A year ago, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received Iranian-made mortars. They began to use HM-16 mortars on a large scale.
Most likely, these mortars were captured by the United States on one of the Iranian naval convoys and delivered to Ukraine.
After that, Iranian mortars of 118 mm caliber were centrally bored to 120 mm caliber. And then they were sent to various units in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Where they are used with both Soviet-style mines and modern mines from various manufacturers.
Using an Iranian mortar
Oleksandr Pyrogov (call sign Slyva) from the mortar crew of the 1st squad of the 22nd Special Forces Battalion of the Presidential Regiment, told HiTech Expert about his combat experience:
“We are currently firing Czech mines. It shoots with a bigger error. We also need to choose a position so that nothing interferes with the shooting. The charge of these mines is fired at a speed of 300 meters per second after about 20 meters. Therefore, it is necessary that the crown does not interfere.”
He is referring to the fact that the Czech Republic has supplied former Soviet mines. And the difference with modern NATO mines, he says, is like a Nokia 3310 and an iPhone.
“In that mine, I program where and when it should explode. Above my head or below. However, I’m already used to Czech mines,” says mortar man Slyva.
He says that his instructor in Kharkiv said:
“The worst thing you can get is an Iranian mortar.”
But the fighters learned how to shoot and are hitting convoys with these mortars.
“The last time I hit four out of eight mines right into the dugout. Then a column came in and they smashed it too. But we were hit by a mortar and it smashed. And I went on vacation.”
Using drones
Oleksandr uses a Mavic 3 and says that without the drone he is like a blind man:
“It tells me – right, left, 30, 40, 50 meters. That is, fire adjustment.”
In recent exercises, the soldier learned to act with his eyes closed:
“I don’t see the target, I don’t see the arrival. But the drone says it’s 30 meters to the right of the target. And I calculate it in my head. And I use the rotation mechanism to bring it exactly where it needs to go.”
Kropyva and a shovel
The fighter praises Kharkiv instructors. They taught him to shoot even in the most primitive way. Both with the Kropyva by coordinates and with a conventional sight-in. So much for high technology.
Kropyva is a software for creating intelligent maps in combination with devices and instruments designed to plan and guide calculations. It is used by various units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the TRO (artillery, armored vehicles, infantry, and reconnaissance units).
“Kropyva provides accurate coordinates, but it is wrong. I measured it directly with a rangefinder, but if it’s closed, it’s another story. I threw the weight on a shovel and looked at the table,” says the mortar launcher.
According to him, each mine has its own table. Sometimes you need to add weight. The NATO standard is convenient – there are horseshoes. For the Soviet and Czech standards, you have to add powder bags, and this loses several tens of seconds.
The mortar has already been restored and is waiting for Slyva to take over the position of mortar gunner!
