Recent combat vids from Ukraine

[Haiduk]

22 hours ago, John Kettler said:

Haiduk,

1. Isn't Azov the premier Right Sector unit? The video specifically referred to Right Sector's objections to the arrest, so that's why I invoked Azov, thought not necessarily explicitly. "Azov type" vs "Azov," can mean a significant difference, and I chose my words carefully. Azov seems to be by far the best equipped Right Sector unit there is, so it would seem natural to me the gear being smuggled from the US would be destined for it.

2. Marine recon group in that intense video? Good to know.

3. Those sure look like fancy toys for anything but a Spec Ops unit, so now shall have to be careful when IDing a unit as Spetsnaz or SSO without further checking.  As ever, I much appreciate detailed weapon info. Am not used to seeing a suppressed weapon in the hands of any non Spec Ops unit. A unsuppressed Designated Marksman weapon with a standard scope? Sure, but not the array of non-standard kit I saw. But maybe what was on display is to some degree becoming, if not typical, at least not atypical of Ukraine's ground units. Simply don't know. Am off to review that shooting sequence with the suppressed weapon.

(Goes off and checks).

Did indeed flub ID of weapon, for which my apologies, but I noticed a couple of other things which I'm sure drove my initial impression. Not only does the weapon have a suppressor and multiple sighting systems, buy it also has a custom fore grip and the laser emitters seen on SOF modded US M4 carbines, HK416s, etc. US line doggies don't have those specialist visible beam and invisible beam (save to NVGs) lasers fitted, let alone run around with same on a suppressed AR, so I believe I drew a reasonable conclusion, however wrong!

Regards,

John Kettler

 

1. Of course, no ! "Azov" is a National Guard unit, Right Sector units partially integrated in army structures as recon-assault platoons and companies or exists independently. "Azov" was created by Andrii Biletskyi, former leader of Social-Nationalist Party under protection of Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov. Battalions of Right Sector have raised from Maidan Self-Defense forces and people of leader of Right  Sector Dmytro Yarosh. Total 22 battalions was declared as Volunteer Ukraianin Corps of Right Sector (ukr. DUK PS), but indeed on frontline with arms were fighting no more 3-4 battalion approx. per 100-150 man each. Other "battalions" were playing more political, than military role. Since Dmytro Yarosh had left Right Sector leader post because of inner political tensions, he established Ukrainian Volunteer Army (ukr. UDA) - under his rule crossed about half of combat units of DUK PS. Units of Yarosh work in tie communication with SBU. Politically these three units and political forces, wich stay behind it are absolutely different - "Azov" is brightly social-nationalist organization with "eyecandy" features like neo-nornanism and neo-paganism, alas this attract to unit real neo-nazi, but their number not critical. Political heading of current Right Sector party I should name "ochlocrathy nationalism". The curse of political force of Dmytro Yarosh - I should name "statist nationalism"   

2. I think usual "linear" unit on search&patrol. Too green and scary guy in front of operator (I can translate their talks, but me too lazy ) ). Such people don't appoint in recon units.

3. There is no arny standard how must be on your weapon. The state gives to the soldier bare AK-74, SVD, RPK etc. Further all depends from soldier's desire - either he will fight with standard weapon or he will buy or order at volunteers need upgrades. Suppressors mount on different weapon many usual soldirers, as well as collimators, pikkatini plank etc...

For example, typical upgraded SVD for sniper company purpose looks like this. Of course, all for money, which gathered volunteers, the state almost doesn't play any role in that. Snipers inside platoons usually uses standard SVD w/o upgrading.

 

Edited March 21, 2017 by Haiduk

[Haiduk]

Ukrainain drone adjusting mortar fire on enemy trench during fighting for "Almaz" position near Avdiivka January-February of 2017. At the beginning it's evident how enemy soldier walks in trench, further mortars start to work. 

 

Here map location - red circle shelled position, yellow circle "Almaz" position, seized by UKR forces. Blue lines - angle of drone camera view. In tree plant along railroad dug very trench from "Almaz" to road fork. Part of this long trench shells on video 

Edited March 21, 2017 by Haiduk

[Erwin]

BTW:  Would sniper rifles like that be given to Green troops?

I have a theory that snipers would received significant training before being so assigned.

[Sgt.Squarehead]

All right, all right.....I get it already! 

[Haiduk]

9 hours ago, Erwin said:

BTW:  Would sniper rifles like that be given to Green troops?

No. Volunteers are equipping weapon only for properly trained soldiers. Else this will be waste of gathered money. But as a rule sniper units consist of servicemen, which want to develop own skills.

Unlike in US army, in post-soviet armies there is no difference w/o "sniper" and "marxman". Both name "sniper". Marxman need much less time for gaining of basic sniping skills in order to properly shot on 400-600 m. Of course, real snipers are hardly training, for them volunteers buy other rifles - Zbroyar Z008, Zbroyar MZ10, VPR308, Barret M82/M107 (also several dozens of these rifles was bought by state), HOWA1500 etc. Its mostly goes to SSO (special forces) and most qualified snipers of sniper companies

Edited March 22, 2017 by Haiduk

[Vanir Ausf B]

1 hour ago, Haiduk said:

Unlike in US army, in post-soviet armies there is no difference w/o "sniper" and "marxman". 

In Soviet army every man is a Marxman!  

[Sgt.Squarehead]

[John Kettler]

Haiduk,

At the rate things are going, am going to be reduced to statements like "The UAF consists of armed forces, with some mostly regular, and others irregular. To address the latter, the US has generously supplied large quantities ExLax and Imodium!" On a more serious note, I truly thank you for your most informative discourse on the frankly bewildering to me highly diverse/nonstandard force composition your nation has. I find it quite intriguing that even your line units, as opposed to the Spec Ops types, are running around with customized weapons. Now, let's talk suppressed SVDs. Full power ammo or subsonic? If full power, what level of sound suppression is achieved, please, presuming you know?

Regards,

John Kettler

[DreDay]

2 hours ago, John Kettler said:

Now, let's talk suppressed SVDs. Full power ammo or subsonic? If full power, what level of sound suppression is achieved, please, presuming you know?

Regards,

John Kettler

I don't believe that there is any subsonic ammo in 7.62x54. If there was, it probably wouldn't perform much better than subsonic AKs... There is a reason why the Soviets had to design a whole new family of munitions for AS/VSS.

[Haiduk]

6 hours ago, John Kettler said:

Now, let's talk suppressed SVDs. Full power ammo or subsonic? If full power, what level of sound suppression is achieved, please, presuming you know?

Regards,

Full power of course. Sound is like loud clip. But we have other problem. SVDs already have big wearing of barrels and stock of these rifles not so big, Also we have a lack of special sniper bullets, so ammunition load consists of mostly with common rifle bullets. This significantly reduces capability of long range shooting even for experienced snipers (and because of volunteers are buying for them more appropriate rifles). New optic and bipods allow to compensate this problem with little bonus, but anyway accurate shooting on ranges more 600-800 m even with this upgrading still problematic. But standard used SVD in the hands of usual "marxman" can effectively works only whithin direct shot range (approx 400-450 m). In order to hit a target with such worn rifle and common rifle bullet on ranges more 600 m need a sniper with level not less "crack" by CM classification %). Absolute record for SVD is 1350 m target hit in 1985 during Afganistan war - this is on 50 m more than can maintains PSO-1 sight. 

Edited March 23, 2017 by Haiduk

[DreDay]

6 minutes ago, Haiduk said:

 Also we have a lack of special sniper bullets, so ammunition load consists of mostly with common rifle bullets.

On that note - are you aware of any efforts to spin off any significant production of small arms ammunition (since Luhansk plant is not an option at this point)?

[Haiduk]

10 minutes ago, DreDay said:

On that note - are you aware of any efforts to spin off any significant production of small arms ammunition (since Luhansk plant is not an option at this point)?

Alas, too many influent officials have different points of view on this sharp question. Somebody got big profit from ordering ammunition in Bulgaria and Lithuania via state defense companies, some have own commercial interest in factory building and trying to pull own building company for state funding and somebody wants to pull own... F...ing corruption and personal gain... Nobody thinks about state interests. Officials only offering. Last offer - 2018 year.

Edited March 23, 2017 by Haiduk

[John Kettler]

Haiduk,

That looks like some effective destruction fire by 120 mm mortars on what appears to be a "T" junction of a trench system. Am surprised they didn't walk bursts front to rear down the clearly visible part of the trench system not in the trees. Sucks to be those where that crushing fire came down.

Regards,

John Kettler

[John Kettler]

Though there are many AFVs in this video completely irrelevant to CMBS, there's a sequence early on which I believe will blow people's minds. Sure did a number on mine. This seems applicable to how I felt.

Here's why, starting at 4:21 or so. Hold onto your hats!

Regards,

John Kettler

[Sgt.Squarehead]

Dude the WWI era .50cal is still going strong.....If it ain't broke! 

[Haiduk]

On 14.04.2017 at 0:46 PM, John Kettler said:

Here's why, starting at 4:21 or so. Hold onto your hats!

 

SU-100 and T-34 never used on Donbas. The train moved these vehicles possibly for V-day parade in Russia. On early stage of the war, separatists took off IS-3 and T-34/85 from pedestals and tried to use. But its guns, of course were inactive, though engines, even after dozens years of silence have turned on. Both used mostly with propaganda purpose. IS-3 was arned with MG on turret and guarded checkpoints. Both were abandoned, when UKR forces became advance (IS-3 engine has broken) 

Edited April 17, 2017 by Haiduk

[Haiduk]

24 August 2014. Troopers of 39th territorial defense battalion "Dnipro-2" (in present time security battalion of 55th artillery brigade) under enemy mortar fire in trench near Mnohopillia village in 7 km south from Ilovaisk, where was rear supply point of troops involved in Ilovaisk assault. They doesn't know yet, that Russian troops already have crossed a border and approaching to it to close a trap...

 

 

Edited April 23, 2017 by Haiduk

[Haiduk]

Here is interest video, which representes direct encounter of tank and BMP and how looks standing under firing of 30 mm bursts

13 August 2014. Combined detachment of infantry of Ukrainan assault battalion "Aydar" and armor of 24h mech.brigade slowly advances along M-04 road from Khriashchuvate village in SE outskirt of Luhansk. T-64BV with infantry support moves forward rest of vehicles were in 50-100 m behind. From Luhansk in direction of Khriashchuvate also slowly advances group of LNR battalion "Zarya" with two BMP-2 to check presence of Ukrainian tanks in that village. As said LNR fighter, which sat in forward BMP, he suddenly have seen in sight Ukrainian tank on the road. There wasn't time to prepare ATGM on top for launch or turn back. He has opened fire from 30 mm gun with HE shells:

0:25 first 30 mm explodes less in 1 m from right side of tank.

0:37 30 mm hit in front turret. Looks like K-1 ERA activates   

0:43 30 mm hit in front turret. Expolsion weaker.

0:48 tank sharply drives back

1:14 30 mm or MG burst on the road

1:21 30 mm explodes near operator and slightly wounds him

1:39 30 mm again explodes directly behind operator, but doesn't harm him

LNR BMP gunner told he shot 31 shells in UKR tank and troops direction, but tank didn't shot back. Why ? Very interst question and obiously the  answer we have on next video. where Ukrainan tanker, which participated in this engagement is showing damages from enmy fire. But interesting, that he says about RPG or SPG hits ! Looks like crew of T-64BV just didn't spot enemy BMP and after 2-3 hits has thought enemy shelled them by HEAT and abandoned danger zone. On video tanker says about damaged sight and HMG on top, shows a plate of activating K-1

PS: that engagemant finished by "draw" - both sides have retreated.   

 

Edited May 21, 2017 by Haiduk

[Sgt.Squarehead]

1:39 in the first video is the stuff of nightmares! 

[John Kettler]

Haiduk,

Great stuff! Certainly illustrates FOW vs how things usually go in CMBS. Noticed the MG was not only damaged but couldn't traverse, either. Also, the TC's Baby Luna, if you will, was shot out. Several points of interest in the first were: 1) what looked like some sort of DMR weapon (scoped), 2) the AKSU-74 with 30 mm GL, which we saw being loaded but not fired in frame and, at ~4:20 and a number of seconds thereafter, what sounded to me like a female voice and a glimpse of what I believed to be a woman. My sense was this was a medic. Thoughts?  The soldiers seem to be real pros, what with standing and firing coolly while shots zip overhead. Of course, it helps that the target of the fire is the tank. That said, there are multiple instances where the soldiers are firing well off-axis from the road.

Regards,

John Kettler 

 

[Haiduk]

50 minutes ago, John Kettler said:

Haiduk,

1) what looked like some sort of DMR weapon (scoped), 2) the AKSU-74 with 30 mm GL, which we saw being loaded but not fired in frame and, at ~4:20 and a number of seconds thereafter, what sounded to me like a female voice and a glimpse of what I believed to be a woman. My sense was this was a medic. Thoughts?  

As I said, infantry is "Aydar" battalion - on 2014 volunteer formation, which was arming from different sources and troopers often choose a weapon by own taste.

"DMR" rifles are result of customaizing of weapon by soldiers. Usually they personally requests in social network "I (or my unit) need this, this, this and this. My card is...." Or if they have familiar civil volunteer, then they supply unit with need equipment. In 2014 exactly volunteer units have many custmized wepon. "Aydar" like other volunteer units had big pepole support. And they fought very hard. Probably they suffered heaviest losses among all volunteer units. (or this is volunteer battalion "Donbas"...) 

Yes, the medic-rifleman on video is a girl. In volunteer units in 2014 was many girls and women, which participated in combats. Only since 2016 in Army was officially permited combat duties for women. Untill that time they have two opportunity to fight - either go in volunteer unit or officially was in regular unit list as radio operator or staff personnel, but in real to be a rifleman.   

Edited May 21, 2017 by Haiduk

[Battlefront.com]

Gamers tend to think of tanks as invulnerable to things such as BMPs.  Not necessarily   Tankers under fire, especially when taking real damage, can easily think that worse is about to come.  With only seconds to make critical decisions, withdrawing is a logical outcome.  CM's TacAI does this sometimes, much to the annoyance or anger of players

Haiduk,

Which battlefield is this?

 

Steve

[IMHO]

@John Kettler,

1. Friendly correction: AKM, not AKSU. The latter one is a near-SMG extremely short-barreled thing with "non-generic" gas regulator. Underbarrel GL does not fit to such a short one.

2. What's the timecode for DMR?

[Haiduk]

8 hours ago, Battlefront.com said:

Haiduk,

Which battlefield is this?

Hm... This is different battIefields... I only can recognize now just BTR-4E of 2nd National Guard brigade, which during withdrawal from Debaltsevo have stuck in mud eastward from Nyzhnie Lozove village and after unsuccessful attempts to tow it, was abandoned and burnt. Destroyed tanks... need to see photos on Lostarmor, hard to say were its filmed.

[Battlefront.com]

6 hours ago, Haiduk said:

Hm... This is different battIefields... I only can recognize now just BTR-4E of 2nd National Guard brigade, which during withdrawal from Debaltsevo have stuck in mud eastward from Nyzhnie Lozove village and after unsuccessful attempts to tow it, was abandoned and burnt. Destroyed tanks... need to see photos on Lostarmor, hard to say were its filmed.

Ah, I thought there might be some information in the comments.  Don't bother trying to identify them on my account as it isn't of interest to me now.  Thanks!

Drones have changed warfare in so many ways!

Steve