Many unusual firearms have been seen in the war in Ukraine. This is because many countries and private companies provided aid to the beleaguered country in its fight against Russia.
Here are some of the odder weapons that we’ve seen used in the war.
The Turkish AR-type MKA 1919 shotgun
Drone warfare has changed the game. Small, commercial drones carrying small explosives have become one of the most terrifying aspects of the war. Hitting a small, rapidly moving flying target is tough, but it’s a lot easier with a shotgun.
Ukraine has been using a wide variety of shotguns. From classic bird guns to shotguns designed to mimic modern rifles.
An anonymous benefactor from the Netherlands donated over 700 Turkish MKA 1919 semi-auto shotguns to Ukraine. These are magazine-fed, gas-operated guns that resemble the AR-15 rifle.
Ukrainian troops would likely have been familiar with the MKA 1919’s modern layout, and the presence of magazines makes reloads swift and easy.
These guns are capable of holding anywhere from five to 19 rounds of 12-gauge ammunition, with the typical capacity ranging between eight and 10 rounds. They serve as drone defense tools to allow troops to rapidly engage flying targets with multiple projectiles.
While useful, Turkish shotguns have a poor reputation, and I don’t think these guns will last long in service. They tend to break easily and aren’t known for outstanding reliability. Luckily, with 700 of them, Ukrainian forces will have plenty to go through.
The Czech VZ. 61 Skorpion
As reported by Oryx, the Czech government has sent over $430 million in aid to Ukraine in the form of numerous small arms, including rifles and submachine guns. Part of this aid includes 2,058 Skorpion machine pistols. These odd little guns were fielded in the 1960s with police, paratroopers, and armored vehicle crews.
The Skorpion is quite small and fires the fairly meek .32 ACP cartridge. It has a top folding stock that slightly resembles a scorpion’s tail. The weapon is capable of both full- and semi-auto fire. It’s larger than a handgun, but quite small for an SMG. The gun is remarkably controllable in full-auto thanks to the .32 ACP cartridge.
While interesting, the gun doesn’t have much of a place on the front lines. It could be a sidearm, but due to its limited range and ability to punch through armor, it shouldn’t be a top choice.
Submachine guns as a whole have faded from modern warfare.
How Ukrainian forces issue these weapons will be critical. For example, they could serve as personal defense weapons for troops far from the front lines. Their stock makes them easier to shoot than a pistol and more capable, and they are still compact and easy to store and use inside vehicles. Additionally, they could be used for internal security to free up rifles for the front lines.
Related: Russia uses ‘relic’ weapons in Ukraine, including the 9K111 Fagot anti-tank system
The American KelTec SUB 2000
KelTec is an American firearms company that focuses on civilian firearms. It makes a variety of odd and interesting guns, with the SUB 2000 being one of its more interesting rifles. It’s a pistol-caliber carbine that’s popular with civilian shooters for its simplicity, affordability, and ability to fold in half.
KelTec donated 400 SUB 2000s to Ukraine at the start of the war.
The SUB 2000 is a civilian not a military weapon. It’s a simple, direct-blowback design that fires a pistol round in semi-auto only. The pistol cartridge limits its ability to engage at distances beyond 100 yards, and pistol rounds are not known for their man-stopping capability. Much like the VZ 61, it doesn’t have a place on the front lines. Yet, we’ve seen at least one photo of a Ukrainian soldier wielding a SUB 2000 inside a city.
The weapon does have the benefit of being lightweight and easy to shoot. While your standard assault rifle makes more sense for military forces, the SUB 2000 is better than a handgun for security forces and civilian militias.
While unusual, the rifles can likely find a place outside of the front lines.
The Spanish CETME Ameli light machine gun
The CETME Ameli is a Spanish light machine gun donated to Ukraine by Spain. This is a 5.56mm machine gun that has only recently been replaced in Spanish military service.
The weapon is descended from the German MG-45, a little-fielded German machine gun. However, the Amelia uses the 5.56mm cartridge and consequently weighs only 11.68 pounds making makes it quite light for a machine gun.
Much like the German machine guns, the Ameli features a fairly high rate of fire and is capable of firing up to 1,200 rounds per minute. The rate of fire can be further tuned by using heavier bolts. The Spanish tended to keep the firing rate down to around 800 to 900 rounds per minute to conserve ammo and improve the weapon’s controllability.
The CETME Ameli uses a disintegrating belt and can use an attachable ammunition container to protect the ammunition.
The Ameli is an outstanding weapon for front-line service. The challenge will likely be repairing and replacing broken guns. However, they are known to be reliable and durable guns.
Related: Is the handheld minigun the ultimate machine gun?
The Russian GM-94 grenade launcher
The GM-94 is a Russian-designed grenade launcher. It has been in use by Ukraine since at least 2014 and several have been captured by Ukrainians from Russian troops.
Handheld grenade launchers are nothing new, but the GM-94 is a bit different: rather than just being a single-shot or a revolving-cylinder type, it’s a pump-action one scaled up to 43 mm.
The GM-94 uses a proprietary thermobaric grenade which creates overpressure in tight environments to cause casualties. It has an arming distance of only 10 meters making it a room- and trench-clearing weapon.
The tubular magazine sits above the barrel and holds three grenades. This makes repeated shots quick, but reloads slow. The design allows for rapid use in urban environments, and that’s where it is regularly used.
Further, the small size and top folding stock make it easy to carry alongside a proper assault rifle.
For urban environments, the GM-94 could be fearsome, but the Ukrainians are likely sort on the proprietary grenades.
Ukraine has become a hodgepodge of weird guns: some dating back to World War II; others made primarily for civilian markets; and others being specialized tools making their way to the front. As the conflict continues, it’s likely we’ll see more and more oddities appear.
Feature Image: The KelTec SUB 2000 folded. (KelTec)
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