Russia's War Against Ukraine

[Crossroads]

As an European it has been heartening to witness though that for once the collective EU is carrying some of the weight also when it comes to direct military aid, not just financial aid.

Spotted this the other day. We had some 300 of these at the peak of its use, the Cold War standard for Finnish Defence Forces was to procure one third of its equipment from West, East, and nationally.

I served with Marines Artillery in eighties, it is a proper beast, heavy and cumbersome, a proper PITA to manhandle around. Once in position, a most accurate weapon with a long range. Perfect for counter battery as well.

They were decommissioned for scrapping a good few years ago, not because of the tubes would have been worn out, but the ammo stock was aging and would have needed a renewal. And the amount of ammo in stock must have been massive as it was basically a war time stock procured, as it was not expected to be able to receive them if things went south.

Seems instead of scrap metal they, and the ammo, ended up in Ukraine. Amounts, no idea. I am hoping for the full 300. With the ammo. Use them wisely.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1707353673750229261


Edit here's the gun in conscript use. First and last round of a fire mission fired in unison. Once in position, a most easy and stable system.

[JudgeDredd]

Skipping the first paragraph which is about politics, here's a rather neat article putting together an argument there is in fact a strategy within the collective West with supporting Ukraine to defend herself against this most brutal of invasions.

Thereä's the reminder as well that there's no need for an exit strategy, as it is not us but Ukraine whose feet on the ground.

Also, I agree with Star that it's been painful observing the glacial speed in decision making with some weapons systems. I understand the arguments behind them, in the beginning of the war especially. But to see it still continuing, weapons system after next system, finally agreeing to send them after delays, well, there it is. I am in the camp that sees that what actually provokes Putin, what provokes Russia, is showing weakness. What always provoked him/them to action was appeasement, signs of weakness.

"Keep Calm And Support Ukraine More"

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/we-already-have-a-strategy-in-aiding-ukraine/

ALL of this.

Putin, as with every dictator, takes advantage of weakness. They love it. Thrive on it. It's their power source. Crimea was the line that should not have been crossed. He saw the weakness in the West and since then, he's been planning to take the rest of Ukraine. In 2014 Russia gambled the west would sit on it's arse and do fuck all - and that's what happened. Power boost.

Fast forward to today...absolutely there should be no exit strategy from the west. This is Ukrainian blood being spilled. At the very least we should give them the means to defend themselves if we're not actually going to assist with boots on the ground.

Fuck Putin

[JudgeDredd]

As an European it has been heartening to witness though that for once the collective EU is carrying some of the weight also when it comes to direct military aid, not just financial aid.

Spotted this the other day. We had some 300 of these at the peak of its use, the Cold War standard for Finnish Defence Forces was to procure one third of its equipment from West, East, and nationally.

I served with Marines Artillery in eighties, it is a proper beast, heavy and cumbersome, a proper PITA to manhandle around. Once in position, a most accurate weapon with a long range. Perfect for counter battery as well.

They were decommissioned for scrapping a good few years ago, not because of the tubes would have been worn out, but the ammo stock was aging and would have needed a renewal. And the amount of ammo in stock must have been massive as it was basically a war time stock procured, as it was not expected to be able to receive them if things went south.

Seems instead of scrap metal they, and the ammo, ended up in Ukraine. Amounts, no idea. I am hoping for the full 300. With the ammo. Use them wisely.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1707353673750229261


Edit here's the gun in conscript use. First and last round of a fire mission fired in unison. Once in position, a most easy and stable system.

Agreed on Europe stepping up - but there's more to be done. Much more.

What is the reasoning behind sticking the used casings in the ground and what is that guy wrestlelling with with that first upturned shell casing?

[Crossroads]

Agreed on Europe stepping up - but there's more to be done. Much more.

Absolutely.

What is the reasoning behind sticking the used casings in the ground and what is that guy wrestlelling with with that first upturned shell casing?

The M-46 ammo comes in two parts despite the cartridge look of the casing. Used ones are upturned to make sure they don't get mixed with live ones.

While there's no danger per se for some reason loading an empty cartridge into the gun, there's a lot of hassle and safety measures if a live round does not detonate the charge. Basically it messes up the whole battery mission during peacetime training.

As for the guy he's removing the detonator cap as that's done before the casings are recycled. Why it takes that long, or why he does it during the mission, I don't know. Maybe he's just slacking off     (edit: oh yeah, while it's still hot. He's slacking off though :) )

(My English probably failed me regarding the correct terms)

[Sir Slash]

I agree with JD, the weakness of the response to the Crimea take-over encouraged Putin back in '14 and I would also add the Afghan withdrawal also causing Vlad to believe it was finally Christmas morning and time to open all his presents at once. Along with the cave to the Russian gas pipeline. Like most dictators, he over estimated his own brilliance and invincibility and now is stuck in a war his, 'Yes-Men' can't seem to figure a way to win. He's in a hole. Does he keep digging or find a way to climb out?

All due respect Star, but I don't need you to tell me what to do in my life. With your record of being off-target on your predictions here, I would be more inclined to listen to Daffy Duck.

[GDS_Starfury]

I await your examples.  I can think of a few things but I'd like to see you list.
and you most definitely listen to Daffy Duck.   

[SirAndrewD]

Putin yesterday enshrined September 30 as the new official "Day of Reunification" commemorating the annexation of Russian contested territories in Ukraine. 

The goal of the holiday isn't just to celebrate the return of the Ukrainian oblasts to Russian control, but to embrace the new hopeful future of Russia, committing itself to the end of the old Soviet Union's concept of socialist republics, and embracing the future of restoring the pre-1917 borders of the Russian Empire.

Russian state Propagandist Sergey Mardan celebrated the news on national TV, doubling down on the idea that the Russian state sees the war for a cause of celebration and is just the beginning of the rebirth of the Empire.   

[Gusington]

Great. I'm gonna search for an online map of what Putin wants his newly restored empire to look like.

[GDS_Starfury]

the RT videos I've seen via Julia Davis posts are creepy as fuck.

[GDS_Starfury]

Great. I'm gonna search for an online map of what Putin wants his newly restored empire to look like.

the Baltics, Poland, Finland, Moldova yada yada.

[Gusington]

^Pretty much like this.

[GDS_Starfury]

but 5 of those countries are now NATO so I don't think that would work out for russia to well.
I'll let Slash do the fact checking on that.   

[Gusington]

This is [darkly] fascinating "committing itself to the end of the old Soviet Union's concept of socialist republics, and embracing the future of restoring the pre-1917 borders of the Russian Empire."

So according to Putin, 1917-1991 was a series of horrible mistakes - except for crushing Germany?

It all went to hell when the Romanovs were murdered? I've seen it posted and discussed here for 18 months and still can't believe it. Especially since Putin was as much a USSR creation as you can get.

[GDS_Starfury]

not what Ive been looking for but typical of russian domestic propaganda.
fact checked by Daffy Duck.   

https://twitter.com/i/status/1707367203945779346

[GDS_Starfury]

here we go: