Ukrainian soldiers have again praised the Polish-built Krab self-propelled gun howitzers, comparing them to „a Porsche car,” while likening Soviet-era equipment to „a Russian Lada,” according to news reports.
The Polish-built Krab self-propelled howitzers.PAP/Darek Delmanowicz
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, Poland has been at the forefront of providing security assistance to its embattled eastern neighbour, according to officials.
The Krab self-propelled howitzers have been one of the key components of Polish military aid to Ukraine, news outlets reported.
Borys Sachalko, a reporter with the CurrentTimeTV outlet, recently joined a Ukrainian crew in a Krab vehicle to learn about their battlefield experiences, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
The four-man team, which previously operated a Soviet-era Msta-S howitzer, heaped praise on the Polish equipment, likening it to „a Porsche car.”
‘It’s all electronic’
One of the soldiers said: “We used to drive a Msta-S. This [Krab] system is much easier to master. It’s all electronic.”
He added: “You press the button and it takes aim. You put in the numbers, press the button, and that’s it.”
‘A Porsche compared to a Lada’
Another crew member said: “If you compare the Krab and the Msta-S, this vehicle is faster.”
“It can go at 60 to 70 kilometres per hour,” he added. “It’s manoeuvrable and responds well when you’re driving.”
The soldier explained: “In the Msta-S, you turn by pulling levers. Here, you have a steering wheel. It’s better.”
He went on to say of the Krab: “You can hide in a second or you can move in a second. If the Msta-S was a Lada, this is a Porsche.”
The Ukrainian crew also described the Krab as “a very good system” and “very comfortable for the crew.”
They noted it has a cooking and boiling unit, heating for the winter and air-conditioning for the summer.
‘Firing rate and precision’
Meanwhile, the Krab’s “double armour can withstand a direct hit and it can fire six rounds per minute,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
The Ukrainian soldiers also praised the Polish howitzer’s much better firing accuracy and longer range: 40 kilometres compared to the Msta-S’s 24 kilometres, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The Krab’s “main advantage is its firing rate and precision,” CurrentTimeTV’s Sachalko reported.
Thursday is day 190 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: rferl.org