Azov Brigade soldiers demonstrate the French TRF1 howitzer in action
15 July, 2023 TRF1 howitzer during firing. Photo credits: Azov Brigade Gunners of the National Guard of Ukraine Azov Brigade have demonstrated the engagement of the French 155-mm TRF1 howitzer.
Photos of howitzers were published on the unit's official Facebook page. The military says that the howitzers of this type have shown excellent results due to their accurate firing. On account of TRF1, there were destroyed enemy D-30 howitzers, armored vehicles and enemy personnel.
TRF1 howitzer during firing.
Photo credits: Azov Brigade
"Three of the five projectiles were exactly on target, and two in the target area. This howitzer is much more accurate than the ones we had to operate with before," said the commander of the unit. TRF1 is a French 155mm howitzer developed by Giat Industries (now KNDS) in the 1970s.
It was first presented in 1979 at the Eurosatory defense exhibition. The crew of the howitzer consists of seven people: the commander of the howitzer, the loader, the loader, two ammunition numbers and two more soldiers for the preparation of shells. Renault TRM 10000 trucks are used to tow howitzers and transport ammunition.
One such truck is designed for 56 rounds. For self-defense, a M2 Browning 12.7mm machine gun is installed on its roof.
Fitting of a 155mm projectile in the tray of the TRF1 howitzer semi-automatic loading system. Photo credits: Azov Brigade
TRF1 is equipped with a semi-automatic loading system that allows it to keep the optimal rate of fire.
As Militarnyi reported earlier, Ukraine received from France six TRF1 towed howitzers of 155mm caliber. Already on December 22, 2022, howitzers of this type were spotted in the Donetsk region. The first footage with this weapon in Ukraine was published by a journalist Andrii Tsaplienko.
"French TRF1 155mm howitzers are already used by the Ukrainian army in hostilities near Bakhmut," said Andrii Tsaplienko. In the video, a French howitzer is towed by a Renault TRM 10,000 truck tractor.