"Infantry Fighting Vehicles in Ukraine" Topic

Infantry Fighting Vehicles in Ukraine – losses, lessons & will Western IFVs matter? by Perun, 16/1/23.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Watched last night. Interesting as always.

Probably one his best – should be mandatory viewing for journalists and a certain class of arm-chair pundit. And some good points about why a literal reading of statistics can be problematic.

The Ukraine needs more IFVs & MBTs to go on the Offensive to free their nation of Russian invaders. The IFVs & MBTs will part of a Combined Arms Tms, etc. As Perun said in the video, you have to use MBTs, etc. properly. Not like the Russians did … His discussion pretty much mirrors much of what I studied, was trained, learned and experienced, etc. about history and on actual combined arms FTXs, etc., a Mech Co. Cdr, etc. He generally knows his business …

And I forgot to mention his diagrams i.e.: "rock-paper-scissors". It showed what we learned, taught, etc. And I've said before, "Measure-Countermeasure-Counter/Counter Measure" … repeat …

Also the M113, the .50cal could cover the Infantry from a covered position. We were trained to sandbag our M113s at times to add some extra armor protection. We'd sandbag the front, top around the troops hatch and even inside, as to give you a higher survivability rate. And as in the picture, we were trained to ride on the top sometimes until we would start getting effected fire, etc. As if you were inside and hit a mine or booby trap even with sandbagging the inside deck. You still could be come a casualty.

Even in the Lgt. Infantry Officer's Basic Course at Benning, in '79. Since we were going to a Lgt. Infantry unit, e.g. 101, 82d, etc. We were trained/get used to/experienced, etc. using the phone on the back of the tank to call the TC, M60A1, IIRC and ride on the outside. But I never heard in called the "Desant" tactic. No matter, you rode on the rear deck and be prepared to dismount when taking in coming fire, etc. Or clear out an area to cover & support the tank, etc.

I also wanted to mention he was spot on about dispersing assets in an FA heavy environment. Then quickly regrouping or moving out of your LDA[Lateral Dispersal Area] to go directly on a combined arms offensive. Mech Infantry can move very quickly depending on the terrain and road net.

And yes, as he said you will take some losses on the offensive in most cases. Which is again a demonstration of how deadly modern weapons can be. You gain ground and attrite the enemy on the offensive. But losses have to be replaced. E.g. IFVs/APCs and MBTs. You continue offensive ops as soon as you can. Pushing the enemy back and killing his troops. E.g. the German Blitzkrieg in France '40. Or Grant in the ACW. And in both cases, they took losses. But in most cases less than the enemy has. Gained ground, killed, captured and destroyed enemy personnel and equipment.

Also, his mentioning using light vehicles in a shock action. Kind of reminds me of the SAS in Jeeps with MGs in WWII North Africa. Surprise, speed and firepower. But, as we know this can't always be used and work. Everything based on terrain & situation. And since the Russian infantry is generally low quality, surprise, speed and firepower could make them break and run. Or surrender …

However, an old saying from the ARMY Ranger School, was[is?] "Speed is security". My Ranger qualified comrades had said.

So, if the West wants Ukraine to defeat the Russians. And we should. We must supply them the assets to do so. As he points out and others have, much of the equipment is older. Have been around for a while, e.g. M113 APC, Marder IFV, M2 Bradley, etc. But still can be useful in the right hands. Especially if the enemy forces are not well trained, motivated, lead, supplied, etc. Like most/much of the Russian Army.

Their "saving grace(?)" is that they are an FA heavy Army. So, they can and are using that to break the will, etc., of the Ukraine by killing civilians and destroy key infrastructure, etc. As we see the Russians generally can't win in toe-to-toe combat with the Ukrainian Forces.