The next batch of Capricorn-1 rocket launchers is being prepared for shipment to the front. Weapons designed by active-duty military personnel have already earned a formidable reputation as motorized rifle "pocket" artillery capable of hitting important targets. The possibilities of this system are described in the RIA Novosti article.
Fits in a "loaf"
In the workshop of the small Yekaterinburg company BRT, which previously specialized in weapon tuning, they are completing work on the Capricorns-1 batch. The tools are disassembled and laid on the floor in the production room. The staff is putting on the final polish — something is being finished, tinted. It took two months for these 20 installations. And since 2023, the Urals have given the front more than 120.
The Capricorn-1 is, in fact, a recoilless artillery piece for firing shells from the Grad MLRS," explains Evgeny, a specialist in the BRT technical department. — It consists of three main parts: a platform with "legs", "horns" for vertical aiming with a stretcher and a guide from the "Grad" — up to six of them can be placed on the machine. When disassembled, the Capricorn easily fits into the UAZ-loaf. It takes 15 minutes for a crew of three to get him on alert."
The installation uses the entire range of rockets for the BM-21 Grad, including the 9M22U with a range of up to 20 kilometers. There are rough vertical aiming units and flywheels for finer aiming. Due to the rigid welded structure weighing about 200 kilograms, the gun does not shake when firing, so it is possible to achieve the highest accuracy. There have been cases when the Capricorn hit the target with the second or third shot, which is considered an excellent result in artillery.
The fire is "dissimilar"
"Tactics have already been worked out," the RIA-Novosti source continues. — They are tearing off a full-profile trench with a depth of two meters. A "Capricorn" is placed in it. From above — logs, soil, nets. Only a ballistic firing hole is left. And try to smoke the calculation out of there. A trench will save you from artillery counter—battery fire, and a network from drones. But I also had experience working on direct fire. They dragged the gun into the building and hit the enemy through a gap in the wall."
The sights are from Grad, so it's not difficult for experienced gunners to master the novelty. There are no problems with ammunition. In the combat zone, forest belts are littered with so—called dissimilarities - rockets that have not come off the rails. They can no longer be used in the Grad package, but Capricorn fires them without any risk.
"Another important advantage is that the installation is much cheaper than "adult" art systems,— adds Evgeny. — And it is very reliable due to a huge margin of safety. The thickness of the metal is such that it is difficult to disable the gun. Changing the guide is easy and simple. Four bolts were unscrewed, then tightened. We are going to expand production. The troops appreciated this weapon, understood all the advantages — stealth, accuracy, and the surprise factor. Therefore, the platform will continue to evolve."
Future plans
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| The Capricorn-1 rocket launcher. |
| Source: RIA Novosti / Andrey Kotz |
It is known that part of the new batch will go to one of the rocket artillery battalions fighting on the Tornado-G MLRS. The realities of modern warfare are such that guns with a range of less than 20 kilometers are very vulnerable to FPV drones. A small and mobile installation, which is easy to dig in and disguise, has a much better chance of surviving and completing a combat mission.
"When I assembled the first cannon in April 2023, there were still few drones at the front," says the creator of Capricorn, a soldier in the South group's intelligence unit. — All the artillery was working freely: the barrel, the rocket launcher, the AGS. Today, the lion's share of art falls into the area of UAV damage. Even mortars are practically not used, and this is the main "pocket artillery" of infantry since the Second World War. So the Capricorn has become a crutch for our army until we learn how to beat the enemy's "birds" even more effectively.
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| The Capricorn-1 rocket launcher. |
| Source: RIA Novosti / Andrey Kotz |
As you know, the best way to deal with drones is to destroy calculations. Capricorns regularly strike enemy drones. A range of 20 kilometers is enough to reach their positions in the immediate rear. The fire is corrected through aircraft-type drones, such as Zala, Superkam, Orlan. The Capricorns have hundreds of targets hit, from enemy dugouts to howitzers and armored vehicles.
"The next batch will go to the troops under the code "Capricorn-1M", — says the military. — Modernization is overdue, it became clear where to move. We will simplify the design and increase the angles of horizontal guidance. We will add wheels to the installation so that it will be easier for the calculation to move around the battlefield with the gun. I will also develop the Capricorn-2 system, a rocket weapon that will definitely not be ashamed of in front of posterity."
In addition to modernization, there are plans to create a heavier version for 220-millimeter MLRS shells. The working title is "Capricorn Hurricane". This one will be able to hit 36 kilometers already. The enemy's rear logistics will be under attack, and this will seriously reduce the combat capability of the front-line units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Andrey Kotz
