Is Ukraine about to have a war?
Let's see, who has a coast line on the Black Sea?
1. Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Moldava.
2. Who among them has submarines? Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia.
a. I don't see any submarines in the Ukrainian order of battle, guessing that was a contentious issue as CIS broke up and Ukraine became independent.
b. Romanians have a Kilo for training and appear to be building 3 for their own use, not sure on details, old Jane's article.
3. Who is going to send a submarine poking around to keep an eye on the Russians?
a. Turkey (NATO): why? What's the benefit for the risk?
b. Russia: Why spy on your own flotilla and risk a blue-on-blue?
c. Bulgarians (NATO): what's the benefit for the risk?
NATO has in general not been actively confronting the Russian forces to date.
TF, if you'd like to expand on why you think this is a good idea
(rather than a video game style wish fulfillment of 'well, we have this unit we need to put it into play!' line of thinking)
I'd be interested to hear it.
As I review the Ukranian order of battle, I do see that in Odessa there are some naval infantry formations who have rocket launched artillery, but I am not sure if those are 'smart' rockets that could shoot at moving ships at sea, or not. (Guessing Not).
1. Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Moldava.
2. Who among them has submarines? Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia.
a. I don't see any submarines in the Ukrainian order of battle, guessing that was a contentious issue as CIS broke up and Ukraine became independent.
b. Romanians have a Kilo for training and appear to be building 3 for their own use, not sure on details, old Jane's article.
3. Who is going to send a submarine poking around to keep an eye on the Russians?
a. Turkey (NATO): why? What's the benefit for the risk?
b. Russia: Why spy on your own flotilla and risk a blue-on-blue?
c. Bulgarians (NATO): what's the benefit for the risk?
NATO has in general not been actively confronting the Russian forces to date.
TF, if you'd like to expand on why you think this is a good idea
(rather than a video game style wish fulfillment of 'well, we have this unit we need to put it into play!' line of thinking)
I'd be interested to hear it.
As I review the Ukranian order of battle, I do see that in Odessa there are some naval infantry formations who have rocket launched artillery, but I am not sure if those are 'smart' rockets that could shoot at moving ships at sea, or not. (Guessing Not).
That area of the Black Sea and especially the approach to Odessa is very shallow for many miles out - we are talking no more than 20 metres depth.
Not only that but the approach to the port of Odessa is very tightly constrained by depth so no room to maneuver, shallow sandbanks, sunken obstructions, etc which is why access is limited to one or two very clearly defined in and outbound channels.
Not somewhere to be when you are expected and unwelcome. It would be a turkey shoot.
Any significant sub would equally well struggle to avoid detection.
IG.
Not only that but the approach to the port of Odessa is very tightly constrained by depth so no room to maneuver, shallow sandbanks, sunken obstructions, etc which is why access is limited to one or two very clearly defined in and outbound channels.
Not somewhere to be when you are expected and unwelcome. It would be a turkey shoot.
Any significant sub would equally well struggle to avoid detection.
IG.
We are providing anti ship missiles, it was announced in Feb.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/worl...v-b988444.html
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/worl...v-b988444.html
Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50;11200928
c. Bulgarians (NATO): what's the benefit for the risk?
NATO has in general [b
c. Bulgarians (NATO): what's the benefit for the risk?
NATO has in general [b
not been actively confronting the Russian forces to date..
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Taking out tanks in Mariupol
.
A thought - most of the oligarchs' jets are on the Luxembourg (LX) register (a few are on the Isle of Man (M) register). Given Lux is in the EU, why does the EU not pressure Lux to de-register them?
What's interesting is that it's the 4th round that really seems to do the damage - but that's filmed from the opposite side of the road, meaning either there were two camera platforms, or just one but the tank remained in position long enough for the camera platform to get to the other side of the road between #3 and #4 . . . not surprising seeing what hits #2 and #3 probably did to it
What's interesting is that it's the 4th round that really seems to do the damage - but that's filmed from the opposite side of the road, meaning either there were two camera platforms, or just one but the tank remained in position long enough for the camera platform to get to the other side of the road between #3 and #4 . . . not surprising seeing what hits #2 and #3 probably did to it
There was an RAF Typhoon out of Cyprus shadowing an RAF A330 tanker over the Romania coast a couple of nights ago. No hiding there, transponder on bold as brass. A mistake or just letting the Russians know they were there? It seemed odd at the time.
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I suppose it makes it loud and clear who you are, better to be lit up like a beacon than be dark and seen as a possible Ukrainian threat to the Russian military, after all they can’t deny it was known who and what you are if the world can see and track you.
Not really a secret, it's on the MoD webpage
Fair point. As they are there in a "policing" role I wouldn't have thought a squawking aircraft being too out of the ordinary if they were on an overt patrol. Possibly squawking because they were more than one aircraft too.
He has said other things over the years, mentioned in prior posts, that he has reneged on.
So only tells the truth when it, rarely, suits him. The bastard. Sadly reminds of someone else, closer to home.
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Things just got a whole lot worse for Putin.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/15/politics/biden-military-assistance-ukraine/index.html
https://youtu.be/4T5Jcmh8dAk
According to the White House, the $800 million in security assistance will provide Ukraine with: 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 100 drones, "over 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launcher and mortar rounds," 25,000 sets of body armor, 25,000 helmets, 100 grenade launchers, 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine guns, 400 shotguns, as well as "2,000 Javelin, 1,000 light anti-armor weapons, and 6,000 AT-4 anti-armor systems.
The US will specifically provide Switchblade drones to Ukraine, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN. The small, portable, so-called kamikaze drones carry warheads and detonate on impact. The smallest model can hit a target up to 6 miles away, according to the company that produces the drones, AeroVironment. It's unclear which model the US will send to Ukraine.The Switchblade drones were added to Ukraine's extensive list of requested military and technological assistance after Ukrainian officials consulted with congressional partners over the weekend on a draft of the list.
The US will specifically provide Switchblade drones to Ukraine, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN. The small, portable, so-called kamikaze drones carry warheads and detonate on impact. The smallest model can hit a target up to 6 miles away, according to the company that produces the drones, AeroVironment. It's unclear which model the US will send to Ukraine.The Switchblade drones were added to Ukraine's extensive list of requested military and technological assistance after Ukrainian officials consulted with congressional partners over the weekend on a draft of the list.
https://youtu.be/4T5Jcmh8dAk
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Ukrainian garages stripping captured APC heavy machine guns and converting them to handheld weapons so the Ukrainians can use them in defence.
