Ukraine invasion

[Zardnaar]

This discussion archived on Imgur points out some real maintenance issues that may bedevil the Russian ground forces for the duration of the invasion.

TL, DR: due to neglectful maintenance, many of the Russian wheeled vehicles may be riding on tires on the cusp of catastrophic failure. This translates into the logistical and tactical nightmare of a sizable chunk of their ground forces being confined to paved roads only.

Yup I've seen that but filed it in the rumors category.

There's a book floating around that explains their doctrine.

The head if the convoy is setting up a FOB it's 17 kilometers from Kiev.

But their artillery has a range of 24 lm iirc.

To us it looks like Hur dur their army sucks but they're apparently running it pretty much by the book. Their book anyway.

And their army is a bit more willing to soak some casualties as well vs a western one.

Unless their army routs, collapses or Ukraine can counter attack they're still winning.

I'm watching CNN, MSNBC, France 24 and DW. A bit if footage they're using went up on Reddit days ago so there's also that.

Our perception may also be a bit skewed because of it.

 

[Thunderfoot]

So apparently the Russians are violating Swedish airspace. Cue ominous music...

 

[trappedslider]

That convoy is a real oddity, it is something the Russian high command should never have permitted to occur. If the Ukraine had SSMs or functioning strike aircraft still, it is a juicy target. If I were the Russians I would be trying to disperse it before some ex Soviet strike aircraft in NATO inventories are mated with Ukrainian pilots.
That fact that they have not done so in this time makes me wonder what is going on.

A meme, I've seen on Facebook has an A-10 with the caption "Hmmm lunch"

 

[Zardnaar]

That convoy is a real oddity, it is something the Russian high command should never have permitted to occur. If the Ukraine had SSMs or functioning strike aircraft still, it is a juicy target. If I were the Russians I would be trying to disperse it before some ex Soviet strike aircraft in NATO inventories are mated with Ukrainian pilots.
That fact that they have not done so in this time makes me wonder what is going on.

Ukrainians didn't have that many pilots 9 days ago. On paper they were outnumbered 10-1 in theatre.

As "bad" as the Russian stuff is the Ukrainian stuff was even worse. Russians had recycled updated Soviet stuff. Ukrainians similar stuff without the recycled and updated stuff for the most part.

That statement doesn't apply to Russian artillery, cruise missiles and air defences that stuff is new. Well some of it.

Some of there stuff you're seeing onscreen is Vietnam war era vintage. Or even older (1950's)

 

[Thunderfoot]

While the state of the art Russian tank is the T-98 the majority are T-72s (meaning they were first notated in 1972).

 

[billd91]

So apparently the Russians are violating Swedish airspace. Cue ominous music...

Possibly Japanese as well.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Possibly Japanese as well.

They've contested the Northern islands for years. They make overtures until they overstep and then back down. The difference is that Japan is a direct US concern, so they tend to treat that with kid gloves. Let's hope Mr. Putin hasn't completely slipped off his rocker.

 

[trappedslider]

While the state of the art Russian tank is the T-98 the majority are T-72s (meaning they were first notated in 1972).

The most recent/state of the art Russian Tank is the T-14 Armata then the T-90SM but yes the T-72B3 (the b3 being the most recent version) is for the most part being used.

The t-98 tank is China's current MBT.

 

[Thunderfoot]

The most recent/state of the art Russian Tank is the T-14 Armata then the T-90SM but yes the T-72B3 (the b3 being the most recent version) is for the most part being used.

The t-98 tank is China's current MBT.

Yep, my bad. Regardless while they have some state of the art stuff, they rely mostly on updated versions of outdated equipment. And it appears that most of the frontline troops that have been forward deployed are conscripts with outdated equipment. Whether this is due to availability or Mr Putin's contempt of his enemy is unknown.

 

[Zardnaar]

The most recent/state of the art Russian Tank is the T-14 Armata then the T-90SM but yes the T-72B3 (the b3 being the most recent version) is for the most part being used.

The t-98 tank is China's current MBT.

Problem is they're still aT-72. T-90 is a T-72 with T-80 turret.

They "update" them but one can only do so much.