The war in Syria and Iraq is currently the largest being fought on the planet. While both countries are awash with former Soviet heavy weapons, as well as US small arms and Chinese imports, some of the most interesting weapons being used are completely improvised. These homemade weapons are unreliable, deadly, terrifying and in many cases completely insane. Elephant Rockets
Users: Assad Regime, Rebels
Military Effectiveness: Moderate
Propaganda/Fear Value: Low
The ‘Elephant’ Rocket is an IRAM (Improvised Rocket Assisted Munition) that was originally used by the Assad regime. Called as such due to the elephant-like sound made during launch, these rockets are made by attaching artillery rocket motors (such as B-21 Grad ammunition) onto much larger bombs. While this causes the rocket to lose accuracy and most of its range, it greatly increases its destructive potential. In many regions of Syria where the frontlines are only hundreds of meters apart, this weapon is particularly useful. Recognising this, similar rockets have begun to be produced by rebel units this year.
Armored SVBIEDs
Users: Jabhat al-Nusra, ISIS
Military Effectiveness: High
Propaganda/Fear Value: High
SVBIEDs (Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices) also known as car/truck bombs are not unique to the conflict engulfing Syria and Iraq, however, the fighting has seen significant innovation in their designs. Islamist terrorist groups, particularly the Islamic State group have become adept at taking civilian or military vehicles, and then adding truly ridiculous amounts of steel plate armor to them, before attempting to drive them towards enemy positions. Such attacks are often used preceding infantry assaults on positions, and feature heavily in ISIS propaganda.
Homemade Anti-Material Rifles
Users: Syrian Rebels
Military Effectiveness: Moderate
Propaganda/Fear Value: Low
In many areas of Syria, especially the urban battlefields of Aleppo, the fighting has ground down to a war of snipers. While ordinary sniper rifles are deadly enough, several rebel groups have begun to manufacture their own homemade anti-material rifles. Often based on recycled cannons and recoilless rifles, these weapons fire .50 caliber ammunition which has the ability to puncture walls and vehicle armor. While they are not enough to turn the tide of the battles, they nonetheless have proven to be a deadly addition to the rebels’ arsenal.
Improvised Tanks
Users: YPG, ISIS
Military Effectiveness: Low
Propaganda/Fear Value: Moderate
Until a few months ago, the Kurdish YPG forces in northern Syria had very few armored vehicles to protect the areas under their control. In order to make up for this gap, the YPG built several Mad Max style improvised tanks, often built by adding plate armor to a tractor motor. Unfortunately, these vehicles proved to be of little military utility due to slow speed, and armor easy penetrated by RPGs and heavy machine guns. Most were destroyed or captured by ISIS during the Battle of Kobane.
Chlorine Bombs
Users: Assad Regime, ISIS
Military Effectiveness: Low
Propaganda/Fear Value: High
While the regime of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has officially given up all of its chemical weapons production, it still has one weapon up its sleeve. Chlorine - first used in the trenches of WWI - has reappeared in Syria, dropped from helicopters in the form of improvised barrel bombs. Despite the fact that these weapons are actually less deadly than similar bombs filled with high explosive, the SAA has continued to use them due to their value as weapons of fear able to terrorize rebel-held areas. In addition, there have been reports of ISIS using similar weapons propelled by rockets, or in IEDs in order to demoralise its enemies.
Tunnel Bombs
Users: Islamic Front, Jabhat al-Nusra
Military Effectiveness: Moderate
Propaganda/Fear Value: High
Another WWI-era tactic which has reappeared on the battlefields of Syria and Iraq is the tunnel bomb. Syrian rebel groups (especially the Islamic Front) spend weeks, if not months tunnelling deep under a regime strong point, then fill the tunnel with tons of high explosive. These are then detonated in massive explosions, obliterating buildings, and laying the groundwork for infantry advances. Most recently, 3 tunnel bombs were detonated simultaneously in Aleppo, in one of the most spectacular pieces of imagery of the entire war.
