Out of Mothballs: Antiquated Weaponry on the T2k Battlefield

[Ckosacranoid]

In my 4th ed game so far the party has found a Russia group with mossians and a different group with garandes.

[Raellus]

To continue the theme of edged weapons (see the MPL-50P in post 210), here are two antique weapons that could make an appearance on the battlefield c. 2000.

The 1927 pattern Shashka (a hiltless cavalry sabre of Caucasian/Cossack origin).

The 1940 general pattern sword.

I wonder if there are stockpiles of the 1927 pattern Shashka somewhere in the former USSR. I could see the Soviets restarting production in the T2kU, to issue to their new and converted horse cavalry formations (reasoning: it'll save ammo). The latter was issued to officers only, so would probably be considerably more rare.

-

[Raellus]

Dummies have been used to draw enemy fire since the Middle Ages, at the latest. Anti-sniper decoys, a prominent feature of WWI, are making a combat in the trenches of Ukraine.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...hes-of-ukraine

-

[Raellus]

This Vice piece has links to a Twitter video showing a UAF soldier firing a Maxim modified with a stock, modern optics, and suppressor.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxjq...against-russia

-

[Ursus Maior]

Trench warfare with larger assaults occurring weekly. Water-cooled machine-guns are having a blast - so to speak - in these conditions. It's really, what they were made for. With larger assaults seemingly happening only weekly, barrels should last months, if not longer.

Meanwhile, the Russians are moving T-54 and T-55 to the front. Right on time, I expected them in spring, when I saw their losses of T-72s mounting last year in April.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Ursus Maior

Meanwhile, the Russians are moving T-54 and T-55 to the front. Right on time, I expected them in spring, when I saw their losses of T-72s mounting last year in April.

It looks that way. This article suggested the alternative possibility that the T-54/55s might be on their way to Syria, or to backfill more modern types being sent to the front. Either way, this is not a good sign for the Russians.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...nks-to-ukraine

-

[kato13]

Originally Posted by Raellus

It looks that way. This article suggested the alternative possibility that the T-54/55s might be on their way to Syria, or to backfill more modern types being sent to the front. Either way, this is not a good sign for the Russians.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...nks-to-ukraine

-

I have seen it suggested that they will be used for SP indirect fire as Russian artillery tubes are getting worn out. Iran also produces HE shells for them so that might assist vis-a-vis the ammo shortages we have been hearing about.

[Vespers War]

Originally Posted by kato13

I have seen it suggested that they will be used for SP indirect fire as Russian artillery tubes are getting worn out. Iran also produces HE shells for them so that might assist vis-a-vis the ammo shortages we have been hearing about.

I don't think they'll be able to fill that role for long. Barrel lives when they were made were <500 rounds (the T-62 had a 450 round barrel life, for example) and they'll have had some of that life used up before they were mothballed. A few days of shooting 100+ rounds and their rifling will be worn out and the barrel warping from heat cycling.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by kato13

I have seen it suggested that they will be used for SP indirect fire as Russian artillery tubes are getting worn out. Iran also produces HE shells for them so that might assist vis-a-vis the ammo shortages we have been hearing about.

I've seen rumors that they are intended for infantry support.

[Bestbrian]

Originally Posted by Vespers War

I don't think they'll be able to fill that role for long. Barrel lives when they were made were <500 rounds (the T-62 had a 450 round barrel life, for example) and they'll have had some of that life used up before they were mothballed. A few days of shooting 100+ rounds and their rifling will be worn out and the barrel warping from heat cycling.

Never mind what condition the ammunition is in. On paper, the Russkis think they have a gazillion rounds of legacy 100mm gun ammo, so getting those tubes up to the front isn't really a bad idea, but...who believes any of this stuff was properly stored, maintained, or not secretly sold off? If it's stupid and it works then it's not that stupid, but the fact that they're in the position of being one year into this thing and already digging into the Class C/Mobilization Only division supply pool is really piss poor. However this thing ends, the after action reports of this war are going to be brutal.

What's next? T-34s by Christmas?

[Raellus]

This article outlines the pros and cons of using T-54/55s as SP artillery. Fortunately, there are a few more cons.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidax...h=7dd32c39472e

-

[bash]

Originally Posted by Raellus

This article outlines the pros and cons of using T-54/55s as SP artillery. Fortunately, there are a few more cons.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidax...h=7dd32c39472e

-

The 18° elevation isn't so much a problem if they park them on inclined ramps. A 52° ramp would give them up to the 70° elevation needed to match a Howitzer. It leaves a lot of problems but could maximize their range.

The bigger problem (in my estimation) is just getting those tanks and their ammo to the front. We've seen nothing but terrible logistics from the Russians since they started the war and zero improvement since then. Keeping a bunch of old T-55s running to actually use as SPGs will further strain their terrible logistics.

If they were to use ramps/dugouts to properly angle the guns they won't be able to shoot and scoot like real SPGs and will get a salvo off before counterbattery liquifies them. Even those salvos might not hit anything if the ammo they pull from storage has been taken care of as well as the rest of their depot munitions and vehicles.

It'll end up being a lot of logistical effort for low rewards unless the Russian army gets real competent real fast.

[.45cultist]

When the T55's rolled off the line, they were parked running for 5-6 hours. Then the oil was drained and a couple of kilos of metal shavings removed!

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by .45cultist

When the T55's rolled off the line, they were parked running for 5-6 hours. Then the oil was drained and a couple of kilos of metal shavings removed!

Yikes! What's Russian for "quality control"?

I'm not sure how to do screen caps but from OSINT Uri on Twitter,

"The AFU has been using modified WWII-era PTAB (2.5 kg) anti-tank bombs dropped from UAV's against Russian armor and personnel. They were used as a cluster munition against German armor and troops dropped from cassettes most often mounted on IL-2's. The version shown has both a shaped charge at the nose and anti-personnel fragmentation casing for dual use."

The tweet includes photos. Drones wouldn't really feature in T2k v1-4, but those PTAB bomblets would still be around. I wonder if they could be used (with a few mods) as AT grenades?

-

[Raellus]

More from Twitter:

"the ���� Ukraine Weapons Tracker
@UAWeapons
·
4h
#Ukraine: The Ukrainian army started to use ancient KS-19 100mm anti-aircraft guns. Though initially designed to be used against air targets, now they will be used against ground targets- in indirect and possibly direct mode.

The first KS-19 guns entered service in 1947.

"We can see Soviet UOF-412 rounds with OF-412 projectiles, which weigh 15.6KG and pack ~1.5KG of TNT. They have a maximum range when fired from the KS-19 of 19,950 meters.

These particular rounds are rather old too- they were manufactured back in 1962."

-

[Vespers War]

As Ukraine redirects old anti-aircraft guns to the field artillery, they've also started mounting PM1910 machine guns on pickup trucks as anti-aircraft weapons. The one I saw had three of them on a pedestal mount in the middle of the truck bed, which appeared to have enough space for the gunner to completely rotate the mount. As ancient as those guns are, it does make sense as an anti-drone SPAAG - the chief disadvantage of the PM1910 is it's heavy. Its chief advantages are being able to sustain fire and being nearly indestructible. As a vehicle-mounted light SPAAG it negates its disadvantage and fills a needed role in attacking drones with cheap ammunition. And, as mentioned either earlier in this thread or in another thread, Ukraine had 35,000 of them in storage. Even if only a few percent are fully operational, that's hundreds if not thousands of guns that can re-enter service.