An M2A2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle from Ukraine’s 47th Brigade hammers a Russian position with its 25mm Bushmaster chain gun. The 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade began as the 47th Assault Battalion, formed shortly after the onset of the war in 2022. The unit eventually expanded from 400 to 2000 members as was equipped largely with Western kit, such as the Bradley. Named for Magura, daughter of the war and thunder god Perun, the 47th Brigade was instrumental in the capture of Robotyne earlier this year and was sent to reinforce Avdiivka in mid-October.

The structure under fire from the Bradley appears to be made of masonry or concrete, against which 25mm HEI-T can have mixed results. The Bushmaster chain gun is a formidable weapon and can be devastating against light skinned vehicles, light armored vehicles, and infantry, but heavier structures can prove a challenge. In Fallujah we found that 25mm HEI-T detonated against the surface of heavy masonry buildings but did not penetrate. Our gunners tried using APDS-T, the sabot round reserved or armored opponents, and while those rounds would penetrate, they bored a small hole with very little spawl, which produced minimal effects against hostiles within the structure. We had some success substituting TP-T for the armor piercing rounds, which is essentially a one-inch slug, and gunners would alternate between TP-T and HEI-T until they created a sizable hole in the structure, which would then allow HEI-T to penetrate.

Of course, the simple answer is to shoot the building with something more powerful, such as an anti-tank missile or a tank round. The Bradley is equipped with a saddleback TOW missile launcher with two missiles loaded and ready, plus several reloads. It is possible that their rounds were expended, or they were being saved for more appropriate targets, or that they only needed to suppress the enemy within the structure. Whether the round penetrates the walls or not, hanging out in a building being pounded with 25mm HEI-T is not a fun way to spend an afternoon.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing just completed its big yearly event, an offshore race in the Gulf of Mexico with an all veteran crew. You can support the mission and next year's sailing season at Tri-Sail.Org.