An important place in the defense of Donbass was taken by the so-called "pocket artillery", a typical representative of which was the 9P132 Grad-P single-barreled rocket system, which has a second name - "Partizan". It is noteworthy that the Soviet Army did not have such systems in service, although the Partizan was produced at the Kovrov plant since 1966. All products were exported. The unit is compact, weighs only 55 kg as an assembly and is based on a tripod. Such a system can launch a 9M22M rocket immediately to 11 km.
The main source of the "partisan" "Grad" can be the production organized according to Russian technologies at the enterprises of Donetsk. At least, the representative of the ATO Andrei Zarubin mentioned this. In general, the very existence of single-barreled rocket artillery does not in any way contradict the Minsk agreements concerning the ban on missile defense systems. The tactics of using the "Partizan" was the cover of self-propelled artillery type 2S3 "Akatsiya", as well as independent pinpoint strikes, especially effective in urban development.
Remote mine clearance systems of various classes in service with the Donbass militia
Not at all for the intended purpose, but very effectively used by the militias of the UR-77 "Meteorite" remote mine clearance installation. Of course, such a technique can hardly be attributed to the category of "pocket artillery", but it is impossible to ignore it. The elongated charge of such "Serpents of Gorynychey" has a length of 93 meters, a mass of explosives in it of 725 kg and a launch range of up to 500 meters. In particular, three Meteorite installations worked simultaneously at one of the terminals of the Donetsk airport. In total, about 2175 kg of explosives detonated, which is equivalent to a good bombing airstrike. The origin of such formidable equipment in the ranks of the Donbass militia has not yet been unequivocally determined: the Ukrainian side points to Russia, and the self-defense claims that they seized the equipment from the Armed Forces of Ukraine a couple of years ago. Similarly, Soviet remote mine clearance installations are used by government forces in the Syrian conflict.
Result of UR-77 work at the terminal of Donetsk airport
In the category of "pocket artillery" the most significant place is occupied by mortars in the caliber range of 60-120 mm. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are armed with 120-mm "Nona", 2S12 "Sani", PM-38, as well as 82-mm 2B9 "Vasilek", 2B14 "Tray" and BM-37. In this sector, Ukraine has a considerable backlog of its own production. In 1998, they began to produce automatic "Vasilki", and a year earlier they even created their own mortar 82-mm KBA-48M1. This is an improved version of the Soviet 2B14-1, the weight of which is immediately reduced by 7 kilograms due to the use of titanium alloys. For a long time this mortar lay in storage until it was put into production in 2016 (according to other sources, in 2014).
82-mm KBA-M1 at the exposition and at work
120-mm mortar "Hammer" and its protection against double loading, which does not always work
A more powerful weapon is the infamous 120mm Hammerhead mortar, based on the 2B11. The gun is equipped with a NATO MUM-706M sight and protection against double loading. Such a mortar weighs about 210 kg, accelerates a mine to 211 m / s at a distance of up to 7 km. The manufacturer is the Kiev "Mayak". On paper, everything is fine with this mortar, but real tests and military operation revealed a lot of shortcomings. In the summer of 2016, at the Shirokiy Lan training ground, a mortar exploded for the first time in position, killing a soldier and wounding eight more soldiers. Two years later, at the Rivne training ground, Molot claimed the lives of three soldiers of the 128th separate mountain rifle brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (9 were wounded). At the end of September 2018, another "self-detonation" of a Ukrainian mortar took place during the firing of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade. One of the reasons the Ukrainian side points out is double loading, which speaks of the low training of the personnel of mortar crews, as well as the frank dampness of the Molot design. In total, out of the twelve “self-explosions” recorded, seven were precisely for this reason, and in other cases the mortar exploded due to the premature firing of the ammunition.
A certain plus can be given to the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for their tactics of "nomadic batteries", consisting of three mortar crews with trucks (pickups) and a cover group armed with AGS-17. Phantom quadrocopters from China are usually used as spotters, with the help of which operators evaluate the results of a mortar strike and look for new targets. Strikes with such batteries occur according to one scenario: after searching for a target, a subunit quickly moves to the position, throws mines at the enemy for 12-15 minutes and, without waiting for an answer, quickly removes to the place of deployment. That is why now in the ground forces of Ukraine a special emphasis is placed on increasing the mobility of "pocket artillery". Often, sabotage groups move in civilian cars along the rear of the LPNR, without attracting the special attention of local residents. And in Donetsk, garbage trucks equipped with mortars were used for these purposes. The very idea of "nomadic batteries" is not an absolute know-how of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - this is how Soviet and German mobile artillery units worked during the Second World War. Militants and government troops in Syria are effectively using similar tactics.
Self-propelled mortar BTR-3M1
Self-propelled mortar BTR-3M2
Self-propelled mortars on the BTR-3E platform became novelties of the Ukrainian military industry. The artillery unit of the mortars was developed by specialists of the Artillery Armament Design Bureau from Kiev. The mortars were named BTR-3M1 (82-mm) and BTR-3M2 (120-mm) and were supplied in single quantities to the National Guard. For a self-propelled 120-mm mortar, export use was found - for example, the Thai army bought a lot of these machines.
Bars-8MMK
Ukroboronservice has developed a much more modern Bars-8MMK armored vehicle, presented in 2016. The 120-mm mortar on this Barca is called the UKR-MMC and is equipped with a computerized guidance system. The crew of a self-propelled mortar consists of three people. There is still no data on acceptance into service and wide deliveries in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Spaniard in the ranks of the Armed Forces
The idea of Ukraine buying several Alakran cars in March 2017 from Spain looks a bit absurd. Obviously, the Ukrainian military industry is unable to cope with the independent development of such "complex" equipment. The Spaniards developed the Alkaran with a 120-mm mortar relatively recently (2015) and adapted it to equip highly mobile rapid response units. The base can serve as foreign jeeps (Toyota Land Cruiser 70, Land Rover Defender, Jeep J8 and Agrale Marrua), and any Ukrainian light armored car. The Spanish system is capable of receiving information from both unmanned aerial vehicles and counter-battery systems.
60-mm mortar for special forces KBA118 "Tuning fork"
A definite innovation of the war in Donbass was the widespread use of 60-mm mortars. The KBA118 Kamerton mortar was developed and adopted, which is used by the special forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It shoots at about 1500 meters and has a weight unique for mortars of only 12, 5 kg. Such a "baby" has been produced at the Kiev plant "Mayak" since 2016. Data on mines for "Kamerton" differ - according to some sources, they are still imported from abroad, according to others - they have established their own production.
