tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post4172612204545147293..comments2024-03-29T13:09:31.522+01:00Comments on Defence and Freedom: Mea culpa a.k.a. Great news!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-64820325152425342252023-03-23T00:03:13.376+01:002023-03-23T00:03:13.376+01:00Although, I think the move to unmanned/remote syst...Although, I think the move to unmanned/remote systems will lead to a fight over control of Satellites and space, which will in turn drive up defence costs as it opens up a new battlefield that nobody has fought in before.Adam_Corp.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17426786773880316524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-11274026983487850382023-03-21T06:25:08.761+01:002023-03-21T06:25:08.761+01:00"should be focused on improving the efficienc..."should be focused on improving the efficiency of military spending rather than indulging in the absolute primitiveness of discussing or even passing increased military budgets."<br /><br />Agreed. The wastage in defence spending is astronomical. I think the future is pointing towards low cost, mass produced options; rather than spending Billions on platforms that are too valuable to lose in a conflict.<br /><br />Adam_Corp.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17426786773880316524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-56073071523087574852023-03-19T22:03:08.049+01:002023-03-19T22:03:08.049+01:00We have 3 types of APC.
1. Good enough to resist ...We have 3 types of APC. <br />1. Good enough to resist artillery fragments. This would be those in the 10 tons range (M113, BMP).<br />2. Good enough to resist infantry assault, including 20..25mm antimaterial rifles .this would be in the range of 30 tons,like Piranha 5.<br />3. Heavy APC, good enough to resist to large caliber guns . This would be usually above 50 ..60 tons,like Namer.<br />4. Stryker is somehow between 1 and 2 categories and personally I was never a fan of it. It looks like it was a quickly designed expeditionary vehicle against poorly armed combatants . Too light to resist well armed infantry and too heavy for resisting artillery fragments. It is worse than Bradley, but good for roads. Obviously better than nothingMueuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14214090992813547349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-17265846413955022662023-03-15T23:47:21.413+01:002023-03-15T23:47:21.413+01:00NATO would need less shells to defeat Russians bec...NATO would need less shells to defeat Russians because it would use much more airpower and manoeuvre. 30 days army & air force munitions seems about sensible even if a war might last much longer. We are way below that level.<br /><br />Casualties: Two other issues override that. (1) Units are not at 100% strength in peacetime and some troops are not deployable. We might need 120% 'manning' for units going to war at 100% strength.<br />(2) Combat troops will be burnt out or shellshocked and become combat ineffective after about 110 combat days. <br />Actual attrition would usually stay below 30%. We need reservists to replace troops, but not just physical casualties.<br /><br />I think we should largely disregard anti-platform air defences in rear areas and focus on anti-munitions (Tamir, 30mm, jamming, concealment) instead. I will replace my air defence blog post accordingly (sometime).<br /><br />S Onoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-67130278478726106352023-03-13T11:28:55.999+01:002023-03-13T11:28:55.999+01:00Could you expand further on the following points f...Could you expand further on the following points from the Russia / Ukraine war and how they would impact the makeup of a more efficient NATO force to deter Russian agresion:<br />Equipment and munitions: western media is continually running stories about how their stocks have been depleted as they've all been given to Ukraine; would NATO need to go back to 1980's levels of inventory (or more)?<br />Casualties: It seems that Ukraine has suffered around 100,000 combat casualties so far. Would / should NATO expect to see equivalent levels in defending itself from Russia?<br />Protection of infrastructure: how should NATO protect power stations / oil refineries etc Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-86656675020628911862023-03-12T13:10:54.437+01:002023-03-12T13:10:54.437+01:00I propose no purely defensive approach.
I diagnose...I propose no purely defensive approach.<br />I diagnose that the cost-efficient combo of line and exploitation forces is effective against the only significant threat in Europe.<br />You don't need more than 20% of the field army to be exploitation formations to possess giant potential for offensive manoeuvres. THAT is a lesson backed up by WW2.S Onoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-89796154429029597322023-03-12T13:02:00.277+01:002023-03-12T13:02:00.277+01:00You are wrong again. Why do you imagine any future...You are wrong again. Why do you imagine any future war as an analogue of Ukraine. You fall into a familiar trap - generals always prepare for the last war. In fact, the current example will make all advanced military nations flee from the stalemate Russia is stuck in, because it is very costly to the economy and reputation. Small nations, on the other hand, will develop defense strategies in this direction, hoping that prolonged war will discourage the aggressor and find allies.<br />However, the strategy of blocking the opponent has many disadvantages.<br />1. You are not winning the war!<br />2. You risk losing from exhaustion if there is no one to help you enough.<br />3. You ruin the economy and traumatize society, and the longer the war drags on, the worse it gets.<br />4. You risk losing democracy because war is its enemy. Look at what is happening in Russia, how much has changed in one year. Ukraine has so far avoided this trap, mostly because it would otherwise block Western aid. War, especially a long one, always leads to internal instability and extremism.<br />5. In a stalemate, you risk getting a "frozen" conflict and a conflict for centuries. The Russians are masters of this.<br /><br />Why am I writing this? Because the author of the text proposes a passive defensive strategy of militias and territorial defense. This strategy is only suitable when there are no other options!! The war is better not to start. But when he starts fighting for victory! The sooner and more decisively, the better. I thought that everyone had learned from the wars of the 20th century, but apparently the lessons of history are quickly forgotten.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-7348432009604734502023-03-11T17:27:27.245+01:002023-03-11T17:27:27.245+01:00I interpret the ongoing decoupling from China as a...I interpret the ongoing decoupling from China as a preparation for war. Im not sure about the frontlines. Russia has shown that India is able to reach agreements with China. It might not happen this decade, but we're headed that direction.<br />The higher, even after subtracting faked numbers, growth in Asia means that we're relatively losing power. While you imagine war with frontlines, I think control over people and territory can also be achieved by other means such as criminal organizations with light infantry weapons setting up an extortion racket, especially in places where the military already is a racket.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-25413459361337363802023-03-11T10:31:34.011+01:002023-03-11T10:31:34.011+01:00"Thou shall not abolish your army, stockpiles..."Thou shall not abolish your army, stockpiles, surplus tanks."<br />I like the approach of light infantry (mobilised with e.g. cheap MISU Protolab) and more long range artillery (with guided projectiles to have a better wear/kill ratio per round), loitering HARM drones, and organic air defence components. <br />But simpy never get rid of old stuff and keep them in acceptable condition, keep ammo in stock and keep your own in-country production running.Darth Fredernoreply@blogger.com