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New images confirm the presence in Ukraine of Donbas of a Russian armored combat vehicle, which is unusual.
This is a Russian tank support combat vehicle (BMPT) photographed during training in 2017. Named “Terminators” by their manufacturer, Uralvagonzavod, the vehicles received media attention in late May when they were seen in Ukraine.
The terminators were created as a result of Russia’s attempt to develop specific vehicles to use for combat in tight urban spaces. The need for these types of vehicles became urgent after the first Chechen war, in which an extremely large number of Russian armored vehicles were destroyed by Chechen fighters.
During the 1994-1995 battle for the Chechen capital, Grozny, local fighters were able to attack from windows and doors with cheap anti-tank weapons and disappear into territory they knew well. The power of the Russian tanks was shattered by their inability to shoot up or move the muzzle of the cannon low enough to kill Chechen fighters, who often stood in basements and waited for Russian armored vehicles to pass by on nearby roads. and then carried out attacks.
Modern military tactics say that tanks on urban battlefields cooperate with infantry. Accompanying tanks from infantry enables soldiers to be the eyes and ears of the tank crew and enables them to immediately attack enemies in any direction, while tanks provide infantry cover from small arms fire.
Russia terminators are designed to fight in urban environments alongside tanks, replacing infantry as support for tanks. It is unclear whether the Terminator crews, who remain locked inside these armored vehicles, will be able to adapt to the way the infantry perceives the situation on the open ground.
The terminators are also armed with dual machine guns (located in the center of the photo above) and each of them is capable of firing more than 10 30 mm bullets per second. These devices can also be placed in other weapons, which means that the shooter can fire bullets from one barrel, then immediately switch to other barrels and fire other bullets, or can shoot from both. the same time.
These combat vehicles can also carry missiles (in each of the barrels seen in this photo) and machine guns. The BMPT version seen here holds two grenade launchers (one of which is seen on the left, at the bottom).
A Russian soldier holding a grenade launcher as he stands above the BMPT Terminator, near Moscow in 2017.
A Russian soldier holding a grenade launcher as he stands above the BMPT Terminator, near Moscow in 2017.
There are at least two distinct types of Terminators. One model is equipped with two grenade launchers and can carry a crew of five. Meanwhile, the second model requires to be operated by a crew of three and operates without grenade launchers. The terminators seen in Ukraine appear to have been equipped with grenade launchers.
Russia’s BMPTs also have equipment located on the outside that explodes when hit by a projectile, neutralizing blows from several anti-tank weapons. Other safeguards include armor or metal grilles seen in the photograph above, which impede the piercing power of anti-tank weapons. At least one Russian tank, with similar modern jet features, was destroyed during fighting in Ukraine.
It is not known how many Terminators Russia currently has in service, but at the end of 2021, Russia added 10 to a tank regiment in the central army district.
Some Western analysts say the presence in Ukraine of some of these rare combat vehicles is a sign of “disappointment” from the Kremlin, while Russian analysts have applauded the use of such vehicles and said they set an example of how powerful the arsenal is. of Russia
Either way, the presence of the Terminators in the Donbas, where advanced anti-tank armament is awaiting Russia’s progress, is definitely like a gambling game. The image carefully created by the Russian military that it is “invincible” would take a new powerful blow if the Terminators performed poorly in Ukraine./REL
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