"Ukrainian Territorial Defense Brigade Equipment" Topic

An AZP S-60 57mm AA gun mounted on an un-camouflaged prime-mover Ukraine Weapons Tracker, Jun 6, 2022.

from ANNA. Note the towed version (perhaps the most common).

An abandoned Ukrainian S-60 near Balakliya, Kharkiv Oblast.
from ANNA 12.05.2022

Ukraine had ~400 57mm S-60 in its inventory in 2014 globalsecurity.org
I don't have a figure for ZSU-23-2.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

The Armed Forces of Ukraine received Pinzgauer Vector 6x6 military all-terrain vehicles, which can work as tractors, ambulances, for deep reconnaissance, support, and communications. The vehicles were bought, together with partners, by one of the servicemen with the call sign "Mountain", who before the war was a successful entrepreneur.

Two armoured vehicles are already serving with the Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the rest were sent to other troops.

mil.in.ua, 6 June, 2022.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Regarding the Maxim guns in pictures, those do not look like the original models. Notice the large cap in the water jacket? If I am not mistaken, that is a feature added during WWII, copied from a Finnish Maxim derivative designed during the interwar years. This larger cap makes it possible to stuff snow into jacket – quite handy in the winter time (when water needs to be "spiked" with a bit of anti-freeze).

And for defending static positions, the Maxim gun should still be quite effective when properly placed, and the ammunition (designed in the late 19th century?) is powerful and still in production. However, for mobile operations they would be rather clunky by modern standards.

Did they give the modified version a new designation?

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

A vid of a 57mm S-60, mounted on a truck, in action, TpyxaNews, June 10, 2022.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Ukrainian MBTs from the 110th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade shell Russian positions in Zaporizhia Oblast, Blue_Sauron, Jun 10, 2022. From 110tro

Dominic Gravina Replying to @Blue_Sauron
"T-72AVs? It looks like the exhaust is on the left hand side, not the rear which rules out the T-64 and T-80."

Interview with tank crew 'charlie' From 110tro ~4 June 22

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From 2020:
Soldiers of the 110th brigade of territorial defense of the Zaporozhye region gathered for training, Телеканал TV5, Feb 1, 2020.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

The tank vid caption probably translates as:
"Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the defense zone of the Zaporizhzhya Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, in close cooperation, hold the previously occupied positions and expand a future bridgehead!"

So the tank unit may be cooperating with the 110th TDB rather than being part of the 110th TDB.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

"Did they give the modified version a new designation?"

The official name of machine guns manufactured in the USSR:
Maxim machine gun of the 1910/30 model
The 1940 modification with a wide neck of the water casing had no official index.

Thanks Cuprum

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As well as the RPG-7, the SPG-9M 73 mm recoilless gun also appears, probably also used by infantry companies.

SPG-9M
from a 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade Video, 24 May 22.

‌

SPG-9M
from 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade Facebook, 4 June 22.

SPG-9 at military-today

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The 103rd TDB's "new" equipment:

MG

Mortar (Soviet 82mm 2B14 «Podnos»?)

2 x towed 57mm AA

from a 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade Video, 27 May 22.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Very nice intel … I see they have a US .50 cal. Along with some other older equipment. A weapon is only as good as the troop/crew using …

This will be an interesting period to collect and paint for someday. The wild variety of kit ranging from modern to museum pieces, utilized civilian vehicles in motor columns, diversity of uniforms. The crazy part will be attempting to balance it all into a playable game with army lists. (So the Russian player spends points on T-62 and the Ukrainian player spends his point on Javelin ATGM…)

Yes, it is quite a list of equipment from many eras.

So far, no one has seen the T-62 in combat. In addition, the armies of the DPR and LPR also widely use captured weapons, including the Javelin and Stinger. One of the helicopters flying from Azovstal from Mariupol was shot down by the DPR with a Stinger crew.

Now the 57-mm cannon as an anti-aircraft gun is virtually useless.

Non of these images show for me. The 57mm & 23mm are probably still useful against drones, the main aerial menace. These types have been mainly used against ground targets in recent conflicts. Does the armourer in the video say when/how they received the 57mm & what they will do with them?

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Transport
The TDF are to use (prearranged?) confiscated civilian vehicles when mobilised. school buses are mentioned for the 2014 battalions.

"Today, Lviv handed over to the 125th separate brigade of the territorial defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine two buses recently received from the Polish cities of Bialystok and Poznan. These are 12-meter MAN buses.

It will be recalled that Lviv received 30 large low-floor buses from Polish cities. After completing all the relevant documents, some of them will run on city routes, and the rest will be transferred to other special needs."Lviv Status Quo, 02.05.2022.

The 103rd (Lviv) TDB received 9 MAN buses, enough to transport one battalion.

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The automatic grenade launcher used is likely to be the Ukrainian 30mm КБА.117-02 (KBA.117-02), the infantry version of the vehicle mounted KBA.117, based on the Soviet AG-17. ukrmilitary, December 5, 2020.

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Maxim MG 1910/30 in 2016.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Druzhina, probably you will be interested.

Data (for the last month) of the locations of units of territorial defense brigades in the Kharkiv region and in the east of Donbass.

▪️ 127 TrD Brigade (Kharkiv) – Kharkiv direction. Northern and northeastern suburbs of Kharkov
▪️ 105 TrD brigade (Ternopil) – Kharkiv direction. Eastern suburbs of Kharkov
▪️ 108 TrD brigade (Dnepropetrovsk) – Izyum-Slavyansk direction
▪️ 115 TrD brigade (Zhytomyr) and 103 Troop brigade (Lviv) – Bakhmut / Artemov direction
▪️ 110 TrD Brigade (Zaporozhye) – Avdiivka direction

I would be really curious to know how these vintage Maxim MMGs and S-60 57mm AA guns are actually distributed, as they do not show up on the official TO&Es that I've seen. For example, the MMGs are probably organized as a machinegun company… would it be reasonable to assume there would be one such company per TDF brigade (i.e. 1 MMG Co per 6 Rifle Battalions)?

In Ukraine, many "freelance" volunteer battalions are being created, which are included in the territorial defense.
Today I received information about the "Volunteer formation of the territorial community of the city of Kyiv "Legion D". This formation was assigned the number of the military unit of the military unit 7292
It is also known that this military unit includes the assault company "Revenge", commanded by a certain Bogdan Khodakovsky. And that the sponsor of this unit is the Dynamo-Kyiv football team.
The battalion was formed in April. Its composition and weapons are not known.

There is a video of this Bogdan Khodakovsky on YouTube:

youtu.be/ZdM-5PDXKVk

There is a promotional video for recruiting volunteers on a Russian social network:

link

And there is an electronic document – a letter of thanks to the sponsoring football team:

So it makes no sense to rely on pre-war information about the numbers and strength of territorial defense brigades. I think that new territorial defense brigades have already been formed from such volunteer units, or such units in combat areas are attached to regular formations for reinforcement.

re the map,
The 113 TDB is the existing unit for Kharkiv Oblast, the 127 TDB is a new brigade for Kharkiv city, probably not deployed to the front yet. Other new brigades are the 125 (Lviv city) & 126 (Odessa city), these have been formed from volunteers excess to the numbers needed to fill out the TDBs of the regions. Kyiv city is its own oblast and has the 112 TDB.

The 105 TDB was reported on exercise recently.

The 115 TDB was mapped in Severodonetsk following the fake videos, but as they were not there JominiW now has them marked on 2 different maps! The 115 is of Zhytomyr Oblast, to the west of Kiev. They are probably still watching the Belorus border. They were last seen demining.

The 103 TDB has been in Bakhmut and are dug in somewhere.

The 110 TDB (Zaporizhzhia) is also mapped there by JominiW.

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Achtung Minen, what official TO&Es have you seen?

Each battalion has an MG platoon in the 'fire support company' – probably 3 x MG, if it is like old Soviet use of Maxim MG 1910/30 and maybe one in each infantry company.

The 57mm might substitute for 23mm in the Battalion AA platoon or be in a brigade AA platoon.

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Cuprum,
What fighting does he claim to have done?

Is this any different to the "Volunteer formation of the Lutsk city territorial community No. 1 Lutsk" on p.1?

more than 700 volunteer formations of territorial communities have been created. lb.ua, May 17, 2022.

The pre 2022 invasion under-strength of the TDBs has been filled out and at least 3 new brigades formed.

===============
The Military Balance 2021 has a paragraph on the TDBs:

Territorial-defence brigades are part of the reserve system. The core of these units were set up in 2018, and the brigades replaced the territorial-defence detachments that were formed after 2014. In peacetime they consist of a relatively small cadre of officers administering the formation and its subordinate units, as well as reservists on contract. In wartime, or at a time of crisis, the brigades are filled to full strength by mobilised reservists, with the plan that they in effect become infantry brigades able to defend rear areas or protect borders. However, the plan has experienced some difficulties. For instance, analysts have indicated that setting up the organisational base within units, so that they can be effectively expanded under mobilisation conditions, has been hampered by a shortage of reservists on contract, as well as poor equipment and training deficiencies.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Didn't take part in any battles. It is in the process of formation. Located in Kyiv. But since this formation has already been assigned a military unit number, then this military unit already has an official status – the only question is what official name it will receive (apparently, it does not exist yet).
Yes, this, as I understand it, is an analogue of the formation of the territorial community of Lutsk.

It is very likely that a lot of such "unrecorded" formations have been created in various cities.

The bureaucracy would have liked to give military unit numbers to all units when formed, but, letting groups of 5 or more organise themselves was needed in an emergency. If people really wanted to fight they would join the regular army rather than a top-down organised volunteer unit in urban areas where there is no fighting. Units like No. 1 Lutsk and M/U 7292 may be more about the self-aggrandisement of their patrons than anything else. Bogdan Khodakovsky saying "Moshchun is our Verdun" in the video sounded like he had actually done something – but no.

The TDBs in far-away oblasts are no longer a cushy job with no chance of being sent to the front.

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Cuprum, re Achtung Minen's question about S-60 57mm AA guns. Would you tell us if the armourer in this video says anything useful about them?

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

From the interesting:

Each battalion will have a battery of 6 82 mm mortars. There are samples of both Ukrainian and American production.
There are MG-42 7,62 mm machine guns in the units.

The anti-aircraft gun is designed to fire at air and ground targets. The gun confidently hits the BMP and APC.

As for the volunteer units, I agree. I think that it is precisely such units that rebel at the front and refuse to fight.

Ukraine Needs 'Customer Service' For Their Javelin Missiles

link

Armand

Thanks Cuprum,
A battery of 6 x 82 mm mortars (2 platoons of 3) matches the info on p.1 from tro-weapon. Some of this info, including the mention of the 2B9 'Vasilek' automatic 82 mm gun-mortar, id based on the same graphics from [https://www.ukrmilitary.com/2015/08/tro.html]tro which is about the 2014 Territorial Defence Battalions which were converted to regular (and reserve) motorised battalions. 2B9s are still used by these (see the OSCE report on p.1) even though a mobile 120mm mortar would be preferred.
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A video of the 101 TDB training with a Mortar (Soviet 82mm 2B14 «Podnos»?), 15 June 22.
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128th Battalion of the Territorial Defense of the Dnieper District of Kyiv / 112th TDB, 13 June 22.
Thanks to the support of the 'Infopulse Ukraine' community, our fighters received cool laser rangefinders and telescopes.

From the same btn. Yaroslav Yurchyshyn with a Degtyarev DP-27 light machine gun, 28 March 22.
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I noticed that military/unit numbers have been removed from uk.wiki but a spy can easily find these in the history.
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Ukr Wiki says the next TDF that would have been raised would be for Дніпро Dnipro, it may not be called the 128th as there is a 128th Mountain Brigade. Searching, I only found the 128-й батальйон територіальної оборони (Дніпровський р-н) / 128th Territorial Defense Battalion (Dniprovskyi District) {112 TDF}.
=========

"Ukraine Needs 'Customer Service' For Their Javelin Missiles" does not mention the TDF. I have seen a Ukrainian instruction video on-line for the NLAW, there may be one for the Javelin.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

A vid by hromadske says at least one unit of the 127th TDB, including veterans of 2014, have been in combat.

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A pair of "rather interesting SPG-9 AT gun variant was spotted in the hands of Ukrainian Territorial Defense forces – here we see a Bulgarian Warrior SPG-9 equipped with a modern PGDN-9VIR day/night digital sight, which helps to greatly facilitate target acquisition and aiming." Ukraine Weapons Tracker, Jun 15, 2022.

The sight appears to be the same as on the 2 examples linked above.

Druzhina
‌Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Mobile Mortar Can Shoot, Scoot in 46 Seconds

link

Armand

There is a facebook page for a 241st Territorial Defence Brigade
It is a 'bit sus' as we say in Australia. There are a lot of posts starting from 4 May, some of which are very general or copied from other units like the 103 TPB.

The patch shown is

An image search gives 5 results that had matching images but don't seem to anymore.
One result is the facebook story page Our Marta[/url
in the linked vid at 18.07 in ‌Marta Yuzkiv is a reservist of the 130th Battalion of the TRO of Kyiv

a shoulder patch appears that matches the 241's.
The description of this patch would be the same as the camouflaged version of the 112 TDB which would not be allowed in heraldy.

A few posts feature Taras Kompanichenko who was in the 112 TDB but is now apparently in the 241 TPB.

I have marked battalions mentioned in bold
16 June – Another wedding in #241OBTRO, the birth of a Ukrainian military family in the 206th separate battalion.
16 June – A night session was held in 243 Battalion #241OBTRO
13 June – A magazine article supposed to be about girls in the 241 TDB is questioned in the comments because the magazine text says it is the 112 TDB.
4 June – A coloured version of the shoulder patch is in a photo
3 June – In Kyiv, at the Berkovets Cemetery, a farewell ceremony was held for the soldiers of the 130th Battalion # 241BOTRO, Andriy Kudinov and Valentyn Zvirika.
Their deaths are recorded on a 130th battalion page

3 June – 205 separate battalion #241OBTRO conducted interactive sessions for their unit in one of the grenade launcher training centres.
3 June – Today 242 separate battalion #241obtro continued comprehensive preparation of pivotal units.
24 May – On May 23, 112 Kyiv Territorial Defense Brigade and 241 separate territorial defense brigade organized a celebration of Heroes' Day in wartime Kyiv.
I would like to compare this with the 112 TDB, but the link to the 112 TDB facebook given on wiki no longer exists.

22 May – In military unit A 4123 …
19 May – Training of 204 separate battalion 241 OBTRO ZSU on tactical and combat training

The still from the video shows an Airborne Assault shoulder patch!

Battalions said to be in the 241 TDB are 204, 205, 206, 130, 242 & 243

The facebook page of the 130 btn still indicates it is part of the 112 TDB.
130-й Батальйон 112-ї Окремої Бригади Територіальної Оборони м. Києва

This page may make sense if the conflicting patch is excused and the 130th btn has been transferred to the 241st TDB (& the girls in the magazine were in the 130th), otherwise it may be a Ukrainian spoof (with Taras Kompanichenko's involvement).

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Good intel !

Azerbaijani mortars have been seen in service with the Ukrainian army. Officially, such weapons were not supplied to Ukraine

From armyinform

The officer seems to say something about Azerbaijan in the video, but the markings on the mortar seem to be ordinary?

Interesting that they have a mix of Ukrainian 60-mm mortar "Camerton" and 82mm in the battery.

The shoulder patch is of the 110th TDB.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

The 20N5 marking does indicate a MODIAR Azerbaijan mortar.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

M2 HMG displayed at a funeral, 130th Btn, 112 TDF, May 14.

Could the weapon in the background be an automatic grenade launcher?

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Yes, with that drum magazine that may well be a Russian, IIRC ASG-17(?) …

Photo AGS-17 in the same angle:

121 Territorial Defense Brigade:
Training with RPG 7, 17 June & in video, 21 June.
Receive an ‌Autel quadcopter probably an EVO II in a GPC case donated by the charity Razom, 13 June.
at 2:25 in video is training on SPG-9, with more basic sight than the SPG-9M shown above, 7 June.
Battalions carried out practical shooting from the mortar of Ukrainian production M60-16‌, 14 May.

Unknown TDB with M-72 Light Anti-tank Weapon in video from the front, 3 May.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Not necessarily TDF, but a video of a SPG-9 73mm recoilless gun in action, Osinttechnical, June 21.

This may be a community volunteer unit training on a donated M4 Carl Gustaf 8.4cm recoilless rifle, Osinttechnical, June 20.

Ukrainian TDF technical with a newly acquired 6P17 tank-mount NSV HMG in Poltava, Ukraine Weapons Tracker, March 15, 2022.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Further to the 241 TDB above.

Today, a separate shooting company 241 ОБТРО swore allegiance to the Ukrainian people, 26 June 2022.
Multiple members wear a patch with a bird's head, without the crenelation at top required to indicate a TDB.

"Work with journalists of Swedish television at the request of soldiers of 207 separate battalion 241ОБТРО – 23 June 2022"
This makes 7 battalions attributed to the 241 TDB.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Soldiers from the Ukrainian 103rd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade fire KBA-48M 82mm mortars near Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast, Osinttechnical, June 27, 2022.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Ukraine uses its local-made Bureviy 220mm MLRS rocket launcher to fight Russian troops

link

Germany unveils list of military equipment and weapons supplied to Ukraine

link

Armand

image source
S60 57mm AA of 228btn of 127 TDB NE of Kharkiv. 28 June 2022.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

The 57mm & 23mm are probably still useful against drones, the main aerial menace. These types have been mainly used against ground targets in recent conflicts.

I forgot to comment on this earlier on, but the 57 mm AA gun is rather clumsy as an anti-drone weapon. It is heavy, has slow rate of fire, and if you actually manage to score a hit the heavy shell is probably rather an overkill against a light drone.

However, the 23 mm AA gun might be a more practical choice, being lighter and having a very rapid rate of fire. The shell would still pack quite a bunch in case of a hit.

Good old fashioned 12.7 and 14.5 mm AAMGs might also still pack enough punch to be be useful anti-drone weapons.

I have seen a claim that the Orlan 10 can fly higher than the 57mm can reach, so out of 23mm range.

It depends if they have flak ammunition, some drones are large but a fragment may take them down. The Slovaks are supplying new 57mm ammo, but perhaps for direct fire.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Russia to develop anti-drone shrapnel ammunition (for 30mm & 57mm), TASS, 18 APR 2017.

From the post on p.1:

The ammo Slovakia is delivering.

Ammunition types
The UOR-281U does not have the proximity fuse.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Thanks for the information! I guess a 57 mm shell would be large enough to produce somewhat useful fragmentation with proximity fuses, though the specified load of 0.15 kg of HE is not very much.

Back in the WWII days, 75 mm tended to be the smallest calibre AA gun employed for barrages, with timed fuses.

Former Canadian General: 'Ukrainian Forces Are Using Their Own Civilian Cars To Take On Russian Tanks'

link

Armand

TDF have 60mm mortar rounds manufactured in Japan for the Korean War, supplied by the USA.

Ukraine Weapons Tracker, July 11, 2022.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

120mm mortars
"The Ukrainian Melitopol TDF Battalion [115th Btn, 110th TDB] published a very interesting video of them using four 120mm mortars incorrectly said to be American. In fact things are even more curious- these mortars are not American, but Iranian copies of the Israeli Soltam K6 called the HM-16."
Ukraine Weapons Tracker, July 14, 2022.

Presumably American supplied?

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

but Iranian copies of the Israeli Soltam K6 called the HM-16

Now that is a curious source of weapons…

That said, if I am not mistaken the Soltam K6 is an improved version of older Soltam K5, which was based on Tampella mortar, which itself was an improved version (round baseplate) of an older Tampella 120 krh/40 mortar (square baseplate), which was designed in the late 1930's.

Ukraine Gets First M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems

link

Armand

Yes, posted about it at TMP link

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers