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To: PIF; Bruce Campbells Chin
6 tanks here, 9 thanks tanks there are “massive” to reporters seeking a headline, but inconsequential to the standard Russian Mechanized Brigade which can have up to 60 tanks. Tank brigades have more.

Destroying or rendering nonoperational 10% of an enemy force is routinely referred to as "decimating" (reducing by a tenth) it. It should not be casually dismissed or minimized.

Besides the tangible effect, it also has a tremendous impact upon morale.

Regards,

44 posted on 09/12/2022 5:28:35 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: alexander_busek
Again, the point isn't that Russia doesn't have that number of tanks. The point is that Russia doesn't have enough extra tanks to keep large number of operational tanks idle in massive vehicle parks.

"Decimating" is an old Roman term not used by modern military forces, which tend to go with "neutralized" for 10% casualties, and "destroyed" for 30%. That is based largely on the axiom that each soldier killed or wounded (especially the latter) takes 2 others to care for/transport him.

But it's important to realize that those are short-term statuses from which units can reorganize and recover. They don't get the troops back, and so are not at full-strength. But they can easily become operationally capable again even if they've lost 30% of their starting strength.

49 posted on 09/12/2022 9:21:03 AM PDT by Bruce Campbells Chin
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