Thunders alternatively of carnations

Good service

The Haubica K9 is served by 5 people: the commander, the aimer, the aimer, the loader and the driver. The second must have a category B driving licence before completing the specialized course and, like the remainder of the team, be a soldier of the Private Corps. Only the weapon commander requires the rank of junior lieutenant. The roles in the crew are clearly defined, which does not mean that each soldier is permanently assigned to 1 post.

On the contrary, each candidate for command of a gun, target, helper and loader during a four-week course is acquainted with each kind of work to be done with the cannon. – In the crew, the variability of functions is important. If we lose individual on the crew, we can inactive do the fire job. And thanks to the uniform training, everyone speaks the same language and can respond flexibly in different situations – says Lieutenant Patryk Marcinkiewicz, commander of the battery command of the self-propelled artillery squadron 15 BZ. Service training from Orisza, conducted in Toruń CSWRiA and 1 The Mazury Artillery Brigade In Eel, it started with the adoption of explanation and gradually went into practice.

– Getting acquainted with the equipment, preparing works to decision and execute fire tasks, removing faults – these are any elements of the course, intense and demanding even for experienced artillerymen – says prof. Wojciech Fiertek, aimful K9. This course teaches the principles of safe and efficient usage of equipment. – Instructors stressed that the most cognition and experience we will gain only in the working crews, due to the fact that in the work on specified equipment it is very crucial to combine services – adds the aimful K9.

However, this does not mean that the course for future K9 users at the training centre or in a friendly unit is simply a formality. Learning fresh equipment from scratch and learning how to operate in different positions require quite a few commitment from soldiers. At the end of the exam, they take a test which is not 100 percent. – Although this is the first phase of training, no 1 can number on a discount tariff. Human life is at stake – the commander of the battery of command provides.

There's no place in K9 for individualists. – All operation works erstwhile loading, for example due to the fact that the missiles are twice as dense as those utilized in 2S1. Giving a customs shot is to a large degree an work to aim, but without the cooperation of all soldiers there is no effective and fast action – says Lieutenant Cezary Kuwałkowski, commander of 2 self-propelled artillery batteries. This is peculiarly crucial erstwhile shooting in MRSI (Multiple circular Simultaneous Impact) mode, erstwhile 3 rounds fired from the barrels fly on different trajectoryes and hit the mark simultaneously. “This is 1 of those moments where precision of action and close cooperation between the service members under time force are important,” the officer adds.

Selected soldiers from various units besides had the chance to fly to South Korea at the invitation of the maker of this weapon. – For 4 weeks we learned the principles of K9. The manufacturer, for example, spread the full drum into the first part and suggested how to usage the equipment so that there were no faults," said Mr Kuwarzykowski, who during his stay in South Korea besides had the chance to see the K9 production line, where Polish orders are carried out.

Officers das emphasize that cooperation with Koreans does not come down to a sales/customer relationship. – Hanwha representatives are present in Poland and are happy to aid us. Even erstwhile they are in close units, they can call us and ask us if we request anything – says Lt. Marcinkiewicz, recalling the situation erstwhile the sensor broke in 1 of the haubic. – We placed an order on Tuesday and already on Friday we had the essential part consecutive from Korea. any components gotta wait longer if they are not in storage. But the maker always tries to aid as rapidly as he can," adds the officer. Koreans besides benefit from this cooperation due to the fact that they collect applications straight from K9 users and can usage them to improve their systems.

Quality difference

In the self-propelled artillery squadron 15 BZ all soldiers have already moved from the remembering times of the PRL to the self-propelled 122 mm 2S1 carnation to the modern K9A1. – I am glad that the latest artillery equipment came to us. The carnations will service in another unit of the WP – and alternatively only to train fresh art adepts in the first phase of military service – says Colonel Sielawa. The das commander emphasizes that 2S1 is good artillery equipment, but no longer full gathering the requirements of the modern battlefield. – Haubica Worźdźk is practically manual in all respect, and thus the execution time of the fire task is considerably longer. Thanks to electronics and hydraulics, K9 is respective times faster, and combined with almost 3 times more range, greater caliber and advanced maneuverability – it leaves 2S1 far behind – explains Colonel Sielawa, mentioning the thickness and quality of the armor, which increases the endurance of the operation.

The K9 fire scope is more than 40 km, while the Carnation is manually firing up to 15.2 km.

The K9 fire scope is more than 40 km, while the Carnation is manually firing up to 15.2 km. However, as Colonel Sielawa mentioned, in the case of 2S1 the performance of each task takes much longer. – fresh Haubices are autonomous vehicles, which rapidly accomplish combat readiness. It can only take a minute to get the job, execute it and retreat – says Mr Kugrzykowski. This is possible thanks to advanced electronic and hydraulic systems, which mostly prepare K9 themselves to fire after taking the fire station. In 2S1 there is no mention of specified facilities, so that the combat readiness of the Carnation gets even 25 minutes after setting the fire station.

The transition from 2S1 to K9 is not only qualitative, but besides generational. The fresh cannonhaubica is equipped with a fresh version Topaz fire control system, compatible with ASCA (Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities), which allows to conduct K9 interoperable operations with NATO troops. 2S1 are besides equipped with the Topaz system, but the older type, and it is much more limited in terms of function than the 1 on board K9. – Working with the fresh drum looks like this – we get a ready fire task from the battery commander, click 3 times and the event directs itself. As for 2S1, you gotta draw up a fire note, compose tasks, put in manually calculated targeting devices and study everything on an ongoing basis, which is very time-consuming – explains St. Sergeant. Tomasz Tyminski, weapon commander, deputy platoon commander. “The fresh Topaz makes it possible to see in the command car whether the guns are directed and ready, which is simply a immense overweight over the solutions used”, added Mr Kugrzykowski.

Support for others

The K9 and recently implemented 122 mm WR-40 Langust rocket launchers supply a self-propelled artillery squadron with a completely fresh capability. As Colonel Sielawa notes, on the 1 hand, the tasks facing them do not change, as they are inactive a subdivision of artillery from the military-wide brigade, the main nonsubjective of which is to lead a close supporting fire. – On the another hand, extending the scope to 40 km and the surface firing capacity increases the ability of the squadron to operate to strike targets in the depth of the opponent's group. Thus, a self-propelled artillery division in Orzysz can carry out tasks even for the division – explains the das commander, emphasizing the importance of a section of combined firewatchers equipped with APDR (Artilerian Dalmera-Scientific Instrument) integrated with Topaz.

These sections are utilized to conduct close supporting fire. The squadron besides implements unmanned air systems for observing and indicating targets, specified as mini-class drones, BSP FlyEye, which give a immense advantage over the opponent and supply safety to search and indicate targets for fire. The das soldiers admit that the fresh abilities the Thunders give them require readiness to carry out far more tasks than on the carnations.

– There is simply quite a few work, but on the fresh equipment it is very satisfactory – says Lt. Marcinkiewicz. And it points out that the scope of fire tasks for K9 includes not only firing, which is the primary combat function of rocket troops and artillery, but besides light-proofing actions, creating interference in radio-electronic reflection and interference, demolition or even inciting fires. Artillery from Orises is aware that their engagement is appreciated by soldiers of another types of troops. Armoured or mechanized divisions trust on the support of self-propelled artillery, which thanks to modern Haubicom K9 is more effective than always before.