Russian soldiers train with 'bang-bang' tactics amidst ammo shortage
The Russian Ministry of Defence shared a recording of soldiers training before their deployment to Ukraine. Instead of dedicated training ammunition, you hear shouts of "bang-bang-bang." We explain why they do this and how it compares to practices in the West.
Russian television showed soldiers practising urban combat tactics, commonly known as black tactics. In these tactics, shots are simulated by shouting "bang-bang-bang." It is worth noting that real shots can be heard in the background, but these are most likely fired safely towards bullet traps and serve merely to create the "right atmosphere."
Simply put, soldiers are trained in man-vs-man engagements, which is considered the best form of training because the opponent is not a passive target. Unlike a static target, a person can adapt to what the other side is doing, similar to actual combat. Below, you can see a recording of the Russian training.
Man vs man training — how it's done in the West
In contrast to shouts simulating shots, Western armies more frequently use simulators involving weapon dummies, often based on Airsoft replicas. Weapon movements are continuously scanned and transferred to a virtual world using specialised software (a popular base for these simulators is the wargame Virtual Battle Space), which can be displayed on a large screen or in virtual reality goggles.
This method allows for significant savings in the initial training process but does not entirely replace reality. Therefore, the highest level of training includes man vs man engagements with real weapons using conversion kits for ammunition such as UTM or FX.
It can be described as military Airsoft or paintball, as the projectiles fired have an energy discharge ranging from approximately 2 to 10 foot-pounds (rubber or aluminium projectiles with paint). This power is greater than standard paintball, but it ensures the hit is felt. All that is required is face, hands, and neck protection.
Due to sanctions, Russians have very limited access to this type of equipment, which can only reach them through intermediaries from countries such as Kazakhstan. A few months ago, elements for the production of Western sniper ammunition and two companies responsible for maintaining the flight of Su-30SM aircraft were delivered to Russia through this country.
