Finally, we come to the positions of the artillery regiment of the formation of the Southern Military District. 2S19 self-propelled guns are disguised, weak fires smoke behind armor. Not hot in March, but be on the lookout. Due to the proximity of the enemy, the combat work proceeds clearly and smoothly. He hit the target, then quickly changed his position or, as the gunners also call this maneuver, rolled over. Otherwise, there will be a return shot.
It was sometimes necessary to change position after a few hours in order to save material and people. While I’m getting there, there were only wounded in the unit
Just a few days ago we were in this distant forest belt, – the commander of a battery of self-propelled howitzers with the call sign “Desna” points to a gray strip of trees ahead, – and now here. It’s a common tactic. In our business, speed and the ability to anticipate seven steps are very important. It was sometimes necessary to change position after a few hours in order to save material and people. So far I have succeeded, there were only wounded in my unit.
Officer “Desna” has been in the NVO zone since February 24 last year. It is recognized that he entered the first battle in the Kherson region – then his battery ensured the passage of our infantry through the territory.
I had to work almost around the clock, I was very tired. Now the Ukrainians are shooting less, but the enemy is still worth it, says Desna. – They are also trained, like us, they think and fight like us. In addition, they bring a lot of foreign equipment with “intelligent” systems. But our self-propelled guns are mobile, the firing range reaches 24 kilometers, and minor breakdowns can always be fixed on their own in the fields. Foreign installations are more capricious.
The other day, the unit received new Krasnopol 152 mm caliber ammunition with a jet engine. They are designed to destroy armored targets and military installations with the first shot, and aiming is done using a laser sight.”
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Our crew is one of the few to fire such homing projectiles,” a 22-year-old gunner from the fourth crew with the call sign “Jurist” enters into a conversation. – But loading a full load of 46 shells at once, doing a lot of volleys is not an easy task, believe me.
For the courage he showed in battles, the young gunner was awarded the Zhukov Medal. And he got his call sign “Lawyer” thanks to the desire to know: he is now following a second higher education – a law degree, passing sessions during rare vacations.
