44th Mechanized Brigade received Rak self-propelled mortars
11 December, 2023 Rak self-propelled mortar of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, December 2023. Frame from 44th Brigade`s video The first official images of the Polish Rak self-propelled mortar of the Defense Forces of Ukraine have appeared.
Mortars entered service with 44ht Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This has been evidenced by the video published on Monday, December 11, by the press service of the military unit. Soldiers of the brigade are already performing combat missions to destroy the Russian invaders with the help of Rak self-propelled mortars.
Rak self-propelled mortar of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, December 2023.
Frame from 44th Brigade`s video
Before receiving this artillery system, Ukrainian crews were trained in Poland. At the beginning of April this year, Militarnyi reported that Ukraine and Poland agreed to supply the Armed Forces of Ukraine with Rak 120mm self-propelled mortars.
Rak self-propelled mortar of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, December 2023.
Frame from 44th Brigade`s video
This became known during the working visit of the President of Ukraine to Warsaw. Then agreements were signed on the supply of Polish military equipment to Ukraine, as well as on cooperation in various sectors of the defense industry. The Polish side said that we are talking about supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine with three company sets of Rak mortars on a wheeled chassis.
Note that in the Polish army the company set consists of 8 mortars and 4 fire control vehicles. Thus, we are talking about supplying Ukraine with a total of 24 units of Rak self-propelled mortars.
Rak mortar
The Rak 120mm self-propelled mortar is designed to destroy enemy manpower, armored targets and fortifications. It is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 12 km and has ammunition with 46 mortar rounds.
RAK 120mm self-propelled mortar.
Photo from open sources
The Rak is based on the wheel chassis of the Rosomak APC. The crew consists of 4 people.
Rak self-propelled mortar of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, December 2023. Frame from 44th Brigade`s video
Delivery of Rak self-propelled mortars to the Polish army began after signing in 2016 the first contract for 8 company sets.
After that, additional mortars were ordered with deliveries in 2022-2024.