"Russia is preparing to INVADE Ukraine by the end of January" Topic

Great intel … some very good Big Guns …

A War Of Maneuver Or Attrition?

From what I see they do little maneuver but a lot of attrition …

For the M109s, wouldn't 10x or even 20x the price of €15,000.00 EUR still be a good deal for a self propelled 155mm howitzer? (if in working condition)
If they are in working condition, could someone else offer to pay for them and send them to Ukraine?

Edit – should read the article first. They also wouldn't let them inspect the condition of the M109s.
And they were already sold to another party..

Support: Secret Of The Siege of Azovstal

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Infantry: Give Ukraine Whatever You've Got

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Armand

The Blame Game Now Starting In Washington Over The Impending Defeat In Ukraine

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Armand

Putin's Jedi Mind Trick in Ukraine: How Truth Decay Shapes the Operational Environment

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Armand

West has right to give Ukraine nukes – EU lawmaker

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Armand

I don't think that is a good idea. The less Nukes around the better, IMO. If it gets that bad that nukes have to be employed … that is an entirely different situation. Even if they had nukes … Putin has more … Don't think that will deter Russia. Putin, etc., don't care about their own losses.

A Military Adviser To US Presidents Explains How The Ukraine War Began And How It Might End

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Armand

I don't think "rights" enter into it. Big powers make decisions on self interest, leverage, power.

Nukes are too much of a gamble. I do think more conventional weapons aid needs to happen faster.

The idea is for Putin to wreck his military short of WW3 and MAD. It's terrible Ukraine pays the price, but nukes would make it much worse.

SpaceX Is Beating Russian Jamming Attacks In Ukraine

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Armand

Ukraine Launches A Rocket Attack Against A Military Base 40 Miles Within Russia

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Armand

Donbas will be pivotal …

From Military.com:
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News reports indicate that Western Stocks of 'Russian' ammunition for Ukraine use… are getting low.
Just how long does it take to tool up and manufacture Arty shells? Or other ammo?
Pretty sure immense profit for Arms industry!

Ukraine war: Five ways Russia's invasion may play out

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The ‘World's Deadliest Tank': Not as Deadly as Putin Thinks?

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Armand

Just how long does it take to tool up and manufacture Arty shells?

Ukraine has mastered the mass production of large caliber. South Korea helped, August 13 2018.

"The story began in 2017, when $ 16 million was allocated from the Ukrainian budget for the purchase of equipment for the production of casings and hulls of artillery shells of various calibers. Companies from Turkey, South Korea, China and the USA participated in the competition.

As a result, the American company Gray Fox won the tender, but despite the money transferred, the production line for ammunition in Ukraine did not work [proceed].

The Ukrainian Security Service has opened a criminal case and is looking for those responsible for the fact that the Ukrainian artillerymen were left without 155-mm "NATO" and 152-mm "Soviet" caliber ammunition."
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The machine tools were made in South Korea, probably as a one-off production.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Thanks Druzhina…!

By the way…

Senior Russian Official Says The Kremlin Is Looking For A Way To End The War

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Armand

Ukraine has mastered the mass production of large caliber. South Korea helped,

The ROKs use a lot of US equipment. And are very industrious.

Senior Russian Official Says The Kremlin Is Looking For A Way To End The War

Well as long as Putin is alive the only way to end it. Is to get rid of Vlad, then withdraw back to the borders before the invasion. May be give the Donbas and Mariupol back ?

But as long as Vlad is in charge … the war of attrition will continue. If for no other reason he must save face. I wonder if this Senior Russian Official goes missing soon … ?

U.S. And Allies Prepare For A Long War In Ukraine

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Senior Ukrainian General Admits That The Ukrainian Army Has Lost Up To 50% Of Their Heavy Weapons

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Armand

That may be true … I hope not. Regardless we need to send more.

Losses in Heavy Weapons likely to be true, given susceptibilities… so need MORE… PLUS AMMO!
TOOL UP… Western Nations… this is NOT going to 'go away'.

IF Ukraine survives… Ukrainians are NOT going to Forget and Forgive. Putin knows that. He might 'go for broke'… and try to destroy… 'Demilitarise'… what is left.

West needs to be VERY careful of a 'shift in 'Threat'.
And, for God's sake… 'REARM'… and Recruit all Services.!

Also… China has been rather quiet… so far. Watching.

Ukrainian Officials Are Saying Russian Military Forces Are Advancing Towards Kharkiv

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Armand

My reading is that the Russians want to keep Ukrainian artillery out of range of the rail line though Vovchansk.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Good point!….

Imho… Russian didn't tried again to take that City…

Armand

Losses in Heavy Weapons likely to be true, given susceptibilities

Seems the Ukrainian Hvy Wpns, e.g. FA. Fire and move to a new position. A standard tactic to increase survivability, etc.. However, with the Russians with longer range FA and more in numbers. That will eventually be telling.

The Russians are advancing behind an FA screen. Which seems to work so far, AFAIK.

Russia Warns NATO Member Lithuania To Lift Kaliningrad Rail Transit Blockade

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Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 20 June 2022

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Armand

'Shoot and Scoot' normal tactic in all circumstances.

Watch for a 'Second Front'… even as a distraction… with or without 'intent'.

Just BE 'Interested'!

Russia: Vladimir Versus Fabians

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Armand

'Shoot and Scoot' normal tactic in all circumstances.

Yes in many but not all situations it is. For modern FA, AT, MBT, etc., positions, etc. When setting up a deliberate defense you may assign units primary, alternate and supplemental positions. "Heavy weapons draw heavy return fires" … in some situations. Everything is dependent on terrain and situation. E.g. are you in a deliberate or hasty defense situation or withdrawing/delaying . Or even are in an attack position prepping/awaiting to do on the offensive.

Watch for a 'Second Front'… even as a distraction… with or without 'intent'.

The Russians may have the numbers to do this at least on a tactical level. I don't think the Ukrainians do ? But we will have to wait & see …

Russian Forces Capture Towns In Luhansk As Bombardments Rain Down Across Region

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Ukrainian Kamikaze Drone Strikes Major Oil Refinery Inside Russian Territory

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The West Is No Longer The Arsenal Of Democracy

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Ukraine Says US Precision HIMARS Long-Range Rocket Systems Have Arrived

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U.S. Sending 18 Patrol Boats to Ukraine as Part of Latest Aid Package

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Armand

Keep the flow coming … The Russian forces have to be attrited effectively. They can't be allowed to invade a neighbor again.

Finally, although faster than I expected. Agree Legion, the supply runs have to be sustained for an extended period.

The Ukraine City Of Sievierodonetsk Has Fallen To Russian Forces

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Armand

those patrol boats seem a little light on weapons

what happened to the leopard 1s, was the idea scrapped?

the m777 takes a bit of time getting in and out of action ,not exactly shoot and scoot ,the french sent a truck mounted 155mm
,would it be possible to install the m777 on trucks ?

m777 takes a bit of time getting in and out of action ,not exactly shoot and scoot

They fire & move, to survive. That is a standard tactic in many cases. Today … Counter-Battery can be pretty effective. The US sent the M777s and prime mover a 5 ton Cgo Trk. As it was quicker to get them in a C-17. In larger numbers. Don't think we can load an M109A6 SPFA on a C-17, maybe 2-3 on a C-5 ?

IMO unlikely an M777 could be mounted on a wheeled chassis, AFAIK. At least anytime soon. You need a big heavy chassis, and it has to be able to take the 155's recoil. Plus how would the cross-country capabilities be on a heavier chassis with the 155 mounted in the back ?

G-7 Leaders Commit To Indefinitely Support Ukraine

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CIA And Special Forces Are Coordinating Flow Of Weapons In Ukraine

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Armand

Both good to hear. As I suspected …

Putin's Russia must be heavily attrited to make sure they don't attack their neighbors again. It seems Putin is willing to sacrifice his people in massive numbers. NATO, etc., should make sure the Ukraine has what it needs to make this happen.

legion i was thinking along the lines of that french truck mounted 155m currently in ukraine ,of course it is simply a 155mm mounted on the truck bed (just remembered what it is called thing was in the above picture caesar)
would have to remove the wheels and trails on the m777 and weld to truck bed. given what i seen of ukranian improvision
if anyone could do they could .

given what i seen of ukranian improvision
if anyone could do they could .

I'm going with a very strong maybe. I'd have to see both systems up close, etc., etc. After have been a US Army Mech Bn & Bde Maint. Officer[BMO]. I'm not going to say you can just weld a cannon on a chassis. They are a number of design, etc. considerations.

But we'll just have to see what happens … The war is far from over, AFAIK.

African And Middle Eastern Leaders Pressuring The West To Help Bring The Ukraine War To An End

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The crime of the day….

Russian Missile Hits Shopping Centre In Ukraine

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Armand

Russia Releases Satellite Views Of NATO Meeting, Pentagon & Target Coordinates

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Slovenia donates to Ukraine 34 BVP M-80A tracked armored IFVs in exchange for US weapons

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German-made PzH 2000 155mm howitzers are now deployed in Ukraine to fight Russian troops

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Armand

Those PZH 2000s look like something out of Hammer's Slammers. They were used in A'stan by the Germans as well, IIRC. It appears they are very effective.

Would Russia Use Bioweapons in Ukraine?

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US Army places what is probably its last order of Black Hawk helicopters ever

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Attrition: Invaders Crippled by Desertions, Dissent and Delusions

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US To Send Advanced Mid- To Long-Range Air Defense Systems And Counter-Artillery Radars To Ukraine

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Russian missile strikes near Ukraine's Odesa kill 21

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Armand