This intelligence report - that Russia’s problems on the ground are connected to its difficulty to achieve air dominance - is interesting.
1. Yes, Russian tanks are designed badly. Their carousel of rounds IN the turret compartment causes the tank to cook-off when hit. That is, these rounds go off, often popping the turret sky high. The carousel and associated equipment allows the tank to work with a smaller crew (the tank doesn’t need a loader), but the design makes the tank into a death trap.
2. Yes, ground-based anti-aircraft missiles are up to the task of preventing the other side from dominating the air. Tactical air is limited to the equivalent of “drive bys.” Compare this to how devastating were our attack helicopters, A-10s and high performance aircraft in recent wars, and the use of drones more recently.
Having said this, I wonder about the extent that the Ruskies (and the Chinese) can look over the horizon with airborne and satellite-based radars. We have a God’s eye perspective. I don’t think they do.
3. Artillery-fired smart munitions. We didn’t send any of our 155s to Ukraine prior to the start of the war, because we didn’t think the Ukes could stop the Ruskies. Instead, we only sent ATGMs and other weapons that could be used by a guerilla army. Upon the Ukes demonstrating that they could go toe-to-toe with the Ruskies, we sent them the M-777 howitzer, and NATO allies sent their equivalent.
These things are awesome.
The Ukes had already shown themselves to be proficient artillerymen and, now, with smart munitions, they are devastating out to 15 clicks. This is approx. 5 times the distance of the longest sniper.
Artillery still the king of battle
When it comes to attacking the enemy, remember: Artillery is the greater part of valor.
My hat off to all you 13 Bravos from this 11 Bravo.
The number of 777 sent is helpful, but far too few to make much of a difference over a front stretching 100s of miles; while facing 1000s of Orc tubes - some of which shoot more then 15km - BM 27: 16x220mm, 70km; BM 30: 12x300mm, 90km. UA needs the 1000 M777 rumored to be waiting scraping.
The Canadians sent many 1000s of Excalibur shells which are great help extending the range out to 70km, but the UA lacks spotter drones (on the order of the integral Orlon-10 the Orcs use) to make them really useful. And the amount of ammo sent is also inadequate, the UA needs thousands of tubes, and millions of shells and rockets to begin to counter the Orcs use of artillery (who’s shells and rockets are free and unlimited in quantity).
Then, one has to consider that unlike the organization of Orc units, UA artillery can be taken by any commander to anywhere regardless of the present need.
All of the advanced stuff the West is sending is dumbed down because of security risks, require satellite usage, require expensive and extensive training over many months and years to become efficient and proficient. Some is just not needed like the HIMARS M142 MLRS system - too expensive ($750,000 per round) for the best rockets. It help[s, but those 1000 777s would go a long way toward helping the UA win.
There is a lot more - all of this info is in “Attack on Europe” posted by speedyInTexas daily going back to April
Well argued. Seems to be a principle of fighting as an underdog that if you show you’ve got fight, foreign powers get interested. The battle of Monmouth during the American Revolution was where Washington demonstrated to the French that the “yankee doodles” were a worthwhile investment, even though it happens that he nominally lost that battle.
I’d like to see how fast we could get a significant number of M-777-ER’s in action.