TOS-1/2 Heavy Flamethrowers

Hole wrote:This are not engineer vehicles, they are heavy flamethrowers and belong to the "chemical troops" which are part of the NBC protection service.

The TOS-1 was developed for infantry support in mountainous and urban areas.

Actually both a minefield remover and fire support weapon.

You can remove mines with everything. Even a shovel. Or your mother-in-law.

Still, a single guy with an atgm will take it out easily from 4km away while he won't be detected.

Really?

So a Russian Armoured division is rolling along and gets to a location where there are enemy bunkers with the front covered in anti tank mines and they start taking fire... so they stop and back up a bit while returning fire and the TOS is called up to pummel the mine field and the bunkers... these are ballistic rockets... their range is not enormous but they don't need to have direct line of sight to the target area... they could fire from behind cover... from behind a line of actual tanks with APS systems and ERA designed to take an ATGM hit from the front.... the TOS vehicles would fire and then depart.

This are not engineer vehicles, they are heavy flamethrowers and belong to the "chemical troops" which are part of the NBC protection service.

They are fire support vehicles intended to breach heavy defences or enemies in trenches or minefields.

They are based on tanks to operate in the front lines but wont be operating on their own...

The TOS-1 was developed for infantry support in mountainous and urban areas.

It does not have the rocket range to operate in the mountains effectively, and its use in urban areas would be considered a war crime by most.

Before it was used more in a direct fire support role, ie. a infantry unit entered a city and a TOS unit waited outside the city limits to fire salvos into enemy held building. The range of the old missiles was sufficient for that.

It would not be accurate enough to hit specific buildings, and certainly would not be safe to fire in urban combat where the target building could be surrounded by friendly held buildings...

The arm calls it "wheel of fire" (or something similar), first a unit of Tornado-G fires a salvo, then leaves his position, in the meantime the TOS unit fires a salvo. I guess that´s why the new missiles got larger range.

Which clearly shows it is used to kill people under cover... the first salvo of rockets is the most effective because by the time a second salvo arrives any survivors will have taken cover and would need direct hits to injure or kill. Having a second salvo of thermobaric rockets means even under concrete protection you will still kill...

You can remove mines with everything. Even a shovel. Or your mother-in-law.

TOS operates with armoured units... any enemy worth their salt will have machine gun and sniper and anti armour weapons covering their minefields both to get more kills and to make it more costly and dangerous for the enemy. Sending troops to clear mines will just get them shot.... a quick volley of TOS to clear out the majority of mines and then columns of tanks with the front few fitted with mine rollers and mine ploughs and probably these days a few anti mine robot vehicles means you can cross a barrier the enemy previously thought was a successful block.

They would likely set up anti tank missiles and guns to shoot at the soft flanks of tanks driving down the boundaries of the minefield to find a gap, and of course any actual gaps in the minefields will be dead end traps to line up your vehicles for destruction by hidden ATGMs and your own armour.
By using TOS you can choose where you cross and therefore get surprise against an enemy whose defences likely were set up assuming you couldn't just drive through there like you just did... which puts him on the back foot.

Hole wrote:You can remove mines with everything. Even a shovel. Or your mother-in-law.

Married an orphan so never had the pleasure of a mother-in-law    however the ex would do just fine

It was used in Afghanistan and Chechniya and not to clear mines. In Grozny it was used to hit single buildings so his accuracy seems to be good enough. And no, no enemy will protect his minefield with snipers or machine guns. In all of history of warfare this "tactic" was never implemented because the purpose of minefields is to stop an enemy without using manpower.

In all of history of warfare this "tactic" was never implemented because the purpose of minefields is to stop an enemy without using manpower.

You are joking are you not?

Minefields never stop enemies... coming across a minefield will just slow an enemy, in some cases minefields are simply driven over in columns with the commanders considering the loses equivalent to covering open terrain under fire... in  other words if they stopped to manually clear the mines they would lose a lot more vehicles and also waste a lot of time.

Minefields were often set to block but were also set to channel... in places in belarus in the marshes the only way to get from point a to point b was on a road... the ground either side of the road was too soft and your vehicles would get stuck almost immediately.

The Soviets were experts at minefields they would set up anti tank guns to fire on tanks traveling up and down minefields looking for gaps... anti tank guns being most effective hitting the sides of tanks obviously...

Often the germans would mark gaps in their minefields with anti tank guns guarding the corridors, so friendly armour could drive through but enemy armour would be fired on driving down the narrow corridors.

These days it would not be hard to do the same with ATGM positions and the options are even greater with roadside mines that attack the sides of tanks as well.

Honestly if the TOS is just a 220mm calibre artillery rocket then what is the point of the 220mm Uragan artillery rocket with ten times more range?

They were used in Afghanistan to try to deal with the extensive cave systems the Afghans used...

BTW are you trying to suggest there were no mines in Afghanistan or Chechnia?

Omsktransmash handed over to the Ministry of Defense TOS-1A flamethrower systems with improved reactive armor.

The Omsk Plant of Transport Engineering (part of the Uralvagonzavod concern of the Rostec State Corporation) handed over to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation a batch of TOS-1A "Solntsepek" heavy flamethrower systems with improved reactive armor. This was reported to journalists on Friday in the press service of the enterprise.

"TOS-1A heavy flamethrower systems, manufactured by Omsktransmash, were transferred to the Ministry of Defense of Russia as part of the execution of the state defense order. In the near future, they will enter the troops" – the press service informed.

As the company noted, the new systems are distinguished by a number of improvements. "The new batch also has an improved built-in reactive armor, GPS/Glonass navigation system for determining the location of the car, the position above sea level, the exact coordinates and time. In addition, the equipment is equipped with tracks of a new modification - with a direct ground hook" – the press service reported.

Source: 

So they are going to keep all the TOS systems in service and use up the old 6km range rockets and only produce the new 15km range rockets for the old tracked tank based vehicles which they will upgrade and the new wheeled vehicles.

Excellent.

Military operation in Ukraine
TASS; May 28, 02:02

Source: Russian Armed Forces used TOS-2 "Tosochka" system in Kharkоv direction

Earlier, the Russian army used against Ukrainian units in the Donbass TOS-1A "Solncepek"





MOSCOW, May 28. / TASS /. The Russian military used the latest heavy TOS-2 "Tosochka" flamethrower system during a special operation in Ukraine. This was reported to TASS by a source in the security forces. "TOS-2 systems were used in the Kharkоv direction," the agency's interlocutor said.

According to him, in the special operation in Ukraine, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation "run in" many military innovations.

TASS has no official confirmation of this information.
Earlier on the Internet it was possible to see only video frames of effective application in Donbass TOS-1A "Solncepek" against the Ukrainian divisions.

TOS-2 "Tosochka"

TOS-2 "Tosochka" is the "successor" of the heavy fireworks system TOS-1A "Solncepek" with improved tactical and technical characteristics. Unlike its predecessor, it is made on the basis of the car "Ural" with increased load capacity and cross-country. Has an increased range of unmanned rocket launchers. Aiming, firing and fire control TOS-2 are fully automated.
A crane-manipulator is mounted on the machine, therefore the system does not need a transport-loading machine. In addition, the TOS-2 has a system of electronic protection against high-precision weapons.

The Russian military first used TOS-2 during the main stage of the Caucasus 2020 strategic exercise at the Kapustin Yar test site in the Astrakhan region.

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/14756849

From Vostok-2022

Cicke
@Cicke69
·
20h
#RussianArmy is already receiving new 10km rockets for TOS-1A "flamethrowers"

Reacting to the threat from the sky.

This thing seriously needs to be robotized ASAP.

The developers doubled the firing range of the TOS-1A Solntsepek
1 May 2023

One of the main threats to the enemy's fortified positions, the TOS-1A Solntsepek heavy flamethrower system, has become even more dangerous. The special operation zone began to massively receive new shells for this equipment. According to the developer, the Solntsepek can now hit targets at a distance of up to 10 km.

Previously, the effective firing range of the TOS-1A did not exceed 5-6 km. The new missile was developed at the Tula enterprise NPO Splav, well ahead of schedule. The first tests of long-range missiles for Solntsepeka took place last year, and it was planned to put them into service at the end of this year.

However, footage from the line of contact shows that new ammunition is already being used in the NVO zone. The characteristics of the missile are strictly classified, so far only an increased range is known. Thanks to this, the crews of the "Solntsepekov" can burn out enemy positions at a safe distance from them.

Heavy flamethrower systems "Solntsepek" are one of the highest priority targets for the enemy. In the case of firing from a distance of 3-5 km, the crew has to leave the firing point within a few minutes, since Ukrainian UAV operators are actively hunting for TOS-1A. Obviously, the new missiles will increase the survivability of these combat vehicles and their crews.

https://en.topcor.ru/34701-razrabotchiki-udvoili-dalnost-strelby-tos-1a-solncepek.html

ayden
@squatson1h
A modern navigation system developed by the All-Russian Research Institute Signal has been successfully tested for the TOS-1A.

According to the publication, the new system improves the accuracy of the TOS-1A, and also automates the processes of calculating geodetic and special tasks. It is planned to equip all flamethrower systems with these navigation systems.

Tos-3 Dragon


https://overclockers.ru/blog/vokrugsveta/show/141104/Zapadnye-eksperty-perspektivnaya-rossijskaya-TOS-3-Drakon-eto-buduschee-termobaricheskoj-vojny

Reportedly, the new TOS-3 "Dragon" under development is a further evolution of the TOS-1A and TOS-2 systems, famous for their enormous destructive power. In its publication, the resource refers to statements by sources in the Russian military-industrial complex, who said that the new system will use structural elements of its predecessors. One of these elements is the chassis of T-72 or T-90 tanks. The choice of such a platform testifies to the reliability and high mobility of the new flamethrower system on the battlefield. In addition, the TOS-3 "Dragon" will receive a launcher package loading system, similar to that used in the TOS-2 "Tosochka" system. Such an innovation will significantly increase the effectiveness of reloading operations, which is very important in modern warfare.

As stated in the Army Recognition material, specific details regarding the current development of the project, the timing of its implementation and serial production are still unknown. The increased level of secrecy is a testament to the strategic importance of the new TOS-3 as part of Russia's efforts to modernize its military.

The deployment of TOS-1A and TOS-2 flamethrower systems during the Special Military Operation underlines the crucial role of this kind of weapon on the front line. Army Recognition believes that the development of the TOS-3 is evidence of the ongoing evolution of the family of thermobaric flamethrower systems.

The strategic value of the CBT family is the ability to inflict unprecedented destruction in a limited area. The high destructive power of this kind of weapon makes it very dangerous against manpower, fortifications and light equipment. In addition, foreign experts point out that the level of psychological impact on enemy soldiers should not be underestimated, when just one salvo causes huge destruction. In general, according to foreign analysts, the promising TOS-3 Dragon is the future of thermobaric warfare technologies. This system combines the best features of its predecessors with new technological advances.

P.S. According to Russian media reports, in early February 2023, the Omsktransmash plant filed an application for registration of the TOS-3 Dragon trademark and its image. Judging by the image, the new flamethrower system will have only 15 shells in the package, while the TOS-2 "Tosochka" package will hold 18 rockets. Enlargement of the caliber is not excluded.

https://tass.com/defense/1771777


Rostec developing new TOS-3 flamethrower system with increased firing range
A promising vehicle on a tracked base will be equipped with a new launcher, that will increase the firing range and use new ammunition, Bekhan Ozdoev, Industrial Director of Weapon Systems at Rostec State Corporation, said
MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/. Rostec is developing a new heavy flamethrower system TOS-3, Bekhan Ozdoev, Industrial Director of Weapon Systems at Rostec State Corporation, said in an interview with TASS.

"For example, everyone knows the TOS-1 Solntsepyok and TOS-2 Tosochka heavy flamethrower systems. These are powerful weapons that have performed well in the special military operation zone. We are now working on the creation of a new TOS-3 heavy flamethrower system. A promising vehicle on a tracked base will be equipped with a new launcher. This will increase the firing range and use new ammunition," he said.

According to Ozdoev, the first prototype has already been created.

Earlier, the Omsk transport machine factory (Omsktransmash) filed an application to register the trademark TOS-3 Dragon.