Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
That is one bizarre article you posted. There's no firm info on the latest claim, followed by a rehash of events from last year. The better title is "says Jerusalem Post".
Poland to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, if others do, too
JMFC, is there no one on the European continent willing to make the first move on anything? Poland's repeating the same sh#t they did with the MiG-29 debacle in spring 2022, where they offered the jets to Ukraine but only if some other country acted first to facilitate things. Why are the Ukrainians the only people in Europe with any balls?
Here's what Poland should be announcing:
Wczoraj wysłaliśmy na Ukrainę dwadzieścia czołgów Leopard, amunicję i części zamienne. Mamy nadzieję, że ta inicjatywa przekona innych operatorów Leopardów i czołgów podstawowych do zrobienia tego samego, Sláva Ukrayíni!
Yesterday, we sent twenty Leopard tanks, plus ammunition and spares to Ukraine. We hope this initiative will convince other Leopard and MBT operators to do the same, Sláva Ukrayíni!
I agree the Germans are being obstructionists, but Poland's announcement was that they'd send Leopard tanks to Ukraine once anyone else also did the same. These needn't be the Germans, and could be any Leo2 operator, even us Canadians. I think in this case Germany is not causing Poland's conditional offer, but it's instead a repeat of Poland's debacle with the MiG-29, where they want to be seen as helping but don't want to be seen as taking the lead in arming Ukraine with modern Western kit. Fear of offending Russia runs deep in Warsaw.Because the Germans keep users of their equipment on a short leash especially as regards spares.
I don't think that's the case, since Poland has been one of the biggest supplies for aid to Ukraine in Europe.Fear of offending Russia runs deep in Warsaw.
I don't think that's the case, since Poland has been one of the biggest supplies for aid to Ukraine in Europe.
I feel that Poland is putting pressure in Germany to relinquish it's grip on Leopards.
I read that Finland has joined Poland with a pledge of Leopards, too.I get that the Germans are still worried about being seen as war mongers. The pressure from other nations is a necessary part of that.
And speaking of pressure:
View: https://twitter.com/SamRamani2/status/1613205275431038979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The Leo II is the best option for them. Here's hoping they can get them.
A potentially risky move for Finland, a non-NATO member to get involved. Russia would have to be mad to preemptively hit Finland, but yeah, Russia is mad.I read that Finland has joined Poland with a pledge of Leopards, too.
I agree the Germans are being obstructionists, but Poland's announcement was that they'd send Leopard tanks to Ukraine once anyone else also did the same. These needn't be the Germans, and could be any Leo2 operator, even us Canadians. I think in this case Germany is not causing Poland's conditional offer, but it's instead a repeat of Poland's debacle with the MiG-29, where they want to be seen as helping but don't want to be seen as taking the lead in arming Ukraine with modern Western kit. Fear of offending Russia runs deep in Warsaw.
A potentially risky move for Finland, a non-NATO member to get involved. Russia would have to be mad to preemptively hit Finland, but yeah, Russia is mad.
Considering that Finland is a founding member of the "f**k around and find out" club, I don't think they're too worried.
The 113 is a good vehicle. The 113A3? Excellent vehicle that is possibly the best of the "battle taxis" made.Third lot of Ukraine-destined M113 variants arriving from the US now/soon also. Was watching some of them load the other day.