Problems of Russian tanks in Ukraine: Part-4 (Final)

How are anti-tank weapons used?

The first thing that draws attention regarding the use of anti-tank weapons is the combination of new generation and old generation anti-tank weapons. In the videos showing the attacks carried out by the teams formed to shoot the Russian tanks, this situation is clearly seen when the anti-tank weapons carried by these teams are examined. It is seen that the said teams have one each of the RPG anti-tank gun and the Ukrainian-made anti-tank guns equivalent to the classic Law gun, as well as the new generation anti-tank guns of the British N-Law and the American Javelin.

In the images related to the use of these weapons, it is seen that the RPG anti-tank gun is used against tactical wheeled vehicles that do not have any armor protection in the countryside, and armored vehicles in the residential areas. While this weapon destroys tactical wheeled vehicles, it also damages armored vehicles, especially being effective on the engine part or tracks. In the images of classical law weapons, it is understood that it is effective against tanks as well as armored vehicles, but some tanks shot with this weapon continue to move without any significant damage. The new generation anti-tank weapons are very accurate and completely destroy tanks and armored vehicles as they hit them from the turret.

In addition to the mixed use of anti-tank weapons according to their characteristics, the way they are used in residential areas and on the land is also interesting. As it is understood from the images, the Ukrainian army is making a mobile defense instead of a static defense connected to the lines. For this reason, their defense is quite flexible and wearisome. The application of this in terms of anti-tank defense is also interesting.

The Ukrainians carry out tactical raids (infiltration and raid) against the Russian armored units, which are organized in the countryside with teams the size of a squad. The team, which goes to a certain point with civilian vehicles, determines the position of the Russian troops by using drones after getting out of the vehicle, approaches by making use of the wooded areas, and shoots one or two tanks or armored vehicles with the existing anti-tank weapons and quickly moves away from the area.

Ambush:

Another form of attack is an ambush. The Ukrainians, who ambush the defecting Russian convoys in a place that provides cover and concealment, shoot a tank and an armored vehicle with an anti-tank gun and shoot the Russian soldiers who are trying to get out of the vehicles with machine guns and immediately leave the area. These attacks are constantly repeated, and tank destroyer teams can withdraw from the area each time without any significant casualties due to the wooded terrain.

In residential areas, on the other hand, an anti-tank gun is usually fired by a person sneaking up on tanks and armored vehicles standing in open areas. On the other hand, tanks and armored vehicles are channeled to certain areas or narrow streets with obstacles, and tanks and armored vehicles left in the middle of the road are hit with anti-tank weapons. The main reason why the Russians lost so many tanks and armored vehicles in the built-up areas is that the armored vehicles were forced into the built-up areas alone, without infantry protection, during the urban warfare. As a matter of fact, some videos have been shared showing that an armored vehicle entering the city in this way was channeled to a street and destroyed by fire with Molotov cocktails thrown from above while passing by an apartment building.

How are other weapons and ammunition used?

It is understood that the Russians and Ukrainians widely used the classical mines. Everyone has seen the images of civilian vehicles passing through the mines that the Russians randomly placed on the asphalt. In some videos, images showing the destruction of Russian tanks, which stepped on mines laid by Ukrainians on dirt roads, were published. There are also some videos where it appears that Ukrainians are using remote-controlled IEDs using explosives.

Other highly effective weapons against armored vehicles are cannons, MLRAs, and mortars. UAVs and SİHAs are also used in the delivery of artillery and MLRAs to the target. In some images, it is seen that some Ukrainian soldiers on pickups came close to the areas where the Russians were deployed, set fire to Russian vehicles with the 82 millimeter mortars they brought with them, and then quickly left the area.

Perhaps the most interesting video of the Ukrainians shooting down Russian tanks and armored vehicles is a video showing their attack with a tank. As seen in the video, Ukrainians prefer to ambush tanks with tanks instead of confronting Russian tanks according to the classical armored unit combat concept. In the video, it is seen that a Ukrainian tank was hiding behind a building, preparing a turret position and shooting at a passing Russian convoy, hitting several vehicles. Due to the fact that the tank is in the tower position and the building covering its side, the Russians cannot see this tank, so they cannot silence it.

Conclusion:

In the Ukrainian war, Russian tanks and armored vehicles faced a very complex threat arising from the synchronized and intensive use of many anti-tank weapons with different technologies, from the most primitive to the most modern, and suffered heavy casualties. The reason for these casualties is not just that the weapons were spread over a wide range and that they were too numerous in number. Contrary to what the Russians expected, Ukrainians use these weapons according to new tactics and techniques (ambush, tactical raid, combat in built-up areas, etc.) widely used in wars and conflicts in the world in recent years. This situation has made the Russians, who act according to the classical armored unit concept, pay a heavy price from the beginning.