Massive

Serbia has released the first footage of its TSMB M-25 heavy self-propelled mortar in action, revealing an unusual artillery system that puts a massive 203mm weapon on a comparatively light, six-wheeled truck. The system is designed to hurl projectiles weighing around 220 pounds at targets up to approximately seven-and-a-half miles away, bringing super-heavy firepower to a platform that looks surprisingly modest for the job.

The Serbian Ministry of Defense published the brief footage in a larger video montage, seen immediately below, but has not disclosed when or where the firing tests took place or what they demonstrated. Regardless, the M-25’s configuration alone makes it stand out.

Tehnološki razvoj odbrambene industrije Srbije i doprinos povećanju borbene moći Vojske Srbije

The Teški Samohodni Minobacač (TSMB, translated as heavy self-propelled mortar) M-25 was developed by Serbia’s state-owned Military Technical Institute and first appeared publicly at the Partner 2025 defense exhibition in Belgrade. Its design lineage stretches back to the Yugoslav M-65 155mm howitzer, itself a licensed copy of the widely used American M114, first introduced in World War II.

The M-25 takes that heritage in a different direction, with a 203mm barrel measuring 24 calibers in length and an automated loading mechanism for mortar projectiles. The mortar barrel has an elevation range from 0° to 75°, and the barrel must return to 0° in elevation for the next round to be loaded from the muzzle end.

The standard 203mm mortar bomb weighs around 220 pounds, including approximately 60 pounds of explosive material. This results in a claimed destruction radius of around 250 feet, using impact fuzing.

The system is intended to fire both high-explosive and concrete-piercing ammunition, making it particularly suited to attacking hardened positions and fortifications. Developers have also provided for rocket-assisted projectiles to extend its range and precision guidance kits to improve the accuracy of compatible rounds.

The weapon is mounted on a FAP 2026 three-axle truck in a 6×6 configuration, a general-purpose off-road type made by Serbian vehicle manufacturer Fabrika automobila Priboj. This platform provides a range of 500 miles and a top speed of 50 miles per hour on the road. The vehicle has an armored cab for a crew of four, while its fire-control suite includes an inertial navigation system, a ballistic computer, communications equipment, and a dedicated gunner’s computer. The same truck has also been adapted to mount a 152mm gun/howitzer, under the name NORA B-39.

The wheeled chassis is the defining feature of the M-25. While a weapon of this size would normally be either towed or mounted on a large tracked vehicle, Serbia has opted for a lighter truck-based arrangement. This offers advantages in road mobility and makes the system easier to move between firing positions, using “shoot and scoot” tactics. A general-purpose truck is cheaper to acquire and operate, and easier to maintain. It can also be more easily transported by air, although out-of-area operations are not generally on the Serbian Armed Forces’ agenda. However, its cross-country performance and overall survivability will be reduced compared to a tracked chassis.

The M-25 is intended to deliver heavy fire against targets such as bunkers and other fortified positions, then relocate before an opponent can respond. Its relatively short stated range compared with many modern 155mm howitzers makes it a specialized system rather than a direct replacement for conventional long-range artillery. Its appeal lies instead in combining a very large projectile with a comparatively compact and mobile platform.

Mortars have a long and grim history in the Balkans, particularly during the wars that accompanied the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. The steep trajectories of mortar rounds made them useful in the region’s mountainous terrain and in fighting around fortified positions and during sieges, while their ability to deliver indirect fire meant crews could engage targets without a direct line of sight.

As far as we know, the M-25 is the only 203mm mortar in current development and/or production. There are a few larger mortars on mobile platforms, notably Russia’s 2S4 Tyulpan, a 240mm self-propelled mortar, but this is on a significantly bigger tracked chassis.

At approximately 19 metric tons, the M-25 is substantially lighter than the 2S4 Tyulpan, which weighs around 27.5 metric tons. Its tracked platform reflects a very different approach to moving super-heavy mortar firepower around the battlefield. The Tyulpan can deliver a 300-pound standard mortar round to a range of around six miles, or up to 11 miles away when using rocket-assisted rounds. 

Serbia claims the M-25 has a rate of fire of up to three rounds per minute, thanks to the automated loading mechanism. In contrast, the Tyulpan can hurl a maximum of one round every 62 seconds. Indeed, its sluggish rate of fire is one of the reasons that saw it fall from more widespread Russian use.

There are still important unknowns. The newly released footage does not establish whether the advertised firing rate was achieved, how the weapon performs under sustained fire, or whether the system has entered operational service. Serbia has shown the M-25 at an exhibition and now in live-fire footage, but detailed test results have not been made public.

Still, the concept is striking: a high-mobility wheeled truck carrying a 203mm mortar is a distinctly different take on super-heavy firepower, but one that might just find a niche in the Balkan environment.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

NOVEMBER in Britain: dark before you’ve left work, washing draped over every available radiator and a coat that hasn’t had a dry week since August.

Meanwhile, somewhere else in the world it’s 30C with someone cooking and every drink on the house for you… I know where I’d rather be.

So, I dug through the November holiday data and picked out ten resorts that are up to 34 per cent cheaper than the average price of a hotel stay that month.

Not only that, but I’ve found a fantastic deal for each at some underrated resorts, overlooked by bigger names nearby.

Some are familiar spots, while others you typically might scroll straight past if you’re not in the know.

But they all deserve a look before you write off a week away – here’s where I’d be booking this November.

1. Naama Bay, Egypt (34% below average)

Naama Bay is my pick for anyone who wants to enjoy Egypt beyond the hotel resorts.

You’ve got a big beach, plenty of restaurants and somewhere to head after dinner, so there’s no need to spend seven days orbiting the buffet.

With November temperatures typically around 27C, you can spend the afternoon on the beach and head out for a slap-up meal in the evening.

This is where I rate bed & breakfast: your morning food is sorted, then lunch and dinner are yours to choose.

Falcon Naama Star gives you a cheap base around ten minutes’ walk from the beach.

I found seven nights with breakfast and direct return flights from Belfast for £280pp – that leaves more of your budget for enjoying the place you’ve flown all that way to see.

2. Om El Sid, Egypt (29% below average)

Another Egypt find, Om El Sid suits a week of beach days and evenings spent having a wander and finding somewhere good for dinner.

You’re on Sharm’s southern side, with the Old Market to explore when you’ve had enough of lying horizontal.

November daytime temperatures typically reach around 27C.

That’s proper beach weather, with the added pleasure of knowing someone at home is scraping the car windscreen, so try to be modest with the photos… or don’t.

My hotel pick is Old Vic Sharm Resort & Spa.

It’s inland, but there’s a free beach shuttle, so you can get your beach fix without paying for a beachfront stay.

I found seven nights all inclusive with direct return flights from Liverpool for £350pp.

And because your meals are covered, you can still get out for a nosey around Sharm without having to spend much extra.

3. Patong, Thailand (28% below average)

Thailand can spend years on the “maybe one day” list.

But this Patong deal is a decent reason to move it along: seven nights at Club Bamboo Boutique Resort & Spa for £765pp, with connecting return flights from Manchester and checked luggage included.

Patong gives you Phuket’s tropical heat, a busy beach and plenty going on after dark.

November daytime temperatures are around 31C as the island heads towards its drier season, and this is somewhere I’d opt for room only.

With so much food to try outside the hotel, picking a different place for dinner is part of the holiday.

Club Bamboo’s greener hillside setting gives you somewhere quieter to retreat to after Patong’s bustle.

There are hills and steps to factor in, so it won’t suit everyone.

But for someone who wants to get out and enjoy Phuket, I’d put the money towards the trip rather than a flashier hotel.

4. Agadir, Morocco (19% below average)

Seven nights, breakfast and direct return flights from Manchester for £230pp?

Safe to say Agadir is doing a very convincing job of getting me out of Britain this November.

Typical daytime highs are around 25C, with a big beachfront for lazy afternoons and the souk for a proper browse when you fancy moving.

You can spend a morning exploring, stop for proper Moroccan food and still have time to spend the rest of your day by the sea.

Tulip Inn Oasis is my pick for a handy bed & breakfast base near the beach and within reach of the marina.

You’re paying for somewhere to sleep and something to eat first-thing, with plenty of holiday budget left for getting out and about.

Agadir was even named one of the most affordable holiday destinations earlier this year, so it’s a great bargain option.

5. Nabq Bay, Egypt (18% below average)

Some holidays need a plan, while others just need a sun lounger, a cold drink and your hardest choice of the day being how many plates to get at the buffet for dinner.

Nabq Bay suits the second kind.

This part of Sharm is spread out and centred around the hotels, so the hotel itself matters here.

Typical November daytime temperatures are around 27C so it is another great hot winter destination.

Parrotel Aqua Park Resort gives you all inclusive ease with waterslides thrown in.

And I found seven nights all inclusive with return flights from London Luton for £395pp.

Meals covered, drinks included and no nightly negotiation over where everyone wants to eat.

That’s a week with considerably fewer decisions. My kind of week.

6. Caleta de Fuste, Fuerteventura (14% below average)

Caleta de Fuste makes an easy week away feel exactly that.

There’s a sheltered beach, a flat waterfront for a wander and plenty of places to stop for lunch.

So you can arrive, unpack and get on with enjoying yourself.

Fuerteventura’s November daytime highs average around 24C and a long beach walk here definitely beats standing outside a soft-play centre in sideways rain.

Fuertesol’s bungalow accommodation is my pick for a simple self catering base, so you can sort breakfast in your own time, then head out for the day.

I found seven nights with direct return flights from London Stansted for £235pp.

And if you get restless after a few beach days, Caleta’s position makes exploring north and south really easy.

Just hire a car for a day or two and spend some of the money you’ve saved on seeing the island.

7. Bahia Feliz, Gran Canaria (14% below average)

A separate living area is an underrated holiday luxury – somewhere in your hotel room to sit that isn’t the bed, with space to spread out and breakfast without getting dressed for a buffet.

That’s what I like about the apartments at BlueBay Beach Club.

Its quieter beach-side setting in Bahia Feliz suits people who want room to relax in Gran Canaria, with the busier south-coast resorts there when they fancy a change.

This is one to book for the space and the setting rather than nightlife outside reception.

November temperatures around this part of the island are typically about 24C.

This means plenty of opportunity for a long lunch outside and another chapter in the sun.

I found seven nights self catering with direct return flights from Newcastle for £445pp.

This is my pick for someone who really values a bit of breathing room on holiday.

8. Costa del Silencio, Tenerife (13% below average)

Costa del Silencio gives regular Tenerife holidaymakers a change of scene from Playa de las Americas.

You’ve got volcanic coastline to explore and nearby Las Galletas for a wander around a town.

Southern Tenerife’s November daytime highs average roughly 25C.

That’s still warm for a long day by the pool working on your tan.

Hotel Palia Don Pedro keeps the stay simple, with studios and apartments spread across small two-storey buildings.

I found seven nights all inclusive with return flights from London Stansted for £350pp.

That covers your meals and drinks while you spend a week enjoying a different corner of Tenerife.

9. Nuevo Horizonte, Fuerteventura (13% below average)

A free beach shuttle can make a cheaper hotel location a much better deal.

And that’s the exact detail I love at Elba Lucía Sport & Suite Hotel in Nuevo Horizonte.

The resort sits just north of Caleta de Fuste, but here you get an even quieter base to come back to.

Fuerteventura’s November highs average around 24C, so there’s still plenty of reason to pack the sunglasses.

You won’t have the beach and all of Caleta’s restaurants immediately outside the door here.

BUT the hotel’s free shuttle heads directly to Caleta and the beach area, which can save you paying for taxis every day.

I found seven nights self catering with direct flights from London Stansted for £295pp.

A good fit for someone happy to trade a central location for a quieter stay, with an easy way to reach the beach.

10. Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (12% below average)

Puerto de la Cruz is my pick for a Tenerife holiday with a proper town to get stuck into.

An old harbour, loads of restaurants and greener scenery give you plenty to enjoy in between cheap beers.

November’s nice and warm in Tenerife, and for a trip built around sunbathing, exploring, tapas and lunch outside when the sun appears, Puerto’s well worth a look.

Coral Teide Mar sits in the residential La Paz area, with shops and restaurants all around you.

That makes self catering a good money-saving choice: breakfast supplies nearby and somewhere different to head for dinner every night.

I found seven nights with direct return flights from Liverpool for £310pp, giving you a cheap week of sunshine and getting out to enjoy the town.

COMBINE fantastic campsites that feel more like holiday resorts with bargain prices, and you have Eurocamp.

With more than 400 parks in Europe, there are three brand new ones opening in the UK next year – here are the ones to book ready for summer 2027.

Camping l’Ardéchois, France

New to Eurocamp will be Camping l’Ardéchois – Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, although the resort isn’t new itself.

This is one made for toddlers, with a massive outdoor playground and kids paddling pool, along with a kids club.

That’s not to say there isn’t enough for adults, with two huge pools and a spa area too, completely with saunas and hammams.

Otherwise expect on-site restaurants, live evening shows and even it own nautical centre.

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It’s from here you can go on a ‘canoe safari’ on the riverside beach, otherwise go for some yoga, tennis and padel.

On-site are 230 pitches, making it one of the smaller, more manageable resorts.

Choose from standard two-bedroom cabins (sleeping five), or premium, three-bedroom holiday homes that are slightly bigger.

It is set to open on April 23, 2027, and will be open all summer until September. Prices start from £416 – working out to just around £11.80 each a night.

Delta Open Air Resort, Italy

A brand new resort in Italy, Delta Open Air Resort is right on the Adriatic.

You won’t want to leave – it has a huge 4,000sqm aqua park with pools and splash zones for kids.

There are two restaurants (expect fantastic Italian food) as well as a bar and gelato store. Or you can head to the supermarket to buy your own stuff.

Cycle paths along the coast are one for the sport-goers, along with loads of sports facilities on-site too.

Otherwise you can head straight to the nearby beach for some sunbathing time.

It is by some gorgeous Italian towns too if you want to explore the area.

This resort is considered “extra large” with a whopping 1,20 pitches ranging from cabins to premium holiday homes.

The park opens on May 22, 2027 and will be open until October. Prices start from £410, or £11.60 each a night.

hu Eraclea Mare, Italy

Also a brand new resort, hu Eraclea Mare is on the Venetian Coast which is expected to be one of their five-star resorts.

The on-site waterpark is the star of the show – it has 15,000sqm of lagoons, indoor pools, Olympic pools, waterslides and even a solarium.

Even outside of this, there is an insane amount of things to do, from tennis, football and volleyball to yoga, pedalos and canoeing.

How about a game of paintball, or even a few hits on the 18-hole mini golf?

Then there is the tree experience and zip line – which they claim is the biggest ever built at a holiday village.

Evenings come in the form of 30 food and drink spots, and a 1,500 seat outdoor theatre.

It is right on the beach, and it’s Blue Flag, to expect clean, safe sands and waters.

This is the biggest resort on the list, with 3,000 pitches ranging from two to four bedroom properties.

The resort opens May 5, 2027, and stays open until September.

Prices start from £313, which is £8.80 each – the biggest bargain on the list.

Sheikh Mohammed also discussed Israeli ‘violations’ in Lebanese territory with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

Qatar’s prime minister has announced plans to set up what he described as a “massive” solar plant in Lebanon to help ease its energy crisis.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani made the announcement during his visit to Beirut on Friday, after meeting his Lebanese counterpart, Nawaf Salam.

“We have agreed to establish a comprehensive framework for cooperation in the energy sector and to present viable solutions,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

QatarEnergy has reached an agreement with French company TotalEnergies to jointly develop a solar power plant in Lebanon as an initial project.

The aim is to develop a major investment project “that would benefit the Lebanese economy, as well as the Qatari companies and entities participating in it”, he added.

Prime Minister Salam said he would put the plans for Lebanon’s electricity sector to the Lebanese Cabinet soon.

“The Qatari side will fund, implement and activate the project without any cost on the Lebanese state,” Lebanon’s leader said, adding that such a move is important because of the country’s financial crisis.

Lebanon’s state electricity company is one of the biggest sources of debt, haemorrhaging about $40bn over past decades with a bloated workforce and outdated infrastructure. The company provides only a few hours of electricity a day and the state, until a year ago, took advances from the Central Bank when diesel fuel ran out.

Sheikh Mohammed said Doha stands in “solidarity with the Lebanese people” and the entire region “in this dire hour”. Lebanon has been struggling with multiple energy crises in recent years and the situation has been compounded by the country’s financial collapse and Israel’s ongoing assault.

Earlier in the day, the Qatari PM also met Lebanon’s president and parliament speaker.

Among the topics discussed was the situation in southern Lebanon, where Israel continues its assault, capturing dozens of towns and villages.

Sheikh Mohammed said “Israeli violations within the Lebanese territories” were a large part of his talks.

He said that Israel should withdraw from Lebanon and cease its attacks, adding that Qatar is working in coordination with the United States to help lay the groundwork for future reconstruction in southern Lebanon to allow displaced people to return to their homes.

Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon have continued despite a ceasefire agreed in June. Under the agreement brokered by the US, the Lebanese government is to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah. In return, Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from southern areas that they occupy. However, Hezbollah is not part of the agreement and has refused to disarm until Israel withdraws from the country.

Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks have killed more than 4,300 people in the country since March. About 1.2 million people were also displaced in Lebanon at the height of the war.

Although most have returned home since the June ceasefire, more than 300,000 people remain displaced, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Lebanon’s PM Salam thanked Qatar for its “continuous” support during some of Lebanon’s “darkest hours”.

Russian air attacks have killed at least six people in Ukraine and caused power cuts in parts of the capital Kyiv, days after United States President Donald Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” in the more-than four year war.

The ⁠Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had carried out a “massive” strike ‌against communications and energy infrastructure facilities ⁠in Ukraine, the Interfax ⁠news ⁠agency reported.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged people to remain in shelters.

“Energy facilities in Kyiv and the surrounding region have come under a massive ballistic missile strike. There are power disruptions in the capital,” he wrote on Telegram.

DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy provider, said the attack had caused emergency power cuts in several urban districts of Kyiv.

A Russian strike on a multistorey building in the capital’s Desnianskyi district killed two people, while another attack in Golosiivsky district killed one, Ukraine’s state emergency service said.

The Ukrainian military also reported that two people were killed and six wounded in Russian attacks on the Dnipropetrovsk region. Another person was killed in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.

Further Russian missile attacks were reported in the Kharkiv and Zhytomyr regions, while other strikes hit Sumy and Chernigiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian attacks on Kyiv had come without Ukraine receiving advance warning from its Western allies.

“A Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv. Once again, no early warning from our partners,” he wrote on Facebook. “This is absolutely unjust: when they are destroying our infrastructure, and Ukraine is not even receiving early warnings about ballistic missile launches.”

The president said Ukraine detected the missiles only as they neared Kyiv.

He also accused Russia of violating the “energy ceasefire” Trump announced on Sunday.

“A targeted Russian ballistic missile strike specifically against energy infrastructure – the very infrastructure covered by the ceasefire announced by the American President,” he wrote on X.

“The strike was entirely deliberate and demonstrative in its scale – Russia has never before shown such ostentatious disrespect toward the United States.”

Russia also reported Ukrainian drone strikes overnight. The governor of Russia’s Saratov region, Roman Busargin, said a Ukrainian drone strike had killed one person in the city of Balakovo.

Busargin said all ⁠infrastructure ⁠facilities were operating as usual. Balakovo is home ⁠to a data centre of Russia’s ⁠top lender Sberbank, a ⁠nuclear power ⁠plant and a hydropower station, whose dam spans ‌the Volga River, among other facilities.

Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin said air defence forces had downed nearly 500 drones flying towards the Russian capital overnight. Russian authorities said about 160 more were brought down over the Rostov region, while others targeted Moscow.

Russia’s military later put the number of downed Ukrainian drones overnight at 902, of which 180 were shot down near the capital Moscow.

Iranian media reported “massive explosions” in the southern Strait of Hormuz, with Fars citing unnamed military sources as Trump says US won’t strike Iran before midterms.

ONE of the longest piers in the UK has unveiled its latest restoration update after being forced to close four years ago.

Southport Pier in Merseyside has been closed since 2022 after being deemed unsafe but is currently undergoing a huge £20million restoration project.

As part of the project, sections of the pier are being stripped back including the decking.

There will also be replacement steelwork, such as restoring the existing handrails and tramlines.

A total of 27 lighting arches have been removed as well as a half-way house and kiosk that have been taken down.

The pier, which is one of the longest in the UK and dates back to 1860, will undergo construction and reconstruction work until around September next year.

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Sefton Council previously said: “The first task contractors will have is to assess the current condition of the existing paintwork on the structure’s columns. We want to ascertain if there has been any deterioration since previous assessments were undertaken.

“If the condition is good it can be left as is, however if not we will also need to repaint the whole structure as part of the repair works.

“This pre-construction work will take at least five days to complete.

“Following this we’ll shortly be moving onto the ground investigation stage within the coming weeks, which checks the stability of the ground underneath and around the Pier for materials like scaffolding.”

The pier originally opened in 1860 but the pavilion was destroyed in 1897 by a fire.

Another fire damaged the deck in 1959.

Then in 1975, it was awarded a Grade II listed status and a £7million tramway was added in 2002 running along the pier.

Notably figures associated with the pier include Charlie Chaplin, who performed there during his early career.