Russians see MICLIC mine clearance complexes as priority target
25 July, 2023 M58 MICLIC of the Ukrainian military. July 2023. Ukraine.
Photo credits: Radio Liberty Ukraine is actively using M58 MICLIC mine clearance systems to create passages for troops. These American systems became a priority target for the Russian invaders.
Previously, to counteract mined territory, Ukraine used Soviet UR-77 mine clearing vehicles. Since 2022, the United States has begun to supplement Ukrainian mine clearance facilities with MICLIC M58. The Ukrainian military told Radio Liberty that they initially sent tanks with trawls into the minefield.
When the tank detects the first mine, it signals and retreats. Afterward, the MICLIC operation begins.
M58 MICLIC mine clearing system of the Ukrainian military. July 2023. Ukraine.
Photo credits: Radio Liberty
"The main one is a container that has about a ton of TNT. The arrow rises at 45 degrees; there is a scale here - if the car did not stand, it would always be 45 degrees, a button is pressed on the remote control; the engine flies out; this entails all the charge that is located," explains the marine of the 37th Marine Brigade with the call sign "Coyote." MICLIC makes a passage in a mine fence that is 8 meters wide and 100 meters deep.
The main problem is that the vehicle needs to drive close to the minefield and therefore to the front line. In addition, if a projectile hits, MICLIC can explode and kill everyone nearby in a significant area.
The M58 MICLIC and the M113A3 APC of the Ukrainian military. November 2022.
Ukraine. Photo credits: Operativnyi ZSU
"In real combat conditions, we had to use it; I will not give a date, but it went a little bit wrong, so in order, let's say so, to preserve the integrity, firstly, of our crew, which consists of 4 people, as well as the integrity of the car and a number of brothers, so when an enemy projectile hits here, this half of the column is destroyed by our brothers. I made the decision to leave the convoy, and the commander approved, said that I did the right thing," the "Coyote" added.
These installations require artillery and aircraft cover for effective front line applications. "The thing is very good, but if it had fire support, then it would be very dangerous to use it. If there is aviation or artillery, then it works 100%," said the soldier with the call sign "Prada."
The operators of this system also noted that installations become a priority target for Russians when they detect them.