Precise “summer hit of the front”
Germany and USA hand over more multiple rocket launchers
08/01/2022, 16:22
HIMARS multiple rocket launchers appear to give Ukraine a fighting chance against Russia. As of now, the Ukrainian troops have a total of 16 of the precise systems. Germany also hands over another mobile artillery piece.
Ukraine has received more heavy weapons from the US and Germany for its fight against Russia. According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, the US has handed over four more HIMARS missile systems to Ukraine. Overall, Ukraine can 16 of the weapon systems who are said to have played a large part in the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the south of the country. A third MARS II multiple rocket launcher had also arrived in Ukraine from Germany.
The Medium Artillery Rocket System (MARS) is designed to help Ukraine against Russia.
(Photo: picture alliance/dpa)
The HIMARS multiple rocket launchers have a longer range and are considered to be far more accurate than Ukraine’s Soviet-era artillery and comparable modern Russian weapon systems. Secretary Oleksiy Reznikov writes that he is grateful to President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the American people for supporting the Ukrainian military Twitter. “We have proven that we can use this weapon sensibly. The sound of HIMARS salvoes has become the summer hit on the front line,” he adds smugly.
Resnikov had previously thanked German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht for the delivery of the third MARS II weapon system. “Thank you, Germany,” wrote the minister Twitter. “Our artillerymen salute our German partners.”
Precise and mobile
Most recently, Ukraine had used the multiple rockets primarily in the occupied Cherson region in order to cut off and isolate the Russian army troops stationed there from their supply lines. Attacks on at least three strategically important bridges over the Dnipro and its tributary Inhulets are reported. In addition, several Russian ammunition depots are said to have been destroyed. “Russia’s 49th Army is stationed on the west bank of the Dnipro and looks very vulnerable,” said a British intelligence service report. The information can neither be confirmed nor denied.
HIMARS stands for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, i.e. mobile artillery piece. The truck-mounted systems with a load of six missiles are considered not only accurate, but also mobile. Due to constant changes of location, they are said to be almost impossible to grasp for counterattacks.
As with the medium artillery rocket system (MARS) from Germany, missiles with different modes of action can be fired – such as guided missiles with a GPS system or mine-ejecting missiles to block off sections of terrain. The launch batteries with a combat load of twelve rockets are mounted on tracked vehicles that can travel at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour.