The calculation of the Msta-S howitzer managed to hit a heavy combat vehicle with a high-precision projectile
It is necessary to get into the Abrams tank — even a close gap will not allow it to be destroyed. Our gunners managed to hit such a combat vehicle with one high-precision Krasnopol projectile. Meanwhile, crews of MLRS combat vehicles are mastering hunting carbines to fight drones. Izvestia saw how the combat work of the gunners of the Russian Center group is going on.
Americans in the mud
— Our intelligence service noticed the Abrams tank when it got stuck in the mud. We went to the firing position, stood up, loaded the Krasnopol guided projectile, fired a shot, transmitted the data, and we were informed that we had worked well," says the commander of the Msta—S self-propelled howitzer with the call sign Eighth.
He recalls that while waiting for the result of the shot, the calculation thought that due to weather conditions there might be a miss, and when shooting at tanks, only a direct hit is needed to ensure the destruction of a combat vehicle.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
Image source: iz.ru
Even small deviations can allow the tank to escape. But the first shot of the guided projectile turned out to be accurate.
Any type of tank is destroyed by a direct hit from a 152-millimeter shell, which includes Krasnopol. In our case, the crew of the American tank was inside, probably trying to get the stuck car out, and did not expect fire damage with such efficiency.
According to the Eighth, this is one of those relatively rare cases when, due to a combination of circumstances, the Abrams was hit along with the crew, not a single militant escaped from the tank.
This became possible due to the fact that the tank was immediately detected from the air and the target was promptly transferred to the gunners, and the entire preparation took a few minutes.
The trail of Krasnopol
Unlike the use of conventional projectiles, after firing "Red Fields" in the sky there is a noticeable trace.
The enemy's aerial reconnaissance is constantly looking for similar traces that remain after launches of MLRS missiles or shots fired by active-rocket projectiles of barrel artillery.
Because of this, the self-propelled guns must quickly change their firing position. They have planned in advance not only spare firing positions, but also all routes of movement.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
— The routes are prepared in advance, — says the driver-mechanic Bulat, — We already know where to go when the team arrives. We study the routes before that — we walk with our feet or drive by car and inspect everything.
Since, with the command to "Roll over", the car must go at maximum speed in any weather and time of day, the road is studied in detail in advance, as in a rally.
Grad is getting better
Grad MLRS of various modifications are currently actively working on area targets. Unlike the Msta-S, which was originally developed on the chassis of a tank, the Grad launcher is mounted on the chassis of a truck.
At the time of designing the combat vehicle, it was believed that the range of fire and rapid movement along the roads would be sufficient protection for a multiple launch rocket system.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
The Grad-1 vehicle of the Center group of forces, which we see, is equipped not only with anti-drone nets, which have practically become the standard at the front, but also with a cabin reservation kit.
This is one of the protection options for trucks, which was demonstrated at the Army 2023 forum and almost immediately began to enter the army. He was quite often seen on supply trucks in the frontline. Now it has been installed on MLRS machines as well.
— The "grill", which is located above the package, of course, we did it ourselves, — says a senior battery officer with the call sign Tobol. — We bought the necessary materials, the guys cooked. Part of the design is from a special set of the Ministry of Defense, which is designed for this type of machine. In general, all this was done with their own hands, adapted.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
Another element of protection that is widespread among gunners is a smoothbore rifle. One of the calculation numbers is on duty with him. A fighter with the call sign Rybak shows a semi-automatic Saiga rifle.
— On combat duty, on the road, I constantly watch the sky, — he says. — I have a Bulat-3 device, which is a UAV detector. If drones are detected, I immediately report and use weapons according to the situation.
Moving forward
Today, when the front is moving forward, the gunners have a lot of work to do. In order to provide fire support to the infantry moving forward, the artillery is advancing, constantly changing its positions. At the same time, he tries to stay within range of enemy drones.
— You know, the moment is quite pleasant now, — says Tobol. — You probably noticed that every day there are reports that the Russian army has liberated a particular settlement from the Nazis. We are moving forward almost daily, tying up new firing lines, working on the enemy, on his retreating orders. We do not allow him to gain a foothold, we do not allow him to launch counterattacks, we destroy him.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
In his youth, Tobol did not graduate from the Yekaterinburg Higher Command Artillery School, but joined the army again during mobilization as a private. But the study was not in vain. Using the knowledge that he managed to get in his specialty, he proved himself during the battles and already holds an officer position.
In conjunction with Tobol, the topogeodesist Castle works, who also once studied at a military school, but left there and served as an artilleryman under contract.
"I didn't graduate from military school either,— he says. — Then he served in Chebarkul in the 7th separate tank brigade - in the artillery division on the same vehicles. I signed the contract in May, I came here voluntarily, on my own. Because I have a lot of artillery friends here. Realizing that there are not enough specialists with experience.
To reduce visibility when moving to firing positions, not only the crew, but also the topogeodesist and the senior officer of the battery move on a combat vehicle.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
The most dangerous thing in modern conditions is the road, where cars can become victims of enemy FPV drones. But the counterbattery fire of the Ukrainian army continues to lose activity, which is very noticeable not only in comparison with 2022, but also with 2023.
Special projectiles with homing submunitions have not been recorded for a long time, and even attempts to fire cluster shells at firing positions are rare.
Dmitry Astrakhan
