Various models of Russian weapons are especially popular among the foreign press. They retain their potential, so that not even the most recent articles remain relevant. So, the other day, The National Interest decided to remind readers of the Russian heavy flamethrower system TOS-1 "Buratino", and did it by reprinting its old article, first published back in 2016.
Meet Russia's Deadliest (Non-Nuclear) Weapon: TOS-1 MLRS (Meet Russia's Deadliest (Non-Nuclear) Weapon: TOS-1) was previously prepared by regular contributor Sebastian A. Roblin. This article was re-published on November 21 under The Buzz. The subtitle of the publication contains its essence: the shells of the TOS-1 system are one of the most destructive ammunition, apart from tactical nuclear weapons.
The author calls the product TOS-1 "Buratino" a unique Russian self-propelled multiple launch rocket system. It was used in battles in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iraq and Syria. Like the huge 240mm 2S4 Tulip mortar, the TOS-1 is designed to destroy heavily fortified enemy positions. Similar targets can be found both in rural areas and caves, and among urban areas. The "Buratino" complex received not the best fame due to the horrific consequences of the volumetric explosion of its ammunition.
In general, as S. Roblin believes, TOS-1 shells are one of the most destructive ammunition, if you do not take into account tactical nuclear weapons.
Volumetric blast ammunition
TOS stands for "Heavy Flamethrower System", but this is not about throwing a jet of fire mixture. The TOS-1 unit sends a special rocket to the target, which is a volumetric explosion ammunition (BOV).
For the first time, BOV were used by the United States in Vietnam, when it became clear that napalm could not destroy targets. Incendiary ammunition could only scatter sticky burning liquid over a certain area, but not destroy any objects. The volumetric explosion ammunition, in turn, sprays a special flammable liquid into the air. The aerosol penetrates easily into buildings, trenches and caves. Then the cloud ignites, leading to a powerful explosion throughout the spray volume.
A large amount of heat released during a volumetric explosion causes severe burns to enemy personnel. In addition, excess pressure is created throughout the entire volume of the burning cloud. Oxygen burnout also turns out to be a damaging factor. It is impossible to escape from BOV using personal protective equipment or some shelters.
When a TOS-1 projectile is detonated, a pressure of 427 psi is created. inch (about 29 atmospheres). In comparison, normal atmospheric pressure is only 14 psi. inch, and during the explosion of high-explosive bombs, half the pressure is created than during the combustion of the BOV charge. The enemy's living force, being in a burning cloud, is fatally injured: the author depicts an explosion with bone fractures, eye injuries, ruptured eardrums and injuries of internal organs. Finally, the shockwave can knock air out of the lungs, which, even in the absence of serious injury, can lead to suffocation and death.
Initially, volumetric blast ammunition was used by the US Army as an aircraft weapon designed to clear landing sites and defuse minefields. Later, such weapons began to be considered as offensive. So, in 2002, during the hunt for Osama bin Laden in the Tora Bora cave complex in Afghanistan, American aircraft used missiles with warheads of a volumetric explosion.
Soon after the United States, the Soviet Union developed its own BOV. S. Roblin points out that such a Soviet-made weapon was first used in 1969 during the border conflict with China. Later, such products were used during the war in Chechnya. The modern TOS-1 complex is used in local conflicts, and, most likely, it will have to participate in wars more than once.
Tanks with missiles
Most of Russia's artillery systems are operated together with light armored vehicles, such as the MT-LB tractor. However, the TOS-1 vehicle, weighing 46 tons, is built on the chassis of the main T-72 tank. There were good reasons for this. In its first version, "Buratino" could only shoot at 3 km, which is why it needed protection from all threats of the battlefield.
The first modification of the TOS-1 has a launcher with 30 guides for 230 mm rockets. The car is known under the name "Buratino" - it was named after a long-nosed wooden doll from a children's fairy tale. The launcher can carry out single launches or fire in a salvo. The use of the entire ammunition load takes from 6 to 12 seconds. The combat vehicle is equipped with a fire control system and a laser rangefinder.
The flamethrower complex includes missiles of two types. The first carries a "normal" incendiary warhead. The second is equipped with a volumetric explosion warhead. Rockets of both types are distinguished by their large dimensions, as a result of which the "Buratino" complex includes not one, but two transport-loading vehicles of the TZM-T type at once. These are tracked vehicles with devices for transporting missiles and cranes for reloading them onto a launcher.
The author notes that the TOS-1 combat vehicle has no foreign counterparts. Various countries are armed with a variety of multiple launch rocket systems, such as the American M142 HIMARS. However, these are weapons of a different class: such MLRS are lightly armored vehicles designed for firing at long distances from closed positions.
In addition, "conventional" MLRS usually use cluster or high-explosive fragmentation munitions, but not incendiary warheads. At the same time, the Russian army has the Smerch and Uragan MLRS capable of using missiles with incendiary warheads. American BOV are carried out in the form of shots for handheld flamethrower weapons and large-caliber aerial bombs.
In 2001, the production of the updated TOS-1A "Solntsepek" flamethrower systems began. They received improved missiles with a firing range increased to 6 km. Thanks to this range, the launcher can fire without fear of retaliation from most anti-tank weapons. The new version of the combat vehicle is equipped with an improved fire control system. It uses heavy rockets with a launch weight of 90 kg, which is why the updated launcher has only 24 tubular guides.
Heavy flamethrower systems TOS-1 and TOS-1A serve in battalions of radiation, chemical and biological defense troops. RPO-A "Shmel" hand-held flamethrowers are also used in the RHBZ divisions. These 90 mm systems are capable of sending a volumetric explosion projectile to a distance of up to 1000 m or up to 1700 m for upgraded versions. Manual weapons are designed to destroy bunkers or other structures. BOV show the greatest efficiency in the defeat of various buildings and inside manpower.
Traces of devastation
For the first time, the heavy flamethrower system TOS-1 "Buratino" was used in combat in 1988-89 during the war in Afghanistan. It was used to shell targets of the Mujahideen in the Panjshir Gorge. In 1999, this technique was shown to the public for the first time, and soon it took part in the siege of the Chechen capital, Grozny.
During the storming of Grozny during the first war in Chechnya, the Russian army suffered heavy losses. In this regard, during the second conflict, the capital of the republic was surrounded with the use of tanks and heavy artillery, and only after that small groups of infantry began to enter the city. When enemy firing points were identified, artillery began to work, destroying them along with shelters. In this operation, TOS-1 played an important role. In addition, flamethrower systems proved to be a convenient means of demining: a volumetric explosion disabled mines in large areas.
S. Roblin points out that the use of TOS-1 in urban conditions led to large collateral damage. One of these episodes led to the death of 37 people and injuries more than two hundred. The city, freed from the militants, turned into ruins.
Russia handed over at least four TOS-1 units to the Iraqi army in 2014. Soon after, they were used against terrorists in the battles for Jurf al-Sahar. The liberation of this city was a merit of the Iraqi Shiite militia, and the role of flamethrower systems is not fully understood. Later, there were video materials demonstrating the combat work of the TOS-1A near the town of Baiji.
Combat vehicles TOS-1A were also provided to the government forces of Syria. The army quickly mastered this technique and used it against various rebel groups. Most of the photographic and video footage available shows that the new weapons were used primarily in open areas, such as the mountains around Latakia. In urban conditions, such weapons, apparently, were not used.
Later, there was evidence of the preparation of TOS-1 for combat work in the framework of the offensive on the city of Hama. A little later, one of the terrorist groups published a video with the allegedly successful use of an anti-tank missile against such a combat vehicle, which took place in the Hama area. The emergence of such video materials again shows that the short range of missiles and the need for the "Solntsepek" to work at the front line lead to certain risks.
S. A. Roblin recalls that in 2015, OSCE observers discovered a TOS-1 installation in a combat zone near Luhansk. Such equipment was never in service with the Ukrainian army, and therefore the combat vehicle could only be delivered from Russia. The Ukrainian side did not provide any evidence that TOS-1 fired. At the same time, officials argued that heavy flamethrower systems were used in the shelling of Donetsk International Airport, causing the Ukrainian military to abandon it in 2015. However, it is known that other powerful artillery systems, such as the 2S4, were used in those battles.
Less well known is the participation of TOS-1A heavy flamethrower systems in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. In the recent past, Russia sold TOS-1A units to both conflicting countries. The Azerbaijani army received 18 such vehicles, while the volume of supplies to Armenia was not specified. In April 2016, the Armenian media reported on the combat use of such equipment. The Azerbaijani vehicle TOS-1A fired at a target in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. It was destroyed by return fire. Both sides of the conflict disclaimed responsibility and claimed that the enemy had started the firefight.
At the end of his article, S. A. Roblin asks interesting questions and gives answers to them. He asks: can a weapon using the principles of a volumetric explosion be considered inhumane? Indeed, there is a question of the humanity of different ammunition. It is debated whether one method of killing and harming could be less acceptable than another and should be prohibited. In this context, volumetric blast ammunition draws particular attention. The reasons for this lie in their great power and indiscriminate action. A TOS-1 missile destroys manpower in an area with a diameter of 200-300 m from the point of impact. This turns out to be a serious problem when such weapons are used against enemy targets located in urban areas with a civilian population. Similar circumstances, as the author recalls, are characteristic of all recent conflicts: wars in Iraq, Syria and Ukraine.
