Drone spots russian mortar crew: an unconventional battlefield duel
The war in Ukraine continually showcases a broad range of on-field improvisations. Some of them prove to be inventive, some - disastrously fatal. This case is rather uncommon.
Russians are notably recognized for their unusual improvisations. For instance, they use discarded materials or wood. One of their inventions involves a cover over a mortar position that only opens while a shot is being fired. Constructed in this way, the mechanism helps minimize the chance that an enemy detects a mortar crew with a drone.
The video below shows a drone of the 12th Azov Special Purpose Brigade spotting a Russian 120 mm mortar position during gunfire. The drone pilot promptly relayed the coordinates to a nearby Ukrainian artillery battery, which erased the Russian position shortly afterwards.
Why the Russians resort to this approach?
The 2B11 Sani mortars, favorites amongst both sides of the war, have a range of approximately 4.35 miles and weigh over 441 lbs. Their hefty nature makes them challenging to move in a rough terrain. These mortars are conventionally used from predetermined locations, which are relatively effortless to detect.
In an attempt to outmaneuver this, the Russians utilized old doors, inconspicuously garnished with a camouflage net and local vegetation. The doors were engineered to open just before each shot was fired, thereby appearing like the surrounding area when closed and only visible for a brief moment.
Such a strategy is deemed quite beneficial when the crew is equipped with devices like a portable drone detector with a range of approximately 0.31 miles, an innovation displayed at the MSPO 2023 fair.
However, to the Russians' misfortune, the Ukrainian drone operator happened to spot them during their gunfire. This led to the inevitable downfall of the crew. Soon they were bombarded by Ukrainian shells.
In Ukraine, artillery is the primary cause of significant casualties on both sides. Thus, for the Russians and Ukrainians, neutralizing enemy artillery is crucial. Consequently, new techniques for rapidly leaving firing locations or concealing them from drones are emerging.
