Russian Daytime Snowmobile Assault Meets Thermal Drones, Ends In Massacre

Using snowmobiles might have worked in Dr Zhivago's time a century ago...had they been invented. But now, with the use of drone-mounted thermal cameras, both the machines and compacted tracks they leave are easily identified. 

Attacking in daylight might not have been worse than attacking at night, given the available technology, but it wouldn't have worked either way. And the fact that snowmobiles can only carry a few troops does not make it a likely engine of breakthrough. Another hard lesson learned by now dead Russian soldiers. JL

Euromaidan Press reports:

Russian forces daytime attack near Korchakivka in northern Ukraine's Sumy Oblast ended in defeat for the Russians. The Ukrainian 71st Air Mobile Brigade detected and bombarded snowmobiles pulling sleds. The problem for the Russians is that snowmobiles were developed before the proliferation of  thermal drones with heat-sensing cameras. The snowmobile-riding Russians couldn't thermal eyes of the 71st Airmobile's drones. And compacted snow shines brighter on thermal cameras than loose snow does. Ukrainian drone operators have learned to find even the best camouflaged Russians by following their tracks across the snowy landscape. (Another) drawback  drawback is the number of personnel it can carry and their exposure to the elements.

Russian forces in Ukraine have been using snowmobiles for a while—mostly deploying the speedy tracked recreational vehicles for logistics over the snowy terrain in wintertime. Now, for the first time, Ukrainian forces have observed the Russians attempting a snowmobile assault.

The apparent daytime attack near Korchakivka in northern Ukraine's Sumy Oblast ended in defeat for the Russians. The Ukrainian 71st Air Mobile Brigade detected and bombarded at least two snowmobiles pulling sleds. Four Russians died, according to the brigade. Six were captured.

Map: Euromaidan Press

While snowmobiles are usually associated with hunters and outdoor thrill-seekers, they are in widespread use in the militaries of Arctic countries—and there are well-rehearsed methods of employing them.

It was "only a matter of time" before the Russians attempted a snowmobile assault in Ukraine, analyst Moklasen mused.

The problem for the Russians is that existing snowmobile tactics were developed before the proliferation of tiny thermal drones with heat-sensing cameras. The snowmobile-riding Russians did almost everything right, but they couldn't avoid the all-seeing thermal eyes of the 71st Air Mobile Brigade's drones.

To the drones, the snowmobiles shone bright white on the darker snowy landscape. Easily tracking the machines, the Ukrainians had little trouble striking them with drones or artillery.

The US Army, which devotes several large units to Arctic warfare, advises troops to use "snow machines pulling sleds" for over-snow movement. "This lightens individual loads and improves troop mobility during combat and on the march."

The benefits are obvious. "The snow machine (also known as a snowmobile) is a form of winter transportation that can travel over almost any type of snow-covered or frozen terrain," the US Army explains in a recent technical manual. A single snowmobile can carry two soldiers and tow an additional three on skis or a sled.

"The drawback to a snow machine," the US Army added, "is the number of personnel it can carry and their exposure to the elements. It is best suited to scout units and light resupply operations."

 

Telltale heat

The American manual doesn't address a snowmobile's other liability: its heat signature. Russian forces in Ukraine have learned the hard way that they must thermally camouflage every soldier and every vehicle to give them any chance of avoiding attacks by heat-sensing drones.

But there's no evidence the snowmobile assault group in Sumy made any effort to wrap their machines in heat-trapping blankets. Even if they had tried, they may not have been able to fully mask the vehicles' hot exhaust.

 

That's not the vehicles' only giveaway. Compacted snow shines brighter on thermal cameras than loose snow does. Ukrainian drone operators have learned to find even the best camouflaged Russian infantry and armored vehicles by following their tracks across the snowy landscape. It's a safe bet the snowmobiles also left telltale compacted snow behind them.

As with many of Russia's battlefield innovations, initial embarrassments often belie eventual success. Snowmobiles aren't necessarily terrible winter assault vehicles. But at the very least, they need thermal camo.