Russian Ground Forces: News #3

Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation , Colonel General Yevgeny Burdinsky , said that almost 80,000 people were called up from the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in the fall of 2022 as part of the mobilization. His words are quoted by RIA Novosti .

“79,800 people were called up for mobilization from the DPR and LPR,” Burdinsky said.

He noted that about two thousand units of vehicles were also delivered to the troops from these republics.

Burdinsky added that from November 10 to December 2 last year, the commission of the Ministry of Defense carried out work to include the military commissariats of the republics of Donbass in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Burdinsky also said that the partial mobilization carried out last fall made it possible to form more than 280 military units and subunits in the Russian army. In addition, he announced changes in the structure of the Armed Forces this year. Two military districts will be formed in Russia. We are talking about Moscow and Leningrad.

On June 1, State Duma deputy Aleksey Chepa said that he did not see the conditions under which a new wave of mobilization would be needed. According to him, this issue is currently not being discussed in the State Duma, since there is no urgent need for mobilization. He stressed that it is necessary to mobilize the economy and people, but not the military.

https://www-gazeta-ru.translate.goog/army/news/2023/06/02/20580068.shtml?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en

NOTE: the regular forces of the LDPR was reported to be around 34-35,000 at the start of 2022 (all contractors)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSMSTJy5tuk
A russian tank suffered a catastrophic cookoff after being hit from close range by RPGs. Interestingly it was hit shortly before, but the rocket just hit the roof cage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree awarding a separate motorized rifle Red Banner brigade of the Army Corps of the Eastern Military District, stationed on Sakhalin Island, the honorary name "Guards". The document is published on the official portal of legal information.

The honorary title was awarded for mass heroism and bravery, fortitude and courage shown by personnel in combat operations to protect the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts.

NOTE: the Motor Rifle brigade stationed on the Sakhalin Island is the 39th...

https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12472442@egNews

On August 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree conferring the honorary title "Guards" on the 71st Motorized Rifle Regiment.

The document says that this name was given to the regiment for mass heroism and courage, fortitude and courage shown by personnel in military operations to protect the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts.

The Decree comes into force from the date of its signing.

Earlier, the head of state assigned the name "Guards" to the 59th Sivash Red Banner Command Brigade. Guards status is given to military formations that have particularly distinguished themselves on the battlefield.

Earlier, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu presented state awards and premium firearms to servicemen of the Center group of forces in the Krasnolimansky direction in the special operation zone.

https://tvzvezda-ru.translate.goog/news/2023892155-w5CFH.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB&_x_tr_pto=nui&_x_tr_hist=true

Vitaly Kuzmin finally updates his blog after what seems like years, loads of very nice pics from Army-2023

https://www.vitalykuzmin.net/

Hooray.... thanks for pointing that out... I visit his site occasionally because the quality of photography is excellent and he gets to go to lots of interesting events and shows.

Was starting to get worried about him to be honest...

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree awarding the 58th Combined arms Army the honorary name "Guards". The document is published on the legal information portal.

"For mass heroism and bravery, steadfastness and courage shown by the army personnel in combat operations to protect the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts, I decree: to assign the 58th combined arms Order of Suvorov to the army the honorary name "Guards," the decree says.

The decree came into force on September 26, the day it was signed.

https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/6512d0349a79475feaa84577

no idea where this goes.

https://tass.com/defense/1696831

Russia’s latest Zemledeliye minelaying system has no rivals, says military expert
The Zemledeliye features the principle of multiple launch rocket systems but uses munitions with a solid propellant engine that are stuffed with various types of mines for laying minefields
Minelaying system Zemledeliye Ministry of Defense of Russia
Minelaying system Zemledeliye
Ministry of Defense of Russia
MOSCOW, October 25. /TASS/. Russia’s state-of-the-art Zemledeliye remote-controlled minelaying system has no rivals in the world, Hero of Russia Colonel Rustam Saifullin told TASS on Wednesday.

During Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, Saifullin commanded the 40th engineering regiment of the 41st combined arms army and was wounded twice.

"An excellent and proven remotely controlled minelaying system Zemledeliye that can lay a minefield at very large distances has been accepted for service. It is capable of laying anti-personnel, anti-tank or mixed minefields, thus preventing an enemy advance or thwarting its maneuver. This remotely controlled system has no rivals in any other country of the world," he stressed.

Zemledeliye minelaying vehicle
The Zemledeliye features the principle of multiple launch rocket systems but uses munitions with a solid propellant engine that are stuffed with various types of mines for laying minefields. In the process of minelaying, the vehicle’s digital terrain map marks mined areas’ coordinates that are subsequently transmitted to the higher command and control level.

The Zemledeliye minelaying vehicle comprises a launcher, an ammunition suite of 50 122mm munitions stuffed with high-explosive anti-personnel or anti-tank mines and a transporter-loader vehicle with a loading crane in the rear.

Both vehicles are mounted on Kamaz-6560 eight-wheel trucks and are outfitted with armored driver cabins. The rockets are placed in containers loaded into special packs of 25 munitions each. Each Zemledeliye vehicle carries two such packs. A launcher is outfitted with communications, a fire control system, meteorological sensors and a defensive suite that comprises six smoke grenade launchers, with three of them on each side.

The Defense Ministry of Russia and the Tula-based Splav defense firm signed a contract for the delivery of Zemledeliye remote minelaying vehicles to Russian troops in December 2013. The Splav Research and Production Association is Russia’s largest company engaged in developing and producing multiple launch rocket systems.

Russia unveiled the Zemledeliye remote minelaying vehicle to the public at large at the military parade on Moscow’s Red Square on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War. The initial batch of Zemledeliye minelaying vehicles entered service with Russian engineering troops in 2020.

The Russian Ministry of Defense purchases Chinese all-terrain vehicles "Desertcross 1000-3" from the company "AODES"

During Vladimir Putin’s visit to the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don, the President was shown the Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicle, which is produced by the American-Chinese brand “AODES”.

According to the stand with the description, 537 units were delivered to the troops, with plans to purchase another 1,590 units. One such machine in the basic configuration costs 1.58 million rubles, with additions 2.1 million rubles.

They plan to use all-terrain vehicles during raids of patrol and reconnaissance groups, delivery of equipment and evacuation of the wounded in difficult weather and road conditions.

* The vehicle can transport cargo with a total mass of up to 550 kg or tow a trailer with a mass of up to 300 kg.
* The engine is petrol powered with the highest power of 87 HP.
* The weight of the empty vehicle is 1050 kg, while the maximum permissible weight is 1600 kg.
* The maximum speed is 80 km per hour and it overcomes 0.4 meters of water. For the transmission, it says "variator" and I assume it's some kind of automatic transmission, if I'm not mistaken..
* The number of crew members is 3.

In 1.5 years, the Russian Federation created an army of a new type (model). Russian expert Yuri Podolyaka announced this on November 15 in his Telegram channel, assessing the changes that have occurred in the RF Armed Forces during this time.

After the start of the SVO, it became clear that the number of military personnel needed to be increased. This problem forced the military- political leadership of the country to think about who would be better to fill the ranks - mobilized or volunteers. In the fall of 2022, partial mobilization was announced, which raised many questions. It is possible to replenish the army with mobilized soldiers much faster, but this also revealed a number of significant shortcomings of such recruitment.

In my file, the most egregious case was the appointment of a former cook (according to VUS) as a “sniper” weighing well over 100 kg and with -5 vision – he specified.

The mobilized, with rare exceptions, are people torn from civilian life and deprived of motivation. At the same time, volunteers are much more motivated people with whom there are fewer problems.

In addition, the level of wages at the front was many times higher than in civilian life, and the level of losses by the spring of 2023 (after the battles of the fall) had dropped noticeably. And as a result, the flow of volunteers began to grow, and at the beginning of November about 400 thousand people were recruited, and the flow itself grew to 1.6 thousand people per day – he added.

Another area of ​​recruitment was the replenishment of the ranks of the Wagner PMC at the expense of convicts. In his opinion, more than 100 thousand such individuals were recruited.

Their main advantage was that they were always thrown into the most difficult areas. And without them today we would not be able to carry out any significant offensive actions – he explained.

As a result, so many volunteers and convicts were recruited that this allowed the Russian command to implement plans to recruit new units.

That is why new brigades, divisions and even two new armies appeared in our army during this time, like mushrooms after rain. – he explained.

Podolyaka noted that as of the beginning of 2023, the Russian Armed Forces included 12 combined arms armies. There are now 14 of them, and two more should be added by the end of the year. Before this, the total number of divisions (including the Airborne Forces and Marines) at the beginning of the year was 16, but now there are at least 20 of them and it is planned to create at least 8 more. According to him, a scheme for the reorganization of the RF Armed Forces is already visible. The active army is quickly transitioning to a new composition. For example, a combined arms army will include: three motorized rifle or tank divisions and a number of brigades - artillery, missile, air defense and control, as well as several separate regiments - RKhBZ and engineer-sapper.

At the same time, along with tank and motorized rifle divisions, airborne and marine infantry units will be transferred to the armies, which have actually already turned into heavy mechanized units, but with their own specifics. Each army will have about 50 thousand military personnel. Taking into account the fact that there should be 16 such armies, their total number will be 800 thousand. To this we need to add other forces and means of reinforcement - the Aerospace Forces, the Navy, GRU units and others. Thus, very soon Russia will have active troops with a total number of more than 1 million bayonets.

The million-strong Russian active army is a nightmare for Kyiv and Western politicians – he emphasized.

The expert also noted that, given the scale of the processes, by the end of 2024 all the measures planned by the Russian Ministry of Defense may not be implemented in full. By this moment they want to have 48 divisions, but it is unlikely that they will be able to deploy more than 35, since the processes take a certain time.

I have a suspicion that the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ ability to organize resistance to this power will end before the end of next year. Actually, this is why the West is in a hurry to “reconcile” the parties. He understands that the Kiev regime has already lost the war militarily, and the likelihood of reducing it to at least some kind of draw is decreasing literally every month – he summed up.

https://topcor-ru.translate.goog/41371-jekspert-reorganizacija-pozvolila-rf-sozdat-millionnuju-armiju-novogo-tipa.html?utm_source=topwar.ru&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en

In my file, the most egregious case was the appointment of a former cook (according to VUS) as a “sniper” weighing well over 100 kg and with -5 vision – he specified.

While I appreciate the picture he is trying to paint, one needs to look at rather more than weight and vision. People wear glasses and there are very skinny light people who couldn't carry half the equipment a soldier needs to carry let alone run themselves.

There is an old saying that no one is overweight... the heavier people are just too short for their weight.

But that has nothing to do with mobilisation, it comes down to the jobs available and how you fill those jobs. A fat guy could easily fly drones, or drive trucks or vehicles.

It is ironic that people with big heads or are rather fat can be called a snipers dream if you don't want to offend them...

Footage of the burnt-out skeleton of an armored vehicle appeared online, which foreign observers identified as a new armored tracked all-terrain vehicle that had recently entered service with the Russian Armed Forces.

The first loss of the Plastun-SN combat vehicle was recorded. This model entered service just a few weeks ago. - indicated in the publication Zona Militar.

"Plastun-SN" is a light tracked vehicle designed for use as an armored personnel carrier in varied terrain, especially in hard-to-reach areas where heavy equipment is difficult to operate.

The manufacturer points to a high level of localization of production: almost 90% of parts are produced by Russian industry, including a 1.6-liter engine with 106 hp. from AvtoVAZ.

Having the ability to transport 8 infantrymen, the Plastun-SN has the characteristics necessary for operation in the difficult conditions of the Ukrainian front, where high maneuverability is required. Here, cars of all types can drown in the mud or have difficulty moving along the track, which a week ago was a country road - the publication says.

Plastun was originally developed as a civilian vehicle with amphibious capabilities. This product aroused interest from the Ministry of Defense, which ordered the development of a military version for use by ground forces.

This year, the “SN” (special purpose) variant was introduced. This modification received a reinforced body capable of withstanding bullets of caliber from 9x19 mm to 7.62x39 mm. Other versions were also presented, such as a fire support variant armed with an 82mm mortar.

One of the weak points of the Plastun-SN is the lack of upper protection for the troop compartment, which is covered with a tarpaulin. This is an important detail, since one of the main threats is attack drones and loitering munitions, as well as the ubiquitous artillery. Despite the vehicle's off-road capabilities, its insufficient armor does not allow the Plastun to operate at a distance close to the front - noted in the publication.

https://topwar-ru.translate.goog/231000-zarubezhnaja-pressa-zafiksirovana-pervaja-poterja-vs-rf-novoj-bronemashiny-plastun-sn.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en

Penitsillin reconnaissance complex enjoys major upgrade potential

https://tass.com/defense/1745973

Its codename should be Forest or Avenue...

... park it in a glade of trees and you could say you can't see the forest for the trees...

Transformation of the Russian Armed Forces in 2022-2024. Part 2: weapons and equipment

George1 wrote:Transformation of the Russian Armed Forces in 2022-2024. Part 2: weapons and equipment

They even seem to be improvising the video shows the S-60 being fired into the air I wonder if practicing to take drones out or maybe mapping fire, although I tend to believe it to be the former. We all know it's lethal at ground targets as well.

"Many improvised artillery installations have appeared among the troops. For example, the craftsmen of the 681st separate artillery regiment installed a 57-mm S-60 anti-aircraft gun on an MTLB armored personnel carrier."

Hole wrote:

 wonder if practicing to take drones

As the video shows they are shooting on ground targets.
For successful use against drones they need optics or radars.

Yeah they must have been using mapping fire, because it's certainly not direct fire. I wasn't sure in the video as it cut to impact shots that looked very similar to the impact shots of the 122mm so I thought maybe copied the impact shots.