukrainian social media accounts have shared the idea of using the MSD-5 as a short-range defence against diving FPV drones. I hadn’t seen the weapon before and none of the posts about it explicitly mentioned its designation or manufacturer. I did some research and found that the small hand gun was called the MSD-5 and is manufactured by Stellarium SV, a company based in Chernihiv, in northern Ukraine.
An MSD-5 (via Sergey Flash)
In January, Sergey Flash (a Ukrainian serviceman and communication specialist) posted a video discussing the need for an immediate defence against FPVs and held up an MSD-5 describing it as “a possible way of protection” but emphasising that his aim wasn’t to advertise the device but simply call “attention to a possible remedy for the soldiers”.
Stellarium SV’s website explains that rather than being a weapon it is primarily sold as a signalling device with five different 12×88 cartridges available, two signalling cartridge types, a noise cartridge for scaring off animals, a cartridge which can extinguish flames and one for spraying plants to treat and protect them from various types of pests and diseases.
Here is a promotional video for the MSD-5:
It is unclear if the device is robust enough or has barrels suitable for firing something like birdshot pellets. Stellarium SV note that the device is made from “high-strength plastics based on reinforced polyamide” but do state that “the drum can be fitted with stainless steel or titanium liners.”. The device has 5 tubes or barrels and is electrically fired. It appears to have a cross bolt safety in front of the grip, below the exposed trigger. It weighs 800g and is powered by three CR123A batteries. Stellarium SV’s site lists the device’s price as 430 Euros.
On the 20 February, Flash posted another short video of himself firing MSD-5 at a range with the caption:
“Tested today the new cartridges for the “soldier’s weapon against FPV”. Specialists are working, I hope we will produce a product that we will give to every soldier. My task, after the product is ready for the series, is to achieve its introduction into the Armed Forces.”
An MSD-5 with its action open (Stellarium SV)
Along with the video he also posted a photograph of a target peppered with holes from small shot. The video shows the MSD-5 being fired with minimal recoil, suggesting a light load.
I reached out to Stellarium SV about the potential conversion of the MSD-5 into a personal anti-FPV weapon and they were keen to stress that this ” is not a use case that we endorse or support” and that they do not produce a cartridge capable of this and that anyone who made adapted cartridges is not related to Stellarium SV. The company did note that loading cartridges with shot was possible but getting the powder charge right was key. They also noted that the MSD-5 does not have sights which may make aiming difficult, though at the probable engagement ranges instinctive point shooting may be what Flash has in mind.
A test target photo posted by Sergey Flash (via Sergey Flash)
I also reached out to Sergey Flash to enquire about how he was adapting the MSD-5 but at the time of publication have not yet had a reply. While the MSD-5 may not have been designed with an anti-drone role in mind, the concept of a similar handheld, lightweight, last-ditch, defence against FPVs seems a sensible answer to a urgent and difficult problem.
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We’ve examined a number of artillery systems in use in Ukraine, including the venerable M101 howitzers and the MT-100s mounted on MT-LBs, one of the smallest and most interesting howitzers in use is the OTO Melara Mod 56.
The Mod 56 is a small 105mm pack howitzer. It weighs in at 1.29 metric tons and it can be towed by light vehicles. It has a split trail gun carriage and a hydro-pneumatic recuperator assembly. Developed by Italy’s OTO Melara the gun entered service in the mid-1950s and has seen service with countries around the world including Italy, the UK, Australia, Spain, Pakistan and the Philippines.
An OTO Melara Mod 56 (Ukraine National Guard)
Much like the heavier M101 howitzers, transferred to Ukraine by Lithuania, the Mod 56 can use any M1 105mm ammunition. With its short 1.47 metre-long barrel, the Mod 56 has a maximum effective range of around 10,000 metres (10km/6 miles). While this puts it at a severe disadvantage compared to the larger 155mm howitzers used by Ukraine and the 152mm guns used by Russia the small Mod 56 has the advantage of being lightweight and can be deployed forward under cover. The most useful role it could likely fulfil is as an infantry support gun.
In November 2022, Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles confirmed that Spain would send a battery of six light howitzers and also provide training for Ukrainian gun crews. Subsequently, a brief clip of Ukrainian gunners training on the Mod 56 was shared in late November.
A Mod 56 in action (via social media)
The guns were seen in Ukraine for the first time in early January, with a short clip of one of the guns firing being shared on 11 January. It appears the gunner is wearing a National Guard patch but its unclear which unit the gun belongs to. On 12 January, the 1st Mechanized Battalion of Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade posted an info-graphic giving some basic detail on the Mod 56.
On 20 February, a brief clip of a Mod 56 was shared, the footage was believed to have been taken in the vicinity of Bakhmut. However, photographs taken by an AP photographer, Libkos, of the same gun showed that the gun was actually in action in Avdiivka, Donetsk. The series of photographs also showed that the gun was being operated by a National Guard unit and the crew was using drone footage to select their targets. One photograph was also shared by President Zelensky on 5 March. Interestingly, the gun is seen without its shield.
Another video of one of the guns in action was shared on 16 April. It was several months before more imagery of the Mod 56s in use appeared but on 1 June, the Ukrainian National Guard shared a photograph of one of the guns and several days later, on 3 June, a short video of a gun in action was shared.
A Mod 56 in action (via social media)
Most recently on 19 July, a Ukrainian National Guard unit shared a brief clip of a Mod 56 firing. It also nicely illustrates the gun’s breech mechanism.
From the available imagery, it appears that the guns are operated by Ukraine’s National Guard, though which artillery unit is unclear. While it has been confirmed that Spain has provided at least 6 Mod 56 howitzers, it remains unknown if any other countries, such as Italy, have provided the small guns.
Update – 29/12/23:
An undated sighting of a Mod 56 in operation in Ukraine. Notably half of the gun shield appears to be missing.
⚡️The 105-mm howitzer OTO Melara Mod 56 handed over by 🇪🇸Spain is in service with the Armed Forces of 🇺🇦Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/HyvMr6MWdE
— Matthew Moss | Historical Firearms (@historicfirearm) July 23, 2024
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Earlier this month Popular Mechanics published an article I wrote about GRaft, a Ukrainian company which has manufactured belt boxes for almost every type of machine gun being used by the Ukrainian armed forces.
While belt boxes might not seem like the most exciting pieces of military equipment, they’re no less vital than the guns they’re paired with; the boxes are essential for storing and carrying ready-to-use belts of linked ammunition, and they allow machine gunners to move around unencumbered by hanging belts that can become tangled.
M240 GPMG with GRaft 100-round belt box (GRaft)
GRaft initially designed and manufactured furniture including benches and tables but with the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, they have since turned their attention and skills to belt boxes. With machine guns being transferred to Ukraine by a plethora of different countries this has led to a wide variety of machine guns entering service with the Ukrainian armed forces. In many cases the machine guns transferred to Ukraine are often without enough belt boxes.
I spoke to one of GRaft’s engineers who explained that their impetus to begin designing and manufacturing belt boxes came from friends’ experience with old boxes for PK-pattern machine guns. He explained that the old aluminium PK boxes had seen decades of service and there was a general shortage of them.
GRaft belt boxes at various stages of fabrication (GRaft)
GRaft began work on their PK box in April 2022 and within a month had a design ready for manufacture. GRaft refined its designs based on direct user feedback and soon began working on belt boxes for other weapons ranging from 14.5mm KPVs to 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm FN Minimis.
GRaft kindly shared some videos from their workshop showing how the belt boxes are fabricated. They use laser cutting to cut sheet metal into blanks which are then shaped and riveted and spot welded into their final form. They work with a small paint shop that then powder coat the boxes.
PK GPMG with GRaft belt box (GRaft)
The company also developed 75 and 100-round boxes for the FN MAG/M240, the 100 round box was designed with an angled wall so the mass of the belt sits closer to the weapon’s center of balance, improving the weapon’s handling. Similarly they have also begun producing boxes for 7.62x51mm MG42-pattern machine guns. Their goal, the engineer told me, is “satisfied machine gunners” but really they’d like to get back to producing furniture.
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During my recent video with author and journalist David Hambling discussing drone warfare in Ukraine, we briefly touched on the phenomena of drone dogfighting. Drone use in Ukraine has been a prominent feature of the conflict and drones have been used in roles ranging from Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) to direct action against targets – either through one-way loitering/kamikaze drones or by drone-dropped munitions.
Naturally, the threat drones pose, either from information gathering, artillery forward observation or direct attacks, means that both sides have sought to interdict and destroy the other’s drones. In some cases, this has seen opposing drones attacking one another in dogfights. This raises some fascinating parallels with early military aviation, during the First World War, which saw initially unarmed observation aircraft begin to carry weapons and attack one another.
Some of the earliest instances of these drone dogfights were reported in October 2022, with an initial video featuring a pair of DJI Mavic quadcopters, with the Ukrainian drone destroying the Russian drone by breaking its rotors. Another video posted on 18 October, reportedly shows a Ukrainian drone dive down onto a Russian quadcopter damaging it. Several more similar videos were shared in November. One shared around 14 November again shows a drone attacking from above. Towards the end of the month, on 25 November, a DJI Mavic clearly marked with a ‘Z’ was rammed from above by a Ukrainian drone.
Check out our earlier video on drone warfare:
In early December, a different technique was demonstrated with a drone from the separatist 1st Donetsk Army Corps dropping a weighted net onto a Ukrainian drone below it. This has the benefit of not having to use a valuable asset to ram, and potentially lose while attempting to attack an enemy drone. It also has the advantage that it presumably uses the same munition release mechanism used to drop munitions on ground targets. The drawback to net dropping, however, is the increased chances of missing the target and a limit to how many attempts the operator has to attack a target. In mid-December another video was shared, this time by Ukraine’s 54th Mechanised Brigade, showing the ramming of another drone.
A Russian drone seen via the feed from an attacking Ukrainian drone (via social media)
February 2023 saw further videos of drone dogfights, in another piece of footage shared on 24 February, we can see the attacking Russian drone taking its time to line up on its target before attacking, it is possible to the attacked Ukrainian drone fall to the ground.
As can be seen in videos like this one from mid-February, aiming a drone for a ramming run at an opposing drone below can be difficult. In our earlier video, David explained the favoured tactic of attacking from above has a number of advantages in that it allows the attacking drone to maintain visual contact with the drone’s camera and also avoid being seen by the target drone’s camera which is also unable to look upwards. The more robust body of the drone is what makes contact with the target drone’s rotors – increasing the attacking drone’s survivability. In some of the videos, the target drone appears unaware it’s about to be attacked.
DJI Mavic struck by another drone damaging its rotor blades (via social media)
This was again demonstrated in a video posted by the Ukrainian 10th Mountain Division in March, which showed a drone making numerous ramming runs on a Russian quadcopter. In early May, a video of a Russian DJI Matrice 30 series drone being hunted by a Ukrainian DJI Mavic was shared. While the Ukrainian drone was destroyed too, the loss of a ≈$2,000 Mavic to destroy a Matrice worth approximately $12,000 makes tactical sense. On 25 March, Russian telegram channels shared a video from a team called Project Krechet featuring a test showing a fast-moving First Person View (FPV) drone ramming a larger quadcopter. The telegram posts noted that the ‘Small anti-drone fighter aircraft’ are much cheaper and better suited to the role than DJI Mavics.
In late April, footage of another drone dogfight was shared showing a Russian Mavic being downed by a Ukrainian drone. In early May, the Russian news agency RIAshared footage of a clash between a Russian drone and a Ukrainian DJI Mavic, reportedly in the Donetsk, Adviivka region. On 24 May, Escadrone, a Ukrainian manufacturer and supplier of FPV kamikaze drones shared what is believed to be the first video of a Ukrainian FPV drone attacking a Russian reconnaissance quadcopter.
An FPV drone attacks a Russian quadcopter (Escadrone)
While not a drone vs drone dogfight on 30 June, a video of a Ukrainian drone dropping a munition on a Russian Zala 421-16E2 which was on the ground, shows another nuance to drone vs drone engagements. This video is similar to the popular tactic of ‘drone demolition’, the dropping of munitions into enemy vehicles that have been mobility killed. In both the case of the Zala and ground vehicles the demolition missions deny the enemy the asset’s recovery and future use.
With drones playing a fundamentally important role for both sides instances of drone vs drone combat are only likely to increase. We may also see the emergence of more complex onboard methods of drones attacking other drones.
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The MT-LB tracked artillery tractor has become one of the most recognisable armoured vehicles of the war in Ukraine. These versatile vehicles are used by both sides in huge numbers and while first introduced in the 1970s they continue to be used as both armoured personnel carriers and also as the platform for a plethora of weapon systems ranging from rocket pods to auto-cannons to MT-12 anti-tank guns.
In this article/video we’ll look at two specific MT-LB adaptations; one Russian, one Ukrainian.
Russian MT-LB adaptation with a 2M-3 turret which was first seen in March 2023 (via Social Media)
Russia’s Turreted MT-LB
In March 2023, a number of photographs and videos emerged of Russian MT-LBs which had been fitted with a large turret complex over the rear portion of the vehicle. The turrets are naval 2M-3s which mount a pair of 25mm 110-PM autocannons. The first images surfaced at the beginning of March. The strikingly ugly turret quickly led to ridicule on social media and numerous memes mocking the vehicle. Between the 8 and 10 March a series of short videos showing the turret-adapted MT-LBs on the move. One video showed several vehicles in a yard with a large crane, perhaps suggesting they had been off-loaded. The person filming the video notes that the unusual turrets and were apparently ‘sent for defence’. The footage features at least five turreted-MT-LBs, one appearing to also have an adapted front commander’s turret.
Another clip, shared around 10 March, shows a transport train with numerous vehicles loaded, including some Russian Military Police vans. Two (possibly four) of the adapted MT-LBs can be seen. Similarly, another clip showing the vehicles in transit through an urban area features one perhaps two adapted-MT-LBs.
Other examples of Russian MT-LB adaptations with 2M-3 turrets (via Social Media)
Since the early spring there have been no sightings of the vehicles but in late May a video and several photos were shared featuring a Russian combatant riding in the turret of one of the adapted MT-LBs, the anti-aircraft style style sight can be seen in the video and one of the photographs.
Russia is likely making use of turrets that have been in storage since the vessels they were mounted on were decommissioned. Their is probably still an ample supply of ammunition for the 25mm autocannons. The mount has -12° to +85° elevation and 360° rotation giving it a good field of fire for use against ground targets.
Just what role Russia envisioned for the turreted MT-LBs is still unclear. They could be used in direct fire roles perhaps as support guns which can help plug gaps in defensive lines with suppressive fire. Or perhaps as mobile anti-aircraft vehicles for taking on drones but their limited manual targeting would mean they would struggle to be a match for even slow moving drones. Other potential uses might be as assault guns or as a more heavily armed vehicle for internal security duties protecting supply lines from Ukrainian partisans.
Ukrainian MT-LBu adaptation with a KPV heavy machine gun remote weapon system (via Social Media)
Ukraine’s MT-LB Refits
While many of both sides’ MT-LB adaptations have focused on simply mounting a weapon system to the rear deck or where the commander’s original PKT mount was, a recent Ukrainian refit has gone much further. A video was shared by a Ukrainian MT-LB crewmember which showed six vehicles all refit to a similar configuration. It appears that additional armour has been added to the sides and rear of the vehicle in an effort to provide additional protection to the lightly armoured MT-LB. [Correction: the vehicle has 7 road-wheels indicating the adaptation is likely based on an MT-LBu variant. These have been described as BMP-1LBs.] The vehicles also have new storage baskets, smoke-grenade launchers and a new remote weapon mount controlled from inside the MT-LB. A photograph of the front of the mount shows that it mounts a single 14.5x114mm KPVT machine gun, remotely fired and aimed using an electro-optics module positioned to the left side of the gun. The weapon and optics are protected by a curved gun shield, the cuts in the shield suggest that the weapon’s range of elevation is considerable.
Russian MT-LB adaptation with twin DShk mount on the original PKT turret (via Social Media)
These vehicles are are just two examples of MT-LBs in Ukraine adapted with ad-hoc weapon mounts. There are dozens of other examples of up-gunned MT-LBs deployed by both sides. Other commonly seen adaptations include fitting ZU-23-2 anti-aircaft mounts to MT-LBs
In February 2023, Ukrainian troops shared a video of a Russian MT-LB captured near Vuhledar, which had been fitted with a 2M-7 naval turret mounting a pair of 14.5mm KPV heavy machine guns. Similar vehicles appeared in photographs showing several MT-LBs with ad-hoc adaptations which included one vehicle with the same, as well as other vehicles with other dual and single gun mounts. One can be seen mounted with a single DShK on a tall, exposed pintle mount.
In May, an MT-LB was sighted with a twin DShK mount. Similarly, another MT-LB fitted with a twin DShK mount on top of the existing PKT turret was shared on 10 June, it had also been adapted by adding track and boxes as appliqué armour. Also in June, a photograph of a pair of MT-LBs equipped with A-22 140mm multiple rocket launch systems was shared on Telegram.
With Ukraine forming new brigades and both sides suffering considerable armoured vehicle losses the ubiquitous MT-LB, while lightly armoured, offers one of the best available platforms for mounting additional or role-specific weapons.
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We’ve examined a number of 5.56x45mm rifles in use with Ukrainian forces, notably the Colt Canada C7 and C8 and the M16A4 with many others to be covered in future articles/videos. In this article/video we’re going to examine HK416 use by Ukrainian personnel.
HK416s are far from a common weapon in Ukraine but recently there has been an increase in the frequency with which they have been seen. Since the beginning of 2023, there have been various configurations seen in the field with most being earlier variants of the HK416, likely with either 14.5 inch or 10.4 inch barrels paired with quad rail forends. There also seems to have been a small number of MR223, the civilian-market semi-automatic only version of the rifle, appear in imagery from the conflict.
One of the first HK416-pattern rifles seen in imagery from the conflict was shared in mid-May 2022 by a female Ukrainian combatant. An MR223 with a 16.5 inch barrel is seen leaning against a wall in the background of a photograph. What is believed to be the same rifle has been seen in another photograph mounted with a bipod and fitted with a long, over-barrel suppressor.
In January 2023, a photograph of a pair of SBU members wearing Saint Javelin shirts also featured an MR223A1. Another interesting photograph that appeared in January, features Ukrainian SOF members, one has an accessorised HK416 A5, identified by its adjustable gas block and less flat magazine well angle, with a Surfire SOCOM 556 [Correction: B&T Rotex] suppressor, a Sig Sauer Romeo4T or potentially a Holding 515 and a Stiener DBAL A3N laser module.
A Ukrainian combatant fires a HK GLM-pattern UBGL attached to an HK416 (via social media)
In March, a member of a Ukrainian special operations unit shared a photograph of himself with an HK416 with an 10.4 inch barrel and what appears to be an Aimpoint Comp. The same individual shared another photograph with the same rifle in early May, this time the carbine was fitted with what appears to be a Vortex Crossfire.
A note on nomenclature: the majority of the HK416s seen in Ukraine appear to be HK416 A2s, potentially of Dutch origin. Some sources describe these rifles using the ‘DxxRS’ designations such as D10RS for a 10.4 inch barrel carbines and D14.5RS for a 14.5 inch barrel rifles. This designation, however, doesn’t represent the various iterative changes in the rifles.
Another photograph believed to have been taken in early Spring features another unpainted HK416 A2 with a 10.4 inch barrel, note the folded front sight on the gas block which, fitted with an EOTech 5-series H WS. Another interesting photo, shared by a Japanese volunteer with the International Legion also features an HK416 fitted with a weapon light, a vertical foregrip and a Holosun HS510c reflex sight.
In April, a Taiwanese volunteer with the International Legion, shared several photos of his HK416 A2 with a 14.5 inch barrel fitted with an Aimpoint CompM5. In one photograph it has been paired with a GLM, 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher.
A Dutch HK416 A2 with a Swedish Aimpoint Comp M5 used by a member of the International Legion (via social media)
In response to questions he said he preferred the rifle to the FN SCAR-L as it is more durable but also noted that the HK416 was much heavier than the M4A1 he also used in Ukraine. He also shared a photograph of the rifle equipped with a EOTech 5 series holographic weapon sight. In one of the photographs he shared the rifle has an armoury ID tag on the left side of the magazine housing. This tag is similar to those used by the Dutch military, as seen on the C7A1 rifles which have been provided to Ukraine in large numbers. On many of the images of the rifles there are no clear markings to definitively indicate their country of origin. So the armoury ID tags with QR codes are potential indicators of Dutch origin.
On the 15 April the GUR shared an image with the International Legion, the GUR and the 10th Special Detachment to publicise a TV news piece about the Shaman Battalion. The context and date when photograph was taken remains unclear but the combatant featured in the image appears to have an HK416 with a 14.5 inch barrel. This photo may be a stock image and not one of Ukrainian origin.
In late April photographs of members of the 92nd Mechanised Brigade featured several combatants holding HK416 A2 w ith 14.5 inch barrels. The rifles are seen equipped with EOTech holographic weapons sights. Another photo, also believed to have been taken by a member of 92 OMBR, shows an HK416 A2, with a 14.5 inch barrel, a camouflage paint job, a Knights Armament Company-style vertical foregrip and an EOTech sight and EOTech G33 magnifier.
A suppressed HK416 A2, with 14.5 inch barrel, used by Elite Global Response (via social media)
In early May, Elite Global Response, a group which describes itself as a ‘private security company’, operating in Ukraine shared a number of posts on their Instagram page featuring several HK416 A2s. The rifles are seen fitted with a variety of suppressors (including Ukrainian Tihon suppressors) and optics including an TA11 ACOG and a Holosun AEMS. When asked about the rifles Elite Global Response said they’re “a lot lighter than previous weapons we’ve run [AK-74s and MSBS GROTs], less stoppages and easy to maintain.”
In mid May another photograph of an HK416 A2 was shared online equipped with a small optic. A member of a Ukrainian special operations unit shared a photograph on 18 May, showing a group of combatants, two of which have what appear to be HK416s, one unpainted and another painted with an ACOG mounted, both appear to have 10.4 inch barrels.
In late May photos of another 10.4 inch HK416 A2 were shared by a member of the 1st Assault Battalion of the 3rd Assault Brigade. The combatant’s rifle has a Surefire or possibly a Dead Air muzzle device and is mounted with a Leupold LCO optic and a magnifier. In one photograph the carbine is seen loaded with a 60-round D-60 drum magazine. Earlier footage shared in early May on TikTok suggests he’s been using the rifle since early 2023 and originally received it unpainted. When asked what he thought of the rifle he described it as “the best assault rifle there could be”. A short clip of the same combatant also shows him firing an HK GLM-pattern 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher. This older video also shows the rifle with a different muzzle device.
A Ukrainian combatant with an HK416 with a 10.3 inch barrel, Leupold LCO and D-60 drum magazine (via social media)
On the 5 June, a short clip of members of the Polish Volunteer Corps was shared showing a member of the unit clearing Russian positions with an HK416-pattern rifle – when the video was filmed is unclear. While the resolution is low the camouflage painted rifle appears to have a magnified optic, possibly an Aimpoint Comp and a CQB red dot sight. A few days later a body camera video of combatants from the International Legion showed another HK416-pattern rifle clearly with an armoury tag. While undated the video is said to have been filmed during fighting near Bakhmut. Most recently, on 12 June, another member of Ukraine’s special operations forces was seen with an HK416 A2 outfitted with an EOTech optic and magnifier.
While a number of countries that use the HK416 have provided military aid to Ukraine it seems that a significant proportion of the rifles seen in theatre originate from the Netherlands, with the rifles configurations, HK416 A2s with ambidextrous selectors and the presence of armoury QR tags, matching those used by the Dutch military. The Dutch Ministrie Van Defensie initially procured HK416s for their special forces in 2010 and have since procured further HK416 A5s. Regardless of origin how many of the Heckler & Koch rifles have been transferred to Ukraine is currently unclear.
HK417
Ukrainian marksman with an HK417 (via social media)
There have also been a smaller number of 7.62x51mm chambered HK417s seen in use with various Ukrainian units. These rifles are believed to also have been transferred by the Dutch military with the configuration of the rifles matching those used by the Dutch. With few so far seen in theatre research is still ongoing. These will be the topic of a future video/article when more information is available.
Update – 19/6/23: Footage of a 10.3in HK416 A2 in use near Bakhmut, date unknown.
A short engagement featuring a suppressed HK416, likely an A2 with a 10.3 inch barrel. Said to be from recent fighting on the edges of Bakhmut.
— Historical Firearms | Matthew Moss (@historicfirearm) June 19, 2023
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Bibliography:
Thank you to the guys at Streaking Delilah for sharing images they sourced and providing technical detail. Check out their instagram page here. Thanks also to Jonathan Ferguson for additional technical information.
Since April, a Ukrainian unit has shared a number of short videos showing a small mortar capable of firing 40mm grenades.
From their patches and TikTok username, 16batzsu, the men’s unit appears to be the 16th Separate Rifle Battalion. They appear to be part of the battalion’s embedded mortar battery and are seen operating other larger mortars and automatic grenade launchers in numerous videos.
A close up of the small mortar (via 16batzsu)
On the 11 February, 16batzsushared a video showing a small mortar with a stainless steel insert seen dropped into a small hand-held mortar. The same video was shared on their YouTube account under the title ‘New Toy’. While the resolution of the video is low it clearly uses the same barrel sleeve principal seen in later videos. In replies to comments 16batzsu explain that the small mortar has a range of 2km and is 30mm in calibre. This suggests that the weapon may launch 30×29mm VOG grenades normally fired by AGS automatic grenade launchers. Unlike the later 40mm mortars it does not appear to have a bipod. No further videos featuring the 30mm mortar have been shared.
A still from a video showing a 30mm handheld mortar (via 16batzsu)
The first video providing a close up look at the 40mm mortar was shared on the 26 April, with the small mortar in a pit next to an 82mm mortar. The mortar uses 40mm high velocity grenades which are slid into the base of a rifled steel barrel sleeve. The rifling is needed to both maximise the grenade’s range but also impart spin which arms grenade. The loaded sleeve is then dropped into the mortar tube, the grenade’s primer presumably strikes the mortar’ firing pin and the grenade is ignited firing it out of the mortar. The sleeve remains in the tube.
A closeup of the inside of the barrel sleeve, note the rifling (via 16batzsu)
In terms of size the small mortar looks similar to the Ukrainian 60mm KBA-118, however, the base plate, bipod and tube differ. Despite similarities I haven’t been able to find an exact match to a mass-produced mortar. The weapon appears to be well made and the examples seen in the videos appear to be near identical suggesting they may be a locally developed and produced weapon.
In a pair of videos posted on 3 May, we get a closer look at the weapon and a member of the unit explains the principal behind how it works. The tube has a pair of parallel cuts which allow the steel barrel sleeve to be removed. The video shows a pair of the small mortars and also shows the rifling inside the sleeve. The sleeve appears to have approximately 16 rifling grooves and on its exterior are three rings cut into the top end of the sleeves outer surface to aid removing it from the mortar tube.
A 40mm high velocity round about to be loaded into a rifled barrel sleeve (via 16batzsu)
Finally, in a video posted on 9 May, we can clearly see the mortar fired a number of times. The operators can also be seen loading the 40mm grenades into the rifled barrel sleeves. One man loads the three tubes while another fires the mortar. The spent grenade cases are removed with the aid of a metal ramrod. The 40mm grenades which appear in the video are high velocity high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) grenades of the type used with Mk19 automatic grenade launchers. The reason the sleeve is rifling is to arm the grenade’s fuze when the round is fired. These include grenades like the US M383, M384, M430 and M677 as well as German DM111 and DM 112.
A still of a 40mm grenade being loaded into a barrel sleeve (via 16batzsu)
So what is the small mortar for? Why not just use the unit’s Mk19 automatic grenade launcher? My initial theory was that the barrel sleeve might provide an increase in range over the Mk19 though the 2,000 metre range mentioned in one of the videos suggests the mortar has a range on parr with the Mk19. Another theory is that the unit’s Mk19 may be inoperable and they still have a supply of 40mm grenades to use. The grenades are also perhaps more readily available and cost-effective than small mortar rounds. It could also potentially have the effect of mimicking drone-dropped 40mm munitions, keeping enemy combatants on the look out for drones. As a harassment weapon the small mortar seems to have potential, allowing its operator to fire from cover while being relatively lightweight allowing it to shift firing positions quickly. The accuracy of the weapon is difficult to gauge but with the aid of an observation drone rounds could be walked into the vicinity of a target. The mortar is a very interesting piece of innovative engineering.
Thank you to Ukraine Weapons Warfare for bringing the original footage of the mortar to my attention.
Update – 06/06/23: Some additional footage from another member of the 16th Separate Rifle Battalion showing the 40mm grenade mortar in action.
Some additional footage of the interesting Ukrainian 40mm Grenade Mortar. The small mortar that fires 40mm high velocity grenades.
— Matthew Moss | Historical Firearms (@historicfirearm) June 6, 2023
Update – 22/10/23 – Some new footage showcasing the mortar. One of the Ukrainian combatants appears to have a National Guard 4th Rapid Reaction Rubizh Brigade, 3rd Battalion Svoboda patch. The video gives us a good close look at the tub, tangent sight, barrel sleeve and the bipod and base plate which appear to have slightly different designs.
Update – 28/11/23: Another sighting of the 40mm grenade mortar. This time in official photos shared by the 108th Territorial Defense Brigade on 25 November. The post suggests the mortar can also fire 30mm VOG rounds.
Update – 17/8/24: A new sighting of the 40mm grenade mortar showing some of the loading and firing steps.
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SMArt 155 is a Sensor Fuzed Munition (SFM), developed by Rheinmetall and Diehl BGT Defence in the late 1980s. It is a 155mm howitzer round which contains a pair of fire-and-forget top-attack submunitions. The submunitions use a ballute and parachute to slow their descent and allow the submunitions’ onboard infrared sensor and millimeter wave radar to locate its target and fire and explosively formed penetrator.
In a previous video/article we’ve looked at the 155 BONUS round which also carries two submunitions which are arrested by a pair of winglets which arrest the submunitions flight to enable their built-in sensors to detect targets within their search footprint before striking down on a target vehicle.
A cutaway of a SMArt 155 (Swiss Army)
The round is manufactured by GIWS, a joint venture between Diehl Defence and Rheinmetall, and entered service in the late 1990s. It is capable of being launched by NATO standard 155mm howitzers but in Ukraine appears to primarily be used in conjunction with Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers. The round is also in British service as the Ballistic Sensor Fused Munition fired from AS-90s, the UK has recently provided Ukraine with a number of AS-90s but it is unclear if they will deploy SMArt155 rounds.
The manufacturer describes SMArt 155 projectile as consisting of: “a thin-walled shell body, a base plate, an ejection unit, time fuse, and two functionally identical submunitions.” The SMArt155 round allows a 155mm projectile to deliver two submunitions capable of penetrating any tank’s top armour with considerable accuracy. SMArt155 has a listed maximum range of 22km (13.6 miles) when fired from 155mm/39-calibre systems and 27.5km when fired from 155mm/52-calibre systems such as the PzH2000. Adding a base bleed unit would extend the round’s range further. The submunitions carry a shaped charge of 9.7lbs (4.2kg) of high explosive which create explosively formed penetrators (EFP). The manufacturer states that extensive German Army trials found that the round has a very low failure rate.
A DM702 shell seen briefly in a video posted by the 43 Separate Artillery Brigade, 16 May (via social media)
Once the round is fired an onboard timer fuze, set before firing, ignites an ejection charge in the shell’s nose which pulls the submunitions out of the shell body. Once clear the submunitions’ ballute and then parachute deploys they begin to spiral down over the target area using their onboard sensors to detect the target vehicle before detonating their payload.
Though there is controversy surrounding SMArt, and BONUS, the shells do not fall into the category of weapons banned under the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions as they comprise of just two submunitions and both have onboard self-destruction mechanisms.
The summer of 2022 saw a flurry of drone videos which showed strikes of Russian vehicles and equipment many of these were attributed to either BONUS or SMArt 155, but with most of the videos it is difficult to definitively identify which top attack munition was in use.
The ballute and parachute of a SMArt 155 (DM702A1) found near Kreminna in March 2023 (via social media)
On the 2 July, the first video believed to be a SMArt in action was shared online. In it a munition can be seen descening before detonating above. The framing and resolution of the video is too low to confirm if it is a parachute arrested submunition. Russian telegram channels shared a photograph of a ballute and parachute, said to have been seen near Kirovsky, in Donetsk in early August.
On the 13 September, another fairly low resolution video showed a top attack munition detonating above a Russian armoured vehicle. On 4 March 2023, photos of a ballute and parachute from a SMArt 155 were shared and said to have been found near Kreminna. Around the same time another video showing a potential SMArt 155 strike was shared. On 17 April, the 26th Artillery Brigade shared video showing what was claimed to be a SMArt munition striking two Russian vehicles. On 23 April, Ukrainian military journalist Andrii Tsaplienko shared a video from inside a PzH2000 showing some German DM702 SMArt 155 shells. The DM702 shells were again briefly seen in a video posted by the 43 Separate Artillery Brigade posted on the 16 May.
A ballute and parachute, said to have been seen near Kirovsky, August 2022 (via social media)
While the lack of easily verifiable videos of SMArt in use is frustrating it is impressive that we have any footage of top-attack munitions in use at all. Production of SMArt 155 paused in the late 2000s but even before the war in Ukraine began their had been plans to revive production. The war has, however, provided impetus for renewed production and in late 2022 the German government agreed to spend EUR 97.4 million to restart manufacture of the complex electronic components needed to manufacturer the round.
Update – 18/06/24:
Archive footage of the usage of SMArt 155 top-attack ammunition fired from a PzH 2000 of the 43rd Separate Artillery Brigade named after Hetman Taras Tryasyl. It's unclear how many of these DM 702 shells were delivered to Ukraine by Germany. pic.twitter.com/hVNeAuLBUJ
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At the beginning of May 2023, Russian media shared a flurry of videos from salt mines near Soledar. The videos showcased a captured weapons storage depot said to be inside part of the mine complex which was recently captured by Russian private military contractor unit Wagner. Most interesting was the lack of modern weaponry displayed, indicating Ukraine may have removed the more useful equipment stored there. The mine is located in the vicinity of the settlements of Paraskoviivka and Soledar, north of Bakhmut.
A Lend-Lease M1A1 Thompson removed from its shipping crate (via social media)
The mines contain a former Soviet arms storage facility, initially said to have been established in the late 1950s, which was taken over by Ukraine when the USSR collapsed. There is also a small arms and light weapons repair facility established by the Ukrainian Army. The facility was temporarily seized by Separatists forces in April 2014, with one Separatist militia member then tellingSky News that: “There are rifles, machine guns, heavy weapons and millions and millions of rounds of ammunition. We are here to stop the forces of the west and anyone else for that matter from getting their hands on them.” Later fighting saw the region secured by Ukrainian forces and the mine back under Ukrainian control.
With the heavy fighting in the region and Bakhmut becoming a focus of Russia’s offensive efforts in the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023, the mines have again become a focal point. Russia reported that the area the mines were located was captured in mid-February but it wasn’t until early May that the weapons depot was secured and featured in a flurry of videos.
A crate of damaged AK-74s at the captured Ukrainian repair facility (via A. Simonov)
Using the videos shared by Russian media outlets and individuals lets take a look at what has reportedly been captured. From the imagery it is immediately clear that the depot appears to have been stripped of the most useful and modern materiel which was stored there. Videos from the mine focus on the scale of the depot and the plethora of vintage weapons which are said to be stored there.
The first video posted by Alexander Simonov, an RIA contributor, on his personal page on 30 April, begins with the reporter descending in an elevator explaining that the depot is 150 metres below ground. He describes the scale of the facility as ‘impressive’ spanning 5km with 28 galleries and a repair facility. He also explains that Ukraine’s retreating armed forces removed the most modern equipment and unsuccessfully attempted to mine the depot’s entrance. Simonov says that the depot primarily holding small arms ammunition. Simonov speaks to an individual who shows him parts of the depot and explains how it was set up in the 1960. The individual describes the galleries as almost 400 metres long – with torches failing to illuminate the whole gallery. Simonov is told theres 292,000 boxes containing small arms.
Prigozhin opens a crate of three PM1910 Maxims (Wagner)
Simonov is then shown a repair facility where badly damaged weapons have been abandoned by the Ukrainians when they retreated from the depot. The weapons appear to have been sent to the depot where their damage would be assessed to see if it was possible to repair them. The weapons seen include: AK-74 and AKS-74s, two damaged Barrett M107A1 rifle, DP-27s and SPG-9 recoilless guns.
In one shot there are hundreds of stocks for SKS carbines [misidentified in the video as Mosin-Nagant stocks] seen and in a clip from Simonov’s RIA report shelves filled with AK-74 furniture are seen. In another clip posted a on 1 May, Simonov also examines a DShK heavy machine gun which the Ukrainians have adapted with a muzzlebrake, bipod and stock. Next to it is a PK general purpose machine gun.
One of the weapons depot’s 28 galleries with thousands of boxes stacked (via A. Simonov)
The RIA report published on 30 April, appears to have been filmed at the same time and shows boxes of AK magazines, manuals and walls hung with Soviet-era small arms disassembly posters as well as the shelves of AK furniture seen in the first video. Another shot shows an AK-74 still in a vice and a disassembled a AGS grenade machine gun in a crate.
An Izvestia report published on 2 May shows more of the weapons stored in the depot with the footage showing a crate of Second World War Lend-Lease M1 Thompson submachine guns. Also seen are DPM light machine guns and damaged weapons including an RPG-7 and AK-74s. The video also shows the 4.5 tons of explosive stacked to blow the entrance to the galleries.
Prigozhin lifts the original packing paper to show an M1928A1 Thompson (Wagner)
Also published on the 2 May was the first video showing Yevgeny Prigozhin, owner of the Wagner group, visiting the mine. In the video Prigozhin shows off some more Lend-Lease Thompsons submachine guns, this time M1928A1s, “new in oil packing’ he says. He also mentions that there are thousands of PPSh and PPS submachine guns and Maxims, showing a crate containing three PM1910 Maxim guns. In the video he says: “Do we really need this? Should we leave it here to rot further? I wrote to everyone I could. No one is interested.” Suggesting that he would exchange them for shells to support Wagner operations. Despite Prigozhin mentioning PPSh and PPS submachine guns we’ve been unable to find any imagery of the weapons in the mines.
Since 2 May, there has been no further imagery from the mines. It remains to be seen if any of the weapons stored in the mine are utilised by Russia and what exactly is held there with some sources suggesting tens of thousands of weapons dating from the first and second World Wars and later. With many of the weapons obsolescent the most useful of those shown in the videos will likely be the old Soviet machine guns (the DPs and Maxims) and the small arms ammunition. The old Soviet submachine guns and Thompsons will be of less practical value. It’s telling that the officially released videos showed little modern equipment.
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Bibliography:
Protesters in Ukraine guard biggest weapons cache in eastern Europe, Guardian, (source) Ukraine: Militia Controls A Million Weapons, Sky News, (source) Pro-Russia Activists Set Up Checkpoints in Ukraine’s Far East, VOA, (source) Retreating Ukrainian troops tried to destroy salt mines in Soledar, TASS, (source) Ukrainian light weapons captured in Soledar exceed one million, PL, (source)
Last week, on 11 May, the UK became the first country to provide Ukraine with medium range cruise missiles. Less than a week later the first evidence of their use has emerged.
Storm Shadow is an air-launched subsonic cruise missile with a reported range of 250-300km (155-185 miles). It can reportedly reach speeds of Mach 0.8 or around 620 miles per hour. This will enable Ukraine to strike targets within territory occupied by Russia including Crimea. Theoretically, Storm Shadow could also strike targets inside Russia, but the UK has provided them on the understanding they will not be used outside Ukraine’s borders.
Storm Shadow is characterised by its accuracy and also has a sophisticated warhead: the Bomb, Royal Ordnance, Augmenting CHarge (BROACH). The 450 kg (990 lb) BROACH warhead uses a precursor penetrator charge followed by a follow-through main charge to penetrate hardened shelters and structures.
RAF technicians arm a Typhoon with Storm Shadow, 2021 (Cpl Steve Buckley/UK MOD Crown copyright)
Storm Shadow is said to be extremely accurate. Once the missile is released from the aircraft its wings deploy and it uses a GPS/INS and Terrain Profile Matching navigation system to guide the missile to the target area. The missile typically flies at a low level and on its the final approach it jettisons its nose cone and the on-board infrared sensor guides the missile to the impact point. With a reported price tag of around £790,000 per missile, they are typically used against high value targets.
Development of the missile requirement began in the mid-1980s becoming part of the multi-nation NATO Modular Stand-Off Weapon (MSOW) programme. While the US pulled out of the programme in the late 1980s Matra BAe Dynamics continued development of a missile based on the Matra Apache. The missile became known as Storm Shadow and was procured by the UK in 1997, it entered service in 2002.
The missile also entered service with the French in 1998 as SCALP-EG (Sistème de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général, or Long Range Autonomous Cruise Missile System – General Purpose). Since then Storm Shadow and SCALP have been used in the Gulf, Iraq, and in Libya by the UK’s Royal Air Force and the French Air Force.
A Tornado GR4 aircraft with 617 Squadron fitted with Storm Shadow, 2004 (UK MOD Crown copyright)
Ben Wallace, UK Defense Secretary, addressed the UK’s Parliament on 11 May saying:
“Today I can confirm that the UK is donating Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine… the use of Storm Shadow will allow Ukraine to push back Russian forces based within Ukrainian sovereign territory. …Russia must recognise their actions alone have led to such systems being provided to Ukraine. It is my judgement as Defence Secretary that this is a calibrated, proportionate response to Russia’s escalations.”
Wallace added that it hadn’t been easy to incorporate the missile on a former Soviet aircraft. He said “that has been one of the reasons for the time… working out if it is technically feasible, and I would like to pay tribute to our scientists & technicians.” It is believed that Ukraine’s Su-24 Fencers have been adapted to launch the missiles.
Storm Shadow is key for Ukraine as it provides a much needed long range, deep strike capability, well beyond that of HIMARS rockets and other artillery. Ahead of Ukraine’s anticipated offensive the cruise missiles will allow Ukraine to strike high value targets including infrastructure and logistics nodes and command and control centres – most of which have been repositioned outside of HIMARS/GMLRS munitions range.
A building in Luhansk claimed to have been struck by a Storm Shadow missile (via social media)
13 May saw the first evidence of Ukraine’s use of the missiles emerge with Russian media outlets and telegram channels sharing fragments collected in Luhansk. Russian media shared photographs of an industrial building destroyed. Subsequent photos and videos showing further fragments with serial numbers and other markings were also shown. Russian state media reports that LPR Separatist authorities claim Luhansk has been targeted with at least three Storm Shadow missiles. This claim is yet to be independently verified.
A tail fin fragment believed to be from the Storm Shadow strike on Luhansk (via social media)
The strike on the target in Luhansk is the first with physical evidence of Storm Shadow’s use, now that the missile is known to be in service it will inevitably be one of the weapons discussed when considering future strikes but given the missile’s cost and the relatively small number available, the Ukrainians will likely be picking their targets carefully.
On 16 May, France signalled its intention to also provide Ukraine with longer range missiles, while not confirmed by name this potentially means its SCALP-EG missiles. In late May some German politicians made calls for Germany’s similar Taurus missile to be provided to Ukraine.
Update – 24/5/23: During a visit to Ukraine UK secretary of Defence signed a photograph of a Ukrainian SU-24MR carrying a Storm Shadow. Inscribing: “To all the brave ‘few’ who risk all for the glory of Ukraine” in reference to Churchill’s remarks referring to the RAF as the ‘few’ during the Second World War.
Update – 3/6/23: A photo of a Ukrainian air force SU-24M was shared online showing it carrying a pair of what appear to be Storm Shadow missiles.
Great photo of a Ukrainian Su-24M carrying a pair of Storm Shadow missiles.
— Historical Firearms | Matthew Moss (@historicfirearm) June 4, 2023
Update – 8/6/23: Russian authorities in Luhansk have shared photographs of a retrieved Storm Shadow nose cone. The missile jettisons the nose cone, which covers onboard sensors, on its final approach to the target. The nose cone has a production date of November 2004.
⚡️⚡️The nose cone of the Storm Shadow missile, which today attacked the factory in temporarily occupied Luhansk. On it you can see the date, probably of production — 06.11.2004. pic.twitter.com/JumjCETjic
— 🇺🇦Ukrainian Front (@front_ukrainian) June 8, 2023
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Bibliography:
Defence Secretary oral statement on war in Ukraine, UK Government, (source)
House of Commons Proceedings 11 May 2023, UK Parliament, (source)
UK Provides Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles to Ukraine, OVD, (source)
Russia says Ukraine used Storm Shadow missiles from Britain to attack Luhansk, Reuters, (source)
Interview with President Emmanuel Macron on TF1, Elysee/TF1, (source)
The Armourers Bench 