Northern Iraq PKK-Weapon Caches of Operation ‘Claw Tiger’

On 17 June, 2020, the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) commenced Operation ‘Claw Tiger’ against the PKK in the so-called Haftanin region. Haftanin is an unofficial region North of Zakho, a city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This marks the fourth Turkish incursion into Iraq’s Kurdistan Region since May 2019. As
per usual, TAF personnel confiscated and captured numerous weapons from the PKK. This article will
investigate some of the more noteworthy weapons.

Heavy Machine Guns

Three quite interesting modified heavy machine guns were captured by Turkish forces. Two are based
on the 14.5×114mm KPV and the other based on the 23×152mm 2A7/2A7M cannon.
Pictures of the first modified KPV were published by the Turkish Ministry of Defence (MOD) in a
statement on 17 July, 2020. Modifications include a small tripod, new trigger setup, front sight, shoulder rest,
and a muzzle brake. This specific KPV was found hidden beneath cloth and branches and not ready for
immediate use.

Pictures of the second KPV were shared by Abdullah Ağar on Twitter on 18 July, 2020. Ağar is a military
and security specialist, having served in the TAF as a captain. Like the previous KPV, this model is also
modified with a tripod, new trigger setup, shoulder rest, front sight post, and an even larger muzzle
break. This model also includes an ammunition box. Twitter user @obretix located the image as Jabal
Khantur, roughly 20km northeast of Zakho. The gun was found mounted on a tripod, reinforced with
sandbags around the legs. It was likely used not long before being found by Turkish troops.

These modified KPV heavy machine guns are likely more controllable compared to a regular KPV due to
the tripod, muzzle brake, and shoulder rest added to them. They were likely used to engage Turkish
helicopters and advancing infantry personnel. These weapons are more than capable of engaging these
targets. Similar PKK-operated heavy machine guns have downed and damaged Turkish helicopters in the
past .
The third and arguably the most interesting machine gun is this modified 2A7/2A7M 23×152mm
cannon from a ZSU-23-4 Shilka/ZSU-23-4M1 Shilka-M1 Self-propelled Anti Air weapon system. Pictures
of this modified cannon were released by the Turkish MOD in a statement on 13 July, 2020.
Modifications done to the 2A7/2A7M cannon include the removal of the water jacket, attachment of a
front sight, muzzle brake, a low tripod, and a trigger mechanism. in place of the firing solenoid. The weapon was likely used in single fire or
short bursts due to controllability issues. Simple sandbag reinforcements would likely not be enough to
hold the gun steady for even single shots. Such a weapon system would require quite the emplacement,
especially for sustained fire.

Anti-Tank Guide Missiles & Mortars

Another weapon of choice for the PKK is the Anti-Tank Guide Missile (ATGM). They have been their go-to weapon since 2017,
consistently and continuously harassing Turkish outposts in Northern Iraq and South-Eastern Turkey.
Thus, logically TAF personnel captured at least three ATGM missiles in Haftanin. These include two
unfired 9M113 Konkurs (NATO reporting name AT-5 Spandrel) and one fired 9M113 Kornet (NATO
reporting name AT-14 Spriggan).
Pictures of the two Konkurs missiles were released by the Turkish MOD on 5 July, 2020. The missiles
were found inside a weapons cache alongside a Chinese 12.7×108mm W85 heavy machine gun, a Yugoslavian
M74/M75 120mm mortar,and a Yugoslavian M69A 82mm mortar. The origins of the Konkurs missiles
are likely the Syrian black market, as they’re not that common on the Iraqi black market.

The Kornet missile on the other hand is likely from Iraqi origins. They’ve been fielded by various groups and organizations throughout Iraq and Syria. They’ve proven themselves to be quite an effective anti-tank weapon. Footage of the Kornet system was released by the Turkish MOD on 12 July, 2020. The Kornet was found in a weapons cache alongside a KPV barrel, a rusty AK-patterned 7.62×39mm self-loading rifle,
and an unfired M136 AT-4 recoilless anti-tank weapon.

The M136 AT-4 weapon system is a favorite among PKK infiltrators, roughly a dozen or so of these
systems have been captured by Turkish forces since 2016. These all originate from the Iraqi black
market.

Small Arms

Last, but not least is a very interesting weapons cache found on 2 July, 2020. Pictures of this weapons
cache were released on 5 July, 2020, by the Turkish MOD. The cache includes a Tabuk 7.62×39mm self-loading rifle,
a 7.92×57mm Mauser Karabiner 98 Kurz bolt-action rifle, a Polish kbk wz. 88 Tantal 5.45×39mm self-loading rifle with a fixed stock,
an AKM-patterned self-loading rifle, an AKMS-patterned self-loading rifle, a Yugoslavian M69B 81mm
mortar, multiple 40×46mm grenades, and multiple RPG warheads.

The Tabuk rifle is an Iraqi precision rifle based on a modified version of the M72 Zastava rifle chambered
in the 7.62×39mm cartridge. It is unclear when or how many rifles the PKK acquired, but this appears to be one of the few times that the rifle has been captured by Turkish forces from the PKK. The karabinek wzór 1988 Tantal is usually
abbreviated as kbk wz. 88. The Tantal is a Polish self-loading rifle chambered in 5.45×39mm. These rifles have been found in the hands of PKK infiltrators both inside Turkey and Iraq since
2018. The Tantal is generally used alongside AKS-74, AKS-74U, and M16A4 self-loading rifles in up-close
and personal infiltration attacks.
Coincidentally, on 9 July, 2020, a PKK infiltration was beaten off in Haftanin. A 1986-dated Soviet AKS-74 5.45×39mm self-loading rifle, a Bulgarian RPG-7V rocket launcher, a Bulgarian GHD-2 hand grenade, one PG-
7V, one PG-7VL and two PG-7VM were captured from the PKK fighter that was killed in the fight.

COIN_TR is a guest contributor at Silah Report, check out his Twitter handle as well!

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