"Artillery: The Dominant Weapon In Ukraine" Topic

"The current war between Russia and Ukraine features a lot more artillery use because both sides are reluctant or unable to employ air power. Ukraine does not have a large and effective air force and what it does have is vulnerable to ground fire from missiles as well as heavy machine-guns. Ukraine does not possess much in the way of SEAD\DEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses\Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses) aircraft or pilots experienced enough to make such aircraft work. Russia refuses to use its warplanes because, officially, there are no Russian forces inside Ukraine. This is not true but it is easier to hide ground forces (take identifying insignia off uniforms and paint over identifying insignia on vehicles) than warplanes. Hiding combat aircraft is seen as a deception too far and Russia has given up on using its warplanes in Ukrainian air space. Moreover no one will believe that the Russian backed rebels were able to create an air force from the few Ukrainian Air Force aircraft captured on the ground. Most of these were either not flyable or were bombed on the ground by the Ukrainian Air Force before they could be put into a usable state.

Artillery does not suffer from any of these issues, making it the main source of long range firepower for both sides. On top of that the military expertise, training and tactics of both sides are still heavily rooted in Soviet doctrine, which includes widespread use of artillery.

So far the heaviest systems used has been the Tochka-U (also known as SS-21) and Luna-M (an unguided rocket also known as FROG-7). Both systems are transported on truck based Transporter Erector Launchers. These missiles have ranges of 120 and 70 kilometers respectively, using explosive warheads of 480 and 390 kilograms respectively. A notable example of use of these missiles happened on February 8th, when a Ukrainian one hit a rebel artillery munitions depot west of Donetsk resulting in a spectacular secondary explosion…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Why is this a surprise. Artillery has been the dominant weapon on the battlefield from 1914 to right now. Tanks are nice, snipers are glamorous, but a battalion of 155's can kill you from the next county and turn the county you are in into a moonscape, and chop enemy troops, civilians, pets, cattle, into chutney.

That is why we called it the King of Battle in the US Army …

Image of fields near Debaltseve, where separtists have been shelling Ukrainian troops:

Who is the Queen? (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Silly as it sounds – Infantry is the Queen of battle – in the infantry we equated it to the power of the queen on a chess board

Yes, Infantry is the Queen of battle as ds noted, based on a chess game. The Queen tells the King where to put his balls … Cannon balls that is !

Great picture Geoff. I've seen impact ranges that weren't that chewed up…

ok

Amicalement
Armand