The American tank was destroyed with the first shot
The destruction of the American Abrams tank with a single shot of a high—precision Krasnopol projectile is far from an ordinary case. This is how an enemy car was shot down in the Avdiivka direction. The gunners of the Central Military District coped brilliantly with the task. As it was, the correspondent of Izvestia was told by the calculation of the self-propelled gun of the Center group.
"We went out and worked out"
The Krasnopol adjustable projectiles are one of the most modern types of ammunition for our artillery. Previously, targeting was carried out by a scout on the ground, but during a special military operation, our industry quickly mastered the production of drones that can also point Krasnopol at a target. Thus, a combination of UAVs and self-propelled artillery allows you to confidently destroy objects, despite the fact that both the aircraft operator and the gun are relatively far from the line of contact. Well, the power of a 152-mm projectile with a close or direct hit is more than enough to destroy almost any possible targets on the battlefield, including tanks.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
During combat work, the calculation of a self-propelled howitzer receives only the necessary data, and learns about the results of firing after completing the task. This feature of long-range artillery has long been a part of military everyday life, and those who fire most often are the last to learn about the results.
— We have received targets for the Krasnopol projectile. I put the installation on the projectile — and that's it, we went out and worked. The first shot immediately hit," says the loader with the call sign Jerzyk. In the case of work with adjustable projectiles, he also prepares them for use and enters data into the control system. According to Jerzyk, this is a very simple operation on modern projectiles, it takes a little time and does not require long training. He says that the number of projectiles being adjusted is constantly increasing and now they are used almost every day, weather permitting.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
Yerzyk is from the Altai Territory, he is 28 years old, he has been in the artillery since 2016.
— I served my military service in Moscow, walked on Red Square at the parade there, then chose a place for myself and signed a contract. And that's it, I pay my debt to the Motherland," says Jerzyk.
He has an interesting knife on his bulletproof vest, looking at which you expect to hear some kind of story related to traditional hunting knives. But it turns out that this item has a completely different origin.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
— It was my birthday, and that day we were rolling from another direction to this. And during the combat march, of course, you can't celebrate, everything is in the works. And at that time, the battery commander came and gave me a knife. It's not a personal one, but it's a very valuable gift for me," says Jerzyk.
Friendly calculation
The calculation has been working together since the beginning of a special military operation, and, in addition, everyone has long service experience and training behind them.
— We've been working together almost all our lives. At first he was a loader, then he unlearned to be a gunner. The relationship is great, we are all friends here, all for each other," says the Cat gunner.
A young man originally from the Kemerovo region was waiting for a mobilization call, and when he did not receive a summons, he volunteered for service. Already in Donbass, having seen how hard it is for civilians to live on the front line, the fighters decided to help civilians.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
— Food comes to us, we take it to the nearest villages, distribute it to children and the elderly, — says the Cat.
The commander of the gun, Pakhom, says that the Abrams is far from the first of a number of armored vehicles destroyed by his calculation. Already receiving the task of using a high-precision projectile, he understood that it was a high-value target.
— After hitting the target, we were simply told that there was a tank. And the next day, it was confirmed that the Abrams had been destroyed. Everyone understands that if a task has come to Krasnopol, then it is necessary to work as quickly as possible," says Pakhom. He has been in the army since 2014, and became the commander of the gun in 2021. In this position, he met the beginning of a special military operation.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
Self-propelled guns are in the waiting area not only in caponiers, but also covered from above with camouflage and protection from drones. Almost all cars are covered with screens made of industrial conveyor belt, one of the characteristic features of the "Donbass tuning". The use of mine and factory conveyor belts began en masse in 2014-2015. Inside, it is reinforced with steel cables and, to a certain extent, combines the advantages of both anti-accumulation grilles and additional screens.
The offensive in the Avdiivka direction continues, and while we are recording the story of the defeat of the Abrams, we can hear the combat vehicles on duty leaving for positions. The advantage in artillery and fire density continues to shift in our favor every day. And while the enemy is suffering from shell starvation, our artillery is increasing its capabilities.
Dmitry Astrakhan
