Russians suffer valuable loss as thermobaric missile launcher turns people into vapor
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.
7:54 AM EST, November 19, 2023
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.
