Haiduk

>They would be arming terrorists FSA, which Russia bombs in 85 % of strikes is not terrorists.

FSA in that area have only one old ZPU-4 on pickup to fight with aerial targets. Because of Russians operate so impunity. More HMG or MANPADS and these helos would be downed...

Battle for Luhansk airport was shorter in time, but its rage and intensity were no less than in Donetsk. But this battle not so well-known like DAP, especially in western media... But in Luhansk airport 29-31 of August 2104 in deadly fight clashed Russian VDV with T-90A support and our units of 80th airmobile brigade with some ATGM "Stugna-P" and 1st tank brigade. Losses form both sides was very big - even after our guys manage to break through, Russians two days didn't risk to enter in abandoned and totally ruined airport... But this is another story...

Tools of CM editor dont't allow to reflect this... Just see how looked new terminal inside in last day of defense. These photos made 18 Jan. This last small space was last stand of Cyborgs. Next day two huge explosions will demolished the roof above them anf the floor under them - about half of them will die... Sector directed to the side of old terminal. In holes in the roof enemy threw grenades, smoke grenades and gas. Only the guy left survived, was captured. Now he returned to home. In the middle - commander of 7th company of 80th airmobile battalion. Right - platoon commander. Both KIA... Man with cup in hand - legendary medic of 80th airmopbile brigade Ihor Zinych (Callname "Psyho"). He did amazing and inbelievable things. He saved many lives and even conducted surgical operations directly in terminal when temperature fell to -25 C (-13 F). He stood in this ice hell about month. In last days was wounded, but rejected to evacuate. Got lost during explosion - his body was cut in two parts by concrete plate... Empty boxes - weak cover against fragments and bullets. This guy from 3rd battalion 9th company of 80rh airmobile brigade. KIA.

Bastables We have tank repair plant, which specialized on T-72. It's situates in L'viv. Also some sort of works on T-72 can do big tank plant in Kyiv, but now it's mostly involved in T-64/APCs repairing and BTR-3 producing.

LukeFF This is typical intercourse model of Russian trolls, never mind %)

This were just talks about nothing several months ago. No such contract. All T-72, which now received UKR forces are just repaired after long time storing T-72AV, T-72B and taken from Africa's contract Ukrainian-upgraded T-72AU1. In whole since winter to this time no more 50 T-72 transfered to armed forces and National Guard. I think some of these tanks of course will be in module as on UKR as on UNCONs side (if UNCONs will be issued together with airborne/narines).

These losses were caused by heavy artillery strike on positions possibly during Russian offensive on Novosvitlivka and Khriashchuvate at the end of August (many craters and completely destroyed tank hulls) - in the same way were destroyed many UKR armor on positions in that settlements.

This is fight near Novoannivka village south-east from Luhansk. Mid or end of August 2014. Two BTR-80 were destroyed by BM "Bulat", which survived several hits of RPG-7 and RPG-26. One BTR was abandoned and took by UKR troops. No this episode on this video, but known photo with it. LNR APCs have sign of Russian 23th motor-rifle infantry brigade (rectangle with three dots) painted above with LNR markings.

MikeyD In current war both UKR and Russian-backed troops widely use Soviet type "claymors" MON-50 and MON-100 (see in wiki if interest). Also very often use booby traps with hand grenades. Their usage so wide, that often way through bushes or tree plants, forests, abandoned buildings etc. in frontline zone and close rear very dangerous for infantry and civilians.

Main reason why T-80BV gave to airmobile units its hight speed of this tanks, which much more then T-64 and T-72. Paratrooper units must be high-mobile on marches and during raids, so according this was decided to give a tank company of T-80BV for each brigade.

It's hard to say can Svinets-2 defeat Duplet ERA in real life or not. There is no this ammunition in Russian service, just experimental party for examinations, so no real information how this thing will work. "Duplet" blocks have to work as shaped charges knives which deviate the rod and cut it. This ERA was shelled with Leclerc gun from 100 m with OFL120F1 ammo and just 20 mm dent in armor plate beyond ERA remained after hit. When I tested Duplet ERA before last patch issue I reported about some troubles and after patch issue in most cases Duplet successfully resisted to Russian APFSDS, but test shots were from 2000 m

This is probably bug. AT-4C can be equipped with IR sight 1PN65 optionally, but in this case ATGM have to be such look (big box on top). It maintain detecting of "tank" type target from 3600 m and recognizing form 2200 m. ... Or with IR sight 1PN86 with such look ("tank" target recognizing form 2500 m): If no, and AT-4C look like this: ... so, only usual day optical sight 9Sh119 mounted with next parameters: wide viewing field on distances up to 500 m, narrow viewing field in 5 degrees on ranges 500-3000 m. Maximum zoom is 10x. During current war I didn't seen wide using of IR AT-4C sights of both sides, though were some reports about night ATGM launches.

Of course. Their battalion-tactical group was moved to Ukrainain border since winter. Reportedly some crews "in vacation" took part in the war as "DNR/LNR servicemen", but their T-80 weren't in combat (though known one bad quality video, where the tank similar to T-80 drive on road within some Donbasian town)

Ukraine form the end of past year is forming several new motorized infantry brigades. This is classical light infantry, unlike "elite" airmobole units. They mostly aimed for defensive operations, holding of chekpoints, convoy and guard operation in close rear area. They haven't APC/IFV in every squad just platoon/company of its per battalion and possibly tank company. These units will release mech.brigades for offensive operations if this will be need. In summer 2014 we have lack of mech. infantry capable to offense with big forces - this caused to dispersing of battalion tactical groups in different directions. Close tasks have National Guard - almost the same light infantry, but unlike past summer campaign now their units mostly operate in mid rear and rarely on frontline. But some National Guard units have enough potential for flexible tactic - they also can provide raid operations and even local offensive. And of course airmobile and airborne troops - they are "universal soldiers". Tough in defense ("Bravo height", Luhansk and Donetsk airports), surprise in raids (famous 470 km raid of 95th airmobile brigade battalion), rash in offensives (25th airborne attack on Zhdanivka and Vuhlehirsk)

Old weapons origin - huge small arms storages in former salt mines near Artemivsk, where you can find various rifles, pistoles, MG from WWI to WWII . Despite these mines were strongly guarded, separatists in the Spring of 2014 could sneak into some adits, where was stored WWII and post WWII weapon. In such way they received several hundreds WWII rifles, SMG, LMG and AT-rifles. Also they grubbed some museums of WWII. WWII weapon also was in use in some UKR volunteer units. Initially, for example, "Donbas" has DP-27 which can shot only with single fire. VUC of Right sectror, which most of own weapon took in battles hitherto uses Maxim MG. "Azov" regiment despite its now have modern weapon including artillery and tanks also uses some PTRD AT-rifles.

Variant of first version T-84 "Oplot" (not yet "Oplot-M" ) for Turkish tender. First version of this tank (2000 year) named T-84 "Oplot", after modernization in 2007 it became T-84M "Oplot-M". Since 2009-10 when UKR military removed soviet tank index "T" from the names, tank received name BM "Oplot" (BM - boyova mashyna, eng. combat vehicle)

"Nozh-2" is a previous name of "Duplet". APS like and ERA blocks can be mounted if this will be claim a situation.

I said about "holes" only in front projection as you can see on pictures. Unlike T-72B3 BM Bulat has two ERA blocks close aside a gun. Zone in lower part of turret is vulnerable in most of tanks. About this uncovered placements on turret side 1. T-64B1M (T-64 upgrade for Congo, now in "Azov" regiment survived after AT-4C hit. Two "Nozh" blocks initiated, no penetration) 2. BM Bulat (fought near Lohvynove with three T-72 mod. 1989, catch T-HEAT from front direction in side ERA block. Residual penetration, two ERA blocks initiated, light damages) So I think this unfilled with ERA HE sections don't play significant role - ammunition anyway with big probability cause initiating of nearby HE or even two adjacent ERA blocks). I can ask Tarasenko about this %)

Bydax I think no. Otavaga 2004 is a great resource, but since war began they are completely biased. Their "experts" wrote, that one initiated "Nozh" ERA block is initiating other and this caused to destroying not only enemy shell, but the tank itself. They posted photos of completely destroyed Bulats w/o ERA blocks as "proof", but in real all this tanks were destroyed after howitzers/MLRS indirect fire. I can mistake, but no one Bulat will not lost after AT ammunition hit in frontal projection. Several pictures of weak zones: Bulat/ Leo T-72B3 T-90AM / BM Oplot

Kieme(ITA) Look at this link - there many photos of light version of Zaslon APS - Zaslon-L for light armor. I guess its were demonstrated for Polish MoD representatives in 2013: http://bm-oplot.livejournal.com/8189.html

Muzzle velocity of T-HEAT ammunition 3VK-14 and 3VK-18, usual for UKR tanks are 905 m/s and 915 m/s

Kieme(ITA) No, APS "Zaslon" and its light variants for light armor exists in real, but in present time don't purchase by state. These systems are very expensive and we have many other critical needs. Most of our tanks in this war were destroyed during heavy artillery and MLRS fire on stationery positions or lost on mines and field charges. Also enemy uses mostly old soviet AT weapon - PG-7VL, PG-9, AT-4C against which mostly successfully work even old "Kontakt-1" ERA. Poland exhibited big Interest to Microtec APS systems, so I think you rather will see these APSs on Polish armor than on Ukrainian.

No separate EFP modelling, but on 2:37 (Nozh) and 4:38 (Duplet) you can see text in Russian - "Reducing of AP capability of guided AT-missiles and EFP-type ammunitions". I think, principle the same - formed EFP "drop" is dispersing by initiated "knives".

Yes, "Microtec" designers claim protection against EFP ammunition (not only upper semi sphere). This explained by different design of ERA blocks. As I seen plain-parallel type of ERA (Kontakt and Relict family) initiates when hitting ammunition create enough stream of container fragments. "Canon ball" make too weak stream to initiate it, but do enough influence to initiate C-form charges in "Microtec" devices. Look at presentation 3D-graphic, which allow to understand principles of "Microtec" ERA work