Mud Bogs Down German-Made Howitzers In Ukraine

Springtime mud is plaguing the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, creating mobility woes for Russian and Ukrainian forces and slowing down their operations. It's also affecting some weapons, Jake Epstein reported for Business Insider.

Photo Insert: Germany has sent 14 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine.

The state of the terrain is proving to be a hurdle for Kyiv's troops assigned to a specific piece of military hardware acquired from Germany during winter — German-made 155mm howitzers that are sensitive to dirt.

Germany has sent 14 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine and these weapons contain electronics that are so vulnerable to dirt and moisture that soldiers have to wear slippers or booties when they enter the vehicles so they don't track in any mud, the New York Times reported.

Each howitzer even comes with a vacuum cleaner, and the barrels have to be cleaned with a long brush. "The Panzer really loves cleanliness," a commander named Mykola told the Times. "If you fire off two full loads of ammunition, you need to spend a day servicing it."

Serhii, a lieutenant with the 43rd Separate Artillery Brigade, decided to recall the howitzers out of fear that should the machines come under Russian fire, mud will prevent them from escaping the bombardment.

That said, Ukrainian forces operating the German-made howitzers have seen some successes against Russian tank and infantry units despite the current conditions on the ground.

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