In this weeks installment of Mil-Tech Round-Up…
Russia’s TTM-1901 “Berkut” Snowmobile Comes with Machine Gun and Headed Cab
Russia is a snow-covered place. Lets be honest. Much of Siberia and the northern reaches of Russia are frozen year round and snow is more common than not. Snowmobiles are a popular method of transportation. How about for war machines? You might have seen some James Bond films with Russians and others on snowmobiles, machine guns blazing. However, the Russian Federation is taking it to the next level with an all-new machine gun-equipped snowmobile.
The villains from the old James Bond movies could have only dreamed of the “Berkut” snowmobile. Not only does it come with machine guns, but it’s equipped with a heated cab, can carry soldiers in a pickup truck-like bed, and can tow them as well. Officially called the TTM-1901, it’s half Jeep, half snowmobile, and 100 percent equipped for winter warfare.
(Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Vitaly Kuzmin)
The TTM-1901 will reach a top speed of about 37 miles per hour and has a range of over 120 miles. The “Berkut” (translation: golden eagle) should expand the mobility of Russian troops on their often snowy lands. Russian ground forces have already been using it for transporting materials, troop deployments, and cross-country skiing (with armed troops, of course).
There’s also the weaponry, in this case a 7.62-millimeter PKP Pecheneg medium machine gun. A gunner in the back of the TTM-1901 can fire the machine gun at a rate of up to 650 rounds per minute.
America Gets New Sniper Bullet: 6.5-millimeter Creedmoor Round
When it comes to sniper rifles, ammunition can be just as important as the weapon itself. For some time now the United States has been using the .308 Winchester, a 7.62×51-millimeter round. This bullet has served the American military well, but there are better bullets out there. Don’t American snipers deserve the best of the best?
The American military has decided so. The 6.5-millimeter Creedmoor bullet was actually introduced by ammunition maker Hornady all the way back in 2007. It has quickly become one of the dominant bullets among professional precision rifle shooters. Now, the American military is putting the bullet into service.
(Credit: Facebook/Special Forces Association Chapter LX)
Tests have found that the 6.5-millimeter Creedmoor round requires less adjustment for bullet drop and wind than the .308. This will reduce the margin of error, especially when wind is involved.
U.S. Army Looking to Field a Submachine Gun for the First Time in Decades
The last time the United States Army adopted a submachine gun was the M3 all the way back in 1943. Submachine guns offer a rapid rate of fire while traditionally using smaller, pistol-sized rounds. Following World War II, submachine guns were phased out in favor of compact assault rifles that fired larger bullets more accurately.
The last time the United States fielded a submachine gun was the M3 in the first Gulf War. Following the war, the M3 was retired from service and no replacement was introduced. Now, the Army is looking for a new submachine gun that will fire 9mm Luger bullets. Future 6.8-millimeter assault rifles may be too bulky for Humvees and other close-quarter situations. The new submachine gun could fill the gap. The Army is looking for a weapon that has a Picatinny rail for attachments, features full-auto mode, and can be mounted with a suppressor.
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