Posted on 01/04/2024 4:13:20 AM PST by hardspunned
Only a few of the modern Leopard 2 tanks supplied by Germany to Ukraine are still being deployed in the war — largely because spare parts for repairs are lacking, according to a defense budget decision-maker in Germany's parliament.
In a recent letter, Sebastian Schäfer, an economist and member of Germany's Green Party, urged weapons manufacturers to improve the repair process and supply of parts for the damaged tanks, German outlet Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday.
Schäfer said he visited a repair workshop in Lithuania with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in late December and found that repairs were taking too long, per Der Spiegel.
As a result, only a "very small number" of Leopard tanks delivered by Germany are still operational in Ukraine, according to Schäfer.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Lesson for South Korea and Taiwan: Tank ditches, drones and land mines. Lots of them. All are nearly impervious to air and artillery dominance. They strip away the enemy’s armor at much lower cost than tanks. Then it’s just men on foot -which is when artillery is used.
In UKR tanks have pretty much been relegated to static defense.
After two years of waging modern warfare in Ukraine, we find two of our most treasured weapon systems are obsolete. When fighting modern armed adversaries like Russia, China or Iran, it’s apparent that the tank and aircraft carrier have outlived their cost effectiveness.
“I foresee a run and shortage on parts for F-16s as we attempt to supply parts and munitions for Ukraine, Israel and our own saber rattling around the world.”
I was part of the logistics supply system in the US for an entire career. Along with every main purchase came a list of spare parts that was predicted based on use parameters and the mean time to failure rates. The US is well supplied with spare parts. Also, if I recall, there are three thousand F16’s and they and their spares are manufactured all over the world. When the US sells a system, we almost always set up a production line in the purchasing country. It’s a technology transfer as well as a jobs program for the purchasing country.
I suspect that the Lepard’s given to Ukraine are no longer in production. If that particular design iteration hasn’t been updated to the latest, then the subcomponents making up the line (field) replicable items such as IC’s and special parts with a unique configuration will not be available. In a war setting they’ll blow through any old spares pretty quickly.
The most recent former German defense minister was a woman whose party platform was to get rid of the military. (Seriously.) I can imagine she didn’t authorize any money for functionally obsolete spare parts.
They are not so much obsolete as needy.
They require huge amounts of maintenance. Tanks need continual servicing. Aircraft require much, much more.
The only way F-16’s can fly in Ukraine is with foreign maintenance. I don’t know how that is provided for in country without exposing Americans to war.
We should have moved into the drone and robots phase of our fighting capability and exploiting those unmanned weapons with vigorous intent. As always we are trying to fight this years wars with last decades tactics.
Does the spare parts system you speak of take into account the increased demand resulting in two years of dramatic increased air time of these planes? Where can total flight hours, by year and worldwide, be found for US/NATO/Israeli maintained F-16s? Does it take into account the non funding of defense by our allies? I seriously doubt that precautions built into the supply system, post 1992 and thoroughly neglected since will divert the shortage that most likely has started by now.
Who wasn’t surprised by what the Ukes have done in the Black Sea vs. the Russian Navy? Cheap Russian and Iranian drones have taken a terrible toll on tanks and Bradleys. If we’re surprised, the rainbow warriors running the Pentagon absolutely missed it. There are TEN Ford class dinosaurs on order.
“Ukraine’s dwindling supply of Leopard 2 tanks aren’t being repaired because Europe doesn’t have enough spare parts”
Take that, Putin !!!! Our tanks are the best!!!...until they break down, that is...
I can’t respond to your specific questions. What I can say is the US logistics system is staffed with consummate professionals. I dealt directly with them supplying inputs for their formulas. They do scenario planning, and they keep the scenarios updated even to the point that in some cases spares may be destroyed by accident or on purpose. The American system is probably pretty good, and we won’t run out of spares for the planned scenarios.
Having said that, the Carter administration, the Clinton administration and the Obama administration skimped on bullets, bombs and spare parts because they spent the money on political objectives not related to the military. I have no info on the Biden administration but stealing from the guns column to put money in the political column is a Democrat mainstay.
Where’s those “obsolete” A-10 Warhogs? They would clean out Russian trenches, tanks, whatever, in short order…
“Where’s those “obsolete” A-10 Warhogs? They would clean out Russian trenches, tanks, whatever, in short order…”
Not sure they’d do too well against S-400s, but why not, the Air Force has ALWAYS wanted to get rid of them anyway (except when they use then in combat every few years).
I think it will eventually evolve into an air war. It’s the only way to deal with troops in trenches. The Russians have been using white phosphorus. I wouldn’t be surprised to see napalm back in use either.
The Russians are tearing Ukrainians in trenches up with squad level drones on the battlefield. Squad served mortars are possibly obsolete as well.
Jeepers. The writing has been on the wall for 6 months.
Are the Ukies committed to losing every square inch of their homeland?
There are not enough Ukies or 155mm rounds left in the world to stop Russia.
Suing for Peace was September’s job.
Now it’s just looking hopeless.
Jeez.
None of which is to excuse Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion and prosecution of their war.
But reality has to set in sometime.
You’re in luck. The US budget for shipping weapons to Ukraine has run out of funds. So nothing not shipped, like M1A1 tanks, glide bombs, HIMARS rockets - including ATACMS, Patriot missiles, spare parts, and, of course F-16s, will be forthcoming.
The House GOP’s gift to Vlad and all Russian trolls. Not only will Russia be able to demob some troops, but will have great victories in the coming year, and ... it may reach the Polish border by the end of the year.
As a bonus, this new GOP strategy will speed up setting conditions for Russia’s take over of the Arctic from the Nordic nations.
The A-10s are disguised to look like SU-25s.
“I foresee a run and shortage on parts for F-16s as we attempt to supply parts and munitions for Ukraine, Israel and our own saber rattling around the world.”
I say this, looking at the stocks of planes in Arizona, and that F-16 manufacturing continues, that there is unlikely to be a ‘part shortage’ of F-16 parts.
I doubt there will be a shortage of Abrams tank parts as well. They were designed for quick repair and part replacement and there are many copies.
What is interesting is that the Ukranians do have Abrams tanks now, but appear not to have committed them to combat. I suspect they have F-16’s as well, but are not using them in offensive ground operations. What does that say about the future?
According to Der Spiegel, Germany has given Ukraine 18 Leopard 2 tanks. Many of them have since been damaged in battle or significantly worn out from extended combat use, per the outlet.
so none destroyed and no number of how many left
Under previous circumstances, I might agree with you. You must remember, beginning with Obama and ending with the scamdemic, our military leadership has been completely purged of qualified, patriotic Americans. I am amazed every day by the incompetent, un American action of the rainbow warriors in the Pentagon. Although Trump tried, he was unable to control these traitorous fools. It has gotten tremendously worse since the junta came to power 1/20/21. I expect the worse coming out of DC nowadays regarding everything.
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