Quick overview of the Russian "wunderwaffe" mine known as "PTKM-1R" - an AT mine designed to engage vehicles through the top. In this thread, I will talk about this touted by russians mine, discussing its effectiveness and purported widespread use. ๐งตThread:
2/ Although the the mine's mechanism is quite complex, the activation process is comparably straightforward: through its sensors, the mine detects, discerns, and trails a target, subsequently deploying submunition into the air, targeting a vehicle's vulnerable roof section.
3/ From the recently surfaced video, it's clear that the mine is notably large, requiring a substantial amount of time for deployment, which must be done manually. Furthermore, the mine's functionality depends on sensors powered by batteries.
4/ The Russian AT guide recommends installing these mines on the periphery of towns, towards the anticipated path of vehicles. The mine fuse setup allows the targeting of the 3rd to 4th vehicles in the convoy, blocking the column and setting right conditions for artillery fire.
5/ The mine is marketed as a cost-effective solution , utilized by the Russians in this war. This naturally leads to follow-up questions: How common are these mines? How extensive is the damage caused by them? Have any documented losses been attributed to this mine?
6/ In my effort to address these questions, I read reports, reached out to multiple people, checked captured documents related to minefields. Apparently, there have been only a few isolated instances where these mines were found inactive or were captured before their deployment.
7/ Considering the full year and a half of the largest post-World War II war in Europe โ one would expect to encounter a multitude of videos showcasing the use of these mines. However, in reality, what we seem to witness is another instance of the "Armata" myth weapon scenario.
8/ While I aim not to downplay the lethality of a weapon, the fact that it's noticeably absent from the frontline implies substantial issues, be it related to production, performance, cost-effectiveness, or perhaps a combination of these factors.
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