Troopers with Joint Multinational Coaching Group – Ukraine’s Activity Drive Gator prepare instructors in educating Ukrainian troopers on totally different ability units. Most lately, Observer Controller/Trainers on the Worldwide Peacekeeping and Safety Middle and trainers with the Ukraine Land Forces Command obtained educating methodology, in addition to hands-on expertise with the M141 Bunker Defeat Munition. The M141 is a single-use, shoulder fired system designed to penetrate fortified positions and light-weight armored automobiles. Portions of M141s had been despatched to the Ukrainian armed forces by the U.S. earlier than the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. Since then, the munition has additionally been employed efficiently towards Russian automobiles.
“The prior expertise of his Ukrainian counterparts, whether or not from prior coaching or from time spent in energetic battle zones, makes them extremely fast research on new practices or materials. The OC/Ts are extremely competent and their earlier expertise permits for a easy coaching expertise. I’ve personally loved the probabilities I’ve needed to work hand in hand with my Ukrainian companions and to make use of our joint information and expertise to raised the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” stated Employees Sgt. David Blackwell, who has been helping with educating practices to be applied for the M141.
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The M141 Bunker Defeat Munition (BDM) is a single-shot, shoulder-launched weapon designed to defeat hardened buildings. It’s a modification of the US Marine Corps Mk 153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) and can also be referred to as the SMAW-D (the place ‘D’ is for ‘Disposable’). It was designed to fill the void in the US Military stock of a “bunker buster” weapon. The SMAW-D operates on the precept that the recoil created by launching the rocket is counteracted by a “backblast” of gases fired from the rear of the weapon. This makes the SMAW-D inherently harmful, particularly in confined, city areas, as is with all weapons of this design.
The M141 has two configurations: a carry mode by which the launcher is 810 mm (32 in) lengthy, and a prepared to fireplace mode by which the launcher is prolonged to its full size of 1,400 mm (55 in). The warhead is identical Excessive Explosive, Twin Objective (HEDP) because the USMC SMAW. It’s efficient towards masonry and concrete bunkers in addition to evenly armored automobiles. The projectile is able to penetrating as much as 200 mm (8 in) of concrete, 300 mm (12 in) of brick, or 2.1 m (6.9 ft) of sandbags. On smooth targets, the detonation is delayed till the projectile is buried within the goal, producing a devastating impact. The warhead detonates instantly on contact with exhausting targets.
