Russians suffer valuable loss as thermobaric missile launcher turns people into vapor
7:54 AM EST, November 19, 2023
An online recording has highlighted a significant loss suffered by the Russians. The item of focus is the TOS-1A launcher, a weapon that deploys thermobaric missiles. These missiles cause any object within the so-called 'zone zero' of the attack to instantly evaporate.
The video, recorded by the Russian Federation forces, includes segments from the Ukrainian Front profile on platform X. It portrays the army moving along a road near the village of Krynky (in the Kherson region), where a destroyed TOS-1A heavy flamethrower can be spotting.
Simultaneously, another video recorded by the opposing side of the conflict has gained popularity. The Ukrainian portal, Korrespondent, published a video shot slightly before the Russians' arrival - it captures the defenders' forces removing Putin's valuable military weapon from the battlefield.
The Russian thermobaric missile launcher, TOS-1A Solntsepyok
The TOS-1A, visible in the recordings, is a rocket artillery system. Its production began in 1987, towards the end of the 80s. This piece of equipment is often referred to as a heavy flamethrower because the TOS-1A was designed to deploy thermobaric missiles in attacks.
This weapon was developed as a response to a Russian initiative to create a system capable of rapidly covering a vast enemy territory with a volley of fire. The TOS-1 is built on a tracked platform based on the T-72 tank. Attached to this platform is a launcher with considerable firepower: a 30-guide launcher in the TOS-1M version and a 24-guide launcher in the TOS-1A variant.
Destruction of TOS-1A from the Ukrainians' perspective
The thermobaric projectiles used in this system create an "effect similar to a miniature nuclear charge". When the missiles fired by the TOS-1A hit their targets, they cause an explosion with a temperature reaching up to 5720°F at the epicenter. This high temperature evaporates everything within 'zone zero' of the explosion - this includes people, who die in agony if they don't perish earlier due to burns.
The TOS-1A system's individual rocket (24-guide version) has a caliber of 220 mm and contains a 99 lbs explosive charge. Additionally, the equipment, operated by a three-person crew, weighs approximately 101411 lbs and can reach a maximum speed of 37 mph. A single tank of fuel allows the launcher to travel over 310 miles.
