Ukraine gets frontlines boosted with crucial firepower and military aid
Over the last few years, Ukrainians have received tonnes of equipment. In addition to heavy combat vehicles, the list of support sent from Poland and other European countries also includes smaller—but still very necessary—mortars. Ukrainians have shown one of these, specifically the BM-37 model, in a video.
Among the equipment sent to the frontlines in Ukraine as part of military support, the AHS Krab self-propelled howitzers, which have been highly praised multiple times, deserve particular attention. Right alongside them are the Polish PT-91 Twardy tanks, which were indeed developed based on the Soviet T-72 but have undergone a series of significant modernisations, making PT-91s superior to their predecessors in many respects, as noted by the soldiers fighting in Ukraine themselves.
However, it is important not to forget that Europeans have sent the Ukrainians a range of other weapons, also much smaller in scale. One of them is the 82 mm battalion mortar wz. 1937 (BM-37).
Self-propelled mortar wz. 1937
The 82 mm battalion mortar BM-37, which has arrived in Ukraine is essentially a decades-old design currently used by many countries worldwide. The history of this design dates back to the mid-1930s. Its development is credited to Borys Ivanovich Shavyrin, who created this weapon in 1936. Series production continued into the next decade and ended in 1945.
The BM-37 is built from four components: the barrel, the base, the base plate (which is circular in shape), and the sight. Additionally, the smooth-bore barrel includes a safety device to prevent double-loading of the mortar.
The mentioned barrel has a calibre of 82 mm, while its length reaches 4 feet. The total weight, despite seemingly small dimensions, exceeds 121 pounds. In terms of direct offensive capabilities, the BM-37 can fire ammunition a minimum distance of 262 feet and a maximum distance of 2 miles.
After firing, the shell can accelerate to speeds of nearly 472 miles per hour. Its rate of fire is up to 30 rounds per minute. Another significant advantage of the mortar sent to Ukraine from Poland is its mobility. The BM-37 can be disassembled into three parts to make the weapon easier to transport.
