c3k

Bolded. The rust appears almost instantly after a high-temp vehicle fire. Rust is, after all, just oxidized metal. The fires will burn off all the paint and other protections, leaving the bare metal exposed and also more reactive (due to high temp) to the atmosphere...that is 20% oxygen.
 

Bolded. The rust appears almost instantly after a high-temp vehicle fire. Rust is, after all, just oxidized metal. The fires will burn off all the paint and other protections, leaving the bare metal exposed and also more reactive (due to high temp) to the atmosphere...that is 20% oxygen.
 

Another translated angry rant about logistical problem of Russians, this time from Izyum area. Author compares their experience to the Hurtgen Forest:
 

Modern suppressors don't negatively affect bullet velocity. With a really good chronometer you will actually see a very slight increase in velocity. The "hitting power" of the bullet is a direct result of the velocity at which it is traveling, so there is no reduction in energy as there is no reduction in velocity. They generally reduce recoil and give a more stable weapon platform. The downside is the extra weight on the end of the barrel but is doesn't take long to become accustomed to it.
They do help with concealment as the reduction in noise and reduction of flash make it harder to locate the shooter, however my opinion is the more important part is the better ability to communicate. Gunfights are very loud. Gunfights in enclosed environments are stupid loud. I think most of us would agree the most important factor tying everything else together is communication and suppressors make that immensely easier, especially in an environment where not every shooter is connected with bone mics and ear pieces. 

Guys, I'm actually in the energy / power business and loves me some blueskying as much as the next guy, but could you possibly take that sidebar elsewhere?

For Steve:

I doubt 700 000 meant as "in the army", more likely this is all force structures - Armed Forces (Ground Forces, Air Forces, Naval Forces, Territorial Defense Command, Air-assault command), SOF + their volunteers, SBU special forces + their volunteers, National Guard, State Border Guard Service. Also very likely special police units like KORD. Or maybe even whole police. I have no clue where to place 700K in current army structure even with Reserve Corps deployed. 
Pre-war picture in artillery was much worse. Because of losses of 2014-2015 and exhausting of barrels life in 2016-2021, the number of artillery was significantly reduced. Mech. or tank brigade had 18 2S1 (3 batteries x 6 barrels), 12 2S3 (3 batteries x 4 barrels) and 12 Grad (3 batteries x 4 launchers). Maybe, when the war started, all "shortened" battalions got additional guns/launchers for 36/18 number, but I don't know.
Number in 17 brigades also not correct. We had 13 "heavy" brigades (tank, mech. and mountain-assault) +1 training center, which can consider as brigade or at least "large BTG". For this 13 brigades we should have 234 122 mm SP-howitzers and per 156 152 mm SP-howitzers and 122 mm MLRS launchers. OK, I will add per 18/12/12 for training center too. 
Next we had 4 "light" motorized infantry brigades, which should have the same brigade artillery group, but 152 mm towed D-20 howitzers insted 2S3. And probably because D-20 was enough quantity, they could have 18 howitzers in battalion. So +72/72/48
One yager infantry brigade. There is few info about it, but it 100 % had battalion of 2S1. +18 122 mm
Next, 4 Air-assault/airborne brigades: 2 battalions of 122 mm howitzers in each (D-30 and 2S1) + MLRS battalion (12 Grad), also one BTG in 80th brigade has own arty battalion (18 D-30), also separate artillery battalion of Air-Assault Command level (12 2S3), So +162/12/48
Next, 2 Marines brigades - each had 18 2S1 and 12 Grad-1. Also at least two separate battalions of theese brigades had own 2S1 batteies. So +48/0/24
National Guard. Among all units there are 5 x 122 mm battalions and one 122 mm battery = 96 x 122 mm (2S1, D-30)
So pre-war ground forces brigade level required 648 x 122 mm, 252 x 152 mm, 288 x 122 mm MLRS
Artillery brigades 5 in Ground Forces and one in Naval Forces. I assume they had reduced 4-barrel batteries too, so we should have 18 x 152 mm battalions (2S19, 2S5, 2A65, 2A36) with 212 barrels and 4 x 203 mm battalions (2S7) with 48 barrels.
MLRS brigades - 3 in Ground Forces and 1 in Naval Forces. Total 6 battalions of 220 mm Uragan per 8 in each = 48 launchers, and 11 battalions of 300 mm Smerch/Vil'kha per 4 in each = 44 launchers
Missile brigade:  4 battalions of Tochka-U = 12...16 launchers
Since the war began, Reserve Corps was depolyed 3 tank, 3 mech., 3 infantry/yager, 2 air-assault and 2 artillery brigades. This is potentially +234 x 122 mm howitzers, at least 108 x 152 mm howitzeres, 120 x 122 mm MLRS and 72 x 152 mm long-range howitzers (2A65)
Territorial defense brigades don't have artillery (except MT-12), looks like some of them received D-20, but this more exception, so I will not count them. 
So, totally we should have:
882 x 122 mm howitzers (147 batteries). I think, they still in service, because a lot of ammunition remained. But Air-assault and marines units probably will be betetr to re-arm on 105 mm caliber (35 batteries). Or to made one battalion on M777 and the second on L118. M777 is light and mobile howitzer, it should be in mobile units, I think, but because of its range, theese howitzers now first of all go to artillery brigades. 
360 x 152 mm howitzers (69 batteries). Or to reach all full-strenght batteries in 6 barrels we should have 486 x 152 mm howitzers. I see M109 or Krab, replacing 2S3/D-20
212 x 152 mm long-range guns/howitzers (53 battreies). Or 318 barrels for full-strength. Caesar, Pz2000 or our perspective Bohdana is our future in this class.
420 x 122 mm Grad-class MLRS (35 batteries). Or 630 launchers for full-strength battalions. I think, Grads can be taken from former Warsaw pact/Aisa/Africa stores. In future we are capable to close this class with own developments.
48 x 220 mm Uragan (6 batteries). This is dead end Soviet MLRS branch. After the war we should say goodbye to it. But Uragans can be substituted with M270 MLRS. 
44 x 300 mm Smerch (11 batteries). M270 ATACMS or HIMARS critically needs to this class! Or at least future modifications of our Vil'kha
16 x ballistic missile launchers. HIMARS ATACMS. Or our Hrim-2 in future.  
Of course for reserve and losses substitution we should have +20-30% more of each class. 
 
 

My thought when Switchblade was originally billed as a game-changer. In a war where the opposing sides are firing GRADs and IKSANDERs at each other a flying 40mm rifle grenade is little more than a nuisance weapon.

Some of these Ukrainian CAESAR pics had been posted before but I don't remember others, so I decided to post all here for @Taranis 




 

Looks like this is not antimaterial rifle, but DSHKM-TK, popular crowdfund upgrade of DSHKM during positional war since 2016. Each fire support company in battalion has 6 such HMGs or mix of TK and usual DSHKM. This is some average between HMG and AM rifle, which shoot with short bursts. Mostly used against fortified positions, MG nests, light armor etc. Unlike ususal DSHKM, which just maintaned "density of fire", upgrades of DSHKM-TK allows it to fire with more accuracy and precision, so skilled gunner can use it like a sniper rifle. DSHKM-TK also can be equipped with thermal sight. Special trainings since 2016 were established for DSHKM-TK gunners, so the gunner could hit a "man" target from 800 m at least with one bullet from ten, usung usual mechanic sight.

This map some incorrect. What I could understand from some information from locals, our troops crossed the river in Bilohirka, where we can see natural bridgehead, but not in Davydiv Brid (meaning in eng. "Davyd's ford") - this village still under Russian control or in grey zone, according to different information. Against our troops, again, according to differnet information either elements of 11th air-assault brigade or 56th air-assault regiment. Very likely first line of defense occupied LDPR conscripts, so our forces hit exactly their positions to breakthrough, but this is just my opinion. 
As I know, the clashes for Inhulets crossing have been lasting about 10 days or even two weeks, maybe not very intensive, maybe there were some unsuccessful probes, and only now, when our troops firmly took the ground and could push the enemy, OPSEC curtain was lifted officilally

The Japanese company making miniature Russian soldiers can make some miniature tanks based on this image. 
 

You're right. All the data is automatically transmitted to the gun and it is also able to calculate its firing elements itself. Each gun knows its exact position (few meters precision of course, like any GPS etc) and the orientation of its gun in real time thanks to the inertial navigation system (SIGMA-30N). These elements are available to the platoon/battery command by teletransmission (PR4G). Conversely, the command sends the fire elements directly to the vehicle via teletransmission. The crew then only has to press a button for the gun to aim on its own, all that remains is to load the gun.

In normal mode, the firing elements are calculated by the CS = Commandement Section = Platoon Command (a french platoon = between 2 and 4 guns) and teletransmits them to each gun. However, the CAESAR benefits from a CALP (CALculateur de Pièce = Gun calculator) which allows an isolated crew to calculate the firing elements themselves. I trained on it but never had to use it in live fire. It is therefore an interesting but unusual possibility, requiring a good knowledge of the vehicle and the principles of artillery but which remains quite easily feasible (especially for a platoon or battery commander ).

Note concerning the position of the gun, a synchronization of the inertial navigation was quite often carried out on geographical points with clearly known GPS positions. We then placed the vehicle marker on the point and then synchronized. This is not really necessary because the SIGMA30N is very reliable but it brings more reliability and confidence for the precision.

Russian TG channel FighterBomber initially rejected any jet losses today and wrote "all Su-35 at home", but a hour later has written about "fu...g bad day" and some vessel was lost. Other source wrote as if the two-seater jet made sharp maneuver on extreme low altitude, launched flares and hit the ground. Nobody have seen any launches at it. Troopers of Russian 56th air-assault regiment could take the body of one pilot, where the body of second - unknown.


From our sources, Russian jet was shot down near Stepne village, Kherson oblast - this in 26 km SE from Davydiv Brid, where according to rumors our troops crossed Inhulets river and could advance toward Beryslav town. I have read the twitter of Kherson citizen, which wrote he called to own familiars from theese places, but they can't say anything about this breakthrough, but he wrote maybe really Russian aviation stopped our advance, but where now our troops - still near Davydiv Brod or retreated on western bank, he doesn't know. 
Other news:
- locals from Kherson reported about powerful detonartion in Chornobaivka area and work of Russian AD. Some sources claimed two ammunition storages were hit
- Tochka-U missile hit town administration building in Svatove town, Luhansk oblast, occupied in first days of war. Somebody writes this was Ukrainain missile, somebody this was Russian provocation, so still unclear. 
 

Caught the BMP by surprise.
No one expects the Spanish Instalaza.

The Poles made a massive difference in World War 2. Their skill, attitude and commitment made a difference and set an example in the Battle of Britain, and their contribution towards breaking Enigma is often overlooked.
Poland frequently gets ****ed but I'd always want the Poles on my side.

Some points I found relevant:
It seemed the commander was doing his own observing and calls for fire. This is contrary to a lot of Western Doctrine, where artillery units are a delivery service to support a maneuver unit’s request for fire. Here there doesn’t seem to be any “land owner” that’s dictating fire. 
They talk about their observation platforms, and that they can only use it when wind and Russian EW allow it. Wind and it’s ability to limit UAV operation is often overlooked. They also said it started to become unstable the higher they got in altitude, and was harder to observe fire. 
There didn’t seem to be a sense of danger or urgency when it came to moving or shooting the howitzers - must be a relatively quiet part of the front with limited counter battery. 

One of the crew chiefs talks about firing 150 rounds in a day and I got the impression that was a busy day for him. Can give an idea of the volume of fires executed by specific units. 

Shutting down sources of US oil production helped worsen the supply imbalance of oil products...and raised the prices. 
Massive printing of money has led to inflationary pressures resulting in raised prices.
I'll ignore the statement about climate change and budgets. (But, if you'd like, you can venmo me some money and I'll apply it to carbon offsets in your name.)
Fiat currencies, politicians fueling the financial crisis, kicking the can down the road to future generations, deficit spending, short-sighted government policies...that is what is causing the current inflationary spiral.
But I'm not sure what that has to do with Ukraine kicking Russia's ass?

@Battlefront.com were approaching Group Intervention threshold...

I haven't noticed any modifications to the vehicle. Everything seems to be present (intertial navigation etc) except maybe a radio in the back. The vehicle has been fitted with armor plates (we had the same in Afghanistan), which are bolted to the base armour. There would still be the interior to check but the video does not show it. The radio system could be different because we don't see the case open in the rear, nor anything suggesting that it is present (we can do without it). Finally, the crew used seems to be that of the regulations and complete, i.e. 5 crews.

PS : the camouflage is the standard one (Centre-Europe (Central Europe))

M68 105mm cannon? Familiar to our British cousins as the L7.

Isn't that what some eisenbahn engineers said back in, oh, about '42?  
Snarkiness aside, that means a tighter commercial tie to the rest of Europe and less of a tie to Russia. Long term thinking...

Isn't that what some eisenbahn engineers said back in, oh, about '42?  
Snarkiness aside, that means a tighter commercial tie to the rest of Europe and less of a tie to Russia. Long term thinking...

The dominance of ranged fires is interesting. Whether it's artillery or precision guided missiles, observation and weight of fire are the key.
Have I mentioned the need for the US to produce a good 8" gun lately? 
Whichever side can bring it's artillery to bear against the enemy's, will be the side that dominates the fight and wins. Counter-battery fires are critical. Curtail the enemy's artillery, enable your artillery to pummel the enemy positions, and then move forward with infantry and armor, then shove your artillery forward to push your "bubble" further...seems to be the solution.
All of which pivots on the ability to observe your ranged fires.
The days of the stubby howitzer are over. Today, the battle goes to the guns with range. (155L39 doesn't cut it anymore: 155L52 or 155L59 are the key, followed soon by the 203L59. Oh, and every gun section gets a geolocating drone or two.)

The problem is that the CAESAR has no manual mode (no barrel movement system without hydraulics with cranks for example and no traditional sighting system (goniometer) because the sighting system depends on the navigation inertial system. Thus, it is not possible to give a "simplified" version, in particular because its strength is its technology. Even the system of closing the breech is subject to safety systems and hydraulics. that's why I said earlier that it's a high-tech and effective weapon but "fragile". 

Unless of course they have developed new systems since I left the army, but I really doubt it because I wouldn't understand the point. SeinfeldRules' remarks are totally relevant because these are materials that are not intended to be in the field permanently but must be easily maintained. The choice to assign them to an Artillery Brigade is therefore fully justified.