schnuersi said:

Is it even known if the defense of the Moskva have been active at the time of the attack? Did the ship operate alone. I am not a navy man but shouldn't such a big an important ship have escorts?

Regarding escorts - the Moskva has the msot expansive air defense and anti-missile systems in the Black Sea fleet, she provides anti-air / anti-missile escort to the other ships, not the other way around. This is why the other ships are now clustered near Sevastapol and its' S-400 battery. 

In regards to beign active or not, there are reports that a drone was used to distract those systems.  Apparently the radar systems for the S-300 SAMs can only cover a 180 degree swath of sky at a time, 

Also, there is a minimum engagement height of 25 meters on the other air defense systems, whicht he Neptunes were able to fly below.


We need to remember that the Slavas (and all the othe Russian cruisers and carriers) were built in Ukrainian shipyards. The Ukrainians know every design flaw intimately. 

Jeff (Jefffar) said:

We need to remember that the Slavas (and all the othe Russian cruisers and carriers) were built in Ukrainian shipyards. The Ukrainians know every design flaw intimately.

I was not aware of that.
But with this information it makes a lot of sense that the Ukrainians where able to take it out.

Didn't Russia confiscate cell phones from the outset of the 'special mlitary operation' due to OPSEC?

what would be the purpous....it wont defeat a IFV or similar vehicles....what would they target with this

smg762 said:

what would be the purpous....it wont defeat a IFV or similar vehicles....what would they target with this

(referring to a 14.5mm anti-material rifle)

THere are all sorts of lightly armored vehicles out there -- the Russian equivalents of armored HMMWVs or JLTVs.

Tigr: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigr_(Russian_military_vehicle)

Iveco LMV: https://www.rbth.com/defence/2016/01/25/russia-continues-to-buy-iveco-lmv-armored-cars-from-italy_562027

And I wouldn't rule out these being effective against BTRs or even side armor of BMDs and BMPs. 

smg762 said:

what would be the purpous....it wont defeat a IFV or similar vehicles....what would they target with this

Besides that 14.5 AP can penetrate Soviet era AFV including IFVs the rifle is most likely for long range anti field fortifications and position and anti personal work.

taschoene said:

And I wouldn't rule out these being effective against BTRs or even side armor of BMDs and BMPs.

14,5 mm is.
A BMP might shrug off a few hits over the frontal arc but against flanking shots and well aimed shots against weak areas the old Soviet IFV and APC are vulnurable.
To be really protected against 14,5 it requires STANAG 4569 level K4 which is pretty substancial. Few pre '90 AFV have this protection level or better all round and everywhere.

Supply trucks. Helicopters on the ground. Ammo and fuel depots. Lots of soft targets that take a bigger than average cartridge to damage/destroy at longer ranges.

smg762 said:

what would be the purpous....it wont defeat a IFV or similar vehicles....what would they target with this

Basically everything else; much of Ukraines tactics have been focusing on destroying of degrading long supply convoys of fuel trucks, artillery, and air defense vehicles. All of which could be targeted with a 14.5. A sniper could hide within ~1k of the a major road, and discretely damage / destroy high priority vehicles. 

Frankly this conflict may launch a resurgence in interest in the Anti Material rifle for defensive military use. 

In addition to Anti Material, a shocking  number of Russian Generals and officers have been killed, including at least one that was killed by a sniper at long range. Rumor is this kill was from 1.5km - emphasis on Rumor.

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/03/04/ukrainian-sniper-russian-general/

https://archive.ph/7wSUC

A rare video indeed: UA Tank killing a RU BMP in urban combat; one of the few tank videos of the war. Its a fantastic shot, taken through a blown up building.

Twitter

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Footage of an Ukrainian tank of the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade destroying a Russian/LPR BMP during the battles in L... https://t.co/F8bOsBrL7U

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Azov employing hand grenades in urban combat at the end of the video; another rare scene as you dont see that many hand grenade fights. 

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