Maintenance is going to be a nightmare with so many different vehicles in relatively small numbers. I'm sure it's a problem Ukraine will happily take on, but it will mean that the percentage of vehicles operable at any one time isn't going to be great.
A quick wikipedia gives those things an accurate distance of 40km, or 55km with advanced ammunition, and can fire six rounds and move out in two minutes.
That's not bad.
Last edited by Itse; 01-19-2023 at 02:36 PM.
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This is actually an excellent point and I find myself agreeing with you in spite of the previous point I was trying to make. I just find it frustrating that we seem so able to send materiel overseas but can't seem to re-equip our own forces properly. I do think there is danger in letting our military capabilities lapse or assuming that allies will do all the heavy lifting for us. History has taught us that the ability (or inability) to fight is never a big issue until it suddenly is - and that can happen extremely quickly. While Canada will never be a global military powerhouse, I think it is imperative that we maintain at least a marginal capability to look after ourselves and our own interests.
P12 makes some interesting points but I do stand by what I said about tanks being necessary. Effectively fighting a ground war on a modern battlefield depends on having them, and the simple reality is that tracked vehicles can do things that wheeled vehicles can not. P12's light tank "MPF" definitely has possibilities and could provide a more flexible option than something like Leopard, but I feel like survivability may be a question if that were our only "tank" solution as it would not stand up against a modern MBT.
In the era of drones, guided missiles, and precision artillery how often would tank on tank clashes happen? There are a few videos out of Ukraine but mostly it seems like tanks engaging infantry, infantry ambushing tanks, and tanks getting taken out from distant fires.
Pistorius apparently made comments today that he is unaware of any conditions from Germany that the American's must send the Abrams before Germany will provide their own Leopards. A potentially big (if not headshaking) development. Lots of speculation they may have a large package coming tomorrow as well.
I just don't think Canada will ever have the capacity, outside of a total war situation, to engage in heavy battlefield slugging with MBTs. Best to strengthen our armoured recce capabilities. Plenty of options to add in tank destroyer/hit and run capabilities to that kind of force.
Australia, a Commonwealth mid-sized country with sane defense policies, more or less agrees that it doesn't need a top tier MBT as it recently chose to go with the older M1A1 for its armour.
We spend 2-3x what Canada does on defense. It's basically a food program / jobs most of the time, but they are reasonably equipped and combat ready. That's what stands out is that most of the world's armies are asleep at the wheel for combat readiness. A good thing from a world peace perspective, but a wtf from a day to day management perspective.
Down here we're an island, as are the kiwis. The strategy is to sink anything before it gets here.
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I've been trying to not post every single Perun video, but the guy has just been delivering such high quality stuff that it can't be helped.
This one is extremely informative in not only explaining the messy structure of Russian military with rosgvardia, Wagner, DNP/LNP, volunteer forces and those random Chechnyen troops, but also the reasons why the mess was created, and why it's so hard to change it.
It all starts from the top, of course, and ultimately also explains why Putin remains in power. Divide and conquer works, as long as your main goal is staying in power rather than serving your country, and you don't care how many of your countrymen die.
Last edited by Itse; 01-23-2023 at 01:40 AM.
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The Polish prime minister's comment on Monday followed a statement by Germany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbok over the weekend, saying that the country "would not stand in the way" if Poland decided to send its tanks to Ukraine. She added that Warsaw has not yet made an official request to Berlin for transferring the tanks.
"We will ask for such permission, but this is an issue of secondary importance," Morawiecki told reporters on Monday."Even if we did not get this approval […] we would still transfer our tanks together with others to Ukraine".
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So apparently a far-right group in Sweden held a Koran burning protest in front of the Turkish embassy in Sweden, and now Erdogan is saying that they will veto including Sweden in NATO no matter what now. No terms or conditions for them joining, just a straight up "no".
While the Swedish government condemned the demonstrations, they said it falls within their freedom of speech laws.
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Turkey wasn't going to move on Sweden/Finland pre election, anyways. Not that prospects are looking good that it will be a better answer post election, but there was always going to be a wait until that election at least.
So apparently a far-right group in Sweden held a Koran burning protest in front of the Turkish embassy in Sweden, and now Erdogan is saying that they will veto including Sweden in NATO no matter what now. No terms or conditions for them joining, just a straight up "no".
While the Swedish government condemned the demonstrations, they said it falls within their freedom of speech laws.
Like in a way this is hilarious. His precious feelings were hurt, so military strategic defense be damned.
What would he do if rogue elements burned a Koran in an already established NATO member state? Wag his finger at them?
Some interesting developments on the Bakhmut front. Apparently Russia is no longer providing artillery support to Wagner (whether on purpose or due to being low on artillery), but at the same time started using air power that was previously thought to be too valuable to use on the front in recent months.
It has been met with predictable and disastrous results.
There is an odd new sense of desperation coming from Russia, a shift of wind so to speak. With Germany reportedly just approving Poland's request to deliver Leopard 2 tanks, the quagmire and expected spring offensive may may soon turn.
Last edited by Firebot; 01-24-2023 at 11:00 AM.
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I think Wagner is working towards a Russian Coup and Putin is now trying to undermine them as they are too prominent and important to the war to throw out a window.
So the goal is to show its Russia and not Wagner that is responsible for the successes in the war whereas Wagner is wanting to overstate its successes and ensure that Wagner group companies get the mines and resources that they capture.
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I think Wagner is working towards a Russian Coup and Putin is now trying to undermine them as they are too prominent and important to the war to throw out a window.
So the goal is to show its Russia and not Wagner that is responsible for the successes in the war whereas Wagner is wanting to overstate its successes and ensure that Wagner group companies get the mines and resources that they capture.
Post war Russia is going to be ruled by whichever enterprising individual first decides to step into what appears to be a growing and endlessly lucrative 'Replacement Window' market vacuum.
Quote:
Are your Soviet-Era windows broken or flimsy? Worried that they might be a health hazard to life and limb due to unanticipated and sudden defenestration? Call Uncle Vanya's Discount Window Emporium and get your extra-thick double-paned safety glass windows today! Call 1-800-588-DEFENSTRATION....TODAY!!"
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So far it's just been soviet tanks blowing each other up, or being blown up by Javelins etc.
I don't want to overstate the impact too much, but hi-tech western MBTs and IFVs are going to have a substantial impact on the battlefield this spring.
Sounds like the US is also considering providing ~50 M1 tanks. Katie bar the door.
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From what I've read the US tanks really aren't a great solution. I reading that they require extensive training to operate/maintain and use a lot a fuel. Probably better to trade some to a NATO ally in return for them supplying more Leopards no?
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Keep the Abrams in the north to secure Kyiv and send everything else to the frontlines. It seems like Germany wasn't going to budge without the US sending something.
