tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post7322332182863730102..comments2024-03-27T20:37:08.065+01:00Comments on Defence and Freedom: Mounted forces survivability in high-end conventional warfareUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-74721853940134589512016-03-17T21:11:10.427+01:002016-03-17T21:11:10.427+01:00http://blog.xbradtc.com/2016/03/how-not-to-infantr...http://blog.xbradtc.com/2016/03/how-not-to-infantry.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-81231529736947765992016-03-12T09:04:43.371+01:002016-03-12T09:04:43.371+01:00The blogmaster read my mind on that. I don’t even ...The blogmaster read my mind on that. I don’t even need to write a comment!?<br />1. The ‘effort’ should last ‘as long as needed’ (decades = cold war); it’s a multi-billion dollars ‘high end game’ business. That (human, ferocious…) enemy that we imagined in our minds, does not exist (except in Stalingrad ‘not a single step back’ situations = JIHAD [?])<br /><br />2. I imagined a scenario where we were already working in an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) environment. I thought I could bring my old SPRUT-SD. But since they were striking from outer space; we changed our tactics. We go for their Command and Control Centers… with axes.<br /><br />3. I understand the blogmaster’s disagreement about individual armour, I am self aware of the ‘calamity weight’ vs mobility/action. A new Treaty? Trotyl charges blowing at point blank; in your face.<br />Then, I invite you to explain it to the warriors, medics, nurses, families, friends… that see dead comrades coming back from the frontlines in improvised ambulances.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-66042960795925172662016-03-12T00:09:39.600+01:002016-03-12T00:09:39.600+01:00One non-self-evident option to boost survivability...One non-self-evident option to boost survivability is to force disorder on the OPFOR (through radio jamming, rapid manoeuvres) to keep him from bringing his power to bear fully. Though you either need to defeat OPFOR quickly during this effort or the effect will wane since the effort isn't sustainable.<br /><br />By the way; I disagree on the body armour thing:<br />http://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.de/2009/11/body-armour-update.html<br />http://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.de/2009/05/body-armour.htmlS Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-18429245780490261952016-03-11T22:57:23.303+01:002016-03-11T22:57:23.303+01:00These are pertinent 'musing' questions for...These are pertinent 'musing' questions for cadets and commanding officers at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr, Westpoint, Sandhurst, Saint-Cyr... <br />during Ukraine (2014-present), Syria, Iraq... = no score = no win = diplomacy; HM!<br /><br />1. Many manuals cover survivability on the battlefield, like FM 5-103:<br />http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/5-103/CH1.HTM<br />Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, this blogmaster's book recommendations:<br />a. "The Blitzkrieg Legend";<br />b. "Taktik im Russlandfeldzug";<br />c. "Handbuch der Taktik" (even I had to order them from Argentina, Spanish translations);<br />d. and the many jewels that the blogmaster wrote here...<br />Result?<br /><br />2. 'Where to hide?'<br />a. Let the OPFOR wonder about it! Why should we be the mouse, and the OPFOR be the cat?<br />But I accept that one cannot just turn the chessboard and withdraw from poker, to answer the question.<br />As it was pointed out: ‘manoeuvring, rapid dispersion, digging, camouflage… So the normal and seemingly self-evident approach is to combine all four’<br />If OPFOR artillery and aircrafts (airports) are within range and such a problem, let's capture them and use them immediately against OPFOR (Sharon, Yom Kippur).<br />Younger, stronger, naturally more talented panzer/multiarms officers from Reputed Military Schools from around the World will always come up with some more non self-evident options (?). <br />Please "do not send those LOOSERS OFFICERS that failed in Ilovaisk and Debalchevo"<br /><br />b. Eastern European scenario<br />The other huge problem in a scenario taking place in Eastern European flatland areas, is the climate and its effects on the terrain (mud, swamp, flood…), <br />material and humans (extreme cold, humidity/dryness, food/medications…).<br />I found the illustration picture of this paper almost ideal and relaxing, like a vacation on the country side. <br />Yet, I wouldn't like to appear sceptical, but I have imagined a landscape resembling snowy prairies, <br />the same picture covered with snow at -20°C. I don't know what you imagined? But the only competent force there, will<br />always strike back at -50°C, or even less [they are at home].<br /><br />3. Strong points<br />Often, warefare/survivability revolves around (even moving) strong points (e.g. DDAY Normandy 1944, <br />Ukraine: blockposts, airports, villages, towns and big cities).<br /><br />4. If You’re Going Through Hell, Keep Going (WINSTON CHURCHILL [?])<br />Let the OPFOR wonder about it. Why should we ALWAYS be the mouse, and the OPFOR be the cat?<br />If we are still in an eastern European scenario, we are like Japanese in Manchuria. <br />The woodland of the Baltic’s is very reassuring but it is not an absolute security (Battle of Tannenberg).<br /><br />5. 'Turtles' from the East European Prairies<br />Т-14 Армата/Объект 148 is only one kind of 'turtles' that one can meet in the East European Prairies.<br />The small 125mm barrel obviously does not belong to the T-14 turret and chassis (parrade). It is an interchangeable platform of many weapons and calibres + short-medium range air-defence. <br />It is a very agile 30+hp/t; turret is responding to the eye command within less than 1/2 second (on 360°).<br /><br />Infantry: minimum IIIA full body (arms and legs and neck collar) + type V chest, back and head protection (Russian forces at Donetsk airport).<br />RPG-29 attack vs T14 = multiple simultaneous (3-4/second) at angles < 45° = 0 destruction = full protection from RPG.<br />'I am sceptical; I have not fully confronted that Tank to My Anti-tank Services'.<br /><br />6. Cohesion/ brotherhood/ sisterhood/ the 1 body and soul doctrine<br /><br />Discrimination, racism, torture, ethnic cleansing, slavery, mass murders, genocide (5 points of Geneva 1948 and...) attract fighters; <br />but on the other side(s).<br /><br />7. <br /><br /><br />Historical funny quotes:<br />"Stop sending people to kill me... If you don't stop sending killers, I'll send one to Moscow, and I won't have to send a second."<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-19973276449771607992016-03-06T15:18:06.328+01:002016-03-06T15:18:06.328+01:00A battalion that spends three days creating an ela...A battalion that spends three days creating an elaborate network of fighting positions is unlikely to be in a state to fight, or might possibly even miss the war.TrThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07316335177828136131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-84932085226096651162016-03-05T17:10:04.788+01:002016-03-05T17:10:04.788+01:00Crew members do not live their lives in their vehi...Crew members do not live their lives in their vehicles with hatches down. Being below the splinters when the initial blasts hit the position greatly improve longevity.<br /><br />Yes, if you can be in a natural 3m deep defilade, wonderful. However, those things are like tree lines that run parallel to the front lines: obvious locations for a hide.<br /><br />Futhermore, a combat team of armoured vehicles naturally chews up vast amounts of soil. Given a few blades on some vehicles and a couple days to work then *every* decent fighting and lager position in the neighbourhood will have been augmented. Since decent positions are pretty obvious on a map, seeing displaced soil only tells you that it is one of four or five alternate locations. Which is exactly the number of alternate locations you would have picked out on the map in any case (cause they all got augmented).Aelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788190394672505925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-7748493287869360942016-03-05T12:50:37.360+01:002016-03-05T12:50:37.360+01:00That's largely irrelevant against artillery an...That's largely irrelevant against artillery and air power.<br />Furthermore, digging in displaces soil, which makes hastily excavated fighting and resting positions rather suspicious.<br />Against long range ground observation it's much simpler and less laborious to bivouac in defilades, which only need to be about 2-4 m deep.<br />As mentioned, soil erosion areas are likely hiding places in East European flatlands if one can enter and leave them with vehicles reliably. <br />http://preview.tinyurl.com/zcsftv8<br />Soil Erosion happens even in flatlands.S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-26473265342303299892016-03-05T04:05:59.813+01:002016-03-05T04:05:59.813+01:00Don't forget that digging in vehicles can grea...Don't forget that digging in vehicles can greatly boost survivability. It can even boost concealment (in terms of peas and clam shells).Aelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788190394672505925noreply@blogger.com