"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (11 Viewers)

[Admiral Beez]

Not good news on the Bakhmut front:

I wonder if the Ukrainians are limiting resources at the Bakhmut front so they can launch a January offensive to Melitopol. Meanwhile, the Russians are either hoarding or running out of artillery shells - western media and its legion of ex-military analysts suggest the latter.

Russian artillery fire down nearly 75%, US officials say, in latest sign of struggles for Moscow | CNN Politics

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its 11th month, US and Ukrainian officials tell CNN that Russia's artillery fire is down dramatically from its wartime high, in some places by as much as 75 percent.

www.cnn.com

 

[Denniss]

Other sites comment the Wagner forces operate in WW1 style - throw masses of manpower against the defenders and they may be overwhelmend (or not). Wait for the "expendable" prisoners to achieve something then send the "good" mecenaries to finish the job.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Wait for the "expendable" prisoners to achieve something then send the "good" mecenaries to finish the job.

The pawns go first.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhSYEMEEG5c

 

[Admiral Beez]

Looks like the UK are getting ready to send some Challenger tanks to the Ukraine. Talks have been ongoing for a couple of weeks

I would like to see the Challenger 2 with well trained crews, supported with ammunition, spares and maintenance in Ukrainians hands, in the Challenger's natural and intended eastern European terrain, facing off against its intended foe, the T-90. My guess is a squadron of Challenger 2s if well supported can wipe out an entire BTG. It's basically Panther tanks vs. T-28s.

 

[SaparotRob]

From all the stuff posted and from what I've been reading, was powering the M-1with a turbine as good an idea as it once seemed?

 

[Admiral Beez]

From all the stuff posted and from what I've been reading, was powering the M-1with a turbine as good an idea as it once seemed?

With the huge logistically capabilities of the US I'd say yes. But it is noteworthy that the Abrams' replacement appears to be diesel-electric.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/10/12/abramsx-ai-hybrid-military-battle-tank/

 

[Admiral Beez]

No contest, IMO.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX7xi7L_QFk

 

[GTX]

With the huge logistically capabilities of the US I'd say yes. But it is noteworthy that the Abrams' replacement appears to be diesel-electric.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/10/12/abramsx-ai-hybrid-military-battle-tank/

Errr...Abrams X is not a replacement. It is nothing more than a Tech Demonstrator at this stage.

 

[GrauGeist]

From all the stuff posted and from what I've been reading, was powering the M-1with a turbine as good an idea as it once seemed?

The M1's turbine can run on pretty much any fuel available.

 

[GTX]

From all the stuff posted and from what I've been reading, was powering the M-1with a turbine as good an idea as it once seemed?

Yes it was. Remember that the US did originally look at the AVCR1360 variable compression diesel as an alternative to the AGT1500:

They also looked at the MTU MT 883 V12 diesel engine as an alternative about a decade ago and stuck with the AGT1500 Gas Turbine.

 

[Admiral Beez]

As long as you have the US Army's excellent supply and support chain, along with air/ground superiority to/from and over/around your ROM point, the short range of the Abrams is not a problem. I'm just not sure Ukraine can do the first, let alone the second.

 

[GTX]

L3Harris Receives VAMPIRE Contract for Ukrainian Security Defense Efforts

L3Harris Technologies announced today receiving a $40 million Department of Defense contract to deliver 14 Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment - or VAMPIRE™ multi-purpose weapons system - to strengthen Ukrainian security defense efforts.

www.l3harris.com

 

[GTX]

First on CNN: Ukrainians to start training on Patriot missiles in US as soon as next week | CNN Politics

Ukrainian troops are set to begin training on the Patriot missile system in the United States as soon as next week, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday.

edition.cnn.com

 

[Admiral Beez]

First on CNN: Ukrainians to start training on Patriot missiles in US as soon as next week | CNN Politics

Ukrainian troops are set to begin training on the Patriot missile system in the United States as soon as next week, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday.

edition.cnn.com

Start training? I hope that's just for public consumption and that in actuality the AFU have these last ten months or more been training on Patriots, Leopards, Abrams, ATACMS, Excalibur, JDAMS, Vipers, Apaches, etc, etc.

 

[ARTESH]

I wonder why Poland and Finland won't take advantage of situation and reclaim their lost territories? Opening new fronts would be a great help for Ukrainians.

 

[GrauGeist]

I wonder why Poland and Finland won't take advantage of situation and reclaim their lost territories? Opening new fronts would be a great help for Ukrainians.

That would be a sticky situation.

Germany attempted to reclaim lost lands in the late 30's that belonged to the Prussian (German) Empire prior to the end of WWI and as you know, created a bit of a problem.

Currently, I would think that Georgia and Moldova would be within their rights to expel the Russian occupiers in their territory and there would not be much that Russia could do to stop it.

 

[ThomasP]

Georgia might have a serious problem trying to oust the Russians from the annexed area, due to their relatively small military (as we talked about up-thread) and the shared border with Russia. Moldova could certainly do so, as they have no common border with Russia or Belarus, and the sea route is well within Ukraine's ability to interdict - which I am sure Ukraine would happily do.

 

[GTX]

Start training? I hope that's just for public consumption and that in actuality the AFU have these last ten months or more been training on Patriots, Leopards, Abrams, ATACMS, Excalibur, JDAMS, Vipers, Apaches, etc, etc.

Why would they?

 

[ARTESH]

That would be a sticky situation.

Germany attempted to reclaim lost lands in the late 30's that belonged to the Prussian (German) Empire prior to the end of WWI and as you know, created a bit of a problem.

Currently, I would think that Georgia and Moldova would be within their rights to expel the Russian occupiers in their territory and there would not be much that Russia could do to stop it.

No idea about Moldova, but Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and ... All belong to Iran, they were lost during Russo-Persian wars during Qajar dynasty. Afghanistan and Pakistan were lost to Brits, at same time.

 

[Snautzer01]

No idea about Moldova, but Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and ... All belong to Iran, they were lost during Russo-Persian wars during Qajar dynasty. Afghanistan and Pakistan were lost to Brits, at same time.

You can have afghanistan back.