SECRET
UNITED STATES ARMY
INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY COMMAND, FORT BELVOIR, VA
ORIGINAL PUB: 4 JULY 2021 (EDITED 5 SEP 2021)
(S) NRU Vehicles and Equipment
(S)
(U) Introduction(U) The purpose of this document is to familiarize the 506th Infantry Regiment and their supporting personnel with the capabilities, equipment and vehicles in use with the Nationalist Russian Union (NRU). All vehicles listed in this document are expected to be encountered by our task forces on numerous occasions, making it vital each soldier is able to correctly identify them and react accordingly. It should be noted that members of the NRU are not assumed to be hostile to us by default.
(S) A vehicle’s threat level defines how big a threat the particular vehicle is to the task force and what resources should be allocated to neutralize it. This is dependent mainly on the vehicle armor level, armament and effective operational range. Any armed aircraft observed are to be considered a CRITICAL threat.
(U) NRU Infantry
(U) NRU infantry are trained in the execution of standard Russian conventional warfare doctrines, and thus are expected to deploy in concert with substantial amounts of armor and IDF weapons--though they are capable-enough to threaten friendly ground troops even without such support. Their eight-man rifle squads are known to be loosely organized into two fireteams, and split into either four or three man groups at the squad leader's discretion. They do not appear to value marksmanship at the team level, instead preferring a strategy of massed automatic rifle fire in conjunction with hand-thrown and rocket-propelled grenades. Medics are present in NRU squads, which are reported to generally lack comprehensive combat life safer gear or training.
(S) A number of air assault or paratrooper-qualified Russian Army personnel are thought to serve under the NRU. While no airmobile capability has been confirmed at this time, it is nevertheless a potential threat so long as NRU forces have access to airfields and rotary aircraft in Finland.
(S) NRU Infantry Gear
(U) NRU units are either served by inconsistent logistics, or minded towards individualistic looting. Despite available resources, their troops are not known to display a single uniform, but have instead been seen wearing all manner of surplus Russian equipment plundered from decades-old stockpiles. Various camouflage patterns fielded at one time or another by the Russian state such as "Berezka," "Izlom," and more up-to-date "Flora" variants have been noted. The ubiquitous "Multicam" has been seen, also--due to its similarity to friendly OCP fatigues, extra care should be taken not to mistake such combatants as friendlies and vice versa.
(U) Most NRU fighters encountered to date are issued modern ballistic helmets capable of defeating common frag and pistol-caliber threats. Heavy vests containing ceramic plates proofed against intermediate rifle calibers are more or less standard for enemy ground personnel.
(U) NRU Infantry Weapons
(U) All manner of Soviet surplus weaponry and ammunition is fielded by NRU forces. No standardized service caliber exists, with both 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm Kalashnikov rifle variants employed alongside one another. Medium PK-type machine guns are carried on the squad level in both older and newer models. As with many true Russian units, NRU does not practice widespread deployment of reflex optics, telescopic sights, or rail kits on their infantry weapons.
(U) RGD-5 fragmentation and RDG-2 smoke grenades, while outdated, are standard to most NRU infantrymen. RPG gunners are sometimes deliberately employed as oversized "grenadiers," as well. Colored smoke has not been observed, but may be in use for special purposes.
(S) While NRU units do not maintain quite enough manpower or individual firepower to reach parity with friendly forces in head-to-head engagements, they are undoubtedly also aware of this shortcoming. Supplemental fire support will no doubt play a key role in NRU infantry strategy.
(S) NRU Infantry Special Weapons
(U) There do not seem to be significant amounts of unusual or highly-enabling weapon systems in service with the NRU. SVD-equipped Marksman and special reconnaissance teams exist, but are by no means common in NRU-patrolled territory.
(S) WARNING: NRU has access to the IR-tracking 9K38 "Igla" MANPAD system! Threat range exceeds 5 km, posing a dire threat to friendly airframes in our AO. It is not clear at this time how widespread this system is in NRU hands, but enemy personnel confirmed KIA during Operation Odin's Watch Phase 02-21 were seen attempting to position one to shoot down a D Co., 5th Bn. aircraft.
(S) Pictured below, left: NRU personnel confirmed KIA during a post-assault after-action assement conducted by 1st Marine Force Recon in Virolahti, Finland. Note the diversity of camouflage patterns worn by EKIA. Pictured right: Standard weapons and ammunition seized from NRU personnel. Photography courtesy of CPL Jacob Washburn.
(U) NRU Infantry Support Vehicles
(U) Ural-4320 Medium-duty Truck
Type: Utility/Transport
Armor: Light
Seats: 15
Armament: NONE / 23mm ZU-23-2 autocannon
Threat: LOW-MEDIUM
Engagement: Small arms, HE
Iconic troop transport truck. Long cabin and six wheels. While normally used for ferrying soldiers, it is also capable of carrying a 23mm autocannon, making it a very dangerous asset. Such types are commonly referred to as a “Zeus Truck”.
(U) UAZ-469 Light Utility Truck
Type: Utility/Transport/Weapon Platform
Armor: Light
Seats: 3 (Armed), 7 (Unarmed)
Armament: AGS-30, SPG-9, DShKM, None (Unarmed)
Threat: LOW-MEDIUM
Engagement: Small arms, HE
Russian analog to the US HMMWV. The UAZ is an all-terrain "jeep" typically used as a fast-moving scout or gun truck for harassing formations, and is also capable of transporting up to seven infantrymen in its unarmed configuration. While poorly-armored, the UAZ is excellent at staging hasty ambushes and retreats. Armed variants should be engaged rapidly within the window of opportunity presented.
(U) BTR
Pictured above: BTR-60PB left, BTR-70 right.
Type: Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)
Armor: Medium-Light, Welded Steel
Seats: 2-3 (Crew) + 16-17 Passengers Internal and External
Armament: 14.5mm KPVT HMG, 7.62mm PKT
Threat: MEDIUM
Engagement: HMG, MMG w/ AP, LAW, 40mm HEDP
The BTR is a wheeled APC that is a beefed up cousin to the BRDM2 scout car--four axles, heavier armor, and with just as much firepower. In NRU service, the visually-distinct but similar 60PB and 70 variants are fielded, each with a paired 14.5mm heavy and 7.62mm co-axial medium machine gun. Including the outer hull, space to transport two full NRU squads is available. Illuminated night sights and crude night vision optics are equipped to all known models, and as with all BRDM and BTR models, they are capable of amphibious maneuvers.
(U) BMP
Type: Medium Armor, Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)
Armor: 6-33mm Welded Rolled Steel
Seats: 2-3 (Crew), 17-18 Passengers Internal and External
Armament: 73mm Smoothbore Cannon OR 30mm Autocannon, 9K11 ATGM OR 9M113 Konkurs, 7.62mm PKT
Threat: MEDIUM-HIGH
Engagement: AT4, MAAWS, Javelin
The BMP-1, 2, and its improved D-model variants are a stopgap between a true tank and an APC, with a heavy single-shot or lighter automatic cannon providing the main means of support to ground troops. An ATGM system increases effectiveness against armor and air threats, while a smoke screen generator aids survivability. Though they are capable all-terrain transport, BMPs are most often used to enforce infantry assaults, or reinforce static positions. Both aircraft and ground vehicles are severely vulnerable to all BMP-equipped weapons, which are assisted by modernized night vision systems.
Pictured below: BMP samples. Note the exposed ATGM rocket on the -1 variant, contrasted with the -2 model's sealed yellow tube. Second and fourth from left are the improved "D" models with, among other things, reinforced side-skirt armor. Improved models are not amphibious.
(U) T72
Type: Main Battle Tank (MBT)
Armor: Steel and Composite, Explosive-Reactive (ERA)
Seats: 3 Crew
Armament: 125mm Smoothbore Main Cannon, 12.7mm NSVT HMG, 7.62mm PKT Coaxial MMG
Threat: CRITICAL
Engagement: MAAWS, Javelin, CAS
Pictured above: Three examples of T72. Left to right: 1984, 1985, and 1989 upgrade packages, respectively. Take note of the additional armor improvements and ERA, which older models distinctly lack.
The T72 tank, while dated, has been modernized to a near-peer standard. Its heavy main gun is capable of downing low-flying aircraft, disabling MRAPs, and shredding lighter armor pieces. A 12.7 HMG, 7.62 coaxial MMG, and smoke cannisters provide close defense against infantry, while HE-FRAG ammunition may be used to attack them from afar. Night optics further enable the crew. Additionally, models with ERA panels pose a significant challenge to the effective usage of AT weapons. When possible, infantry should generally steer clear of dueling with what Iraqi Republic Guard troops called "the Lion of Babylon."
(U) ZSU-23-4V Shilka
Type: Self-propelled Anti-Air/Armor
Armor: Medium-Light
Seats: 3
Armament: 4x 23mm 2A7 autocannons
Threat: CRITICAL
Engagement: AT4/LAW, MAAWS, Javelin
The “Zeus." Very iconic in appearance, with a wide body and large turret. Shilkas employ four 23mm autocannons and a large white radar drum. These tracked mixed AA-armor pieces are a formidable threat to any aircraft, particularly rotary-wing types.
(U) NRU Artillery
(U) BM-21 “Grad”
Type: Rocket Artillery
Armor: Light
Seats: 2
Armament: 122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher (40 rockets)
Threat: CRITICAL
Engagement: Small arms
The BM-21 Grad is simply a multiple launch rocket system bolted onto a Ural-4320 chassis. Very easily identifiable. Such units have high mobility and thus are likely to be used in sudden, unexpected strikes from concealed positions.
(U) 2S1
Type: Tracked SPG (Self-Propelled Gun)
Armor: 20mm Steel, Light
Armament: 122mm 2A18 Howitzer, HE-FRAG / Illumination / Smoke
Threat: Critical
Engagement: AT4, MAAWS, Javelin
Pictured above: BM-21 "Grad" rocket truck alongside a 2S1 SPG.
See INSCOM Intelligence Report 12JUN21 "SafeAsia Vehicles and Equipment" entry on D30 artillery for platform capabilities. The 2S1 is essentially a D30 mounted on tracked armor, and is tough enough to resist anything less than a solid AT4 hit. It is capable of direct fires like the D30, but is far more mobile and able to reposition more quickly than even truck-towed pieces.
(U) NRU Static Emplacements and Anti-Air
(U) KORD/NSV
Type: Heavy Machine Gun
Armor: N/A
Seats: 1
Armament: 12.7 mm/w 50-round belt, Range of ~1,200 m
Threat: LOW-MEDIUM
Engagement: Small arms
The 12.7mm DShKM was replaced in Red Army service in 1971 by the "NSV" heavy machine gun. This, in turn, was updated into the visually-similar "Kord" that is still in use by Russian troops today as a vehicle and static defense weapon. Both are in service with NRU units as an analog to the Browning M2, and each fires a slightly more powerful cartridge with similar terminal ballistic performance.
(U) AGS-30 Atlant
Type: Turret
Armor: N/A
Seats: 1
Armament: 30mm high-velocity slugs, Automatic
Threat: LOW-MEDIUM
Engagement: See Kord
Russian AGS-30 systems, equipped with 30-round belts of 30mm HE projectiles, are fielded in a manner similar to the American MK19 against area or defilade targets. Like the Kord, they are typically found on elevated, fixed defensive positions. Maximum range is approximately 2.1 km.
Pictured below: Both Kord and AGS-30 samples being utilized as part of a weapon-familiarization course at a USMC range in Quantico, Virginia. The NSV is not depicted, as it is similar enough in both appearance and usage to be considered the same as the Kord.
(U) ZU-23-2
Type: Fixed or Vehicle-mounted AAA
Armor: N/A
Seats: 2
Armament: Twin 23mm Autocannons
Threat: MEDIUM-HIGH
Engagement: See Kord; Indirect Fire Weapons
The ZU-23, or "Zeus", is a prolifically-manufactured air defense battery that is present in NRU's arsenal. A crew of two is standard, however a single man can operate the system's cannons in an emergency. Truck-based variants are less common than ground ones, but both are capable of downing friendly aircraft within a 2.5 km range. The ZU is also capable of direct-fire ground suppression against infantry or vehicles.
(U) 9K38 Djigit
Type: MANPAD AA
Armor: N/A
Seats: 1
Armament: 2x 9K38 "Igla" IR-targeting Missiles
Threat: CRITICAL
Engagement: See Kord, Indirect Fire Weapons
The Djigit, sometimes called an “Igla” chair, is essentially a lawn or office chair equipped with a set of Igla AA launchers and covered by a sun shade. Range is similar to the standalone MANPAD, approximately 5 km of horizontal range with a flight ceiling of up to 3.5 km. Targeting is achieved through a heat-seeking IR as opposed to a radar-guided solution, and therefore may present a hazard due to difficulty in scan or lock-on detection by painted aircraft. It cannot reasonably target ground forces unless they are caught in proximity to a landing aircraft.
Pictured below: AA systems of the types NRU is expected to utilize.
(S) Summary
(S) NRU units, while inferior to western standards in most respects, are nonetheless capable of creating and perpetuating dangerous situations for US-aligned troops should they bring their full weight to bear against them. Caution and avoidance of underestimation is well-advised in confronting NRU units, no matter how small, until their motivation and support structure is more fully assessed.
Classified By: S-2 Intelligence
Reason: 1.4(a)
Declassify On: (2036)(07)(05)END REPORT
