Russian Tanks Invade Georgia

[Boeman]

With regards to war booty, recent reports cite the Russians appear to be making off with US military equipment that was destined to be shipped back to the United States.

According to the video shown by CNN, Russian troops drove off with a number of Hummers, including the more recent versions that are currently used in Iraq. Various foodstuffs, small arms and other items of US origin were also taken.

Somehow, I don't think they have any plans to return them.

[Wilhammer]

So, this was a giant raid on Wal-Mart's sporting goods department?

[Lars]

The Hummers mean nothing.

Poti itself, however, means everything. No port = no outside supply.

In other words, the US Navy can just piss off.

[Boeman]

The Hummers mean nothing.

Poti itself, however, means everything. No port = no outside supply.

In other words, the US Navy can just piss off.

The vehicles themselves mean nothing.

But what of the communications equipment that were installed? Are they of similar gear deployed by the US military and if so, would it make it easier for the Russians to hack into/intercept small ground unit communications?

There was a report dating back a year ago citing that some of the communications gear used in the Hummers/AFVs during (then named) Operation Crusade still had the same frequency channels used by troops from Desert Storm.

The story was quietly buried but no indication was given as to whether or not this area of neglect was rectified.

[Guest BigDukeSixField]

The Russians are carting off everything military and Georgian that isn't nailed down and that they can lay their hands on, and what they can't pry up, they are destroying in place.

The Russian troops themselves are hilarious, it's like they went to a NATO quartermaster or Ranger Joe's or something and went shopping. Rucks, web gear, canteens, bayonets - all that personal stuff, they've taken from the Georgians and it's each Russian gets to equip himself. I've seen BTRs piled with standard US-army issue Alice packs with the bedrolls rolled on top just like they teach you in basic training. The Georgians in Gori basically left their barracks and everything in it. I've seen Russian peacekeeper infantry wearing web gear with the mobile phone of the previous Georgian owner still in it. Did a pretty funny story about that.

Also the Russians have been carting special forces speed boats out of Poti, and all those coast guard cutters the US donated to Georgia? The Russians looted them, and then sunk them, three of them still have their masts sticking up out of Poti harbor. Right now the Russians are dismantling the Georgian base at Senaki. The Russian high command says they captured 65 Georgian tanks of which 44 are in fine condition and now are Russian property. Georgian light armored vehicles captured by the Russians number over 100. Of 24 x modern NATO-standard 152mm SP howitzers Saakashvili bought from the Czech republic, 5 of them are now in Russian army inventory. About 2,000 small arms captured as well, about 1/2 US manufacture.

All in all, not exactly shining battlefield performance for an army the US has been training and financing since 2002.

To be fair, of course, most of the US-trained Georgians were in Iraq for most of the war. Third biggest contingent on the ground (well it was). Maybe Saakashvili was betting that would buy him some real US support. So far he's got a pair of C17es loaded with "humanitarian aid", and some promises.

I'd say the US is ahead on the deal.

[Boeman]

The Russians are carting off everything military and Georgian that isn't nailed down and that they can lay their hands on, and what they can't pry up, they are destroying in place.

The Russian troops themselves are hilarious, it's like they went to a NATO quartermaster or Ranger Joe's or something and went shopping. Rucks, web gear, canteens, bayonets - all that personal stuff, they've taken from the Georgians and it's each Russian gets to equip himself. I've seen BTRs piled with standard US-army issue Alice packs with the bedrolls rolled on top just like they teach you in basic training. The Georgians in Gori basically left their barracks and everything in it. I've seen Russian peacekeeper infantry wearing web gear with the mobile phone of the previous Georgian owner still in it. Did a pretty funny story about that.

Also the Russians have been carting special forces speed boats out of Poti, and all those coast guard cutters the US donated to Georgia? The Russians looted them, and then sunk them, three of them still have their masts sticking up out of Poti harbor. Right now the Russians are dismantling the Georgian base at Senaki. The Russian high command says they captured 65 Georgian tanks of which 44 are in fine condition and now are Russian property. Georgian light armored vehicles captured by the Russians number over 100. Of 24 x modern NATO-standard 152mm SP howitzers Saakashvili bought from the Czech republic, 5 of them are now in Russian army inventory. About 2,000 small arms captured as well, about 1/2 US manufacture.

All in all, not exactly shining battlefield performance for an army the US has been training and financing since 2002.

To be fair, of course, most of the US-trained Georgians were in Iraq for most of the war. Third biggest contingent on the ground (well it was). Maybe Saakashvili was betting that would buy him some real US support. So far he's got a pair of C17es loaded with "humanitarian aid", and some promises.

I'd say the US is ahead on the deal.

Would it be fair to say that the current campaign is reminiscent of the South Vietnamese forces who were also equipped and trained by Americans?

As I recall, in 1974, Communist forces made use of everything from captured South Vietnamese artillery to boots on their drive towards Saigon. Personal items such as fans, portable radios, magazines and other luxury goods were highly sought after prizes which individual NVA soldiers raced each other for.

[Lars]

The vehicles themselves mean nothing.

But what of the communications equipment that were installed? Are they of similar gear deployed by the US military and if so, would it make it easier for the Russians to hack into/intercept small ground unit communications?

There was a report dating back a year ago citing that some of the communications gear used in the Hummers/AFVs during (then named) Operation Crusade still had the same frequency channels used by troops from Desert Storm.

The story was quietly buried but no indication was given as to whether or not this area of neglect was rectified.

A bit of a triviality at this point.

Besides, they can just be re-chipped any old time.

[Lars]

How to hurt an oligarch

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Russian equities tumbled 5% Tuesday, as already battered investor sentiment was further dented by falling commodity prices and a strongly worded statement from NATO saying that "business as usual" with Russia can't continue following the military conflict in Georgia.

[Abbott]

Yeah, Putin is pissed he got played in Poland, borders and looting is the consolation prize. Pretty typical behavior by the Russian military, I doubt if anyone is surprised by it.

[Abbott]

double down post.

[Guest BigDukeSixField]

I think that the Russians' grabbing everything has more to do with a desire to destroy Georgian military capacity, than to add stuff to the equipment-poor Russian army. US personal gear just is more user-friendly, the web belts and rucks have wider shoulder straps than the Russian issue, US grenade belts have room for more grenades, US canteens are bigger, stuff like that. The weapons are all Russian.