Abu Tov
The world’s most successful ATGM gunner explains the deadly effect of anti-tank missiles
Suheil al-Hamoud with the comparatively bulky Tow missile.
© Suhail Muhammad Hamoud/Twitter
In the Ukraine, all hopes are pinned on anti-tank weapons like the Javelin, because large Russian systems such as tanks and artillery are being eliminated by the Russian superiority. Abu Tov is the most successful ATGM gunner in the world. In the Syrian war he scored over 140 hits. In an interview with the weapons blog “Caliber Obscura” he explained the handling and effectiveness of this type of weapon.
Suheil al-Hamoud, alias Abu Tov, was trained by the Assad regime. He served in the 46th regiment around Aleppo and spent a year training in the use of Russian anti-tank guided missiles. On the Malyutka, Konkurs, Kornet, Metis and Fagot systems. Suheil al-Hamoud was the best shooter, or rather surgeon, of his year. At the start of the revolution he joined the Syrian Revolutionary Front (FSA) and took part in the fighting for Aleppo, the coast, the Hama area and now Idlib. Almost all of his kills hit their target. If not, there was a material defect. In one instance, the missile’s control wire struck an electrical line, causing a failure.
Little difference in effect
He said in the interview that he could not find any major differences in the effectiveness of the individual weapon systems. None of the anti-tank weapons are suitable against infantrymen. Their warheads are based on the principle of a shaped charge and ignite a kind of welding spike that breaks through armor, they only achieve a selective effect. There is no splinter effect in the area. “Therefore I choose targets like tanks, transports, machine guns of all types and military bulldozers.”
The systems hardly differ in handling. The only exception is the old Malyutka, which was developed in the early 1960s. It is the most demanding weapon for the surgeon. Here, technology only contributes 35 percent to success, the rest depends on the shooter’s talent. In the case of bankruptcy, Kornet and TOW, the technology would take over 90 percent, the operator is less important.
All targets hit by Abu Tov were destroyed with the first hit. The warhead was not deflected and if it hits, total destruction will result. He did not experience any mere damage. The tanks, under whose protection the infantry advances, would have priority in action.
Act like a sniper
To be successful you need a sniper’s mentality, that is, the ability to identify and occupy a good position and then patiently wait for the moment of the kill. It gets difficult after firing the rocket, then the shooter has to leave immediately. It’s not as easy with the tow as with the javelin because you have to take the bulky launcher with you. The only time he had to risk a second shot from the same position was when he was directly attacked by a Russian plane and injured his leg. “That was my seventh injury.” The effect of the ATGM on the battlefield is great, according to Abu Tov. A single base is enough to stop the advance of troops in Syria for at least a few days. The anti-Assad fighter already asked on Twitter how he could come to Ukraine to support the fight against Russian troops.
Source: Caliber Obscura