We've been thrown into the s**t! Our rifles don't f***ing fire!

[rayg]

We've been thrown into the s**t! Our rifles don't f***ing fire!

'We've been thrown into the s**t! Our rifles don't f***ing fire!' Young Russian conscripts complain they have been given 1940s guns and are suffering heavy losses against Ukraine

Student conscripts seen wearing oversized helmets and wielding 1940s guns

'We've been given automatic rifles to take on Grads, artillery, mortars', one says

One quarter of Russia's army are conscripts aged 18-27 - often from poor homes

Putin had promised not to send untrained recruits onto front lines in Ukraine

Follows reports of Russian 'execution squads' used to kill desperate deserters

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...frontline.html

[Art]

Good propaganda has just enough truth to paper over the b.s.

So the truth. It is true that about 1/4 of the Russian Army is made up of conscripts. It's also undoubtedly true that the heavy losses suffered by the Russians so far in The Ukraine has caused some conscripts to be "dropped in the grease."

The Soviet Army, and I'm sure the Russian Army has used and probably is using "Drumhead Courts Martial" to deal with deserters who are then often summarily executed. That's very possible too.

Its also undoubtedly true that the Russian Army has some real morale problems.

But:

The soldiers in the video appear to say they are from the Donbass which would mean they would be of Ukrainian origin, though Russian ethnicity which would could lead to some unhappiness if they were snatched up by some Russian Press Gang.

No country sends its troops into combat with defective weapons. The weapons shown sure look like AK 74s to me which are current front line Russian issue. I have owned rifles made 1950 or earlier, taken straight from Russian military stores and sold off on the surplus market. They were all in top notch shape and worked just fine thank you very much so a call a big B.S. on the defective rifle charge.

[togor]

There have been modern era photos of personnel with SVTs. Whether 2014 or now ... unclear.

[dogtag]

I have rifles from the 1860s and they fire just fine.
Just because something is elderly doesn't mean it won't work.
I still work - barely.

[RED]

? 'We've been thrown into the s**t! Our rifles don't f***ing fire!' Young Russian conscripts complain they have been given 1940s guns and are suffering heavy losses against Ukraine ?

I have not seen any pics or videos of Russian troops carrying WWII rifles or side arms. The Ukrainians are the ones using vintage machine guns, etc.

The antique item the Russians are using is tactics, tactics proven to be outdated in the US Civil War, charge over that open field in force and overwhelm your enemy does not work against modern weapons.

That plus most of their troops are poorly trained conscripts.

[togor]

Art says they're not mostly conscripts but they may not have the fight in them just the same. Much has been made of the lack of a strong NCO tier in Russian ground units. Blasting with heavy weapons + mop-up still seems to be their way.

[lyman]

There have been modern era photos of personnel with SVTs. Whether 2014 or now ... unclear.

my SVT was a bit problematic,

used it during a High Power match once,
it failed (spring related) after a rapid string,

I blame it on old springs,, but new and no more issues

[Liam]

Did see the following snippet on old rifles being reissued to non-frontline troops. Wouldn't mind having a scoped 91/30 myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c963-HaxFvY

[Major Tom]

I remember during the draft in the 60's that 99.9% of the draftees were between the age of 18-22. A 24 year old was considered an old man. There were doctors especially drafted back then too. But they were given ranks of usually 'captain' and were in rear areas.