Tag: Ukraine War

M110 in Ukraine

Since around September 2022 there have been a small but steady stream of sightings of M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper Systems in use with combatants in Ukraine. The rifles began appearing on the southern Kherson front, before the city was recaptured.  While the Ukrainian 7.62x51mm UAR-10 designated marksman rifles are regularly seen intermittent sighting of M110s have continued. 

From the available evidence it appears that special operations units from the Ukrainian Security Service (the SBU), the Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR), the National guard and the Special Operations Forces (the SSO) are the primary users. Units operating with the rifles are believed to include Alpha Group and the 3rd and 8th Separate Special Forces Regiments, as well as a number of groups which, from the available imagery, have been difficult to link with parent units.

M110 with ATN THOR, taken during a range session, note butt extended (via Social Media)

Developed in the early 2000s by Knights Armament Company in response to the US Army’s requirement for a semi-automatic rifle to equip snipers, spotters and designated marksmen the M110 was adopted in 2008. Based on the SR-25, the 7.62x51mm rifle uses Stoner’s internal piston gas impingement system, and has a 20 inch barrel with a 1 in 11 twist. The rifle comes with a QD Knights suppressor and the initial issue optic was a Leupold 3.5–10× variable power daytime optic few of the rifles seen in use in Ukraine appear to be equipped with US issued optics. Both the US Army and USMC have issued the rifle with some variations in optics used and furniture.

A Ukrainian combatants I spoke to told me: “For a marksman, the top weapon. To work at short distances. The PBS system [meaning the integral suppressor] is standard in the kit. It is quiet compared to other rifles.” But he did note that he isn’t part of his unit’ s sniper group and has only used the rifle on the range. 

Three M110s with various optics, note suppressors not fitted, in their transit cases (via Social Media)

Most of the examples in Ukraine have the traditional fixed stock which was issued with the rifles, rather than the FDE Magpul PRS stock which is length and height which the USMC snipers have been issued. However, at least one rifle with a PRS has been seen in a photo and a least one rifle has been fitted with LUTH-AR MBA-1 stocks used on the Ukrainian UAR-10. Perhaps out of preference or replacing a damaged stock. In theatre the rifles have been seen paired with a variety of optics ranging from the original Leupold 3.5-10x variable scopes to ATN THOR 4 thermal optics and even a Trijicon 6×48 ACOG.

The earliest image of an M110 in Ukraine was shared on a Ukrainian telegram channel covering news around the city of Kherson in the early autumn of 2022. The original post is no longer available but shows a sniper in a ghillie suit unmistakably armed with an M110.

Early November saw Ukrainian operators share numerous photographs from a range session where the rifle can be seen fitted with an ATN THOR. December saw more photos shared of what is likely the same rifle, now equipped with a Trijicon 6×48 ACOG.

Two M110s photographed during a range session, one fitted with a LUTH-AR stock (via Social Media)

More photos of the same rifle fitted with the ATN THOR were posted by another operator in mid-November. Bravo Group shared a photo featuring an M110 in early December. Around the same time the F Spets instagram account shared a photo of a winter range session with an M110 visible. The same account shared a photo of three M110s in transit cases. Two of the rifles don’t have their suppressors fitted – though these may have been just removed for cleaning. The cases also show slings, various models of bipod an two have three mags apiece stored in one of the cases slots. As mentioned earlier one rifle has a PRS stock.

In late January a Ukrainian operator shared a montage video with a short clip of a range session with the M110 fitted with a 6×48 ACOG. A Japanese volunteer with the International Legion shared a photo of a scope-less M110 with his cat on 27 January. At the end of February an M110 with a LUTH-AR MBA-1 stock, possibly taken from a UAR-10 was shared. The same operator shared some new photos of M110s in March. The rifle with the LUTH-AR stock is seen again, in a photo with the logo of a group called ‘НЕПТУН’ (Neptune). In a second photo shared on 17 March we can see a pair of M110s, one without its suppressor fitted.

M110 with ATN THOR during a range session (via Social Media)

How many M110s are in use in Ukraine remains unclear but from a survey of the available imagery it appears that the number is relatively small. Multiple individuals have shared photographs of what appears to be the same rifles, not doubt because of its notoriety as a relatively rare weapon in theatre. Sources suggest that the rifles were available on a first come first serve basis when they arrived during the second half of 2022. Since they arrived they have been seen in various configurations and with numerous different optics mounted on them.

Update – 19/05/23: A new image of an M110 in the field was shared in mid-May.

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! Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

My thanks to the guys at the ShriekingDelilah instagram page and to Abraxas Spa, for their help with this article.

Ukrain Adopts New Semi-Automatic Sniper rifle: The UAR-10, TFB, (source)

M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, DVIDS, (source)

MTs-566 In Ukraine

On 15 March a report from Russia’s Federal News Agency featured an interesting semi-automatic sniper rifle – the MTs-566. The report shows a sniper team from Wagner, Russia’s largest private military contractor, in position in Bakhmut. The date the piece was filmed is unclear but the rifle itself is rarely seen and the footage gives us a decent look at the rifle and even of it firing a couple of rounds.

The MTs-566 is produced by TsKIB SOO, the Central Bureau for Sporting and Hunting Arms at Tula. It’s chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO and uses a short stroke gas piston system. It fulfils a similar role to the US M110 series of rifles or Ukraine’s UAR-10s. The MTs-566 was developed from the OTs-129 designated marksman rifle developed for a Russian military requirement. It has a 60cm or 24in barrel, feeds from 7.62 PMags and has a full length top rail. It also has a pair of folding iron sights and a side folding stock. It has a quad-rail forend and a suppressor which partially shrouds the rifle’s barrel. In the civilian version at least the suppressor is more of an empty expansion chamber without baffles, whether that’s the case with production guns or rifles purchased for military use is unclear. If the expansion chamber can is in use here then it appears to help somewhat. TsKIB SOO list the weight of the rifle as 4.8kg or 10.6lbs and its overall length as 125cm or 49in though other sources do vary slightly. Notably, the weapon’s lower receiver is much shallower with the pistol grip positioned much higher than say on an AR-10, suggesting a different firing mechanism requiring less space than the AR-10’s hammer. 

It was displayed for the first time in 2018 and was reportedly aimed at the civilian hunting market and due to be on sale in 2020. My good friend Hrachya got a good look at one at the 2018 Russian Arms & Hunting Expo. He wrote up a detailed article on it for TFB. The rifle has some interesting features including integral folding iron sights rather than rail mounted sights – the Russian military believed that these could be too easily damaged so Tula engineers designed integral sights, the rear sight folds back into the hinge of the stock. There is also rail space attached directly to the rifles receiver, seemingly for the mounting of accessories. 

The Russian news report says the sniper team is at work in Bakhmut. The sniper describes his rifle and notes its mounted with a 20x optic.  The sniper also says that:“I work at a distance of 700-800, sometimes 1000 [meters],” He also briefly talks about the 7.62x51mm round the MTs-566 uses, noting that: it works well and that it’s a pleasant round to shoot, he also says that while smaller they have good velocity downrange. During the clip the sniper fires two rounds in quick succession while his spotter watches the target downrange. It’s unclear what ammunition they are using but the rifle is said to be capable of 1 MOA accuracy but I couldn’t find any figures from  TsKIB SOO. It’s unclear how many MTs-566s might be in use in the field but this report represents the best look at the rifle we’ve had so far.

Update 02/04/22:

On 12 March, the Russian Уголок Ситха telegram channel shared a post which included a photo captioned “Russian 7.62×51 mm OTs-129 sniper rifle”, it appears to be an MTS-566.

Update 21/03/23:

Additional photographs of an MTS-566 with Wagner shared via Telegram.

Update 17/04/23:

An MTS-566 seen in a RIA news report about Wagner fighting in Bakhmut.

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! Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

How Wagner PMC Snipers Work in Bakhmut, RIAFAN, (source)

TsKIB SOO’s archived website c.2021 (source)

TsKIB SOO MTs-566 Rifle, TFB, (source)

MTs-566, Modern Firearms, (source)

Sniper rifle OTs-129, TopWar, (source)

My thanks top Soviet Army Fan over on twitter for some help with translation.

Black Storm Defender – Standalone GP-25 Grenade Launcher Stock

In an earlier video we looked at the Black Storm series of bullpup conversion kits for AK pattern rifles. Black Storm have also developed an interesting standalone stock for the GP-25 under barrel grenade launcher called ‘Defender’. The impetus for this is s aid to be that the Black Storm rifle kits aren’t able to support the grenade launchers so a standalone stock into which they can be mounted was developed.

The GP-25 is a 40mm grenade launcher designed in the late 1970s by the small arms design bureau based at Tula. It is an under-barrel grenade launcher designed to slide onto standard issued AK-74 pattern rifles. Its ammunition uses a high–low pressure system and has a range of up to 400m.

The most interesting feature of the GP-25 stock is that it has a recoil mitigation system. This appears to be a strong spring in the telescoping stock tube which acts as a buffer. The stock kit is made up of a telescoping stock with butt pad, onto which the grenade launcher is mounted – just as you would onto a rifle, a forward vertical grip can be attached by a clamshell pair of metal stampings with allow the grip piece to be centered and held in place by two cross nuts. There is also a press-fit pistol grip extension for the GP-25’s short grip to help improve ergonomics.

Black Storm list the stock kit without launcher as weighing 200g while the Defender with GP-25 is listed as weighing 500g (1.1lbs). Black Storm sell the V2.0 of the stock for 5,950 UAH ($162). 

A GP-25 in a Black Storm Defender stock (via War_Noir)

With some units also transitioning to NATO calibre rifles like the M4A1, MSBS GROT, FN FNC and F2000 amongst others, the ability to use the GP-25 as a stand alone weapon has proven valuable as the GP-25 can’t be mounted on Western rifles but with ammunition for the grenade launchers still plentiful they can continue to be used.

The earliest imagery I could find of the Defender in the field dates to 22 April, when  Russian reporter War Gonzo posted a short video showing a Defender captured by Separatist DPR troops in Mariupol. The DPR soldier examining it notes that the weapon doesn’t seem to work and also compared it to the GP-25 fitted to his own AKS-74.

In May a good, clear photograph of a GP-25 in a Defender stock was shared, shown fitted with a sling. In mid-May Ukrainian operators shared a video of the Defender being fired at the range.

Also in May a short video of a Defender kit being fitted to a launcher was shared – this particular example apparently requiring some hand fitting to the sheet-metal pieces that attach the forward grip.

A number of other stand alone adapters for GP-25s have also been seen in the field, In late May 2022, this example of a simpler adapter was shared online featuring a rigid stock onto which the grande launcher can be fitted. Simple adapters like this may be craft made in the field or manufactured by commercial companies.

A GP-25 in a Defender stock (via social media)

In June a short video was shared of a Ukrainian soldier firing several high-angle rounds from a GP-25 mounted in a Defender stock, we can see that the sight has been set to its highest elevation.

Ukrainian operators shared another photograph of a GP-25 in a Defender stock in September. The North Side Group shared a photograph of a GP-25 in a Defender at what appears to be a range in mid-September.

Russian operator shared photo of two standalone stocks for the GP-25 – the first is the rigid stock type seen in the photo from May. I haven’t been able to ascertain who produces this stock yet. In these photos, however, it is clear that the butt is wider than the Ukrainian design. The second stock appears to be a Black Storm Defender [Update: since identified as a RGL Север 1].

On 30 November the Belarusian volunteer unit, the Kalinouski Regiment, shared a video demonstrating the Defender, showing how its loaded, fired and carried noting that it is “designed to destroy enemy manpower located in trenches, and open terrain.”

In early January, Assistance Group – a German group active in Ukraine, shared some photographs of load out for operating in urban and woodland environments and a GP-25 in a Defender feature in both photographs.

At the beginning of February 2023 a video was shared featuring an operator with Russia’s SOBR “Granit”, he fires a couple of rounds from a GP-25 in a stand alone stock [Update: since identified as a RGL Север 1].

The ‘Lubart’ Ukrainian special operations forces unit recently shared a number of montage video of operations around Bakhmut. In it one operator loads and fires a Defender several times. The Defender in the clip lacks the pistol grip extension that comes as part of the kit.

A GP-25 Defender and a pair of customised AKs (via social media)

On 2 March a member of the Forward Observations Group shared a photo of is various weapons including a Black Storm Defender. 

Finally, most recently, a short video from a Russian anti-Putin group – the Russian Volunteer Corps, filmed during an apparent raid into Bryansk. The video featured one of the group’s leaders with a Defender slung at his side.  

It’s unclear just how many of these Black Storm Defender stock kits are being used by Ukrainian personnel but they do continue to appear regularly in imagery from the field. While unsurprisingly they appear to be favoured by units armed with Western rifles they are also being used by combatants armed with weapons which could mount a GP-25, perhaps indicating a preference for using the launcher as a stand alone weapon. 

Update 30/04/22 – Russia’s RGL Север 1

Since writing the article further research has discovered a very similar stock design originating from Russia. Developed by a company called RGL (redgreenlight.ru). RGL have developed a number of products including a sight mount for RPG/RPO pattern shoulder-fired launchers and a small light which can illuminate turrets on optics for use in lowlight conditions. They developed their stock for the GP25 and GP34 in 2019, with refinements in 2022. It was reportedly developed independently of the Black Storm Defender – with both companies developing very similar products.

RGL’s website has some specs on their system – the Север 1, noting its length is 480mm and its weight is ‘no more 1100g’. The stock adapter is priced at 17,000 Russian Ruble (or around $220). 

Photos of the Север 1 with GP-25 fitted and disassembled (via RGL)

So similar are the two designs that images at 5:21 and a clip at 6:55 actually show Север 1s rather than Defenders. A Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel posted the photo below, with the caption: “For those who want to order – mid-May production time, place an order in advance.”

An RGL Север 1 fitted with a TAG-35, an airsoft clone of the GP-34 grenade launcher (via social media)

The key differences between the two appear to be a different kind of butt pad, the positioning of the sling loops, some machining on the extension which attaches to the launcher and most fundamentally a reversal of which parts of the stock telescope. On the Defender the rear section telescopes inside the front while on the Север the front portion appears to telescope inside the rear section. The Север 1 does not appear to come with a frontgrip or a grip extension. The Север 1 has been seen in use in Ukraine with Russian combatants.

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! Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

Black Storm Defender, Black Storm, (source)

Video demonstrating assembly of Defender, Black Storm, (source)

Thanks to the guys at Streaking Delilah, War_Noir and to Abraxas Spa for their help with imagery for this video.

Black Storm: Converting Ukraine’s AK-74s into Bullpups

We’ve looked at a number of different bullpups currently in use with Ukrainian forces, ranging from Tavors to the locally developed Malyuk/Vulcan – check out those articles/videos if you haven’t already. 

In this article/video we’re going to take a look at another Ukrainian development which converts a standard AK-74 into a bullpup. The Black Storm BS-series of kits has been around since the mid 2010s and in recent months more and more imagery of Ukrainian personnel with Black Storm bullpup AKs has been emerging. 

The Black Storm kits are compatible with both AKM and AK-74 pattern rifle and the relatively simple designs allows the conversion of a conventional rifle into the bullpup with not alterations to the base rifle. 

A suppressed AK-74 next a suppressed BS-3 illustrating the overall length difference (via Black Storm)

To convert the rifle the stock furniture is removed, the pistol grip, forend and butt. The trigger transfer bar is then put in place and the lower receiver of the chassis is then attached which holds it in place. The new lower receiver has the pistol grip already attached. The butt assembly is then slide into place – this also covers the original trigger but leaves the magazine release exposed. There is a hinged cheek piece attached to the butt assembly. This can be pivoted out the way for access into the receiver and to allow the gas piston and bolt assembly and receiver cover to be placed. Finally, a top cover is slotted into place and retained by a catch to the lower. This covers the gas tube and barrel.   

The kit appears to be made from simple sheet metal stampings and is held together by slotting into pre-existing parts of the rifle’s original receiver and a couple of screws. While the chassis obviously adds weight to the weapon it does have the benefit of shortening the rifle and also shifting its centre of balance back.

The BS3 adds no additional controls to the rifle and the weapon is manipulated using it’s existing charging handle and safety-selector lever. The BS4 was developed in 2017 and introduced in 2018, adds a number of new ergonomic features with a left-side forward charging handle which makes the rifle much easier to cock and a new thumb actuated safety – which probably acts on the trigger transfer bar. A new extension to the magazine release lever has also been added to make magazine changes easier. Black Storm describe the BS4 as: “easy to put on and take off in the field, without intruding into the weapon. It is enough to remove the butt and stock, and you can install the Bullpup with one mounting bolt.” Both the BS-3 and BS-4 have a length of Picatinny rail under the lower receiver and require an optic riser rail for mounting an optic.

A BS-3 c.November 2022 (via Black Storm)

How well an optic mounted on a rifle in a Black Storm kit retains zero is unknown but the mount is fitted over the rifle’s rear sight block and held in place by a bracket under the barrel. This is then secured by four small bolts. 

The company says that both the BS-3 and BS4 are made from 1mm stamped steel and polymer. Black Storm list the weight of an AK-74 with the BS-3 kit installed, but without a magazine, as 3.4kgs. The weight of the BS-3 kit’s components is 1.2kg. A 2018 video, however, suggests that the kit’s components weigh just over 1.6kg (not including the rifle’s receiver, barrel and bolt assembly).

Black Storm list the weight of an AK-74 with the BS-4 kit installed, but without a magazine, as 3.9kgs. The weight of the BS-4 kit’s components is 1.7kg. Once installed with either kit the rifle has an overall length of 70cm (27.5in) down from 94cm (37in) for a standard configuration AK-74. 

A video review of the kit by one of the Ukrainian soldiers who has used it in the field

Black Storm list the BS-3 at 14,250 UAH ($387) and the BS-4 at 21,500 UAH ($585). From the information available it appears that the kits are purchased by servicemen privately, to adapt their issued service rifles.

A BS-5 has been developed, it’s unclear if this is in production but it is listed on Black Storm’s site and is said to be available. It has a length of rail along its top cover removing the need for an optic riser and also allowing the use of back up iron sights. It’s price is listed at 28,500 UAH ($775).

BS-3 with an EOTECH HWS XPS2, a laser/light module and a custom green camouflage paint job (via social media)

Photos of the BT-2 were shared in January 2015 and an early version of the kit was displayed at a Ukrainian military exhibition in 2015, the BT-3 and BS-3 variants were introduced in 2017 and 2018. The guns have seen combat use since at least 2017, with Black Storm sharing photos of a BS-3e used in Donbas in July 2017.  Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, a number of photos and videos have shown the conversion kits in use with personnel from a variety of units.

During the first week of April combatants from the Georgian Legion shared a photo featuring a BS-3. In July a member of Azov Dnipro was photographed with a BS-3 outfitted with a thermal optic, bipod and suppressor. Interestingly you can see the remains of a green paint on the AK-74 receiver while the Black Storm kit has not been painted.  

In October 2022 a series of photo featuring rifles outfitted with the kits were shared. Two were shared by a member of ‘Cats Squad Special Company’ showing a BS-3 with an EOTECH HWS XPS2, a laser/light module and a custom green camouflage paint job.

A Black Storm BS-4 photographed at the front around Bakhmut, February 2023 (via Yuri)

The member of the Cats Squad shared another photo in November 2022, the rifle can now be seen fitted with a suppressor. On 7 January, photographer Viktor Fridshon took photos of Ukrainian soldiers in Krasna Hora, Donetsk. One of the soldiers had a BS-3 fitted with a micro red dot sight and painted in a green camouflage scheme. A the beginning of February a video of a Ukrainian combatant showing off his BS-3 was shared on line, in it he explains its features and demonstrated how handy it is. He has a vertical foregrip fitted and an Aimpoint red dot.

Most recently in early February, Yuri was kind enough to share some photos he took of a Ukrainian soldier’s BS-4, identifiable by the visible left-side charging handle and safety on the pistol grip. The rifle was kitted out with a vertical foregrip, suppressor, a thermal optic, laser/light module and a red dot sight on a 45-degree mount.

It’s unclear just how many of these Black Storm kits are being used by Ukrainian personnel and this brief look at examples from the field can’t be considered a representative survey. The kit itself, while heavy, does have the advantage of shortening the rifle’s overall length which is useful in some of the urban and close quarter fighting that’s ongoing. The fact the base rifle doesn’t have to be modified is also useful and means that users don’t have to physically modify issued service weapons. 

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! Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

Thanks to Yuri, the guys at Streaking Delilah, War_Noir and Abraxas Spa for their help with this video.

Ukrainian Black Storm BS-4 Bullpup Conversion Kit for AK Rifles, TFB, (source)

BS-3, Black Storm, (source)

BS-4, Black Storm, (source)

BS-5, Black Storm, (source)

Black Storm’s Facebook Page (source)

Bullpup AK47/74, Reibert.info, (source)

Right Arm of the Free World: FN FALs in Ukraine

It’s a year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and since last February we have seen a massive influx of Western weapon systems into Ukraine. We’ve seen everything from artillery to infantry weapons and the breadth of small arms has ranged from brand new Polish MSBS Grots and M4A1s to M14s. In recent months another Cold War icon has begun to appear in imagery from the fighting – the FN FAL – the ‘Right Arm of the Free World’.

To date both standard fixed stock and folding stock FALs have been seen in use, though appearances are relatively rare. The first sightings of FALs came in June 2022 when two photos of fixed stock 50.00 metric pattern Type 3 FALs were shared. The first in the second week of June and a second at the end of the month. The second photograph was posted by Ukrainian combatants near Nikolaev, Mykolaiv region. It is possible that both of these rifles may have been a civilian-owned rifle pressed into service.

The most common variant seen in open source imagery is currently the 50.61 or PARA FAL with a side-folding stock and a full length 53cm (21.0 in) barrel. The rifles could also be the visually identical 50.64, which has an alloy receiver, though these rifles are less common. All of the rifles seen in the photographs have Type 3 receivers which date them to post 1973 production. Sadly, photographs showing the weapon’s serial number ranges aren’t available.

A photograph of several crates of these still in their plastic wrapping shared in early October 2022. This is potentially the first sighting of the folding stocked rifles in Ukraine. 

In late November a photograph of five PARA FALs in the same sort of crate was shared and said to have been taken near Bakhmut.

On 10 December, Dmytro Mrachnyk, the commander of a mortar platoon with a Ukrainian Territorial Defence Force unit fighting around Bakhmut, shared his first photograph with his PARA FAL. I contacted Dmytro and he was kind enough to share his thoughts on the rifle. He explained that he liked the rifle and has only had one stoppage, he said: “it jammed a cartridge case once during an intense fight, but the problem was quickly resolved.” He also explained that he really likes the 7.62x51mm round and that he had 9 magazines for the rifle.

He confirmed that the rifles are select fire and when I asked him about ammunition availability for the 7.62x51mm FALs, Dmytro said that there is some available but it can’t be found everywhere.

He said that so far he’s only seen the FALs in use with elements of his unit. He opted for the FAL, to replace his AK-74 when he joined the unit.

On the 22 December Dmytro shared a photograph of a PARA FAL which had its forend and stock covered in fur. I asked him about this and he explained that: “My sergeant decided to disguise the rifle for the winter – he partially painted it white and glued on a light fur found among the garbage in Bakhmut.”

On 30 December, Ukrainian personnel shared an update video from Bakhmut, one of the soldiers can be seen holding a PARA FAL. Several days later, in early January 2023, the same soldiers shared another short video filmed in a town square in Bakhmut, again the FAL can be seen. 

Our second sighting of a fixed stock FAL came on 31 December when another Ukrainian combatant shared a photograph holding a 50.00 FAL, with some scrim wrapped around the butt and carrying handle and a bipod attached. He wished to remain anonymous but was kind enough to share his thoughts on the FAL.

He explained that he was issued the FAL instead of a UR-10 (UAR-10/Z-10) DMR rifle and that he was the only one in his company to be issued one. An optic was issued with the rifle but no means of mounting it to the rifle. He was also only provided with two 10 round magazines. Even without an optic he said that: “As a marksman, you can work at a maximum of 500m” and it “hits quite accurately with single shots, automatic fire gives a very large spread, very loud.”

Commenting on the rifle itself he noted that he believed the rifle to date from 1976 and that while ‘cool and a little unusual’ it was “picky, she is afraid of dirt, she was in a swamp and the action almost did not work.” He also felt that it was ‘a little too heavy compared to the AK [AK74].”

He also pointed out that “it is very long and not convenient when storming buildings” he concluded: “In my opinion, it is already outdated and not practical and often very inconvenient.”

The most recent photograph of one I have seen dates from 15 January, when Dmytro posted a photo, holding his FAL aloft, with the caption ‘The unconquered Bakhmut stands’.

It’s unclear who provided the rifles to Ukraine as numerous nations around the world have fielded similar variants. In Europe these include Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal and the Netherlands. Most of these, however, have long since replaced them in service. If Belgium, one of the most likely candidates, provided the rifles then they have been in store since the late 1990s.

Special thanks to Dmytro and the other anonymous Ukrainian combatant for answering my questions, Dmytro’s details are in the description box below. Thanks also to the guys at Shrieking Delilah on Instagram who have been doing great work on documenting some of the plethora of weapons turning up in Ukraine.

So far, of the three major call war battle rifles we’ve seen the M14, check out my video on that if you haven’t already, and the FN FAL but I’m yet to see any sign of HK G3s. If you spot any or anything else I should cover in a video drop me a comment below or an email. 

Update 06/03/23:

The social media of the Command of the United Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shared a photograph of a member of the 103rd Separate Brigade of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Force with a tricked out 50.00 FN FAL mounted with bipod and an ATN THOR thermal optic. This configuration is in line with one mentioned by the anonymous Ukrainian combatant who shared his thoughts on the FAL. This FAL with the 103rd brigade, however, has an optic mounting rail and 20-round magazines.

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! Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

Identifying & Tracing the FN Herstal FAL Rifle, ARES, (source)

Authors discussions with Ukrainian servicemen including Dmytro Mrachnyk [PayPal: dmrachnik@gmail.com]

Makeshift Fire Extinguisher RPG Warhead

In December images of Chechen volunteers fighting with the Ukrainian Armed Forces began to feature an interesting craft-made weapon – an RPG munition made from the body of a small fire extinguisher. 

These RPG-warheads improvised from fire extinguishers have appeared in numerous videos and photographs of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion. The battalion was formed back in 2014 and is made up of exiled Chechens who reject Russian control of their region. The battalion itself is named after an 18th century Chechen military leader Sheikh Mansur. The battalion had disbanded in 2019, but reformed in March 2022 following the invasion. Since then they have reportedly seen action during the Battle of Kyiv, in the Donbas, during the Battle of Sievierodonetsk and most recently in the fighting around Bakhmut. 

There’s a long history of improvised warheads adapted for launch from the RPG-7 but I think this is the first time I’ve seen a fire extinguisher body used, at least in this phase of the fighting in Ukraine. 

A section of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion, with a craft-made fire extinguisher munition, Bahkmut, December 2022 (via Sheikh Mansur Battalion)

It appears that the fire extinguisher body has been emptied and filled with whatever explosive and shrapnel material is readily available and then adapted to fit the sustainer motor and booster assemblies. They appear to use V-429 or V-429E point detonating fuzes. These fuzes were developed for use on high explosive (HE) projectiles used by various Combloc weapon systems including the T-12 and MT-12 100mm anti-tank guns and the 115mm main gun of the T-62 and 125mm main guns of the T-64, T-72, T-80 and T-90 series tanks. Some other fuzes appear to be used too but conceivably any impact fuze would work. The inertia armed fuzes normally arm within 5-15m of the muzzle once fired from a conventional barrel. It appears that the fuzes have been epoxied into place.

Close up of a craft-made fire extinguisher munition, Bahkmut, December 2022 (via social media)

How the mass and shape of the improvised round impacts the velocity of the warhead once it is fired is unclear. But Bild correspondent Bjorn Stritzel, who recently met with members of the Battalion while writing an article about them, told me that the range of the warheads is about 100m. He noted that the Chechen’s have found them to be ‘very effective in Bakhmut’ and that ‘apparently its firepower surprised RF entrenched in houses’ according to radio chatter picked up by the Battalion. 

While we don’t have a perfect close up of them the extinguishers themselves appear to be small 2kg (or 5lbs) units which contain powder. From a quick survey of some Ukrainian websites which sell the extinguishers, the price of these ranges between 300 and 500 Hryvnias (or $8 & $14).

A member of the Sheik Mansur Battalion demonstrates a craft-made fire extinguisher munition, Bahkmut, December 2022 (via Sky News)

The fire extinguisher rounds are probably being used as anti-personnel weapons which would be fitting for the sort of fighting occurring around Bakhmut where the majority of the imagery is said to be coming from. The thin steel body of the extinguisher may provide suitable fragmentation or depending on the metallurgy it may just rupture. According to Stritzel the filling of the warheads is around 50% explosive and 50% shrapnel material. He also noted that the Chechen’s described the warhead as being “three times more powerful than a normal OG-7V [fragmentation RPG-7 round]”. 

Two craft-made fire extinguisher munitions, Bahkmut, December 2022 (via Bjorn Stritzel)

The first video featuring the improvised warheads was published by the Sheikh Mansur Battalion on their social media in around mid December. In a Sky News report from the 22 December, a member of the Battalion demonstrates how one of the extinguisher warheads is loaded. A video posted to the Battalion’s social media on the 27 December showed a number, perhaps four, of the improvised rounds stacked ready for use with booster assemblies attached. 

On the 31 December, the Battalion shared a photograph of a group of eight Battalion members, one of which can be seen holding an RPG-7 with one of the improvised extinguisher rounds loaded. During the second week of January, a short, undated, video of an individual in a fighting position firing one of the craft-made warheads was shared. We get some idea of the weight of the round in this clip.

The most recent video (see stills above), posted on TikTok, on the 12 January, shows two of the improvised munitions being fired. These warheads follow the same design but differ slightly in that the fire extinguisher body appears to have been cut open at the centre and then welded back together. Perhaps this is done to easier fill the munition or perhaps to shorten a longer extinguisher body. For the first time we also get to see the explosion of the rounds down range. This video again gives us a good indication of the weight of the round from the movement of the shooter. It also illustrates the distances the rounds can travel. Notably it appears to be used here against a Russian field work rather than against a building.

With fighting continuing in Bakhmut we are likely to see more of these improvised fire extinguisher rounds in use, especially if they are as effective as the Sheikh Mansur Battalion suggest.

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! Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

V429 Fuze, CAT UXO, (source)

V429E Fuze, CAT UXO, (source)

‘They prefer death to Russian torture’, Bild, (source)

The Chechens fighting Putin in Ukraine, Sky News, (source)

US & Canadian M67 Grenades In Ukraine

A range of Western, Eastern European and Russian hand grenades have been seen in use in Ukraine over the last eight months. One of these is the M67 Fragmentation Grenade which are believed to have been provided by the US and Canada.

The M67 evolved from the earlier M33, it began to be fielded in 1968. They are produced by Day & Zimmermann, who state they have produced over 43 million of the grenades. It is a spherical anti-personnel fragmentation grenade which has a Composition B filling. Composition B is made up for a RDX and TNT mix. The M67 explosive filling weighs in at 6.5oz (180g). It uses the M213 fuze which provides a 4 to 5 second delay after deployment.

There is a spring clip which interacts with the spoon and safety pin. On detonation the grenade’s steel outer body fragments to create an injury radius of around 15 metres (50 feet). The fragmentation is caused by scoring on the inside of of the grenade’s outer body.

A captured M67 Grenade (via Social Media)

The US government has confirmed that hand grenades have been provided to Ukraine but specific mentions of them in the regular fact sheets breaking down aid have not been common since the spring when it was said that ‘over 1 million grenade, mortar and artillery rounds’ had been provided. Canada has previously, on 3 March, confirmed the supply of 7500 hand grenades of an unspecified type.

M67 shared 29 April 2023 (via social media)

Imagery of the grenades first began to be circulated online in May with the Azov-Dnipro 98th Territorial Defence Battalion sharing several videos featuring them. In their first video they showed a couple of transit chests, each containing 30 individually packed grenades. They then showed the individual packaging of the grenades. In another video posted a few days later the show an M67 alongside a French OF37.

On the 15 June, Russia’s Zvezda News shared a short interview with a soldier from the separatist Luhansk People’s Republic showing off captured weapons including an 66mm M72 LAW and an M67 grenade. Describing the grenade he said: “We are already walking around with American [grenades]. The grenade is convenient, it flies far.”

M67 Grenade in its cardboard transit tube (via Social Media)

A short video of one of the grenades was shared in late June and in late July the 98th Territorial Defence Battalion shared a clip showing soldiers training with live grenades. On the 18 August, Valgear shared a short video showing an M67 he believed has been provided by Canada. An M67 and its individual packaging was shown in another video posted by a Ukrainian soldier on 23 August.

In August several videos featuring M67s were also shared by Russian forces. The first video showing off a captured example of the M67 was posted on 3 August, featuring a DPR officer examining a grenade. On the 28 August another brief clip of a captured grenade was also shared.

M67 in a 73rd Mechanised Brigade trench (source)

In September the Russian YouTube channel ‘Big Calibre Trouble’ published a video testing the blast effect of several grenades including an M67. Similarly, Ukrainian YouTube Channel ‘Boys from the Forest’ also demonstrated the M67 and German DM51. Most recently several photos of M67s have been shared.

M67 Grenade (via Social Media)

From the sources available it appears that Canadian-made grenades are marked with a ‘CA’ prefix. So far the grenades we’ve identified in the photos and footage from the field all of the grenades appear to have US markings. Exactly how many M67s have been provided to Ukraine, and by whom, remains unclear but the number seems likely to be in the tens of thousands.  

Research Note: several lots of M67 grenades have been visually confirmed from available imagery:

DAZ14D002-011 – 1 confirmed example

DAZ20F022-006 – 6 confirmed examples

DAZ21C022-014 – 3 confirmed examples

DAZ19B030-003 – 1 confirmed example

Update 30/01/23:

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! Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

M67 Hand Grenade, Day & Zimmerman, (source)

M33, M59, M67 & M68, Lexpev.nl, (source)

C13 Fragmentation, Lexpev.nl, (source)

M67 Hand Grenade, CAT-UXO, (source)

Top Attack 155 BONUS In Ukraine

On Wednesday, 4 January, a Russian telegram channel shared several photos of what appear to be miniature satellites. These are in fact 155 BONUS submunitions, an advanced anti-armour, top attack artillery round. Each 155 BONUS round carries two submunitions capable of striking down on a target vehicle once over the target area.

As we’ve seen in other articles/videos including out look at Javelin, NLAW and Russia’s PTKM-1R mine that top-attack weapons can be extremely effective.

Salvaged 155 BONUS submunition (via social media)

Ukraine has received 155mm howitzer systems from Western countries (including DANA, CAESAR, PzH 2000, Zuzana 2 and AHS Krab), with conventional ammunition these are able to accurately engaging targets at considerable distances but the BONUS round allows a 155mm shell to deliver two submunitions capable of penetrating any tank’s top armour with impressive accuracy.

Development of BONUS or the BOfors NUtating Shell (nutating means rocking or swaying) began in the mid-1980s and was developed by Sweden’s Bofors and Nexter of France. Since Bofors’ heavy weapons division was bought out by BAE Systems in 2005, the system has been part of BAE’s portfolio.

BONUS has a base bleed unit which extends its range out to 35km (nearly 22 miles). Once fired the shell separates to deploy two independent sensor-fuzed submunitions. Once separated these submunitions deploy a pair of winglets and rapidly rotate in flight to enable their built-in sensors to detect targets within their search footprint.

Labelled cutaway of a BONUS shell (US Army)

The search footprint can span up to 32,000 square meters with a diameter of 200m in a helical pattern. The munition uses multi-band passive infrared (IR) and LADAR (laser imaging, detection, and ranging) to detect its targets. Once detected the submunition fires its explosively formed penetrator, which can travel at more than 2000m/s. BAE states the penetrator can penetrate between 100 and 140mm of rolled homogenous armour.

BONUS has been in service with the French Army since the early 2000s and has also been procured by Sweden, Finland and Norway. Most recently in 2018 the US Army selected the round for their Cannon Delivered Area Effects Munition (C-DAEM) programme and has been actively procuring it through several contracts since.

Diagram illustrating BONUS’ basic principle (BAE Systems)

A similar munition SMArt 155, developed by Rheinmetall and Diehl BGT Defence, which uses a parachute to slow the submunitions descent rather than winglets, is also believed to be in use in Ukraine. BONUS and SMArt 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 BONUS round seen in these photographs obviously did not engage a target and its self-destruction mechanism didn’t destroy the submunition before it landed.

The Russian telegram channel that shared the photographs of the munition state that it was found in the Donetsk region. The same post suggested some potential countermeasures, including covering heat signatures with polythene and obscuring the shapes of vehicles might help mitigate the risk posed by BONUS rounds.

Salvaged 155 BONUS submunition (via social media)

From the photographs themselves we can see the submunition is marked No.3374, France, and ‘HMX’ – a type of high explosive. At the top it is marked ‘155 MM AC F1 BON’. The ‘LUL’ marking likely refers to Luchaire Defense. In the second photo we can see the damaged face of the submunition, its EFP plate, the metal winglets and the pop-out sensor assembly with what appear to be three lenses. 

In terms of videos from in theatre that show the use of BONUS there are a number of fairly low-resolution drone videos showing suspected uses of the shells – some of these have also been suggested to be SMArt 155. A video from July perhaps shows BONUS in action, there is no visible parachute, as used by the SMArt 155, visible but there are what appear to be two descending submunitions – the first of which detonates above the target, firing an EFP down onto targets.

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! Thank you for your support!

Bibliography: 

155 BONUS, BAE Systems, (source)

155 BONUS, Tankist4, (source)

155 BONUS Mk 2, BAE Systems, (source)

155 Bonus EFP, Bofors, (source)

155mm SMArt, GD-OTS, (source)

Artillery Paratroopers Fire BONUS Mark II, US Army, (source)

Ukrainian Troops Train with G36s

We’ve previously looked at Ukrainian troops training with the British L85A2 and Chinese Type 56s AK-pattern rifles. In June, the first images of Ukrainian troops training with G36s emerged, shared by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence. 

The baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have been staunch supporters of Ukraine’s and Lithuania’s military has been providing training of various sorts since 2015. Back in April, Lithuania’s Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupšys announced that Lithuania would train an undisclosed number of Ukrainian troops on how to use various anti-tank weapons at locations within Lithuania. There has so far been no imagery released of this training.

Lithuania’s Military Academy has also provided a distance learning course online for junior leaders and at the end of October it was announced that 120 junior officers had received training across 4 two-day courses.

In the summer an in-person course that has seen Ukrainian personnel travel to Lithuania for training was established. A course at the Division General Stasys Raštikis Lithuanian Armed Forces School ended in early June. The four week course included weapons handling and marksmanship, map training, fieldcraft and tactics. Organised as part of the NATO Defence Education Enhancement Program (DEEP) it was during these courses Ukrainian personnel have been seen training with Lithuanian G36s.

Ukrainian troops training in Lithuania (Lithuanian MoD)

Additionally, Lithuanian instructors have also been training Ukrainian personnel in other countries including the UK. It was announced on 19 October, that a team of military instructors formed from members of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Great Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment, Division General Stasys Raštikis Lithuanian Armed Forces School, General Adolfas Ramanauskas Warfare Training Centre and the Military Medical Service had joined a multi-national training effort providing basic military training for Ukrainian troops at bases in  the UK.

In mid November it was announced that instructors from Ukraine had also taken part in an international instructor course. The course reportedly covered training techniques, weapons training, instruction organisation. The Lithuanian Ministry of Defence also noted that throughout December, there had been more specific courses for Ukrainian personnel on CBRN-contaminated operational environments, courses on UAVs and on intelligence collection from open sources.  

Summarising the training provided the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence said 18 different courses had been delivered including: basic individual skills, junior officer command, instructor, special forces, demolition and demining courses.  Operators and maintenance for different types of military equipment were also trained.

Ukrainian troops training in Lithuania (Lithuanian MoD)

Lithuania adopted the HK G36 in 2007 and has used several variants including the G36KV1 and the G36KA4M1. None of the photographs show the rifles mounted with optics and in three of the photographs the rifles can be seen fitted with Heckler & Koch’s adjustable blank firing attachment for the G36. 

In early December Lithuania announced that in 2023 training of Ukrainian troops would be stepped up with 1,100 personnel to be trained in Lithuania. Part of the courses scheduled in 2023 will be a part of the new European Union’s Military Assistance Mission Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine).

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! Thank you for your support!

Breakdown: How Many Ukrainian Troops Has the US Trained?

The US Department of Defense recently announced that they would be expanding their training of Ukrainian personnel in January. The new training program will aim to train 500 Ukrainians per month giving them instruction on combined arms operations and tactics from the squad to the battalion level. 

Long before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February the US and other NATO nations had been heavily engaged in training the Ukrainian military to NATO standards. The US, UK and Canada established a Joint Commission for Defence Reform and Security Cooperation In July 2014, which later expanded. The Canadian training operation was known as Unifier while the British operation was known as Orbital, which has now   been superseded by Operation Interflex.

M109, HIMARS (in the field) and M119

Just before that announcement, however, the US also confirmed how many Ukrainian personnel have been trained so far. A US European Command Spokesperson shared a breakdown of how many troops have been trained on a number of major systems. 

In a statement a European Command spokesperson told me that:

“Training is key to Ukraine’s continued success on the battlefield by ensuring that Ukraine has the skilled forces necessary to sustain its efforts to push back on Russian aggression. Since the U.S. started to provide security assistance to support Ukraine in defense of their nation, the United States has trained approximately 3,100 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces”. 

The breakdown of training provided to Ukrainian personnel covers a number of different systems and platforms: 

The system which has seen by far the largest number of Ukrainian troops trained is the M777 155mm howitzer. As of 9 December the US has provided Ukraine with ‘142 155mm Howitzers and up to 1,004,000 155mm artillery rounds’. To operate these guns in the field the US has trained approximately 870 Ukrainian gunners. In addition to this 310 personnel have been trained on the M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer, M109s have been donated by the US, UK and Norway.

Other troops have been trained on the lighter 105mm M119 howitzers, 36 of which have been provided by the US with further guns coming from the UK. Around 500 Ukrainian gunners have been trained on the 105mm howitzers by US personnel, with more being trained in the UK by a multi-national training cadre. 220 Ukrainian personnel have also received training on the M120 mortar.

Finally, US EUCOM’s breakdown outlined that approximately 610 Ukrainian personnel have been trained on the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. So far 38 227mm HIMARs have been transferred to Ukraine by the US.

A U.S. Soldier assigned to 1st Armor Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division works with an Armed Forces of Ukraine soldier during M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer maintenance training at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, May 25, 2022. The course is provided by the US and Norway as part of their respective security assistance packages. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nicko K. Bryant Jr., 7th Army Training Command Combat Camera)
Armed Forces of Ukraine Soldiers conduct drivers training on the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier as part of the maintenance course provided at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, June 2, 2022. Instruction for the course is provided by the U.S. as part of a security assistance package. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Spencer Rhodes, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team)

US personnel have also provided training on a number of vehicles, training 140 Ukrainians on M113 armored personnel carriers. With all of the vehicles and weapon systems it is unclear what ratio of these troops included instructors, mechanics and crews. At the time of writing the US has provided 200 M113s with European allies providing including Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, Portugal, Lithuania and Austria also providing a similar number of M113 variants. The EUCOM spokesperson also noted that an unspecified number of Ukrainian troops had been trained on the M1089 Wrecker, a recovery vehicle which is part of the Medium Tactical Vehicles family. The latest Department of Defense factsheet on equipment provided to Ukraine notes that “22 Tactical Vehicles to recover equipment” have been transferred.

While the provided breakdown of systems Ukrainian troops have been trained on by US personnel outside of Ukraine isn’t exhaustive it also included 450 personnel who have received training on ‘other’ systems such as the M1089 and various Unmanned Aerial Vehicle platforms. 

Much of this training has been carried out at US military sites in Poland and Germany but as we’ve already seen in previous videos Ukrainian troops are also being trained in the UK by a multi-national training force, in Lithuania and elsewhere.

This article was adapted from my earlier article at Overt Defense.

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! Thank you for your support!