| archstanton73 | 15 Apr 2008 3:45 a.m. PST |
Do any army still use these morale shaking, bunker busting weapons anymore or are they seen as 'too nasty'? |
| Jay Arnold | 15 Apr 2008 3:46 a.m. PST |
Russians use thermobaric weapons in their Flamethrower Platoons, an offshoot of engineer troops. Nasty weapons. |
| GeoffQRF | 15 Apr 2008 4:50 a.m. PST |
Russian RPO Shmel (Bumblebee) – quite a sting! link |
| Grinning Norm | 15 Apr 2008 5:14 a.m. PST |
The music makes the presentation complete. |
| Sir James | 15 Apr 2008 6:27 a.m. PST |
Does the SMAW (used by USMC) have a thermobaric round? WRT the Shmel, I read a book that said that the Russians used these in Chechnya…and the author was concerned that the Islamics have captured some. |
Pat Ripley  | 15 Apr 2008 6:46 a.m. PST |
if you listen to the narrative it sounds like he says chechnya…might need some safety glasses with those tube launchers |
| Blind Old Hag | 15 Apr 2008 6:54 a.m. PST |
The SMAW didn't have a thermobaric round, at least when I was in, as far as I know. |
| GeoffQRF | 15 Apr 2008 6:57 a.m. PST |
if you listen to the narrative it sounds like he says chechnya… Will get my wife to translate for me later |
| GeoffQRF | 15 Apr 2008 6:58 a.m. PST |
|
| cloudcaptain | 15 Apr 2008 8:24 a.m. PST |
From a smalls arms aspect I am not sure…but take a look at the OT-55: link |
| archstanton73 | 15 Apr 2008 8:24 a.m. PST |
Yes he definitely says Grozny…Awesome weapons I see that the Russian MLRS doesn't leave a tell-tale smoke signature from its rocket.. |
| GeoffQRF | 15 Apr 2008 12:28 p.m. PST |
There is a T-62 variant too, the OT-62 |
| Blind Old Hag | 16 Apr 2008 9:56 a.m. PST |
"SMAW-NE thermobaric" Ah, Long after I was out though. Thanks for that link. |
Sturmpioneer  | 16 Apr 2008 8:22 p.m. PST |
There's a clip in the first link from some movie I saw years ago about American troops in the Huertgen Forest (excuse my spelling). I think it was called "Farewell to Trumpets" or something. Yeah I know big help. |
| GeoffQRF | 17 Apr 2008 3:54 a.m. PST |
I will get her to translate, but we got a bit… uh… distracted by something |
| Grinning Norm | 17 Apr 2008 6:33 a.m. PST |
Never thought thermobaric weapons could have…such…a disctracting effect… |
| Barin1 | 17 Apr 2008 7:33 a.m. PST |
Ok, the first part covers usage of flamethrowers by Germans in WWI, then they talk about its usage by Red Army in WWII – especially in Stalingrad, give a brief description of flamethrowing tanks (only T-34 mods), then they mentioned the invention of napalm by US scientists and terrible result of napalm bombs in Dresden. Second part covers after WWII development, portable flame thrower, first attempts on making "grenade" flamethrower, creation of "Shmel" and its very efficient usage in Afganistan. "Buratino" (mobile multibarrel flamethrower launcher) was also tested in Afganistan just before the withdrawal, and had a great psychological effect on modjaheds…
Then they talked about usage of Shmel in Chechnya & training of flamethrower crews.
Anything else you'd like to know ;)? |
| archstanton73 | 17 Apr 2008 8:57 a.m. PST |
Da… Do the Russians still use a man potable flamethrower rather than a rocket or Katyushka? Cheers.. |
| archstanton73 | 17 Apr 2008 8:58 a.m. PST |
Sorry Man Portable---Not potable!!!!! No cannibals here!!(I hope) |
| Barin1 | 17 Apr 2008 9:26 a.m. PST |
As far as I know, only the stuff like "Shmel" is used. I saw these portable flamethrowers in a warehouse when I was in the army, but it was almost 20 years ago. "Buratino" (that scary multi-rocket launcher) is on service, but wasn't used in conflicts after Afghanistan. |
| GeoffQRF | 17 Apr 2008 2:22 p.m. PST |
Excellent Barin, thank you, saves me having to drag my wife back from hospital just to translate this :-D |
| archstanton73 | 17 Apr 2008 3:26 p.m. PST |
So Barin in true Russian 'never throw anything away' they maybe used but only when all the Shmels have been used up!!! Cheers
really helpful.. |
| Barin1 | 18 Apr 2008 12:01 a.m. PST |
We can always sell these old flamethrowers to somebody…
I was guarding the whole train of 122 mm M-30 howitzers (the former guns of my unit, made in 1939-43) on its way from Karelia to Far East. According to our officers, they went to Africa – however most likely as a present ;)
Interesting, that in the film they were talking that training of flamethrowers operators is long an difficult, so there're always few of them. I suppose Shmel is easier to use, than old model, but on the other side, its effect is so devastating, that you have to be very careful.. |
| Dragon Gunner | 18 Apr 2008 4:56 p.m. PST |
YouTube has examples of Shmel and Buratino in use, most impressive. I wish the USA had something equivilant. Buratino would be horrifying if direct fired at an aprtment complex… |
| Sir James | 06 May 2008 5:17 p.m. PST |
I wish the USA had something equivalent. Buratino would be horrifying if direct fired at an apartment complex…
Well, I think that "we" are trying to keep "collateral damage" down…and I don't think that these weapons would be conducive to that. Besides, they could always drop a "smart bomb" on the building. |
| LORDGHEE | 07 May 2008 3:13 a.m. PST |
in Gronzy the Russians use thermobaric artillery rounds. They found out that one round wound penatrate into the bottom floor of the building and implode the structure. this also made the place hard to use defensly unlike a rubble building caused by many he rounds. sattilite photos show G to lool like a moonscape after the battle for it. Lord Ghee |
