Oh nothing really just wanted to share

Wow that's kinda crazy how many Americans have gone to Ukraine on their own to help in the war. Most are non military and the Russians have already declared any foreign soldiers caught will be treated as mercenaries and not as combatants. That seems pretty dangerous like what does that mean that they might be shot if captiured of course the Russians will probably say they were killed in combat or had an accident. After this war ends it could take years to repair all the damage. What the hell is wrong with those idiot Russians they are on the verge of creating a nuclear disaster at two large nuclear power plants but I guess they can let them go and contaminate the land as a reprisal to their losses and say it was an accident. I hope those jerks involved get radiated for being a bunch of rats.

 

Hmmm interesting seen a lot of pictures of bmp variants and noticed besides some with large guns replacing the turret that they have some with a more conventional road wheel than the more flat faced casted wheel more concave like our type of wheels. I don't have any bmps yet trying to find one that looks good only resin and 3D printed models in my scale so far maybe one of the big manufacturers in Japan or China will make one in high detail. The vehicle goes way back and thrum a number of wars with little visible changes.

 

The tv weather man said the winds are blowing north. So the russians would get their share of the nuclear waste in the air.

 

Well well western nations have been getting a lot of info about the Russian army and the effectiveness of weapons. Many are saying the Russians are not very coordinated with their ground forces and air. They don't seem to fight aggressively but wait till they have a overwhelming force. Their resupply is not up to what it should be as units have run out of fuel and abandoned their vehicles. The cage tanks actually are effective against our javelin missile. I'm sure the pentagon is already trying to figure out how to resolve that problem. I think a penetrator head with a delayed fuse. Punch thru the cage and detonate against the deck or roof. It's kind of amazing how many men have crossed the border from other countries to help. They say a number of polish have crossed over there's a number of Americans that have independently gone over and they say a number of British soldiers have gone awol to join the fighting the Ukraine has reported as many as 16 thousand foreigners have joined the fighting. I just wish one of the main armies would cross over I think that would make the Russians rethink about advancing and maybe withdraw. They are stretched out low on supplies a fresh well supplied army might make them feel their at a disadvantage and need to pull back and regroup or get out while they can. The Ukraine army has reported they are slowing down their not fighting as aggressively as they did in the first week. They feel it's due to their running low on supplies and I'm sure if the stories are true that soldiers are raiding markets for food they are probably not in good shape if they are not getting enough food and the morale is probably low as well. Sounds almost as bad as the winter war. The us said they have far too few supply trucks for a long involvement that they had only enough supplies for a full commitment for three or four days well it's been far longer and signs that their supplies are running low are evident all over. I wonder when they will hit the breaking point and have to pull out due to lack of ammo and other supplies. I hope the Ukraine drones keep taking out more convoys the more trucks the Russians lose the harder it will be to keep supplies coming in. I bet if the war was popular back in Russia they could get lots of commercial truck drivers to help move the supplies they need but with many Russians protesting the war and getting arrested sooner or later he's gotta pull the plug as the people will turn against him once the body count starts pouring in. I bet their not even sending bodies back to their homes but stored in a ware house till the war is over to hide the huge losses from the people. Anyway I'm sure a lot of military analysts are going over everything they are getting from the Ukraine noting strength and weaknesses of the Russian army right now they say the Russians are not fighting in a coordinated fashion and seem to be fighting rather unaggresively. They view that as a very uncoordinated and undertrained military. Idk but considering the Ukraine has such a smaller military and has nowhere near the war equiptment they have and they have been holding out so far it seems that despite their huge size they are not as capable as Putin thinks they are just having lots of men and equiptment doesn't make a powerful army. I'm sure he's learning that and really freaking out that his plans are not going the way he wanted this war must be costing huge like I wonder how long they can afford to keep fighting and I'm sure the munitions factories there are pumping out lots of small arms and artillery rounds as such can be expended quite fast. Ding ding Clinton filled all the ware houses with ammo then canceled all contracts they were going to restructure the munitions contracts I bet make a bunch of senators rich by contracting companies they invested in. Well during desert shield and strom those ware houses were emptied and we had to buy back surplus stocks we sold to our allies for ten times what we sold it for. My friend in procurement said he was called to Washington to explain why the expenditures were soaring and told them to thank Clinton for destroying our munitions industry. Most of the companies had folded with the cancellation of contracts and the machines paid for by the government for the manufacture of those munitions were gone Clinton did no follow up to recover those machines and they were gone they could not track them other than some were purchased by overseas interest for the price of scrap and said it would take years to get the industry back in shape the millions Clinton thought he would save was now costing them millions more in the long run. My friend said he was sick of the whole thing was tired of all the review committees he had to testify to. Seems maybe we make so much ammo and sell the older stocks as surplus to all our allies, maybe we should stop selling it so cheap sell it at a price that we recover some of our money. I just think it's a rip our allies knew they had us against the wall and freaking charged us so much for the ammo we sold them so cheaply. I guess our allies needed the money for military expenditures they needed. I really think it was stupid that the government passed that surplus sales restrictions and civilians can no longer buy government surplus they could have made thousands on old vehicle sales like the old hummvees instead of scrap they could have sold them for a lot more people would have bought them to rebuild for off road use or just to have one. I wonder if they finally cleared out all the old equipment from ww2 to Vietnam out as they say occasionally they find a ware house they more or less forgot and find lots of outdated and obsolete stock.

 

I'm a bit confused that the news is saying that the US is cancelling the transfer of migs from Poland. Like what do we have to do with what Poland does and why don't we want the Ukraine to have those planes. I don't know if that's just a bunch of bunk or are we trying to tone down what's going on thinking it will drastically escalate what's going on, actually I was hoping it would against the rusdian Air Force. I was kinda hoping the ghost of Kyiv was real and that guy and his squadron mates could use those migs with great effectiveness and down a lot more rusdian aircraft. If what they say about the guy he's costed the Russian Air Force quite a lot. Well I hope the Ukraine makes thru the week and into a forth. I wonder how long the Russian army will keep going if their low on food, the next thing we may hear is them looting homes as the markets I'm sure are getting cleared out by the civilians left in those towns and cities, and with the power stations captured and power cut off water will be a problem for civilians as water pumping stations are off line. Heat will be another problem from the looks of people the weather must be cold, the old will be the first to suffer then the young. I really hope they can end this soon before too many people die from the shelling and possible lack of food or other necessities. The people should be able to hold out for weeks but hopefully this stupid war will end before long. The way Putin is going I really think he wants to restore Russia back to the time of the Soviet Union before the collapse and have all of Eastern Europe under his foot. I'm still surprised that there's not much about the Ukrainians m84 out in force as last year they had a video about how the Ukraine was upgrading their tanks and we're working with the US on getting the Abrams targeting system. We have sold that technology to a number of allied countries. I believe the Taiwan m48h has that system intergrated in them. Maybe we should have made a deal,with the Ukraine and sold then some f16 and Abrams tanks there was talk about a deal for them but they probably couldn't afford them there not exactly a wealthy country. I think maybe we should help them develope a new tank modify the old m84 with a newer turret and with our newer 121mm smooth bore gun and targeting system. Maybe they can get that tank factory going again and rebuild tanks for most of the eastern block that operates t72/m84s. Poland, Czech, Hungry and others still use those a upgraded tank capable of taking out russian tanks would be beneficial to most of Europe and keep,the Russians wary of trying anything in the future. I wonder if that new gun is in production they said they were going to install it in the next generation Abrams. The gun supposedly will,have an auto loader as the new she'll will weigh 50 percent more but they say it will have almost double the kinetic energy and be able to punch thrum just about any tank built at present. Also they have been working on a 50 mm auto cannon for the Bradley as desert strom although they did well it showed the 25 mm auto cannon was pretty much useless in tank combat. I always thought the gun was a but small while other countries where building APCs with much larger guns. Hope fully they will put it in a remote turret and make more space so the army can finally have six infantry in it considering originally it was supposed to carry ten. Pentagon wars you have to see it it's hilarious based on the book written by the officer that actually worked on getting the program to production. I wonder with the new armor technology if they will come up with a newer upgraded version with superior armor and maybe a better anti tank system like more ready tubes as Bradley's quickly fired their two loads and then we're pretty much helpless till,they cold reload other wise they had to depend on tank fire to cover them which wasn't always practical that new 50 mm with du shot is supposed to be able to take out most tanks they would meet in the Middle East, I wonder how that will work against a modernized Russian tank

 

The Polish MiGs are old and were never as advanced as the Russian MiGs...Plus we are only talking about 30 odd aircraft...So these would likely just be more hits for the Russians...I'm also amused that i keep hearing about NATO F-16s...These were never proper front line fighters even when new...16s today are a death trap against a modern air force.
With the anti tank shoulder missile being so successful, why not make a quad firing Abrams?

The longer range version is about 80grand a shot…maybe that’s why…

 

The Migs were aimed to be sent because the Ukrainian pilots can fly them from the get go but newer planes would require some teaching to do before could be flown. And the Ukrainians need planes now.

The US did not accept the Migs because being the country giving them to Ukraine would give Russia an excuse to attack a Nato country.

The poorer condition of the Soviet Army is thought to be due to wear in the Syrian war. The Soviet Air Force has also been resisted with success by the Ukraine AA force. The Soviet doctrine seems to be to destroy cities with artillery and then invade them.

The latest Putin joke is that the US has centers in Ukraine where biological and chemical weapons are being developed.

Politically the biggest joke is that Russia informs that they have not attacked Ukraine. What bs all over again. I guess the guns attacked on their own without any soldiers.

 

As noted by Kai-Petri, the Polish MiG's were a similar aircraft that the Ukranian pilots could transition to easily. Poland wanted us to backfill/replace with F-16's. The US demurred because they felt it might lead to widening the conflict.

There is a lot of nostalgia within Russia for the former Soviet Union. If you'll notice there are a lot of videos coming out of Ukraine with Russian forces flying the Hammer and Sickle flag. They long for the days they were a superpower.

Example: Russian MOD video show 'military convoy on the move inside Ukraine' - YouTube

Actually, in Desert Storm Bradley's destroyed more enemy armor than the M-1 tank. If you keep up gunning you get into an area of diminishing returns. If you put a big enough gun on them to kill a tank, you have the attendant size and weight increase and end up with a poorly armored tank and not an APC/IFV. The Bradley's replacement was cancelled because it became too heavy and too expensive (the GCV Infantry Fighting Vehicle was pushing 70 tons!) The 25mm M242 Bushmaster is sufficient for dealing with enemy IFV's and infantry and the twin TOW missile launcher can kill any current tank.
Most people don't remember but prior to Desert Storm the press and their "expert analysts" were claiming the Bradley was a death trap and we'd be shipping body bags back from Iraq by the tens of thousands. I was in the Army at the time and knew better. We lost 20, only three to enemy fire.

Please elaborate. From everything I've read the F-16 is/has been an excellent fighter. Certainly, a match for the MiG-29. For Poland it would be an upgrade. Here are two older articles that address the issue:
F-16 Vs MiG-29: when the mighty Viper dogfighted with the Fulcrum for the first time - The Aviation Geek Club

Why Russia and China Still Fear the F-16 Fighting Falcon | The National Interest

Here's a more recent article on Taiwan F-16's:
Taiwan Achieves F-16V Full Operational Capability - The Aviationist

 

Without quoting books and authors…My own knowledge tells me that the airframe is an old design, a little stealthy but that’s because of its small size, otherwise nil stealth. It’s control surfaces are of an era now gone…You can upgrade the crap out of it…but then it’s no longer an F-16. Of course the aircraft is largely about delivery to a certain distance for the ordnance to do the rest…be it cannon, missile or bomb. (With vectoring it’s also about agility to get the lock in the first place) Considering dog fights are largely a thing of the past, the avionics and weapon of choice are paramount…an F-16 could still deliver a medium or long range missile as well as any other aircraft, but that would probably be the last thing it did - Again against a modern aircraft.
Let’s not forget the role a great pilot plays in increasing the survivability and potency of an aircraft. You should still fear an F-16 with a great pilot inside. But even then only under certain scenarios.
I see the 16 as the relatively cheap aircraft the US could give NATO countries too poor to afford a modern airforce to protect themselves…A deal maker, but they get the Ford, not the Porsche.
Before anyone gets too heated…Take a look at what the US does with the F-16…It’s way down the list of fighters because it’s OLD and no match for F-22s F-35s or the F-15…I would even put all my money on an F-18 beating a 16 (pilots being equal).

To make a comparison to WW2 I would say the F-22 is the Mustang…The 16 is the P-40 (or even a Buffalo - oOh!)

This is just my opinion…

 

It's also due to being largely a conscript army with poor training and low morale. They do have good units, with better training and good morale, but these are in the minority. The US publicly overstates (and always has with regards to the Soviet Union) Russian capabilities because that allows them to lobby for larger military budgets. The Generals get their toys, and the politicians get the jobs for the defense contractors in their districts. I can remember back during the cold war days getting classified briefings on Soviet Union/Warsaw pact capabilities. The bulk of their vehicles and aircraft were of older types (still are), poor vehicle maintenance further degrades capabilities due to shortages of spare parts. Officers at the time were generally ethnic Russians while most of the troops were from satellite countries, particularly the 'stans and there was a language barrier. Officers didn't share plans with the troops, NCO's were more for instilling/enforcing discipline (often brutally) than leading troops in combat. Training was minimal and tended to be rudimentary. Their strength was always in numbers, if they could overwhelm an opponent with numbers, (regardless of losses) in the initial fighting they could win. Based upon some of the intel coming out of Ukraine, soldiers not told of plans, were told they were on "exercises". Mainly, conscripts. Large numbers of vehicles being abandoned, poor morale or breakdowns? Their failure to quickly overwhelm the Ukrainians leads to a protracted battle where their weaknesses are accentuated. Because the government does not still have the same degree of iron control over the populace, the losses cannot long be ignored. Putin still has his hole card though, his nuclear weapons capability can still be used to threaten the west into no direct intervention.

Just like with the WuFlu, where it eventually came out that it was probably not a natural jump of a virus from bats/pangolins in wet markets, but an accidental release from a lab in Wuhan that was experimenting on "gain of function" in virus'. Then it comes out that our Covid czar, Anthony Fauchi had helped finance this research with US tax dollars through the National Institutes of Health. Anthony Fauci defends US funding research at Wuhan lab (nypost.com)
Despite numerous statements from US politicians that this was Russian propaganda, just a couple days ago Undersecretary of State Nuland admitted to the labs during Senate hearings. Nuland: Ukraine Has Biological Research Facilities - YouTube Guess what she oversaw from 2014 to 2017, the Ukraine. Our career politicians and bureaucrats are playing silly games that the US public would be up in arms over if it ever became common knowledge. Fortunately for them they control the narrative in the main stream media.

 

According to news since yesterday the Ukrainians have dropped or severely damageg ten Soviet choppers/fighter planes with land-to-air weaponry..

 

Is that not precisely what the F-16 was designed for? A capable, lower cost aircraft with lower operational costs because the US could not afford the numbers of F-15's that were needed. If the US couldn't afford it with its massive defense budgets, what do smaller, poorer countries do? A Ford may not be a Porsche, but it gets the job done except in a narrow spectrum of tasks. The F-16 just proved to be more capable than originally hoped. Not a bad thing.

 

Sure, I agree…But remember we are kinda talking in the past…this was decades ago…times have changed, and aircraft along with it. The F-16 was more capable than designed for…then. I don’t want to denegrate the aircraft I’m simply saying it’s obsolete against a modern fighter aircraft…1-1.5 generations ahead…

 

The anti tank missile they are using can apparently be used also against low flying choppers…

 

Does Russia not have research sites and places to keep biological and stronger chemical weapons than before? We all know that. It does not mean I accept this. For Ukraine and other countries I am flabbergasted but it was not the reason for Russia to attack. Like nuclear weapons we cannot kill the planet and win the war. Stupid coice, Mr Putin, if you triggered the switch. Post-atomic war is not a nice place to live in. Your children and grand children live in it. Or die in it. Poor you.

 

Well, they're superior to the MiG-29. At present the Polish Air Force has/had 23 MiG-29's, 18 SU-22's (the Poles are retaining these because of the large stockpiles of munitions for them), 48 F-16 C/D and 32 F-35A's on order. So, pending the delivery of the F-35 additional F-16's make sense for the Poles.

Have you seen the well executed ambush of the Russian tank column in the outskirts of Kyiv? The regimental commander got whacked. Incoming Russia'n convoy got smashed at eastern entrance of Kyiv - YouTube

As always I enjoy our discussions!

 

I agree, the labs are likely not Putin's reason for invading. I'm just saying we (the US government) has been playing silly games and doing some shady things. It doesn't excuse Putin's actions but we're not as innocent as we try to pretend in the press. It goes without saying that a nuclear exchange should be unthinkable.

 

I see. If NATO loses its credibility and the US retreats from Europe we are toast if there are any US escape. We shall fight them until the end and beyond. I hope Putin did not fight to embarrass the US and we would find us alone after that. Putin will win with one tank or less. How I wish there were 60 million Finns as a nation...

 

Glad to hear the Poles are getting 35s…THAT creates some deterrent…The Russians and the Chinese (and us) are learning all sorts of valuable information out of this war thus far…the falability of Russia’s forces is one in our favour and one to give China some pause…
The footage has been trickling through…I’ve seen some amazing footage over the past few days…I chuckled in one where the Russians were on one side of a wide road and the Ukrainians on the other…they were pegging grenades at each other…all of them falling short…they then said ‘oh well, let’s bugger off…’