tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26911506098858696062024-03-19T11:54:55.006+02:00Vantage Point NorthNews and analysis from security and warfare related topics with the focus mostly on Russia and Scandinavia.
Occasional de-tours to the current hot spots around the world can be expected.
-Petri Mäkelä
Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-32988994798455247822023-04-14T07:21:00.002+03:002023-04-14T08:17:33.325+03:00T-55 Returns to the Russian frontlines<p> The Russian army has suffered tremendous tank losses during its invasion of Ukraine. To replace the losses it has been forced to field older, obsolete, tank models like T-72B, T-72A and T-62M(V). Some of these have been slightly upgraded with ERA and new thermal sights and most have at least seen limited refurbishment by the Russian tank depots.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVGmtnF3qzhPxrkrkc9aYu7ZFGCrVOYDCxyGYuU-0tiT77Q8NWaHIHG9gUUJ0Q5Ot9TZu7W9JFVjlGBmh-71futA9CagxikZtvWjbszQSTqncsN26Q3wINh_owvxvES6iMiN7WCm6Yu3AGViGt5W2BMgJi4cNybMi1gq3vIrQ8H-TWJgYA-zfg7tH/s854/20230414_071652.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="854" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVGmtnF3qzhPxrkrkc9aYu7ZFGCrVOYDCxyGYuU-0tiT77Q8NWaHIHG9gUUJ0Q5Ot9TZu7W9JFVjlGBmh-71futA9CagxikZtvWjbszQSTqncsN26Q3wINh_owvxvES6iMiN7WCm6Yu3AGViGt5W2BMgJi4cNybMi1gq3vIrQ8H-TWJgYA-zfg7tH/w640-h346/20230414_071652.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-55 in a Russian frontline unit in Ukraine.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>Now Russia has sen at least a battalions worth of ancient T-55 tanks straight from their long term storage dumps to the Zaporozhye front in Ukraine. These are essentially 1940's technology medium tanks that should have no place in the modern battlefield.</p><p><br /></p><p>Seems that the Russian high command is seriously worried about the coming Ukrainian spring offensive and is using all means available to reinforce the units that are lacking main battle tanks.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Here is my video about the T-55:</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z1UU-ePnpUI" width="320" youtube-src-id="Z1UU-ePnpUI"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Identification of the T-55:</b></p><p><br /></p><p>The older and smaller T-55 and T-62 have five roadwheels in their suspensions, the later models have six roadwheels.</p><p><br /></p><p>The T-55 and the T-62 can be identified from the spacing of the roadwheels. The T-62 has the gaps between roadwheels increasing towards the rear, but on the T-55 the front roadwheel is separated from the rest.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKaGEanM5bcTUTPHk5q9Hg8sGDb0wUHtPyaIYgV_3slI3JlZllWF_9R9TWSYmITl5IdTQIVy_wCJO5RCoPd1ffBFJKdTlagI4RZLh54ZufYdOiB1WmVNShu_jrneuIvzU9ib54_tF1f4kFPUFq2MDMlOqiJ7xMZfGRHSivqddiMnG84M7jYv6HlAK/s1515/Pic1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="1515" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKaGEanM5bcTUTPHk5q9Hg8sGDb0wUHtPyaIYgV_3slI3JlZllWF_9R9TWSYmITl5IdTQIVy_wCJO5RCoPd1ffBFJKdTlagI4RZLh54ZufYdOiB1WmVNShu_jrneuIvzU9ib54_tF1f4kFPUFq2MDMlOqiJ7xMZfGRHSivqddiMnG84M7jYv6HlAK/s320/Pic1.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>The T-55 and T-62 can also be identified from the smoke evacuators in their main gun barrels. T-55 has the bulging part at the muzzle of the 100mm barrel, while T-62 has a similar component at the middle of its 115mm barrel.</p><p>By: Petri Mäkelä </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2022/11/quick-guide-to-identifying-russian.html?m=1" target="_blank">Tank identification guide </a><br /></p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-63883597076827694622023-03-31T08:49:00.004+03:002023-03-31T08:51:32.149+03:00Russian response to Finnish NATO-membership<p>Turkish parliament ratified the Finnish NATO-membership yesterday. Before the process began, many pundits, myself included, expected Russia to try to interfere with the process. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgrO-xIIu4DRSQJ7YmqaiyLWKV_LnVlCRg8aMbCf8aA518jgILAyBeZP-WWYgfs_QGDvc4Fq3Qr4PuoH-eA4nB45ghr5KAnvYedEQiOmqXs9-yZ_aqiv5xFiIJnqdvapTfaq5OAH5CrZeHIH9YmBmPwYpXSR2XhOXcvWWG2gBgwKvJqKs0qr1U-iau" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1000" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgrO-xIIu4DRSQJ7YmqaiyLWKV_LnVlCRg8aMbCf8aA518jgILAyBeZP-WWYgfs_QGDvc4Fq3Qr4PuoH-eA4nB45ghr5KAnvYedEQiOmqXs9-yZ_aqiv5xFiIJnqdvapTfaq5OAH5CrZeHIH9YmBmPwYpXSR2XhOXcvWWG2gBgwKvJqKs0qr1U-iau" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>This article is also available add-free in my <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/80809543?pr=true" target="_blank">Patreon</a>.</p><p>The wide scale destruction of the Russian army in Ukraine is an obvious reason that military force hasn't been used to tie down Finland into a frozen conflict to prevent its ascension to the alliance. In the current situation an attack against Finland would severely risk Finland seizing a buffer zone from Russia as Russia is unable to mass the required forces to overmatch the 300 000 men Finnish war time army.</p><p><br /></p><p>But the Russian commitment in to Ukraine doesn't explain the silence in the political and unconventional fields. Russia still has its intelligence services and illegal operatives.</p><p><br /></p><p>It seems that the Russian assessment of Finland is quite realistic at the moment. The sentiment within Finland is strongly against Russia and the Finnish public vocally stands in support of Ukraine. </p><p><br /></p><p>Any Russian threats or destabilizing actions would only push the public opinion in Finland more towards the west and it could also fuel increased support to Ukraine. Russia doesn't really have any soft power left in Finland beyond its existing influence agents and they have been thoroughly discredited during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.</p><p><br /></p><p>The war has plummeted the Finnish opinions on Russia to the lowest point since 1944, when Finland stopped the invasion of the Red Army. No promise of friendship or co-operation would be treated seriously.</p><p><br /></p><p>Russia has managed to not only paint itself to a corner, but also to invite NATO to within 250km of Saint Petersburg and provide the alliance with 900 000 new trained soldiers. And these soldiers are among the most willing to fight within the alliance.</p><p><br /></p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-87721487501149432402023-02-11T14:42:00.001+02:002023-02-11T14:42:51.686+02:00Sting for the Ukrainian Air-Force<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The pressure to send western fighter aircraft to Ukraine has mounted for months. Even from the evasive answers of the politicians and officials in the know, we can deduce that some decisions have been made and at least the US and UK are training Ukrainian pilots for undisclosed aircraft types. The most often talked about fighter models are the Swedish Gripen, American F-16 and European Tornadoes and Typhoons, with an honorary mention going for the French Mirage 2000. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgS5up5TbHgfrT0hdSBy6vECPXjqFgDygdg5cQshv6kLflKJTfm3QLfycSaJ7JnbEDtCN1EFqkLCljGVo3x8fnbAedhWDa3g20nbYDI3VfVthpobi10Gmf_AgE3qjcDbYdr3CgZ99RwfgG1LKI5pBNimcFrNaHcusDhMXy3kdbWHl2ab6UW-jM1eu-/s2048/Spain_-_Air_Force_McDonnell_Douglas_EF-18M_Hornet_15-02-C.15-15_(29313475166).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgS5up5TbHgfrT0hdSBy6vECPXjqFgDygdg5cQshv6kLflKJTfm3QLfycSaJ7JnbEDtCN1EFqkLCljGVo3x8fnbAedhWDa3g20nbYDI3VfVthpobi10Gmf_AgE3qjcDbYdr3CgZ99RwfgG1LKI5pBNimcFrNaHcusDhMXy3kdbWHl2ab6UW-jM1eu-/w640-h358/Spain_-_Air_Force_McDonnell_Douglas_EF-18M_Hornet_15-02-C.15-15_(29313475166).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spanish Air-Force EF-18M (Photo <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spain_-_Air_Force_McDonnell_Douglas_EF-18M_Hornet_15-02-C.15-15_%2829313475166%29.jpg">by</a>:TOMAS DEL CORO)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-b25c0d66-7fff-876d-1d5b-2091bd22bce2"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of the aforementioned planes in all of their versions would be more capable than the current Ukrainian air force inventory that is rapidly reaching the end of their service life. But there is one additional option that is available in decent numbers and is very well suited for Ukrainian use: F-18 Hornet.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the US Navy and parts of the USMC have already phased out their legacy Hornets in favor of the more capable and especially longer ranged Super Hornet, there are still a considerable amount of airframes in the US inventory. The Royal Australian Air-Force has also recently retired its F-18A/B fighters, with last units transitioning away from the type in 2021.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In its original form the F-18A/B is an excellent multirole fighter capable of using a wide variety of US made air-to-air missiles, long range anti-ship missiles and ground attack munitions. It was designed to be operated from the US Navy carriers and as a land based fighter from various forward air bases by the United States Marines.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The capabilities required for aircraft carrier operations like tailhooks and foldable wings are also very useful when operating from dispersed temporary airbases and highway landing strips. The Finnish Air-force has perfected the use of the F-18C/D models from such bases against the expected Russian opposition. The Finnish operating model also includes ready tactics for operating within the range of Russian electronic warfare and anti-aircraft systems. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While Finland is not in a position to donate any of its 62 Hornets to Ukraine, it could provide significant training and logistics aid. Finland trains ground crews from conscripts and thus it has already planned the training programs for rapidly creating the required support personnel.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another country that is possibly retiring its F-18 Hornets is Spain. The Spanish air-force operates two standards of F-18 fighters. They are already <a href="https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/02/spanish-hornet-marks-35-years-of-service.html">replacing</a> their US Navy vintage F-18A+/B+ fighters with Eurofighter Typhoons. The single seater F-18A+ and two-seater F-18B+ have been upgraded close to the later US spec F-18C/D (seating options respectively). While the airframes are worn out, they still have enough life in them to do what they were designed to do, kill some Russians flying cold war era fighters.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The more radically modernized Spanish EF-18M Hornets haven’t been retired yet, but there has been talk about their replacement within the 2025-2030 timeframe by Typhoons. EF-18M has been thoroughly upgraded as barring the AESA radar and shorter range they are otherwise equal to the F-18E/F Super Hornets. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The EF-18M has two more tricks up its sleeve that even the Super Hornet can’t do. It has been integrated with the Meteor BVRAAM and Taurus KEPD350 cruise missiles that allow the EF-18M to punch much farther against both air and ground targets than either the F-16 or Mirage 2000.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the writer isn’t knowledgeable enough to state what fighters would be optimal for the Ukrainian Air Force or can he predict what options are politically viable, the legacy F-18 Hornets would be viable for the role.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most important thing at the moment is that Ukraine can get any fighters as soon as possible to augment its rapidly wearing fleet of Migs and Sukhois. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-29288191517722836232023-01-31T15:40:00.001+02:002023-01-31T15:40:08.487+02:00Russian Tanks 2022: Thicker and Blinder<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since the all out invasion of Ukraine the Russian army has lost at least 1700 tanks. This has caused the Russian army some supply problems, when they are re-forming their mauled units. Fighting has also revealed the need for upgrades on most of the Russian tank designs. The most obvious issues with the existing Russian tank fleet are the insufficient armor protection, the lack of reverse mobility and the vulnerability of the automatic loaders and their ammunition carousels. Although the last one has gifted us the sport of Turret Throwing.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1d0dbe7a-7fff-6699-12a1-15a2ae35d08c"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiw9A0IwM5swAkXTeZ5KdICRW1RL0swGlGw6Mq0_FR5sUFApDodn_QuxIJfehEtQvRoPAtF9kuUzzYb82H8vS0EF_wv-Ec1njMOjp_OJzZd5ngmyC_y53fudIZ_gHbLgmqe0V7H6ViSDud3kXoODZIP9BTXfVjcxMXZHHM2IV__WwpYXXp6ty6jB5/s980/FnugrRUXkAASKk6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="903" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiw9A0IwM5swAkXTeZ5KdICRW1RL0swGlGw6Mq0_FR5sUFApDodn_QuxIJfehEtQvRoPAtF9kuUzzYb82H8vS0EF_wv-Ec1njMOjp_OJzZd5ngmyC_y53fudIZ_gHbLgmqe0V7H6ViSDud3kXoODZIP9BTXfVjcxMXZHHM2IV__WwpYXXp6ty6jB5/w590-h640/FnugrRUXkAASKk6.jpg" width="590" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-72B obr 2022 tanks<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Very little can be done for the mobility with the limitations of the existing transmissions and the autoloaders can’t really be replaced with better designs or human loaders either. The armor part on the other hand can be improved during the activation and refurbishment of the deep stored Soviet-era tanks.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first new design that appeared in the battlefield was an upgraded T-72B3 with additional armo,r mimicking the T-90M layout, installed to the skirts and turret sides. It’s called the T-72B3 obr 2022. This model retains the top of the Russian line Sosna-U optic and the cross wind sensor mounted at the rear of the turret. The deliveries of the T-72B3 obr 2022 lasted until the fall, but apparently the western sanctions started to hurt even the Russian tank industry. The more advanced Sosna-U optic is manufactured in Belarus, so any large scale upheaval there could degrade the supply even more.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThYU-xypPSEgUx2QC-dfWiG9u_qbsob0vnhWONJSxtdkXRayd4XKxctKDNwzJEZwsfYAYwPCj8EFy1o2Ulwd_f9c-rsmGuryPjZ1sn8VMQkuZdc0hxRsMpxD-HCWgJRH5hNYYxrY9agAZKdd7cHz72LedMDy66lyh1EnV6sklSmBNX6vlQ2exrPil/s640/Russia-achieved-a-new-level-of-upgrading-the-T-72-it-is-T-72B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="640" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThYU-xypPSEgUx2QC-dfWiG9u_qbsob0vnhWONJSxtdkXRayd4XKxctKDNwzJEZwsfYAYwPCj8EFy1o2Ulwd_f9c-rsmGuryPjZ1sn8VMQkuZdc0hxRsMpxD-HCWgJRH5hNYYxrY9agAZKdd7cHz72LedMDy66lyh1EnV6sklSmBNX6vlQ2exrPil/w400-h203/Russia-achieved-a-new-level-of-upgrading-the-T-72-it-is-T-72B4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-72B3 obr 2022</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The production line modernizing the existing stock of the T-72B and T-72BA tanks into the T-72B3 obr 2022 standard shifted their production into a new downgraded variant with a newer, but much less capable 1PN96MT-2 thermal sight with a laser range finder. The design also adds two additional rows of explosive reactive armor (ERA) to the lower glacis plate of the tank. These tanks also lack the cross wind sensor so they are easy to identify when compared to the T-72B3 variants. There is no official name for the modification and some Russian crews call them T-72B3M like all post obr 2016 versions. The best name at the moment is the T-72B obr 2022.</span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Similar downgrade on optics has also appeared in the T-80BVM tanks coming to service in the last quarter of 2022. These 1PN96MT-2 equipped tanks can be called T-80BVM obr 2022.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The obsolescent T-62M tanks are being modified into a new T-62M obr 2021 standard that includes upgraded radios, on at least on some of the tanks 1PN96MT-2 sights and Kontakt-1 ERA tiles. They keep their existing turret side steel spaced applique armors that distinguish them clearly from the T-62MV tanks that also have Kontakt-1 ERA.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfVvm1po51fT8mdSsDTLTWMDiIOhWctje2Z4z8EWdV0byMnFgI_bO75IGsOPJ0jCYjMBmV8ghFLFhsw8_YjcK5TxJ7_pW6Yu2OvkxKq3DMjMwc3VIl-KsfN53d_YraQ6l0MQExg12IQrFCDwbRG9i5FUCi6iY3ODdc70dJMN8tdRtWMt0njgYClYH/s1135/Sieppaa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1135" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfVvm1po51fT8mdSsDTLTWMDiIOhWctje2Z4z8EWdV0byMnFgI_bO75IGsOPJ0jCYjMBmV8ghFLFhsw8_YjcK5TxJ7_pW6Yu2OvkxKq3DMjMwc3VIl-KsfN53d_YraQ6l0MQExg12IQrFCDwbRG9i5FUCi6iY3ODdc70dJMN8tdRtWMt0njgYClYH/w640-h376/Sieppaa.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-62M obr 2021</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to these tanks, the Russian industry is also producing the T-90M tank that hasn’t received any downgrades, but instead the late examples sport a slightly improved ERA layout on the turret.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Russian industry is still capable of producing and upgrading reasonably capable tanks in large numbers. These tanks can be used both to refill the depleted tank units and to form new ones with the help of the significant mobilized manpower at the disposal of the Russian general staff. The war in Ukraine will not end due to Russian attrition anytime soon.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For further information about the Russian tanks variants there is the <a href="http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2022/11/quick-guide-to-identifying-russian.html" target="_blank">Vantage Point North Identification guide.</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PS. These awesome 1st Annual Turret Throwing patches are available from <a href="https://milspec.fi/product/1st-annual-turret-throwing-competition-velcrotarra/#&gid=1&pid=3">milspec.fi</a> and part of the revenue goes to helping Finnish volunteers fighting for Ukraine. This was an unpaid advert for a good cause, I bought these patches too!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBTXw0ozGBQtHunyuJO4-pnCsfla-P0XFTF3eVsEH6c3MIA82bSspIPY396TjUqQseSVIbsXzm5rZUrgibvOvslpZkl9DLxBiiaviSiYdevx1Hes5jTsaNggwfUDstNEJ5kbpqM3ZOetyRS_SaaKWT79QOVc2KE5E6vbX6LDGFOcr9ASRub9ChXxJ/s622/Sieppaatt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="622" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBTXw0ozGBQtHunyuJO4-pnCsfla-P0XFTF3eVsEH6c3MIA82bSspIPY396TjUqQseSVIbsXzm5rZUrgibvOvslpZkl9DLxBiiaviSiYdevx1Hes5jTsaNggwfUDstNEJ5kbpqM3ZOetyRS_SaaKWT79QOVc2KE5E6vbX6LDGFOcr9ASRub9ChXxJ/s320/Sieppaatt.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p>-Petri Mäkelä<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><br />Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-35869486900595331592023-01-17T16:22:00.002+02:002023-01-17T19:14:19.925+02:00Redut: Russian Mercenaries Controlled by a Finnish Citizen<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The recent conflicts where Russia has been directly or indirectly involved, like the invasion of Ukraine and the civil wars in Syria, Libya and Central African Republic have introduced the public to the Russian quasi-private military contractors. The most famous of these “private military contractors” is undoubtedly the notorious Wagner-group that is presently waging an army corps level assault on the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after engaging in various war crimes across Ukraine. The group leader Evgeniy Prigozhin has used his close connections to the Kremlin to expand his private army with convicted criminals. But the Wagner isn’t the only such formation operating under the Kremlin's umbrella.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54fK5rRccwY31UrvAoFHMh-HILzco63wIgFSPmO2wIe30u8wBPIh6FIHMEUVqIiTy5XXPb7eaj1Wyb70fQ_JK3--IknZMASDGLu_fVIivbS0EN7XmFh3cPaUj-BE0n1OtHtYMWCpDSreaAnDMebFsrbzMLcdJ9hUr8RHugJGvAhHoQuDMCLm8PkS6/s1024/PT6E534QCRHCJC6RIQHXITKKJY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54fK5rRccwY31UrvAoFHMh-HILzco63wIgFSPmO2wIe30u8wBPIh6FIHMEUVqIiTy5XXPb7eaj1Wyb70fQ_JK3--IknZMASDGLu_fVIivbS0EN7XmFh3cPaUj-BE0n1OtHtYMWCpDSreaAnDMebFsrbzMLcdJ9hUr8RHugJGvAhHoQuDMCLm8PkS6/s320/PT6E534QCRHCJC6RIQHXITKKJY.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-37523378-7fff-30d9-171f-e1b3d6cff36c"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Several rumors have been floating around about the increased friction between the Russian military and Wagner. Elements within the Kremlin and the Russian general staff are trying to elevate another private security company called Redut, Russian for a redoubt, to balance the growing power of the Wagner and Prigozhin.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The “Private military corporation” activities of the Redut have evolved from the legitimate security business as the Russian oligarchs operating in the energy sector have gained access to the more volatile assets, such as the Syrian oil fields. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Redut is owned by the Russian oligarch Gennady Timchenko, who also has Finnish and Armenian citizenship. While the origin of Timchenkos Armenian citizenship is a straightforward thing, he was born there while his father was stationed there as a Red Army officer, his Finnish passport is a much more complicated story.</span></p></span><h3 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Businessman, spy, warlord</span></h3><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Timchenko moved to Finland in 1991 and started working in an oil export company Urals Finland Oy. This commercial venture and many others like it, have often been associated with the KGB leadership's attempt to secure funds for operations and personal use abroad after the problems caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Timchenko got rich fast and also ended up in the watchlist of the Finnish counter intelligence agency SUPO.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Obtaining Finnish citizenship is usually a rather straightforward issue.The applicant must have lived in Finland for more than 5 years, have a reasonably clean criminal record and pass a security check conducted by SUPO. So how would a Russian, with known affiliations with the Russian security services and political apparatus like Timchenko pass that background check?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For more than two decades that question has been asked every now and then, but without a clear answer or major interest by the mainstream media.The issue gained more traction after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During the last year Jarno Liski, a Finnish investigative journalist, has been digging into the issue and discovered some eyebrow raising details about the case and other connections to the central figure, working in the Finnish administration, in it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matti Saarelainen was the head of the Finnish immigration bureau at the time of Timchenkos citizenship application. The entire paper trail about the applications handling has been missing since day one and mr. Saarelainen claims that he doesn’t remember anything special about the issue. What casts a shadow over his actions is his later firing from his position as the head of the bureau. He had hired an Estonian woman into his bureau. The woman in question had previously worked at the KGB run Russian travel agency Inturist as a translator. This part of the KGB became part of the Russian foreign intelligence service SVR after the dissolution of the USSR. The KGB operation that ran the money extraction operation via the Urals oil export company was also moved to the SVR. Even more incriminating is the fact that the Estonian woman in question was also a stepsister of the famous spy Herman Simm, who on behalf of the Russian SVR, had penetrated the Estonian security services and gained access to top secret material of Estonia, EU and NATO. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Saarelainen went on to be employed by the Finnish SUPO for a number of years, before being appointed as the head of the European Hybrid COE, a center established to study and counter Russian hybrid operations against the EU and NATO member states. He was later forced to resign from that post due to accusations of sexual harassment, but one must wonder if his past had leaked to the other countries involved. He was then rehired by SUPO and allowed to stay on their payroll until his retirement. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SUPO was investigating the issue of Timchenkos citizenship and the controversies regarding mr. Saarelainen in 2022, but the investigation was related to his status as a public servant and it was ended on his retirement as there was no actual criminal case ongoing. The issue is under further review by the Finnish authorities as of 17.1.2023.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the fact that a high ranking public servant in the Finnish counter intelligence may have been cooperating with the Russian SVR is worrying, the number of times mr. Saarelainen has gotten new opportunities to rise in the ranks, despite his previous failings, suggests that he must have had considerable support from someone or someones in the Finnish political leadership. He is known to have close relations with the Center party, which has had many openly pro-Russian politicians. The Finnish Prime Minister at the time of Timchenkos citizenship application was Paavo Lipponen who was one of the driving forces behind Nordstream gas pipelines and received a lot money for consulting Gazprom. His predecessor was Esko Aho, who after leaving politics was hired into the board of the Kremlin controlled Russian Sperbank.</span></p></span><h3 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Redut in action</span></h3><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What kind of operations, besides handling static security at oil installations, has Redut done? From testimonies by captured Redut mercenaries, Ukrainians have learned that they were part of the invasion force from the day one, or actually day -1. A Redut team was sent into Donbass to reconnaissance a route for the Russian spearhead heading west. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another Redut detachment was attached to the invasion force heading from Belarus to Kyiv. It had been tasked with attacking and securing the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine SSU (SBU in Ukrainian).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unlike Wagner's human wave attacks against fortified Ukrainian positions, the Redut seems to be used more akin to a special forces outfit and the cooperation with the military formations is much better. This difference might prove vital when the power struggle in Russia turns bloody again.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What kind of a security threat Timchenkos Redut is to Finland specifically? The group has access to Finnish real estate owned by various Russian people and entities, its financier has a Finnish passport and seemingly some connections to the Finnish political establishment. One example of a such connection was shown when the then Finnish foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja vetoed EU sanctions against Timchenko in 2014 after Russia invaded Crimea. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In any future conflict between Russia and Finland, Russia could be employing its private special force, owned by a Finnish citizen and directed by deeply rooted SVR connections against the critical points in the Finnish defense and government. Hopefully these issues will be investigated thoroughly and regardless of whose reputation it might hurt.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Petri Mäkelä </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17.1.2023</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/golub/status/1568477787849203717?t=ZdEChCUuMVI35ubjl3x1nA&s=19" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://twitter.com/golub/status/1568477787849203717?t=ZdEChCUuMVI35ubjl3x1nA&s=19</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1568493198623875073?t=7RRO2bqgN-t2reVXTNlrIQ&s=19" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1568493198623875073?t=7RRO2bqgN-t2reVXTNlrIQ&s=19</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://odessa-journal.com/vladimir-osechkin-about-pmc-wagner-and-pmc-redut/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://odessa-journal.com/vladimir-osechkin-about-pmc-wagner-and-pmc-redut/</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://meduza.io/feature/2022/07/13/grubo-govorya-my-nachali-voynu" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://meduza.io/feature/2022/07/13/grubo-govorya-my-nachali-voynu</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/1615061954971766806?t=qa4Pj9RjJe9gqEM0vUUEJQ&s=19" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://twitter.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/1615061954971766806?t=qa4Pj9RjJe9gqEM0vUUEJQ&s=19</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/bertina_alec/status/1614280719194525696?t=bnXIBvq2hHGOMpLsfaxHSQ&s=19" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://twitter.com/bertina_alec/status/1614280719194525696?t=bnXIBvq2hHGOMpLsfaxHSQ&s=19</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/2436a7af-0f50-4b6a-97f2-c35769f5c675" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/2436a7af-0f50-4b6a-97f2-c35769f5c675</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/f893cb80-6943-4c01-beb9-c577274d557b" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/f893cb80-6943-4c01-beb9-c577274d557b</span></a></p><div><br /></div></span>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-23852888283926076772023-01-07T10:55:00.006+02:002023-01-07T11:01:31.404+02:00Russian Spring offensive 2023: Kyiv Take Two<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlVjO9A8Ib49l6sQm7lNWURKemT917k3NsZWxk8nFLjdFZJWGnnk31NmDjXv7llNw76d6Kx3F8wvLOMmIcj0bt-Y38neATxbTFQ_BlevGfujuakM4UMkv5ZZmkrmmG-pBYm2Mcp_DeON2ZM5PLHUGesPM98rVxs9QtDMfExyfOEDVE6bBljRGWij4/s1068/FN0ed7UXwAoGaxs-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1068" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlVjO9A8Ib49l6sQm7lNWURKemT917k3NsZWxk8nFLjdFZJWGnnk31NmDjXv7llNw76d6Kx3F8wvLOMmIcj0bt-Y38neATxbTFQ_BlevGfujuakM4UMkv5ZZmkrmmG-pBYm2Mcp_DeON2ZM5PLHUGesPM98rVxs9QtDMfExyfOEDVE6bBljRGWij4/w640-h322/FN0ed7UXwAoGaxs-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russian T-80U tanks stuck and abandoned in Ukraine in spring 2022<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The spectacular Ukrainian victories during the 2022 forced the Russian army to the defensive. With the Russian retreat from Kharkiv and the areas north of the river Dnipro in Kherson, the focus of the fighting has returned to the Donbass. The Russian forces, with Wagner mercenaries and penal battalions doing the bulk of the fighting and dying, are trying to take Bakhmut in a battle that invokes parallels to the meat grinders of the Great war. The Ukrainian armed forces on the other hand are slowly making progress towards Kreminna.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-17c0c683-7fff-00da-9b0e-fe91d3ffd671"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite the continuous rumors about a new massive round of mobilizations, the Russian army cannot sustain the present level of attrition indefinitely. By throwing enough men and material against the prepared Ukrainian positions manned by experienced and highly motivated defenders, Russians may be able to gain some localized breakthroughs. But <br />even if the Russian mechanized forces are able to capitalize the holes punched into the defenses, can they change the course of the war?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 1943 the Red Army, riding on a high after encircling Stalingrad, committed over 300 000 men into Operation Gallop, a deep offensive in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. After initial success the attack got bogged down with overextended supply lines and the force was eventually pushed back by a German flanking attack through Kharkiv. Any Russian offensive launched west from Donbass in 2023 would suffer a similar fate.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s not unheard of that the Russian army recreates their World War 2 mistakes, just compare the fate of the Mobile Group Popov and the 2022 Battle of Izyum, but it’s unlikely that they will seek to end the war in their favor through that axis.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The southern front has stabilized along the Dnipro and it’s unlikely that the Russian army will be able to cross that river again. The Ukrainian forces in Kherson are much stronger compared to the poorly equipped formations in the spring of 2022.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the Russian army is seriously seeking to deliver a knock-out blow against Ukraine, their only real option is to recreate the february offensive from the north with the goals of cutting Ukrainian forces on the front from western support and taking Kyiv.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are several indicators that point towards this possibility. Belarusian army, that has so far stayed out of the war, has begun calling in reserves and its state of readiness has been increased significantly. Several Russian formations have been moved to Southern Belarus, where they are currently being replenished with fresh equipment and manpower. These units have had adequate time to give their mobiks training and integrate them into what was left of their combat strength after the mauling ukrainians gave them during the summer and fall.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Units that are currently in Belarus, include elements from the 1st Guards Tank Army, like the 4th Guards Tank Division and elements of the chronically understrength 47th Division. The other main division of the army, the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division is still largely intact along the Ukrainian border. North of Belarus in Pskov is the 76th Guards Air Assault division, which has been rebuilt during the fall and acts as a rapid reaction reserve for the Russian army.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With a somewhat intact breakthrough army and the Belarusian armed forces, the Russian high command has enough manpower to launch an offensive south. But where exactly?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are four possible routes towards Kyiv. The most eastern one between Chernihiv and Dnipro requires the Russian forces to take Kyiv before being able to influence the reinforcements and supplies flowing in from the west. The second push in 2022 came through the Pripyat marchest and Chernobyl. This route proved to be harder to traverse and easier to defend than the Russian high command had assumed. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two of the most western routes towards Lviv and Zythomyr offer reasonably passable terrain. The Lviv axis can also secure its right flank to the Polish border. By taking Zythomyr the Russian army could cut off Kyiv, without overcommitting to a single vulnerable route, while also mounting a credible threat against the city itself.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyivvGwCEusZo7gbtXsHcLwaoJUdtbyH69bCnl756HQ_QKcyGXHfCZyQtjTenlAUtnJIttOxGj8elPW-68rzILX_HvBGSY2caiZBThWkoCpDxGnhp3WRXq6aqVbnEiu_X46iytBR6y1uIjMMsNXo1D8uzBoq6wPuDZNvFrDoNcAemwCxsZ0mWh1yr0/s1433/Screenshot%202023-01-07%20104908.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1433" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyivvGwCEusZo7gbtXsHcLwaoJUdtbyH69bCnl756HQ_QKcyGXHfCZyQtjTenlAUtnJIttOxGj8elPW-68rzILX_HvBGSY2caiZBThWkoCpDxGnhp3WRXq6aqVbnEiu_X46iytBR6y1uIjMMsNXo1D8uzBoq6wPuDZNvFrDoNcAemwCxsZ0mWh1yr0/w400-h200/Screenshot%202023-01-07%20104908.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possible Russian attack axis.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The performance of the Russian army has been underwhelming all through the war and the Ukrainian army has improved in size, training, equipment and experience, so this scenario isn’t likely to cause a catastrophic collapse of the Ukrainian defenses, even if it’s able to push through the forces protecting Ukrainian - Belarusian border.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ukrainians need more western support, in the form of tanks, artillery, aircraft and ammunition to be ready for the renewed Russian attacks. Those attacks are inevitable.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Petri Mäkelä 07/01/2023</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-92001097275618741002022-12-31T11:46:00.005+02:002023-01-11T11:38:11.821+02:002022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, part 1: Mechanized forces prevail<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">2022 will undoubtedly go down in history as the most influential year so far into this millennium. The unprovoked Russian full scale invasion into Ukraine shook the foundations of the international political order that had evolved when the West thought the Cold War ended. It also wiped out the credibility of the Russian armed forces, economy and leadership. While the war between Russia and Ukraine had been a reality since 2014, the invasion led to a scale of warfare not seen in Europe since 1945.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDvhVjG315EsDgTEmbPhxhEDphl8OIzHNjRd5PP6Cjow9engOu_wIsUgImGgGXOiPtWZOnjahpSQ9pqXagAdowcDLJg_jZjt5NItQXiSQG71nxEn9qNbTR7dIxtMHwHnX-MuwimhvUeEDqLbM2nQpgUjMtY6akQ5o4K6x_YH6f_yjHhxTR9EdrPdy/s1920/wi597asqd3n51.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1920" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDvhVjG315EsDgTEmbPhxhEDphl8OIzHNjRd5PP6Cjow9engOu_wIsUgImGgGXOiPtWZOnjahpSQ9pqXagAdowcDLJg_jZjt5NItQXiSQG71nxEn9qNbTR7dIxtMHwHnX-MuwimhvUeEDqLbM2nQpgUjMtY6akQ5o4K6x_YH6f_yjHhxTR9EdrPdy/w640-h384/wi597asqd3n51.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ukrainian T-64BV MBT during the battles in Eastern Ukraine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span id="docs-internal-guid-434321e7-7fff-f9d1-1d68-0047ef6ee6c9"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The initial Russian concept of capitulating Ukraine by overwhelming its army and taking over Kyiv with a strategic strike was a sound one in theory. The reality of the Russian preparations, logistics, training and morale made such grandiose plans impossible to be successfully executed. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the Russian lack of even basic skills at every level of their organization from individual riflemen to corps headquarters came as a shock to most western analysts, the determined Ukrainian defense and high morale were largely expected. The additional boost of a President with a superb media team and the ability to deliver the needed messages with flawless performances on a daily basis boosted morale, especially during the early days of the war. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Russian invasion quickly developed into four separate battles that each had significantly different features. The battles can be differentiated as Kyiv, Chernihiv - Sumy - Kharkiv, Donbass and the Southern front.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span><span>East and North-East</span></h3></span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Donbass sector was the only one, where Russia failed to make any significant initial gains. The well prepared Ukrainian defenses were manned by troops that knew the area and that had seen battle before. The halfhearted Russian attacks by the LNR and DNR militias were quickly repulsed, just like many similar offensive attempts since 2014. We can argue that these somewhat costly attacks were mainly intended to tie down the Ukrainian regulars manning the line in that area. As of December 2022 the fighting still continues in the same areas.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While geographically vast, the fighting along the North-Eastern approaches to Kyiv had significant similarities between the hotspots. Russia had amassed some of its best and heaviest mechanized formations to these routes and their plan was to punch through Ukrainian defenses in a fast blitzkrieg-style run towards Kyiv. All stiff resistance was bypassed by the charging battalion tactical groups. Following formations were to mob up the Ukrainian forces that didn’t rout during the initial charge.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The small and, arguably agile, BTG:s usually diverted the company that had made contact with a Ukrainian strong-point to hold the contact and the rest of the battalion moved along an alternate route. After a few diversions the BTG commander usually found himself either tied down by an Ukrainian unit he couldn’t deal with the lead element and the rest of his BTG was scattered along the route. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuj4T5UvMa5lA-H5KkSswUZKwDM5F5_0Hwzwk9DwAYe_wzw2bJ0S4VkfY-VmDFL2bBF5yCaIzjAiDtKLSbtnTGLaZXSZ4rkfDfQ59zQO8uzuO7xYhd_f5Fj97zDxVOKTGCrGS_POUjK-9xo9EzcaaydtUAZp0NEC5iSH7v7sb7SYVZX_4xvGWm2GV3/s891/FfgdgpKXwAAMTLM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="891" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuj4T5UvMa5lA-H5KkSswUZKwDM5F5_0Hwzwk9DwAYe_wzw2bJ0S4VkfY-VmDFL2bBF5yCaIzjAiDtKLSbtnTGLaZXSZ4rkfDfQ59zQO8uzuO7xYhd_f5Fj97zDxVOKTGCrGS_POUjK-9xo9EzcaaydtUAZp0NEC5iSH7v7sb7SYVZX_4xvGWm2GV3/s320/FfgdgpKXwAAMTLM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the same time when the Russian spearheads were speeding towards Kyiv, the new Ukrainian weapon supplies started reaching the front, territorial units bolstered the regulars and Ukrainian Mechanized forces mounted fierce counter attacks with tank heavy combined arms units. This stopped the main body of the Russian troops and more importantly the supplies and replacements intended for the spearheads on their tracks.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This coupled with the insanely optimistic objectives and woefully inadequate fuel supplies attached to the lead battalions caused the famous scenes where dozens of Russian vehicles were simply abandoned as they had run out of fuel or got stuck without adequate recovery assets.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCraHKvATQYW88cz31er-6E2rCIZHJpHqEqyL0jiRmgKSHxBizHQ_HWO8E4gFhwXDtdDkJpv3h9oITD8SRq32OOGV7xdUUayn4FdwUpG2014noNnoDLvJC9-vX440uxO1oCp8alUUC8bm9zRCtcP8eWo4KgBV1vyTkMcRx7-jcX8XPFPWagphgKpJF/s900/FQnMajaXMAoCwWF.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="900" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCraHKvATQYW88cz31er-6E2rCIZHJpHqEqyL0jiRmgKSHxBizHQ_HWO8E4gFhwXDtdDkJpv3h9oITD8SRq32OOGV7xdUUayn4FdwUpG2014noNnoDLvJC9-vX440uxO1oCp8alUUC8bm9zRCtcP8eWo4KgBV1vyTkMcRx7-jcX8XPFPWagphgKpJF/w640-h474/FQnMajaXMAoCwWF.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ukrainian Farmer towing a captured Russian T-72B3.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the Ukrainian farmers mopped up the Russian lead elements, the Ukrainian army mounted a very efficient and mobile defense with their armored units. Urban settlements were held by infantry, both regular and territorial, and the professional armored brigades used their tanks and ATGMs to extremely deadly effect.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">Southern Front</h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Southern front contained two major axes of attack. Russian forces broke out from the occupied Crimea and attacked along the Azov sea coast towards Mariupol. Both of these Russian forces were able to rapidly overwhelm and dislodge the Ukrainian defenses on their route. The lack of mobile mechanized Ukrainian forces in the area allowed the Russian forces greater operational freedom than in the Northern regions. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ukrainian mobilization was delayed to a very late stage due to international pressure “not to jeopardize a negotiated solution”, this didn’t allow sufficient reinforcements to be sent to the south side of the Dnipro river. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Russian forces were able to rely on vastly better road networks and ground conditions combined with more forward deployed supply dumps to occupy Kherson, Azov shore and Zaporizhzhia with only the city of Mariupol remaining as a Ukrainian stronghold. Even in the South Russia overextended it’s attacks across the Dnipro towards Kyiv and Odessa, but the failure of these thrusts was less dramatic as the Ukrainians still couldn’t shift counter attack capable mechanized forces from the north to take advantage of the situation.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Southern front stagnated for the summer, until newly established Ukrainian mechanized units, supported by the extremely effective long range fires supported by the West were able to shape the battlespace to such an extent that the Russian presence north of Dnipro became unsustainable.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conclusions</span></span></h3><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unlike the early war Ukrainian information campaigns portrayed, the armored and mechanized formations, equipped largely with BMP-2 IFV:s and T-64 derivative tanks played a huge role in stopping the Russian invasion. But by highlighting the light infantry operations and western supplied Javelin and NLAW anti-tank guided missiles, Ukraine convinced the western citizens that their support was having an overwhelming impact. The support was crucial, but wouldn’t have been enough without the professional and ready elements of the Ukrainian army. The western weapons were most impactfull in the battle of Kyiv, where hastily formed territorial troops equipped with light anti-tank weapons were forced to step up. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The success of the Ukrainian mechanized forces also highlights the complete failure of the Russian BTGs invading Ukraine. The Russian forces had neglected training, forgot logistics and broke just about every instruction that was written in their own doctrine.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This series will continue with the Battle for Kyiv.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-9460505734395238622022-11-30T15:53:00.005+02:002022-11-30T16:48:30.707+02:00Quick guide to identifying the Russian tanks Part 1: Updated Dec. 2022<p> </p><h1 style="text-align: justify;">As most of the western nations have reduced their inventories to a few or mostly one type of main battle tank model in their active inventories, the myriad of tank platforms and distinct versions employed by the Russian armed forces may feel overwhelming. Here is a quick guide to identifying Russian MBTs. When you come across an image (or the actual thing), follow the steps to identify it properly.</h1><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuIZ6o8pCCNZ8krGKQO6-KwKmSN7c13PHsVND-QuycZKB117hmIDAlid8jzXCxAQIJ9pEkThjm-t-ggD3kntZpKqZfN9S-_PVhKZCpgT5KRE8OgCBycEW7RgJuAwj_LtF3fsO8XA_GG8/s1600/IDGuide.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuIZ6o8pCCNZ8krGKQO6-KwKmSN7c13PHsVND-QuycZKB117hmIDAlid8jzXCxAQIJ9pEkThjm-t-ggD3kntZpKqZfN9S-_PVhKZCpgT5KRE8OgCBycEW7RgJuAwj_LtF3fsO8XA_GG8/s640/IDGuide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;">Updated 30.11.2022: T-90 modifications, T-62M Obr. 2021</h3><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Family of the tank</span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Russian Armed Forces currently operates, or at least storage, the following tank platforms/families:<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-55 (<2000 in storage)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-62 (2000 in storage)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-64 (2000 in storage)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-72 (2000 active duty, 8000 in storage)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-80 (2000 active duty, 5000 in storage)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-90 (350 active duty, 600</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> in storage)</span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-14 (20 in field testing)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So how can you identify what type of a tank are you looking at?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are two features that can be used to distinguishing the tank families: The roadwheel placement and the exhaust ports. The older and smaller T-55 and T-62 have five roadwheels in their suspensions, the later models have six roadwheels.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The T-55 and the T-62 can be identified from the spacing of the roadwheels. The T-62 has the gaps between roadwheels increasing towards the rear, but on the T-55 the front roadwheel is separated from the rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6dA1bd7kag6Y0A8Vlhf_O2aR8m6QZsE3Wkr06vXSHtVOh0YnDWnQ1ipJVWKxcm-LC8WXUsezETaNLV8abgDwht_jIZDv7qDu_deD2XPCjvqX3oYBMgYFtNHNorp9HHaedTiqJHOeTWg/s1600/Pic1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="1515" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6dA1bd7kag6Y0A8Vlhf_O2aR8m6QZsE3Wkr06vXSHtVOh0YnDWnQ1ipJVWKxcm-LC8WXUsezETaNLV8abgDwht_jIZDv7qDu_deD2XPCjvqX3oYBMgYFtNHNorp9HHaedTiqJHOeTWg/s640/Pic1.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The T-55 and T-62 can also be identified from the smoke evacuators in their main gun barrels. T-55 has the bulging part at the muzzle of the 100mm barrel, while T-62 has a similar component at the middle of its 115mm barrel.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The more modern T-72 and T-90 have the same suspension layout with six large evenly spaced roadwheels and they can easily be identified from the T-80 models as they have six smaller wheels grouped in pairs and the T-64 has completely different suspension layout with very small roadwheels. T-80 and T-64 are easily separated from each other by the fact that T-80 has a searchlight on the right side of the barrel, while the similar light is mounted to the left side on T-64 variants.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF04qp-mI-rrDqyNhF66-6pBg-ULO2_AljHYgPdIDs0UBrX7PcoRDOq_4U0MTvITS8888CwsykIAO4jLKxMuzqNoLSJ2BOuyRG3jl-t_RDIoNCXpvjmvQjfranRi6SwBShoA6Lmg0fbDw/s1600/Pic2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="1457" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF04qp-mI-rrDqyNhF66-6pBg-ULO2_AljHYgPdIDs0UBrX7PcoRDOq_4U0MTvITS8888CwsykIAO4jLKxMuzqNoLSJ2BOuyRG3jl-t_RDIoNCXpvjmvQjfranRi6SwBShoA6Lmg0fbDw/s640/Pic2.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The other way of identifying the tank platforms are the engine exhaust ports. These can also be used to separate T-72 and T-90 from each other. The T-64 and T-80 series tanks have a horizontally opposed diesel engine and a gas turbine engine respectively, both with large exhaust ports at the rear of the tank. The other platforms have diesel engines with exhaust ports on the right side of the tank.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpMvjFfLldJ_LihYpAyvhMKibI6Bi1CY19buGiE_i8wpgMD0aII6HgtIT6CxM1EhSlskapPO3urWybZwqcJYVshLWpTHOhmZBtQdnbEGSGUSKplDdYXtlsy9DyjQifQkkYrzyE4PJzR4/s1600/Pic3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="1350" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpMvjFfLldJ_LihYpAyvhMKibI6Bi1CY19buGiE_i8wpgMD0aII6HgtIT6CxM1EhSlskapPO3urWybZwqcJYVshLWpTHOhmZBtQdnbEGSGUSKplDdYXtlsy9DyjQifQkkYrzyE4PJzR4/s640/Pic3.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-72 and T-90 </span></h4><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The active duty T-72 and T-90 variants all have ERA armor with several of them sharing the same layouts, identifying the apart can seem a bit daunting. But there are some details that make the task easier.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-90 differs from all mass produced T-72 variants in two distinct ways. It has the Shtora-1 anti-missile system. Shtora-1 has two easily identifiable emitters mounted on both sides of the barrel, in Russian service this feature is only found on the T-90A and T-80UK. The other feature are the exhaust ports. T-72s have a long and low exhaust port, while the T-90 one is distinctly boxy, T-72BA may also feature the boxy exhaust port, but it can be easily identified as shown below.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoUVCk2LBAXh0SxppkGoyaSs1qRlc7EY9k_YvEbrU4xnCzRYdKdfP_RTIiYoO9p8SuLyqS2_WbfYQ-tzuxwIEA5ix4S4x9yXIrOHdCSA2_B35T63n9iA-PJiQeT_bdCSYWohZMmeA_58/s1600/Pic4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1354" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoUVCk2LBAXh0SxppkGoyaSs1qRlc7EY9k_YvEbrU4xnCzRYdKdfP_RTIiYoO9p8SuLyqS2_WbfYQ-tzuxwIEA5ix4S4x9yXIrOHdCSA2_B35T63n9iA-PJiQeT_bdCSYWohZMmeA_58/s640/Pic4.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As of late 2021 some of the T-90A tanks have had their Shtora-1 systems removed, resulting in large gaps between turret ERA panels and the barrel.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5QOcVKwm9mCkFFge_R9-Zf0UPFcwwGWbpB3yPmwJzvkjisgrGEz4cjOjNjGbXBI_VpFVxD8bDQk2cHlPLJCIfvHGQDyyuo21mx2c-DC3Fit-DW2XIPbDvqDYZvvq6AcLYFWAFh3pMdH4wmB26aGACtgG4PECXSuiU3DPnhAYjYOJPFCnWaTmabQ0d=s550" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="550" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5QOcVKwm9mCkFFge_R9-Zf0UPFcwwGWbpB3yPmwJzvkjisgrGEz4cjOjNjGbXBI_VpFVxD8bDQk2cHlPLJCIfvHGQDyyuo21mx2c-DC3Fit-DW2XIPbDvqDYZvvq6AcLYFWAFh3pMdH4wmB26aGACtgG4PECXSuiU3DPnhAYjYOJPFCnWaTmabQ0d=w640-h454" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The newest T-90 variant in service is the <a href="http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2019/12/t-90m-breakthrough-armata-russia-has-to.html">T-90M</a>. The T-90M lacks the distinctive rectangular Shtora-jammer boxes found on both sides of the T-90A's main gun barrel. But the empty space left by them is filled with ERA tiles. It also has two rows of ERA bricks on the turret front and vertical ERA on the sides of the elongated turret. There are also a remote weapon station and a distinctively cylindrical commanders sight on top of the turret. The ERA on hull front is more integrated instead of looking like brickwork of the older versions. T-90M turret ERA layout around the smoke dischargers was revised in late 2022 production batches, with the ERA covering more of the area. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixrx8jSvU2yS4DcuIS-7o8ahC_xzBO0z59U_iPsVuTRs6A359EzdYGToffKnlQb1TJvSnb8oI9e5GxOcCS9G5WIaUTAfG7x8xDuOZ3l2rUV7EFKKVNqqBujoBVEZAyjNdpvNxYSj9-pxtBWLRRqIKLU0Qd5aipRZU4-_U3xTdYwgv7ls4q7jyXm0Rn=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixrx8jSvU2yS4DcuIS-7o8ahC_xzBO0z59U_iPsVuTRs6A359EzdYGToffKnlQb1TJvSnb8oI9e5GxOcCS9G5WIaUTAfG7x8xDuOZ3l2rUV7EFKKVNqqBujoBVEZAyjNdpvNxYSj9-pxtBWLRRqIKLU0Qd5aipRZU4-_U3xTdYwgv7ls4q7jyXm0Rn=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Out of the two dozen T-72 variants developed, the Russian Armed Forces presently use the T-72B, T-72AV, T-72B obr 1989, T-72B1, T-72B3 and the T-72B3 obr 2016. These tanks can be easily separated into two groups. The T-72B, T-72AV and T-72B1 all use the older Kontakt-1 ERA bricks that are not integrated into the tank like the never Kontakt-5 (or externally <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>almost identical Relikt) ERA found on the other models.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHOxNxVj0MICC7_8HlR2PpN-6Cy5CFLbCzcZUoAKHWyGenMV4m4cdDdANo8fhR8-0J43z6jMP6UchuRqMZT_TdP0vpGQyw2mzDGxbGpXRbNthILcklInxMHvJG-HcfmVEyopUZPWPK1M/s1600/Pic5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="1295" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHOxNxVj0MICC7_8HlR2PpN-6Cy5CFLbCzcZUoAKHWyGenMV4m4cdDdANo8fhR8-0J43z6jMP6UchuRqMZT_TdP0vpGQyw2mzDGxbGpXRbNthILcklInxMHvJG-HcfmVEyopUZPWPK1M/s640/Pic5.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In order to separate the most modern and lethal T-72B3 from the other two Kontakt-5 equipped tanks you must look at details on the turret. The T-72B3 has a symmetrical ERA layout and no searchlight on the right side of the main gun barrel. There is also one more ERA brick on the right side of the T-72B3 than there are on T-72BA and T-72B obr 1989. The T-72B3 also has the Sosna-U optical sight on top of its turret, that is conciderably higher than the 1K13-49 sight found on the T-72BA and T-72 obr 1989.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqMMI6GhDfFjqUmZsQBZT-Nw6cyZNCAn_BeL4xiNBR4jgcvfIYF6JZ0IltaAlbkR1glBJVgFfMgH_qiFCKmLDIO0cJT1XlfWFVmK8-c2VCLffuUYzwD1lrdQoEH63xif9GzqbaFR-W38/s1600/Pic6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="1223" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqMMI6GhDfFjqUmZsQBZT-Nw6cyZNCAn_BeL4xiNBR4jgcvfIYF6JZ0IltaAlbkR1glBJVgFfMgH_qiFCKmLDIO0cJT1XlfWFVmK8-c2VCLffuUYzwD1lrdQoEH63xif9GzqbaFR-W38/s640/Pic6.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The T-72B3 and T-72B3 obr 2016 are mostly similar, but the T-72B3 obr 2016 has extended ERA coverage at the skirts and cage type slat armor protecting the rear of the vehicle.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkExbQ2METigbREHil_gJ6BHjJARkUhAdRpc75R9Ay3-WLWml0pb-BBQlIWlgu00TX70VjfzcrPpRAc1eT0T4S22n1QNYd-5T3SAIDQbI5mNDMnzQ8mLYqpV0ZxNyCXDLsRHwwC6CRe8M/s1600/Pic7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="1295" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkExbQ2METigbREHil_gJ6BHjJARkUhAdRpc75R9Ay3-WLWml0pb-BBQlIWlgu00TX70VjfzcrPpRAc1eT0T4S22n1QNYd-5T3SAIDQbI5mNDMnzQ8mLYqpV0ZxNyCXDLsRHwwC6CRe8M/s640/Pic7.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There is also a variant of the T-72B3 without the ERA slabs on the skirts and a variant of the T-72B3 obr 2016 with a bag mounted ERA/Applique armor on the skirts.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEwavdcw9PcyeeJeTqdQ8r8DqSGSlv7M69yRUi49ESQerer16dW27peZSs8GayMn4WRDy2JAIx0r1hN8acC4Rwqg85Dibikv8ZPbhJttob4koiMl-LOT0609HwYeuW3Ytqgz-Py1KLy4/s1600/Pic8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="1368" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEwavdcw9PcyeeJeTqdQ8r8DqSGSlv7M69yRUi49ESQerer16dW27peZSs8GayMn4WRDy2JAIx0r1hN8acC4Rwqg85Dibikv8ZPbhJttob4koiMl-LOT0609HwYeuW3Ytqgz-Py1KLy4/s640/Pic8.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The T-72BA and T-72 obr 1989 are even more alike, but they have one easily identifiable difference. The newer, or at least more recently modernized T-72BA features a more advanced fire control system that has a meteorological sensor mast at the back of the turret.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7kywP9ihTBe78il3QQD6InE-w5t7CGpdFPi0HihN_6Bz94w0pyaiD5iJkeKEtCt_iBofswG3sFad9TFZwMQxXM63V-XpB-SXHVxrUmtUiw39lW1f0rHZtEB_oQ9NJcDleN9ynR1Na3o/s1600/Pic9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="1276" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7kywP9ihTBe78il3QQD6InE-w5t7CGpdFPi0HihN_6Bz94w0pyaiD5iJkeKEtCt_iBofswG3sFad9TFZwMQxXM63V-XpB-SXHVxrUmtUiw39lW1f0rHZtEB_oQ9NJcDleN9ynR1Na3o/s640/Pic9.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The T-72AV has a more V-shaped ERA array on the turret than the T-72B1 and T-72B with ERA that have the same armor layout. The T-72B1 uses the same older optics than the T-72AV. The T-72B on the other hand has the more modern 1K13-49 sight that can be identified from frontal pictures. Russia has manufactured a T-72B1 variant with the Sosna-U sight, but at the moment it has been only delivered to Laos and Nicaragua, it is not in Russian use.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzhMVeP49TaW5ZwRtxCxDY-ZYX5t9Gx5IOxjzDbYFF0i03F6AHclhxOSuwDB7GYVDHpDDuMuLbacnwbLkDaiD723VDxA5kSRykf63SgRXA4hlyvvR8GKhTvR-aroHBhJes84rwI5KAhc/s1600/pic10.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="1354" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzhMVeP49TaW5ZwRtxCxDY-ZYX5t9Gx5IOxjzDbYFF0i03F6AHclhxOSuwDB7GYVDHpDDuMuLbacnwbLkDaiD723VDxA5kSRykf63SgRXA4hlyvvR8GKhTvR-aroHBhJes84rwI5KAhc/s640/pic10.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-62</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are two T-62 variants that have seen the light of day in the past few years, while there may be other models hidden in the endless storage dumps in Siberia. The active reserve variants are the T-62M and T-62 MV. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-62M has one spaced applique armor panel on the both cheeks of the turret. T-62MV has Kontakt-1 ERA bricks covering the turret and hull. It' also possible that a T-62MVs have their ERA bricks removed during storage, but they still retain hedgehog like spikes for their mounting.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hiRQiaNCtj7aPArbzHJGWY0LgLh5fk-5VzcepSEzbHhBjJTOTC2LoxjPoRH1kTelCxq1vMRp5hDiUqmh4JmyyeI2V31gg9dEF-oXWil8K0byWlgCTIJfAOf1Sb_deHneuv3CPtM_lM0/s1600/Pic11.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="1374" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hiRQiaNCtj7aPArbzHJGWY0LgLh5fk-5VzcepSEzbHhBjJTOTC2LoxjPoRH1kTelCxq1vMRp5hDiUqmh4JmyyeI2V31gg9dEF-oXWil8K0byWlgCTIJfAOf1Sb_deHneuv3CPtM_lM0/s640/Pic11.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Latest Russian tank variant to enter active service and the war against Ukraine is the T-62M Obr. 2021. The publicly displayed Obr. 2021 variant was a T-62M tank with its steel applique armor enhanced with Kontakt-1 ERA bricks installed to the skirts, hull sides and turret rear. The prototype also featured a telescoping sensor mast and improved optics, but at least the mast is lacking from the service models.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFmB83dWIwxxW6YOT6uxQKvNMEK75oJaaQXMpSNzQXnydXz7XCtaxP7j5qzd2QLWRlxbOlyDAsKFt9mq4rE50ixIOCAMuBcLyo9i6v5Rblhs2ZkyHpltnNIN-pJHcx4I373sFIRhqrXIVZiBp29MMP-qh2IeBtNgiGz1A_xe0PUyfnK-Bu5qnbXK1/s1000/T-62M%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFmB83dWIwxxW6YOT6uxQKvNMEK75oJaaQXMpSNzQXnydXz7XCtaxP7j5qzd2QLWRlxbOlyDAsKFt9mq4rE50ixIOCAMuBcLyo9i6v5Rblhs2ZkyHpltnNIN-pJHcx4I373sFIRhqrXIVZiBp29MMP-qh2IeBtNgiGz1A_xe0PUyfnK-Bu5qnbXK1/w400-h266/T-62M%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-62M Obr. 2021 prototype</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-55</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-55M has one spaced applique armor panel on the both cheeks of the turret and the hull front. T-55MV has Kontakt-1 ERA bricks covering the turret and hull. There are more modernized T-55 variants with different main guns and even Kontakt-5 ERA, but these are not in Russian service in meaningful numbers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpWhubsGGZECOu2VYrP2V2IDSnBUE8MvTfArUFFVPLkqrtAyYbEsd8_JVU5xrmcQqFYOFZODA8EMv0vnYiEyefA4htHUeRcLLO18PudbEZvMcJESoMJ7cav-HN-d5KCU0x76G0QOro7Q/s1600/Pic12.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="1252" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpWhubsGGZECOu2VYrP2V2IDSnBUE8MvTfArUFFVPLkqrtAyYbEsd8_JVU5xrmcQqFYOFZODA8EMv0vnYiEyefA4htHUeRcLLO18PudbEZvMcJESoMJ7cav-HN-d5KCU0x76G0QOro7Q/s640/Pic12.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Note that the T-55M designation is also used on various export variants and upgrades by other operators, for example the Finnish T-55Ms are very different from the Russian ones.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Field modified top-attack protection</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of the Russian tanks, including at least T-62M, T-62MV, T-72B, T-72B3 and T-90 have been fitted with field modified<a href="http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2021/07/death-from-above-russian-ad-hoc-top.html"> top attack protection cages</a>. These vary in style form slender tubular frames to crude L-bar weldjobs. So far no pattern can be identified between the cage variations and base vehicles. These may hinder identifying the tanks from their turret top features like antennas and sights.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBqInj6a_LOYIqfM0yVx2XAuDA1zGwJz81sxRDYxD69VxN7z0h6dGUq9aRyRzlohj9mtrwWfDFa2TRWYTdNgpaEQ6KPVkuCcVZ-NKC1J3WQrt_CDwjoakHNpXBeXvVI2IonrDyXuxE3yi8bfu7yKWvGleb40lkHzeYr6NyVuKXRp6aQQd5gblpLw5h=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="640" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBqInj6a_LOYIqfM0yVx2XAuDA1zGwJz81sxRDYxD69VxN7z0h6dGUq9aRyRzlohj9mtrwWfDFa2TRWYTdNgpaEQ6KPVkuCcVZ-NKC1J3WQrt_CDwjoakHNpXBeXvVI2IonrDyXuxE3yi8bfu7yKWvGleb40lkHzeYr6NyVuKXRp6aQQd5gblpLw5h=w640-h532" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>As a rule of thumb: “First roadwheels, then exhausts, after that ERA layout, then lights and masts”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Best image source for Russian military vehicles on the internet:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.vitalykuzmin.net/" target="_blank">https://www.vitalykuzmin.net/</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-25160406982031269332022-08-03T10:22:00.003+03:002022-08-03T10:22:57.153+03:00Quick Guide to Chinese PLA tanks<p><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Chinese People's Liberation Army, that isn’t for the people and never liberates anyone, has a massive tank fleet that traces its lineage to the Soviet T-54 and T-72 tanks, but the recent iterations have taken a path of their own.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2mrSU9OwmREhlNXVcojU3mqNO9JhdGnmgw0F7O4txTg8hCGJ3AUaIC1979FwFZ4V25PaaQML3_Qz6vLI9n-aoqXmhYsEC1mjHjKPg72fOAudS_r3WyPLY_lZW36HQn5UQqkpJtTWBpgTqa4eJ-a5DLRFZVNuU0c2Zl0yMr3K_wI4Bc3K0gIY8q8x/s2100/cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="2100" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2mrSU9OwmREhlNXVcojU3mqNO9JhdGnmgw0F7O4txTg8hCGJ3AUaIC1979FwFZ4V25PaaQML3_Qz6vLI9n-aoqXmhYsEC1mjHjKPg72fOAudS_r3WyPLY_lZW36HQn5UQqkpJtTWBpgTqa4eJ-a5DLRFZVNuU0c2Zl0yMr3K_wI4Bc3K0gIY8q8x/w640-h462/cover.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-dd1a575b-7fff-0f8e-d872-bf56956dc186"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The oldest Chinese tanks in widespread PLA service are the pure T-55A derivatives Type 69 and Type 79. While these tanks are actively being phased out from service, they may still be encountered in remote areas and as replacements in a high attrition scenario.These share the 5 pairs of road wheels with spacing between the pairs increasing towards the front of the vehicle and a small rounded turret, typical for the Soviet tank designs. Both also have a rectangular exhaust port on the left side of the vehicle.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvajNN1OpTREN2gayO66ZOqXFngxFO7bxBb5WLDoeb8byXJuCMv5q1Dok30OVBh4r3uGkysK4ayDF05HM1SaPqZuHN-BrnXWD1Z43BO3jZ3LiHNnaKFyI_C3ORCb1JRpsG0-HqP7L-oIiPzmVSoOgUIqPdQqbk1S101HjsXF6_Q5x17J0p1etxODzO/s1351/69-79.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="1351" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvajNN1OpTREN2gayO66ZOqXFngxFO7bxBb5WLDoeb8byXJuCMv5q1Dok30OVBh4r3uGkysK4ayDF05HM1SaPqZuHN-BrnXWD1Z43BO3jZ3LiHNnaKFyI_C3ORCb1JRpsG0-HqP7L-oIiPzmVSoOgUIqPdQqbk1S101HjsXF6_Q5x17J0p1etxODzO/w640-h222/69-79.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The largest external difference between the Type 69 and Type 79 is the cannon. The Type 69 uses the Soviet 100mm gun that has its bore evacuator positioned at the tip of its barrel, just like a T-55. The Type 79 on the other hand is equipped with a license built British 105mm cannon, that has the bore evacuator placed much closer to the barrel and the barrel profile also looks ribbed from afar. Both tanks have been upgraded in various programs and can mount a wide variety of applique and ERA armor layouts on top of the base tank. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Type 88 A and B share a strong lineage with the earlier tanks, but their hulls have been stretched and a sixth roadwheel pair has been added to the suspension. The roadwheel layout still follows the T-55 pattern with widening gaps between the wheels towards the front.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgP35wamo1olwpyEeQeZ2NThSRauuCnys70X7j4hHAl29oabNUa6788cCkP7UPJdLt6Hvz4fD32-YMvmN5Kmrm2npIpUnesNYMXhIQV3jF5QTlNZiM2u8h7jyXz_SpnN9Vnfl4QKsH8_H0wuYWhOcGEqDodHRpkx6eBzlTFKBYYLZByk80eMqrm1Q/s677/88.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="677" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgP35wamo1olwpyEeQeZ2NThSRauuCnys70X7j4hHAl29oabNUa6788cCkP7UPJdLt6Hvz4fD32-YMvmN5Kmrm2npIpUnesNYMXhIQV3jF5QTlNZiM2u8h7jyXz_SpnN9Vnfl4QKsH8_H0wuYWhOcGEqDodHRpkx6eBzlTFKBYYLZByk80eMqrm1Q/w640-h366/88.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Type 88</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Type 88:s use a domestic Chinese 105mm gun, instead of the British L7, but they are rather difficult to identify. Besides the road wheels, another easy identification point are the engine exhaust ports that have been moved to the right side of the tank and there are now two rounded ports quite widely separated instead of the Soviet style box</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Type 96 is a further development of the Type 88 lineage, its original designation was the Type 88C. The plain T-96 has a more angular welded turret and a 125mm main gun. The turret shape is easily distinguishable from the earlier models.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UcNioZYt14Ebo30mxw2t00QFPAdt4sLRWlJYgcbOLNXEqxou5pTfyUDHYllejBlptl8t0We65vTJSTNIxrjbuGIuIcAxZVzxP9dCDmpK77k5ou07EoyTONU6qzM0WLd8H62cvVJpcepyEF_y9sjxKqwBp7FhWWgIWWJ97GYW7_JTQ0J9WvKR_B1n/s919/96.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="919" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UcNioZYt14Ebo30mxw2t00QFPAdt4sLRWlJYgcbOLNXEqxou5pTfyUDHYllejBlptl8t0We65vTJSTNIxrjbuGIuIcAxZVzxP9dCDmpK77k5ou07EoyTONU6qzM0WLd8H62cvVJpcepyEF_y9sjxKqwBp7FhWWgIWWJ97GYW7_JTQ0J9WvKR_B1n/w640-h420/96.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Type 96 with a boxy turret front and a 125mm gun</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Type 96A and B are a more radical departure from the Soviet tank design, by incorporating angular spaced armor elements at the turret front they resemble their contemporary western tanks. They also can and usually mount unitary looking ERA bricks on the hull and turret sides. But both still retain the same six-wheel T-55 inspired roadwheel layout and the driver position at the left side of the hull. The Type 96A retains the round exhaust ports on the right side of the hull, but the Type 96B moves the exhaust to the rear of the vehicle. Type 96B also usually has an electrical sensor on top of the barrel and a longer cross wind sensor mounting at the back of the turret.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-yFQw5xjAfBB9QcilphbDgnKzWKlybriKH2wPmGgyGZSjuPLDfaKTlIF8icCecoH_LsQ2ZDeAIM0EOCWhgi7XdaoK_THoRcfo0w10R_CI83ieOV87LXcnuSAgUUjWWqXdzc-5_BW9VwIxOzt9Qrchh7sc0d4BL3WQNy1dMPZE5MEwts3cq3l7PP1/s1353/96AB.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="1353" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-yFQw5xjAfBB9QcilphbDgnKzWKlybriKH2wPmGgyGZSjuPLDfaKTlIF8icCecoH_LsQ2ZDeAIM0EOCWhgi7XdaoK_THoRcfo0w10R_CI83ieOV87LXcnuSAgUUjWWqXdzc-5_BW9VwIxOzt9Qrchh7sc0d4BL3WQNy1dMPZE5MEwts3cq3l7PP1/w640-h208/96AB.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most modern MBT:s in the Chinese inventory are the Type 99 and Type 99A. While superficially similar to the later Type 96 models, they feature improved layouts that differ significantly between the Type 99 and 99A. Both have six roadwheels. While the Type 99 packs them in three distinct pairs, front and read packed tightly and the middle ones more loosely, the Type 99A has more evenly spaced roadwheels resembling the layout on the Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZRJbu8br669vyDivXBRN6A4m7FxS7u9Kmi7aSgOA9zWK1da50A0_va0tFdOsCzOUQOoTfD-3-koHh1Jkdi4rQ4aYjToR9p6RAeOIE9FZZvVm0OmvhTIwzYo6Xv-bnz2lyE4qR-C8uf0j5rQUxHTMHvJetyBVqXUVe7sUIJW16E2tAPjdfBE_ka80/s1049/99AB.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="1049" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZRJbu8br669vyDivXBRN6A4m7FxS7u9Kmi7aSgOA9zWK1da50A0_va0tFdOsCzOUQOoTfD-3-koHh1Jkdi4rQ4aYjToR9p6RAeOIE9FZZvVm0OmvhTIwzYo6Xv-bnz2lyE4qR-C8uf0j5rQUxHTMHvJetyBVqXUVe7sUIJW16E2tAPjdfBE_ka80/w640-h212/99AB.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Driver's hatch was moved from center left to center right during the update. Type 99A also features longer skirts that cover almost half of the roadwheel. The ERA elements at the rear sides of the turret are also significantly longer on the Type 99A. Turret front The commander's optic on the Type 99A is more streamlined than the Type 99. Both retain the rear exhaust, but Type 99 exhaust pipes are angled downwards.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2DeTCIwHHbXj2Ad7r2bNOIpi0tdozMotuLJVxNf5S9BTwoHIRAPYayNvCCn01zM6nNtEt8aqN4Wa-uXu3yt9p7oZzZfoCXoJ_D_vF5eWVfV237RUWCUaO2ULuMgT9AMBzTGrsPMVvE-EfgbnQu-1hl4b4INPbMbyS1qi92gzyBEX2nhYg_eM_PcVR" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="917" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2DeTCIwHHbXj2Ad7r2bNOIpi0tdozMotuLJVxNf5S9BTwoHIRAPYayNvCCn01zM6nNtEt8aqN4Wa-uXu3yt9p7oZzZfoCXoJ_D_vF5eWVfV237RUWCUaO2ULuMgT9AMBzTGrsPMVvE-EfgbnQu-1hl4b4INPbMbyS1qi92gzyBEX2nhYg_eM_PcVR=w640-h282" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Type 98</td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last tank in the PLA service is the Type 98 that served as a prototype series for the Type 99. Its most distinguishable feature is the T-80 inspired paired roadwheel layout and a less aggressively shaped rearwards angled turret front.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Far bigger unknown factor than the tanks is the training and leadership level of the PLA armored units. The Russian Army considered Chinese to be inferior in combined arms and armored warfare. Looking at the problems Russian army has had in Ukraine doesn't bode well for the Chinese in high intensity peer warfare. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><br />Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-18120898058949526652022-07-02T15:38:00.003+03:002022-07-02T15:39:22.216+03:00Vantage Point North Podcast Ep2: From the Arctic to Black Sea via Baltics<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-3UD9XNektQhzXiW9hsdWYaLgg577I6tXB0gOdZVimET0TPJyRPyt6v0V1yyQDA74ZjUqtonUtS6D2DRVMUTSii8TvYW6jOWZut7kvLsWiZgO1TqWAasBb-3abbWWg9rlfLs5qCpzUTnKYFR7WthT_n4wOwMMzLXAdHehCex5FMJES9ZrAhDDk57/s640/ab6765630000ba8a3a87dfe0646049d1db827c35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-3UD9XNektQhzXiW9hsdWYaLgg577I6tXB0gOdZVimET0TPJyRPyt6v0V1yyQDA74ZjUqtonUtS6D2DRVMUTSii8TvYW6jOWZut7kvLsWiZgO1TqWAasBb-3abbWWg9rlfLs5qCpzUTnKYFR7WthT_n4wOwMMzLXAdHehCex5FMJES9ZrAhDDk57/s320/ab6765630000ba8a3a87dfe0646049d1db827c35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>The latest Vantage Point North Episode is out. </p><p>This week the podcast will cover the rebuilding attempts of the Russian Arctic brigade, Defense plans of the Baltic states that have been criticized by the Estonian PM Kaja Kallas and the current situation in Ukraine.</p><p><br /></p><p>You can listen the podcast either from Anchor or your podcast platform of choice.</p><p> <iframe frameborder="0" height="102px" scrolling="no" src="https://anchor.fm/petri-isto-tapio-mkel/embed/episodes/Episode-2-From-the-Arctic-to-Black-Sea-via-Baltics-e1knnhl" width="400px"></iframe><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4v0bfgCuiRtBI1SHhc0MLo" target="_blank">Spotify</a></p><p><a href="https://anchor.fm/petri-isto-tapio-mkel" target="_blank">Anchor</a></p><p><a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c24a7ba-e04d-4539-b5bc-5b42f95b5770/vantage-point-north-military-defense-and-conflicts" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p><p><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vantage-point-north-military-defense-and-conflicts">Stitcher</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9hMTlmYTA4Yy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw" target="_blank">Google Podcast</a></p><p>Apple podcast coming soon.</p><p><br /></p><p>Feel free to send feedback to the author on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/pmakela1">@pmakela1</a>.</p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-87584172840747609942022-06-23T10:45:00.000+03:002022-06-23T10:45:11.421+03:00Vantage Point North Podcast is live!<p>The Vantage Point North is proud to present the next step: VPN podcast!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZiSVeztmQVxqH3vOdkSv0p0Dkkhjl6oTnRLkx22jKLaZ4oMBnMIxb9A7tdspFvL0zwXzfPTh8bWnk_e7_hcio_8maFRZlv4QZ-hiWgFlnrFPEQWdsZJp9s1zuWGaco9bp3NBCwG8v5qwpqUC_lsh6CP2JPfxjdRHlZBzZZdRVIIsa51Pj9MAbiHC/s306/21765350_534485690224608_7057642634389730864_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="306" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZiSVeztmQVxqH3vOdkSv0p0Dkkhjl6oTnRLkx22jKLaZ4oMBnMIxb9A7tdspFvL0zwXzfPTh8bWnk_e7_hcio_8maFRZlv4QZ-hiWgFlnrFPEQWdsZJp9s1zuWGaco9bp3NBCwG8v5qwpqUC_lsh6CP2JPfxjdRHlZBzZZdRVIIsa51Pj9MAbiHC/s1600/21765350_534485690224608_7057642634389730864_n.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The podcast will have two types of episodes. The first one that is already published is a weekly magazine of defense, military, weapons and conflicts related topics from a Nordic perspective narrated by <a href="https://twitter.com/pmakela1" target="_blank">Petri Mäkelä</a>. There will also be less regular special episodes devoted to a single topic with a shorter version free to listen for everyone and a longer one for subscribers.</p><p>The first special series will be about the Finnish defense concept, the Finnish military forces and the readiness of the nation to defend itself against external threats.</p><p>The first weekly podcast is already out on most major platforms. It's topics are the Russian offensive in Donbass, new main battle tanks and the Finnish training during the NATO-membership application period.</p><p>The podcast is available on Anchor:</p><p>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="102px" scrolling="no" src="https://anchor.fm/petri-isto-tapio-mkel/embed" width="400px"></iframe></p><p>As well as on following platforms:</p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4v0bfgCuiRtBI1SHhc0MLo" target="_blank">Spotify</a></p><p><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vantage-point-north-military-defense-and-conflicts" target="_blank">Stitcher</a></p><p><a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c24a7ba-e04d-4539-b5bc-5b42f95b5770/vantage-point-north-military-defense-and-conflicts" target="_blank">Amazon Music</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Some people have also found it on Apple podcasts, but my apple-allergy has so far prevented me from finding a direct link.</p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-46931992692466093162022-06-06T13:44:00.002+03:002022-06-06T13:44:46.838+03:00The Tank: News of my death have been exaggerated<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhAH2b6dDcM3todtgdxnaJt7XhXNRCIYBiNha8NQDedbYQLejQ5-zF7pP3ZyjKhVi6SxAWCwLVdVvvFtG-bXVTLp5XKgvWxkAeQn56xL1PQG3kq0e_NC186PW6R74QT_FzH7jTmAOT4YdSWLrStN9QVFyOnRz2o307zi8ihmYRlfRLDCree4E1rEL/s1023/t-64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1023" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhAH2b6dDcM3todtgdxnaJt7XhXNRCIYBiNha8NQDedbYQLejQ5-zF7pP3ZyjKhVi6SxAWCwLVdVvvFtG-bXVTLp5XKgvWxkAeQn56xL1PQG3kq0e_NC186PW6R74QT_FzH7jTmAOT4YdSWLrStN9QVFyOnRz2o307zi8ihmYRlfRLDCree4E1rEL/w640-h428/t-64.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One of the
most common hot takes from the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been the idea
that the main battle tank, that has ruled the battlefield for a century, is no
longer a viable system. Depending on the author one of the modern wonder
weapons, be it anti-tank missiles like Javelin, NLAW, the Bayraktar TB-2 drone or
the accurate drone spotted artillery and mortar fire have made the tank an
obsolete behemoth that is unable to successfully operate in the modern
battlefield.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This
conclusion is easy to come by when observing the Russian attacks on Kyiv, Sumy
and Cherniv from the western media coverage. Especially the battle for Kyiv was
indeed a triumph of the Ukrainian light infantry against mechanized Russian forces.
But was this victory somehow revolutionary? The answer is straight forward, it
was predictable to a degree that many analysts discounted the possibility of a
Russian attack towards Kyiv from the north. The terrain through marches of
Pripyat and the Chernobyl exclusion zone was very difficult for successful mechanized
operations. The Russian forces were pushed to narrow corridors of passable
lands.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This
resulted in the classic traffic jam formation that was made exceedingly vulnerable
by the fact that the Russian forces remained in marching columns without any
serious attempts to secure their flanks. The overhopeful leadership most likely
counted on the front to keep advancing at any moment and thus didn’t want any
delays with moving on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Similar
situation, with similar results developed in the 1939-40 Winter War between
USSR and Finland. Convoys can only project a fraction of their power forward,
thus making the defense easier. Bundled up troops make easy targets for artillery,
mortars and raiding light infantry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Despite
being mechanized and motorized, the Russian forces heading to Kyiv were also
rather light, with more focus on fast MRAPs, IFVs and APCs. This reflected the Russian thinking that Ukraine would collapse under their fast advance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Russian
forces heading to Kyiv through Sumy and Cherniv were much more traditional
Russian mechanized and armored units with significant numbers of main battle
tanks with them. These offensives were also hampered by the limited mobility constrained by the wet terrain,
but also long distances and broad sectors that quickly channeled the Russian
BTGs into isolated units that could be taken out by the combination of the new
systems and traditional mechanized warfare. Especially around Cherniv,
Ukrainian mechanized troops mounted a successful defense with tanks of their
own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the area
where Russians concentrated their heaviest armored formations, Kharkiv,
Ukrainians countered them with their own mechanized units. In these battles Russians
weren’t able to gain much ground and the Ukrainian tank units were able to
effectively counterattack the Russians.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Russian
army has its own advanced and battle proven weapons that, if the theory of the
tank being obsolete are correct, should be capable of countering the
numerically limited and aging Ukrainian tanks. Despite their best efforts, the
Russian Army has seriously struggled against well executed Ukrainian combined arms
offensives spearheaded by tanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So instead of
assuming that the tank is obsolete, the correct analysis is that the Russian
tactics, that were obsolete in 1939, are still obsolete. The battlefield is a
dangerous place to a tank, probably more dangerous than ever before. But effective
anti-tank weapons have existed nearly as long as tanks have. Artillery devastated
tank formations during WW2, when the intel to employ it was available. But when
employed with proper support from artillery and infantry in a coordinated
attacks or flexible defense tanks can still turn battles around.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">-Petri Mäkelä</span></p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-86567523996839473982022-04-07T08:13:00.004+03:002022-04-07T08:14:54.211+03:00Finland beefs up its defense with 2.2 billion Euros<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlx30p073zf56BxBcu_hMhfuP9Ool5zS5I_wmJb6713VDATRkmL4N9y-9auXgGqe08IhwWjJkHVtMW0kzM5rG_ceSrZglOiPMFFnAaAG0ZmNF26sKgPc8CrRxvgwg85N8kz_N5aWQL7YzDvQ3H_LjPuGfY8nAtJaBlRDKOH0c56mM-AcsOo21vcId/s4096/FPMyed8XIAYuC46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="4096" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlx30p073zf56BxBcu_hMhfuP9Ool5zS5I_wmJb6713VDATRkmL4N9y-9auXgGqe08IhwWjJkHVtMW0kzM5rG_ceSrZglOiPMFFnAaAG0ZmNF26sKgPc8CrRxvgwg85N8kz_N5aWQL7YzDvQ3H_LjPuGfY8nAtJaBlRDKOH0c56mM-AcsOo21vcId/w640-h426/FPMyed8XIAYuC46.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finnish soldier in the Cold Response 2022 exercise in Norway. Photo: Emil Biese FDF Combat Camera Team</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The Finnish Defense Forces have been almost unique in Europe as their primary objective has always been to stop and beat back a Russian peer level attack. Unlike most other countries this priority remained even after the collapse of the Soviet Union. After the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine, focus was placed on readiness and the ability to also counter smaller scale hybrid operations that can occur with very little warning. This has been achieved with the creation of<a href="http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2019/09/countering-hybrid-war-2019.html"> readiness units</a> that are manned by a mix of conscripts and professional soldiers. </p><p>The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has been very different than the 2014 one, with the whole operation opening up as large scale peer level war with all of the tools available in the Russian arsenal used. While this is exactly the premise Finnish defense is based on, the fact of a peer level warfare in Europe has caused the need to bolster some capabilities.</p><p>Finnish government held it's annual budget framework meeting this week. While the biggest surprise was the ability get all of the coalition parties to agree in one day, the largest spending increase was directed to the national defense. Government directed 2,2 billion euros to defense. How will the Defense Forces spend the additional funds?</p><p>The big ticket items already ordered, F-35A fighters and new Corvettes and the still under selection high altitude surface to air missiles, have already been funded so the investment part of the funds will be used to bolster weapon stocks and supplies. The<a href="https://puolustusvoimat.fi/-/puolustusvoimien-maararahojen-lisaaminen-vahvistaa-suomen-puolustuskykya-ja-puolustusvoimien-valmiutta?languageId=en_US"> shopping list</a> includes anti-tank, anti-ship, anti-aircraft and air to air missiles, artillery munitions, spare parts and battlefield supplies. There will be an increase in the number of reconnaissance drones of unspecified type, most likely smaller unit level equipment. </p><p>This shopping list shows that the basic premises of the Finnish defense have been correct. Flexible and heavily armed forces with good command and communications infrastructure can hardly go wrong. </p><p>The biggest impact to the defense capability might still be the increases in personnel budget. This allows the Defense Forces to hire up to 500 more paid personnel, including contract NCO:s, civilian workers and officers. The amount of reservist refresher exercises will also be significantly increased. The amount of reservists to be called up for training will rise from 19000 soldiers to 29000. This will allow the most important troops to receive the latest information.</p><p>Finland is ready and it's fighting capability will keep on growing. The political apparatus is also leaning heavily towards Finland applying for NATO membership during the late spring or early summer of 2022. Strong army with a total defense concept, that employs the whole nation, backed up by the NATO article 5 support is a strong guarantee for the Finnish independence.</p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-73580756649706120572022-03-27T16:22:00.001+03:002022-03-27T16:22:50.570+03:00Russian Prototypes, Cope-cages and Missing Artillery<p> The Russian two day invasion of Ukraine has now been going on for nearly a month and we can take some quick lessons about their equipment and performance. Much has been written about the failures of Russian operational planning, logistics, communications and leadership. These failures have led to staggering losses.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-faDzarr2-t2MVzWOsniiWpPc0GfR7wS6l9xTZaOEddnZkpTAPlgIUFQEUx_ueti02dFrJz-Cdbd0p3SIae-YxC95rbmMwT2lQJFvTSYUWrnZNp3ET8PUCdGfGqaUb9rMIlNrNx24Md6QGXTBuGm7juyG4sbkdk-3bFdCCU3P5m_pwlxJCqtFO5d/s680/FO2b1CTXsAITaQ7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-faDzarr2-t2MVzWOsniiWpPc0GfR7wS6l9xTZaOEddnZkpTAPlgIUFQEUx_ueti02dFrJz-Cdbd0p3SIae-YxC95rbmMwT2lQJFvTSYUWrnZNp3ET8PUCdGfGqaUb9rMIlNrNx24Md6QGXTBuGm7juyG4sbkdk-3bFdCCU3P5m_pwlxJCqtFO5d/w640-h480/FO2b1CTXsAITaQ7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cope-cage on a well barbecued Russian tank</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>The most distinctive piece of Russian equipment of this invasion has the been top-attack <a href="http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2021/07/death-from-above-russian-ad-hoc-top.html">cage armor</a>, aka. cope-cage aka. emotional support armor. The sometimes crudely made slat armor constructions started to appear on Russian tanks during the summer of 2021. While their purpose was initially a mystery, they were soon considered to be a desperate attempt to mitigate the effects of drone launched munitions like MAM-L and to even lesser extent top attack anti-tank missiles like Javelin and NLAW. </p><p>The vast amounts of knocked out Russian armor show that the cages are certainly not a surefire way to protect tanks from top attacks. We can't rule out that they might have worked on some occasions as our data is suffering from a reverse survivor bias: we only see the destroyed ones. But it's safe to say that the morale boosting effect of these "barbecue racks" has evaporated.</p><p>The latest developmental vehicles like T-14 Armata and T-90M main battle tanks have been absent from the battlefield. Instead of the latest tanks, Russia has sent several older experimental vehicles like the T-80UK and T-80UM-2 main battle tanks to Ukraine. These vehicles have now all been either destroyed or captured by the Ukrainian army. There is absolutely no research value in using outdated prototypes in modern combat, but it looks like the relatively low mileage and well maintained vehicles were used to plug the gaps in the Russian tank roster. There have been reports of Russian unit commanders committing suicides due to the abysmal state of their storaged vehicles.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyun2WPdaly0ok3I6vhf4rZGbQb6O_SulyK4YOG6LncxStO49HlRvAC7IRsIg1wMfW7U8NvarZE9_SK8g-BQOPQtlx3NO6ox_O1f6Ewb5kw_rE9XTVarEHFG_UWe_-Z2_VQ1B2U3bmLRMSQNJt-i8CsMQ7ouncZyWoGeQoJTW-9uywVs4c-8yw1LL9/s526/FOTT-a_XwAMgBD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="526" height="629" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyun2WPdaly0ok3I6vhf4rZGbQb6O_SulyK4YOG6LncxStO49HlRvAC7IRsIg1wMfW7U8NvarZE9_SK8g-BQOPQtlx3NO6ox_O1f6Ewb5kw_rE9XTVarEHFG_UWe_-Z2_VQ1B2U3bmLRMSQNJt-i8CsMQ7ouncZyWoGeQoJTW-9uywVs4c-8yw1LL9/w640-h629/FOTT-a_XwAMgBD2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-80BM-2 Prototype met its fate in Ukraine</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>The biggest strength of the Russian army was considered to be its artillery. They have a lot of it and it's deployed down to battalion tactical groups.While the artillery has been present, it's not been employed in a very efficient manner. The individual artillery and MLRS batteries deployed to the BTGs are tied to supporting that particular BTG and can't relay fire support to units around it during the more active and mobile phases of a battle. The extremely limited amount of officers available to direct artillery fire and the total lack of competent NCO:s forces the BTG commander to employ the artillery batteries organic fire control assets to direct the fire missions. In the worst case scenario this leaves 2/3 of the BTG without indirect fires and when the battery fire control team is lost the entire artillery is in disarray. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yXLqaTCEfvXcaAmlJuw7dmvxc65hMJFES647-KbZ17BGjkm4f4B3WUAx1EWOrfr4xh9htde54pFx6YD1yTVqaS2rGpzJhK0c4xljAMzwWqcBLwCbQ9-4Dxs83F-0P_9LW4wPEb_1dZ9d-klvEPArpw9dttY0zwAmAqngWRaBx9r68Cw-2HDf1_qS/s2048/FOys9ftXoAUHq4I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yXLqaTCEfvXcaAmlJuw7dmvxc65hMJFES647-KbZ17BGjkm4f4B3WUAx1EWOrfr4xh9htde54pFx6YD1yTVqaS2rGpzJhK0c4xljAMzwWqcBLwCbQ9-4Dxs83F-0P_9LW4wPEb_1dZ9d-klvEPArpw9dttY0zwAmAqngWRaBx9r68Cw-2HDf1_qS/w640-h360/FOys9ftXoAUHq4I.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recently captured Russian MSTA-S SPG from a disarrayed battery that was overrun by the Ukrainian army. </td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Only when the fronts have stabilized the Russian artillery has been able to use its fire en masse. And even in these situations the artillery fire missions have been inflexible and innaccure, more akin to terror bombing than a true tactical asset supporting the infantry. </p><p><br /></p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-90360367813982581882022-01-30T11:36:00.001+02:002022-01-30T11:36:49.887+02:00Russian Buildup: Critical elements point towards war<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyHksspmAhKz_3BbkTI7fO1HCKGVLEKjVM4E3MhUahNGn2SnMofqc64qPIsry8AqA8zTr5ovVw8hQ36iHkXVnWiCYE9pCqh095UD_WRoOEte4eH3775Eob2R6imBocQyabAUWlyevip4cpyv7tf1ujCuGllQpNfdA3B0Ve6YXWX_l3gnkFwjuuuzII=s634" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="634" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyHksspmAhKz_3BbkTI7fO1HCKGVLEKjVM4E3MhUahNGn2SnMofqc64qPIsry8AqA8zTr5ovVw8hQ36iHkXVnWiCYE9pCqh095UD_WRoOEte4eH3775Eob2R6imBocQyabAUWlyevip4cpyv7tf1ujCuGllQpNfdA3B0Ve6YXWX_l3gnkFwjuuuzII=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russian T-72B3 obr 2016 tanks near Ukraine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>For well over a decade, Russia has been actively building a capability to turn large training exercises into offensive military operations to minimize the suspicions of the buildup. This strategy was successfully employed in 2014 when Russian army occupied Crimea from Ukraine. The same type of <a href="http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2017/09/maskirovkarussian-masked-mobilization.html" target="_blank">maskirovka</a>, or deception, was also used multiple times by the USSR.</p><p>During the massive Zapad 2017 exercise many western experts and pundits, myself included, were very worried that Russia would use it as a cover to stage an attack against Ukraine or even the Baltic states. Before Zapad 2017 I wrote a short checklist titled "To worry or not":</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DILgJVaXsAA9wZ5?format=jpg&name=medium" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="800" height="268" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DILgJVaXsAA9wZ5?format=jpg&name=medium" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/pmakela1/status/901529983658676224/photo/1">Tweet from 2017</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The list isn't comprehensive, but the Russian buildup during the January 2022 ticks all other boxes from that list, with the exception of Air Force assets being deployed to road bases, but that isn't strictly necessary given the availability of runways in the regions surrounding Ukraine. </div><div><br /></div><div>The sheer volume of the deployment is also on a whole nother scale when compared to 2017 or even the 2014 invasion of Crimea. We are currently looking at the minimum of 80 battalions of combat troops, that are expected to grow to a hundred battalions in a week or so. And this isn't accounting the VDV airborne units that are able to deploy into the region in hours or days. The Russian deployment into Belarus is also focused to the southern border against Ukraine, instead of being spread across the country like in 2017. The Belarusian army is also mobilizing at least partly towards the same direction.</div><div><br /></div><div>What sets this deployment apart from the previous ones is the ratio of enablers to combat troops. Running peacetime training requires a lot less supplies, redundancy in infrastructure such as communications and live munitions than a full fledged invasion against an opponent that has the level of firepower Ukraine currently has. Russia has also been building the required infrastructure. including fuel pipelines and repair depots along the Ukrainian border for years now.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FKTk1H8WUAAxKY6?format=jpg&name=small" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="638" height="359" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FKTk1H8WUAAxKY6?format=jpg&name=small" width="638" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1487567369006366723/photo/1" target="_blank">Nebo-M radar set</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>The examples of enablers we have been observing lately inclure rare pieces of expensive equipment like Nebo-M long range radar sets and <a href="https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1486938025787592704?s=20&t=5uTKeRqKetzUcUiTf_Yzog" target="_blank">R-416</a> radio relay systems, that are military district or high command assets, very rarely deployed to normal training exercises.</div><div><br /></div><div>Similarly the shipments of equipment spotted recently have included significant amounts of reloads for missile systems such as S-300, BUK and <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43932/russia-masses-iskander-m-ballistic-missiles-near-ukraine-as-its-build-up-is-almost-completed" target="_blank">Iskander-M</a>. These missiles are somewhat delicate and are usually stored in the special warehouses at their home bases. The units on training exercises have inert missile containers for the TELs and reloading vehicles, but no spares are being brought in on flatbeds like now, as it would be a waste of resources.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FJb-BgQXsBAID2D?format=jpg&name=medium" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="461" height="640" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FJb-BgQXsBAID2D?format=jpg&name=medium" width="369" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iskander-M ballistic missiles</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEAKpiSAAGyD0QzGES0LLBlepZ_7XgjTeAqHALYMvlGMX63w1mfHwGz-NGshH4kZoHko3IWEDdFJn85X45Pu58XmlaCd_xpJ4xNh0qSlQflLVXX6LBu9AILaHBSebXB0HqbqEfQAJOBEHrrU364Bq4SgpYLPXmHOZ5CIvu_9WRnuoEEWlwBJPNPvlP=s572" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="572" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEAKpiSAAGyD0QzGES0LLBlepZ_7XgjTeAqHALYMvlGMX63w1mfHwGz-NGshH4kZoHko3IWEDdFJn85X45Pu58XmlaCd_xpJ4xNh0qSlQflLVXX6LBu9AILaHBSebXB0HqbqEfQAJOBEHrrU364Bq4SgpYLPXmHOZ5CIvu_9WRnuoEEWlwBJPNPvlP=w640-h512" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reloads for S-300V Army Surface to Air missile system</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Several other army and military district level assets such as the 2S7 203mm and 2S4 240mm SPG battalions, heavy MLRS regiments and separate engineering formations have also been deployed to the region.</div><div><br /></div><div>These specialty equipments, combined with the combat troops, huge amounts of fuel tankers, pipeline troops, munitions trucks and general logistics vehicles indicate that Russia is building a real capability to invade Ukraine, or parts of it. The costs of this deployment, ranging from Kaliningrad, whose marines are heading towards Eastern Mediterranean at the moment, accompanied by their Northern Fleet colleagues, to the 64th Covering Division, that was pulled from its regular duty of protecting the Chinese border in the Russian Far East, is crippling to the Russian military budget. The deployment has also thrown all normal training schedules to the bin and it will have negative effects on the Russian capabilities in the long run.</div><div><br /></div><div>Backing down from this level of investment without visible gains would be a tremendous show of weakness for Putin. With the diplomatic path to concessions by the West seemingly stonewalled and Ukraine not capitulating without a fight, the only option for real gains is warfare. </div><div><br /></div><div>The time window for that is also limited, not only by the prevailing weather conditions and the costs, but also due to supplying forward deployed field hospitals with blood that only has a shelf life of a few weeks.</div><div><br /></div><div>Time to get serious with helping Ukraine is now!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-17244121691610804572021-12-22T14:56:00.004+02:002021-12-22T14:56:41.022+02:00Evolving readiness in Finland – Navy readiness units <p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2XhF2GStbXbzelRPBBDevyZPLrHxZ0c_WQSvXGI7dWsCJpgM034X1fXUDJVJTGY-A9NiWAkqBhqw8wG-UV_YF2EdQCfVAzdpb4x984hp6IhMFXy6qa4y4YKn3i3-iPrqJJBdThcoPA_AgP0k9Cn68BUjaHYCv7N5i6-hmZwAHN1yvQ3xg4OwbLeJz=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2XhF2GStbXbzelRPBBDevyZPLrHxZ0c_WQSvXGI7dWsCJpgM034X1fXUDJVJTGY-A9NiWAkqBhqw8wG-UV_YF2EdQCfVAzdpb4x984hp6IhMFXy6qa4y4YKn3i3-iPrqJJBdThcoPA_AgP0k9Cn68BUjaHYCv7N5i6-hmZwAHN1yvQ3xg4OwbLeJz=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jehu-class boat and NH-90 helicopters. Photo: FDF</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Finnish
Defense Forces have been working hard with improving their readiness since 2014.
The army has developed readiness units that are manned with conscripts serving
6 months of their 12-month conscription in a readiness role. The units are rather
hard hitting, with usually a company of infantry augmented by organic
artillery, anti-aircraft, and main battle tank detachments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While the Army
readiness units have been operational for five years now, the first two Navy
<a href="https://merivoimat.fi/-/merivoimien-valmiusyksikot-saavuttavat-operatiivisen-valmiuden-rannikkojoukkojen-paaharjoitus-kaynnistyy-27.11">units</a> reached operational <a href="https://ruotuvaki.fi/-/maanpuolustusta-kolmessa-ulottuvuudessa">status</a> in December 2021. The unit is formed much in
the same way as the army units, with a core of professional soldiers supported
by the 12 month serving conscripts that make up the bulk of the unit. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCDKTgHsqtD2szOjSWO56qB0VnawWW1PN1hD1uigN7Ww82OjfSEZigCeu_VwhED0_rcJE0e3z61e_U909jdmLMErY9ptXELFwLxT7_GbwQkunEnVZ1YIShLsuXz6lyuA2d6EABezRnb2lSZSkLcdhGe_K7qoLxGoxs96QGihw2996uxj1o9VNS0DqQ=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCDKTgHsqtD2szOjSWO56qB0VnawWW1PN1hD1uigN7Ww82OjfSEZigCeu_VwhED0_rcJE0e3z61e_U909jdmLMErY9ptXELFwLxT7_GbwQkunEnVZ1YIShLsuXz6lyuA2d6EABezRnb2lSZSkLcdhGe_K7qoLxGoxs96QGihw2996uxj1o9VNS0DqQ=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Navy readiness unit conducting CQB training. Note the blue version of the readiness unit patch. Photo FDF</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What differentiates
the Navy unit from their dry land counterparts, is their ability to be used also
in international situations, in crisis response and giving military support to friendly
nations. The units are trained to international standards and all personnel are
required to speak English and Swedish and most of them also speak Finnish. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The unit is
composed of Coastal infantry and it’s capable of using PASI 6x6 APC on the
ground, Jehu-class landing crafts / Combat boats on the sea and the NH-90
helicopters of the Utti Jaeger Regiment in the air. The high mobility in various
situations is a great asset, both on the coastal areas as well as when supporting
the Army readiness units. The units are also trained to assist in maritime emergency situations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8jkpxuCY20QIUthm5Odkyx57yzw5VISF4wxKp3O8XBfd07d2LwyOpsvbqb8rlhpg_7hUCcR2gecWnHUeXgz9abxNt36zydBYub2CnY6IbNrL-PT6uL5sQZJDTH-9rhpPsY8O09nMYyZirlW6A4gW_XG6zJgOMfbboVx4o7eNUKRRrlgOS8L2sVgZV=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8jkpxuCY20QIUthm5Odkyx57yzw5VISF4wxKp3O8XBfd07d2LwyOpsvbqb8rlhpg_7hUCcR2gecWnHUeXgz9abxNt36zydBYub2CnY6IbNrL-PT6uL5sQZJDTH-9rhpPsY8O09nMYyZirlW6A4gW_XG6zJgOMfbboVx4o7eNUKRRrlgOS8L2sVgZV=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PKM, Always cool. Photo: FDF</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The current
Finnish readiness structure that is built upon the professional special forces,
conscript readiness units, high readiness reserve local battalions and the
massive reserve force is well suited for responding to most possible threat
scenarios from local incidents to full scale peer war.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Speaking of
the Special Forces, the Finnish Defence Forces have <a href="https://maavoimat.fi/-/1948673/puolustusvoimien-erikoisjoukot-keskitetaan-utin-jaakarirykmenttiin">decided</a> to consolidate all
their professional Special Forces units to the Utti Jaeger Regiment, that will
now host both the Special Jaegers of the army and the ETO of the Navy. The move
will allow better development, training, and employment of these high-end
assets. In addition to the SF units, the regiment also has a conscript training
Parachute Jaeger company and the Helicopter Battalion.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">More on the Finnish readiness units:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2021/03/military-readiness-during-pandemic.html">https://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2021/03/military-readiness-during-pandemic.html</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-45016778626857920862021-12-15T10:39:00.004+02:002021-12-15T10:39:32.619+02:00Quick guide to identifying the Russian tanks Part 1: Updated Dec. 2021<p> </p><h1 style="text-align: justify;">As most of the western nations have reduced their inventories to a few or mostly one type of main battle tank model in their active inventories, the myriad of tank platforms and distinct versions employed by the Russian armed forces may feel overwhelming. Here is a quick guide to identifying Russian MBTs. When you come across an image (or the actual thing), follow the steps to identify it properly.</h1><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuIZ6o8pCCNZ8krGKQO6-KwKmSN7c13PHsVND-QuycZKB117hmIDAlid8jzXCxAQIJ9pEkThjm-t-ggD3kntZpKqZfN9S-_PVhKZCpgT5KRE8OgCBycEW7RgJuAwj_LtF3fsO8XA_GG8/s1600/IDGuide.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuIZ6o8pCCNZ8krGKQO6-KwKmSN7c13PHsVND-QuycZKB117hmIDAlid8jzXCxAQIJ9pEkThjm-t-ggD3kntZpKqZfN9S-_PVhKZCpgT5KRE8OgCBycEW7RgJuAwj_LtF3fsO8XA_GG8/s640/IDGuide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;">Updated 15.12.2021: T-90 modifications</h3><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Family of the tank</span></h3><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Russian Armed Forces currently operates, or at least storage, the following tank platforms/families:<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-55 (<2000 in storage)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-62 (2000 in storage)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-64 (2000 in storage)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-72 (2000 active duty, 8000 in storage)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-80 (2000 active duty, 5000 in storage)<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-90 (350 active duty, 600</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> in storage)</span></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-14 (20 in field testing)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So how can you identify what type of a tank are you looking at?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are two features that can be used to distinguishing the tank families: The roadwheel placement and the exhaust ports. The older and smaller T-55 and T-62 have five roadwheels in their suspensions, the later models have six roadwheels.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The T-55 and the T-62 can be identified from the spacing of the roadwheels. The T-62 has the gaps between roadwheels increasing towards the rear, but on the T-55 the front roadwheel is separated from the rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6dA1bd7kag6Y0A8Vlhf_O2aR8m6QZsE3Wkr06vXSHtVOh0YnDWnQ1ipJVWKxcm-LC8WXUsezETaNLV8abgDwht_jIZDv7qDu_deD2XPCjvqX3oYBMgYFtNHNorp9HHaedTiqJHOeTWg/s1600/Pic1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="1515" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6dA1bd7kag6Y0A8Vlhf_O2aR8m6QZsE3Wkr06vXSHtVOh0YnDWnQ1ipJVWKxcm-LC8WXUsezETaNLV8abgDwht_jIZDv7qDu_deD2XPCjvqX3oYBMgYFtNHNorp9HHaedTiqJHOeTWg/s640/Pic1.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The T-55 and T-62 can also be identified from the smoke evacuators in their main gun barrels. T-55 has the bulging part at the muzzle of the 100mm barrel, while T-62 has a similar component at the middle of its 115mm barrel.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The more modern T-72 and T-90 have the same suspension layout with six large evenly spaced roadwheels and they can easily be identified from the T-80 models as they have six smaller wheels grouped in pairs and the T-64 has completely different suspension layout with very small roadwheels. T-80 and T-64 are easily separated from each other by the fact that T-80 has a searchlight on the right side of the barrel, while the similar light is mounted to the left side on T-64 variants.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF04qp-mI-rrDqyNhF66-6pBg-ULO2_AljHYgPdIDs0UBrX7PcoRDOq_4U0MTvITS8888CwsykIAO4jLKxMuzqNoLSJ2BOuyRG3jl-t_RDIoNCXpvjmvQjfranRi6SwBShoA6Lmg0fbDw/s1600/Pic2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="1457" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF04qp-mI-rrDqyNhF66-6pBg-ULO2_AljHYgPdIDs0UBrX7PcoRDOq_4U0MTvITS8888CwsykIAO4jLKxMuzqNoLSJ2BOuyRG3jl-t_RDIoNCXpvjmvQjfranRi6SwBShoA6Lmg0fbDw/s640/Pic2.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The other way of identifying the tank platforms are the engine exhaust ports. These can also be used to separate T-72 and T-90 from each other. The T-64 and T-80 series tanks have a horizontally opposed diesel engine and a gas turbine engine respectively, both with large exhaust ports at the rear of the tank. The other platforms have diesel engines with exhaust ports on the right side of the tank.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpMvjFfLldJ_LihYpAyvhMKibI6Bi1CY19buGiE_i8wpgMD0aII6HgtIT6CxM1EhSlskapPO3urWybZwqcJYVshLWpTHOhmZBtQdnbEGSGUSKplDdYXtlsy9DyjQifQkkYrzyE4PJzR4/s1600/Pic3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="1350" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpMvjFfLldJ_LihYpAyvhMKibI6Bi1CY19buGiE_i8wpgMD0aII6HgtIT6CxM1EhSlskapPO3urWybZwqcJYVshLWpTHOhmZBtQdnbEGSGUSKplDdYXtlsy9DyjQifQkkYrzyE4PJzR4/s640/Pic3.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-72 and T-90 </span></h4><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The active duty T-72 and T-90 variants all have ERA armor with several of them sharing the same layouts, identifying the apart can seem a bit daunting. But there are some details that make the task easier.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-90 differs from all mass produced T-72 variants in two distinct ways. It has the Shtora-1 anti-missile system. Shtora-1 has two easily identifiable emitters mounted on both sides of the barrel, in Russian service this feature is only found on the T-90A and T-80UK. The other feature are the exhaust ports. T-72s have a long and low exhaust port, while the T-90 one is distinctly boxy, T-72BA may also feature the boxy exhaust port, but it can be easily identified as shown below.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoUVCk2LBAXh0SxppkGoyaSs1qRlc7EY9k_YvEbrU4xnCzRYdKdfP_RTIiYoO9p8SuLyqS2_WbfYQ-tzuxwIEA5ix4S4x9yXIrOHdCSA2_B35T63n9iA-PJiQeT_bdCSYWohZMmeA_58/s1600/Pic4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1354" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoUVCk2LBAXh0SxppkGoyaSs1qRlc7EY9k_YvEbrU4xnCzRYdKdfP_RTIiYoO9p8SuLyqS2_WbfYQ-tzuxwIEA5ix4S4x9yXIrOHdCSA2_B35T63n9iA-PJiQeT_bdCSYWohZMmeA_58/s640/Pic4.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As of late 2021 some of the T-90A tanks have had their Shtora-1 systems removed, resulting in large gaps between turret ERA panels and the barrel.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5QOcVKwm9mCkFFge_R9-Zf0UPFcwwGWbpB3yPmwJzvkjisgrGEz4cjOjNjGbXBI_VpFVxD8bDQk2cHlPLJCIfvHGQDyyuo21mx2c-DC3Fit-DW2XIPbDvqDYZvvq6AcLYFWAFh3pMdH4wmB26aGACtgG4PECXSuiU3DPnhAYjYOJPFCnWaTmabQ0d=s550" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="550" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5QOcVKwm9mCkFFge_R9-Zf0UPFcwwGWbpB3yPmwJzvkjisgrGEz4cjOjNjGbXBI_VpFVxD8bDQk2cHlPLJCIfvHGQDyyuo21mx2c-DC3Fit-DW2XIPbDvqDYZvvq6AcLYFWAFh3pMdH4wmB26aGACtgG4PECXSuiU3DPnhAYjYOJPFCnWaTmabQ0d=w640-h454" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The newest T-90 variant in service is the <a href="http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2019/12/t-90m-breakthrough-armata-russia-has-to.html">T-90M</a>. The T-90M lacks the distinctive rectangular Shtora-jammer boxes found on both sides of the T-90A's main gun barrel. But the empty space left by them is filled with ERA tiles. It also has two rows of ERA bricks on the turret front and vertical ERA on the sides of the elongated turret. There are also a remote weapon station and a distinctively cylindrical commanders sight on top of the turret. The ERA on hull front is more integrated instead of looking like brickwork of the older versions. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixrx8jSvU2yS4DcuIS-7o8ahC_xzBO0z59U_iPsVuTRs6A359EzdYGToffKnlQb1TJvSnb8oI9e5GxOcCS9G5WIaUTAfG7x8xDuOZ3l2rUV7EFKKVNqqBujoBVEZAyjNdpvNxYSj9-pxtBWLRRqIKLU0Qd5aipRZU4-_U3xTdYwgv7ls4q7jyXm0Rn=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixrx8jSvU2yS4DcuIS-7o8ahC_xzBO0z59U_iPsVuTRs6A359EzdYGToffKnlQb1TJvSnb8oI9e5GxOcCS9G5WIaUTAfG7x8xDuOZ3l2rUV7EFKKVNqqBujoBVEZAyjNdpvNxYSj9-pxtBWLRRqIKLU0Qd5aipRZU4-_U3xTdYwgv7ls4q7jyXm0Rn=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Out of the two dozen T-72 variants developed, the Russian Armed Forces presently use the T-72B, T-72AV, T-72B obr 1989, T-72B1, T-72B3 and the T-72B3 obr 2016. These tanks can be easily separated into two groups. The T-72B, T-72AV and T-72B1 all use the older Kontakt-1 ERA bricks that are not integrated into the tank like the never Kontakt-5 (or externally <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>almost identical Relikt) ERA found on the other models.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHOxNxVj0MICC7_8HlR2PpN-6Cy5CFLbCzcZUoAKHWyGenMV4m4cdDdANo8fhR8-0J43z6jMP6UchuRqMZT_TdP0vpGQyw2mzDGxbGpXRbNthILcklInxMHvJG-HcfmVEyopUZPWPK1M/s1600/Pic5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="1295" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHOxNxVj0MICC7_8HlR2PpN-6Cy5CFLbCzcZUoAKHWyGenMV4m4cdDdANo8fhR8-0J43z6jMP6UchuRqMZT_TdP0vpGQyw2mzDGxbGpXRbNthILcklInxMHvJG-HcfmVEyopUZPWPK1M/s640/Pic5.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In order to separate the most modern and lethal T-72B3 from the other two Kontakt-5 equipped tanks you must look at details on the turret. The T-72B3 has a symmetrical ERA layout and no searchlight on the right side of the main gun barrel. There is also one more ERA brick on the right side of the T-72B3 than there are on T-72BA and T-72B obr 1989. The T-72B3 also has the Sosna-U optical sight on top of its turret, that is conciderably higher than the 1K13-49 sight found on the T-72BA and T-72 obr 1989.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqMMI6GhDfFjqUmZsQBZT-Nw6cyZNCAn_BeL4xiNBR4jgcvfIYF6JZ0IltaAlbkR1glBJVgFfMgH_qiFCKmLDIO0cJT1XlfWFVmK8-c2VCLffuUYzwD1lrdQoEH63xif9GzqbaFR-W38/s1600/Pic6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="1223" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqMMI6GhDfFjqUmZsQBZT-Nw6cyZNCAn_BeL4xiNBR4jgcvfIYF6JZ0IltaAlbkR1glBJVgFfMgH_qiFCKmLDIO0cJT1XlfWFVmK8-c2VCLffuUYzwD1lrdQoEH63xif9GzqbaFR-W38/s640/Pic6.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The T-72B3 and T-72B3 obr 2016 are mostly similar, but the T-72B3 obr 2016 has extended ERA coverage at the skirts and cage type slat armor protecting the rear of the vehicle.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkExbQ2METigbREHil_gJ6BHjJARkUhAdRpc75R9Ay3-WLWml0pb-BBQlIWlgu00TX70VjfzcrPpRAc1eT0T4S22n1QNYd-5T3SAIDQbI5mNDMnzQ8mLYqpV0ZxNyCXDLsRHwwC6CRe8M/s1600/Pic7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="1295" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkExbQ2METigbREHil_gJ6BHjJARkUhAdRpc75R9Ay3-WLWml0pb-BBQlIWlgu00TX70VjfzcrPpRAc1eT0T4S22n1QNYd-5T3SAIDQbI5mNDMnzQ8mLYqpV0ZxNyCXDLsRHwwC6CRe8M/s640/Pic7.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There is also a variant of the T-72B3 without the ERA slabs on the skirts and a variant of the T-72B3 obr 2016 with a bag mounted ERA/Applique armor on the skirts.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEwavdcw9PcyeeJeTqdQ8r8DqSGSlv7M69yRUi49ESQerer16dW27peZSs8GayMn4WRDy2JAIx0r1hN8acC4Rwqg85Dibikv8ZPbhJttob4koiMl-LOT0609HwYeuW3Ytqgz-Py1KLy4/s1600/Pic8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="1368" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEwavdcw9PcyeeJeTqdQ8r8DqSGSlv7M69yRUi49ESQerer16dW27peZSs8GayMn4WRDy2JAIx0r1hN8acC4Rwqg85Dibikv8ZPbhJttob4koiMl-LOT0609HwYeuW3Ytqgz-Py1KLy4/s640/Pic8.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The T-72BA and T-72 obr 1989 are even more alike, but they have one easily identifiable difference. The newer, or at least more recently modernized T-72BA features a more advanced fire control system that has a meteorological sensor mast at the back of the turret.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7kywP9ihTBe78il3QQD6InE-w5t7CGpdFPi0HihN_6Bz94w0pyaiD5iJkeKEtCt_iBofswG3sFad9TFZwMQxXM63V-XpB-SXHVxrUmtUiw39lW1f0rHZtEB_oQ9NJcDleN9ynR1Na3o/s1600/Pic9.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="1276" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7kywP9ihTBe78il3QQD6InE-w5t7CGpdFPi0HihN_6Bz94w0pyaiD5iJkeKEtCt_iBofswG3sFad9TFZwMQxXM63V-XpB-SXHVxrUmtUiw39lW1f0rHZtEB_oQ9NJcDleN9ynR1Na3o/s640/Pic9.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The T-72AV has a more V-shaped ERA array on the turret than the T-72B1 and T-72B with ERA that have the same armor layout. The T-72B1 uses the same older optics than the T-72AV. The T-72B on the other hand has the more modern 1K13-49 sight that can be identified from frontal pictures. Russia has manufactured a T-72B1 variant with the Sosna-U sight, but at the moment it has been only delivered to Laos and Nicaragua, it is not in Russian use.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzhMVeP49TaW5ZwRtxCxDY-ZYX5t9Gx5IOxjzDbYFF0i03F6AHclhxOSuwDB7GYVDHpDDuMuLbacnwbLkDaiD723VDxA5kSRykf63SgRXA4hlyvvR8GKhTvR-aroHBhJes84rwI5KAhc/s1600/pic10.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="1354" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzhMVeP49TaW5ZwRtxCxDY-ZYX5t9Gx5IOxjzDbYFF0i03F6AHclhxOSuwDB7GYVDHpDDuMuLbacnwbLkDaiD723VDxA5kSRykf63SgRXA4hlyvvR8GKhTvR-aroHBhJes84rwI5KAhc/s640/pic10.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-62</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are two T-62 variants that have seen the light of day in the past few years, while there may be other models hidden in the endless storage dumps in Siberia. The active reserve variants are the T-62M and T-62 MV. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-62M has one spaced applique armor panel on the both cheeks of the turret. T-62MV has Kontakt-1 ERA bricks covering the turret and hull. It' also possible that a T-62MVs have their ERA bricks removed during storage, but they still retain hedgehog like spikes for their mounting.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hiRQiaNCtj7aPArbzHJGWY0LgLh5fk-5VzcepSEzbHhBjJTOTC2LoxjPoRH1kTelCxq1vMRp5hDiUqmh4JmyyeI2V31gg9dEF-oXWil8K0byWlgCTIJfAOf1Sb_deHneuv3CPtM_lM0/s1600/Pic11.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="1374" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hiRQiaNCtj7aPArbzHJGWY0LgLh5fk-5VzcepSEzbHhBjJTOTC2LoxjPoRH1kTelCxq1vMRp5hDiUqmh4JmyyeI2V31gg9dEF-oXWil8K0byWlgCTIJfAOf1Sb_deHneuv3CPtM_lM0/s640/Pic11.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T-55M has one spaced applique armor panel on the both cheeks of the turret. T-55MV has Kontakt-1 ERA bricks covering the turret and hull. There are more modernized T-55 variants with different main guns and even Kontakt-5 ERA, but these are not in Russian service in meaningful numbers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpWhubsGGZECOu2VYrP2V2IDSnBUE8MvTfArUFFVPLkqrtAyYbEsd8_JVU5xrmcQqFYOFZODA8EMv0vnYiEyefA4htHUeRcLLO18PudbEZvMcJESoMJ7cav-HN-d5KCU0x76G0QOro7Q/s1600/Pic12.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="1252" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpWhubsGGZECOu2VYrP2V2IDSnBUE8MvTfArUFFVPLkqrtAyYbEsd8_JVU5xrmcQqFYOFZODA8EMv0vnYiEyefA4htHUeRcLLO18PudbEZvMcJESoMJ7cav-HN-d5KCU0x76G0QOro7Q/s640/Pic12.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Not that the T-55M designation is also used on various export variants and upgrades by other operators, for example the Finnish T-55Ms are very different from the Russian ones.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Field modified top-attack protection</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of the Russian tanks, including at least T-72B, T-72B3 and T-90 have been fitted with field modified<a href="http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2021/07/death-from-above-russian-ad-hoc-top.html"> top attack protection cages</a>. These vary in style form slender tubular frames to crude L-bar weldjobs. So far no pattern can be identified between the cage variations and base vehicles. These may hinder identifying the tanks from their turret top features like antennas and sights.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBqInj6a_LOYIqfM0yVx2XAuDA1zGwJz81sxRDYxD69VxN7z0h6dGUq9aRyRzlohj9mtrwWfDFa2TRWYTdNgpaEQ6KPVkuCcVZ-NKC1J3WQrt_CDwjoakHNpXBeXvVI2IonrDyXuxE3yi8bfu7yKWvGleb40lkHzeYr6NyVuKXRp6aQQd5gblpLw5h=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="640" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBqInj6a_LOYIqfM0yVx2XAuDA1zGwJz81sxRDYxD69VxN7z0h6dGUq9aRyRzlohj9mtrwWfDFa2TRWYTdNgpaEQ6KPVkuCcVZ-NKC1J3WQrt_CDwjoakHNpXBeXvVI2IonrDyXuxE3yi8bfu7yKWvGleb40lkHzeYr6NyVuKXRp6aQQd5gblpLw5h=w640-h532" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>As a rule of thumb: “First roadwheels, then exhausts, after that ERA layout, then lights and masts”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Best image source for Russian military vehicles on the internet:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.vitalykuzmin.net/" target="_blank">https://www.vitalykuzmin.net/</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com99tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-27372800135582323122021-07-30T10:56:00.005+03:002021-07-30T11:13:42.771+03:00 Opinion: Great Power Competition in the 2020’s – Objectives for the smaller nations<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKN2hFFRqrYh2afZgLPYlYs55ftzgTQ4fbPSAgzYC7wuJHW_1CpNQ9SbHHESgL9BoCoJVSkRzv8h439KHyelS_lfZZhnZGqPdDZDQ8-Syr_PP-yX8_6nZYpvvlly-fthw9Pyos9H0moyM/s640/8873924044_e95e90f682_z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKN2hFFRqrYh2afZgLPYlYs55ftzgTQ4fbPSAgzYC7wuJHW_1CpNQ9SbHHESgL9BoCoJVSkRzv8h439KHyelS_lfZZhnZGqPdDZDQ8-Syr_PP-yX8_6nZYpvvlly-fthw9Pyos9H0moyM/w640-h360/8873924044_e95e90f682_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">World has moved from the unipolar US Dominated order, that emerged from
the Cold War after the collapse of the Soviet Union, into a new great power
competition with two major players and multiple smaller powers that aspire to
rise to the top tier. China has already successfully challenged USA in the
economic sphere. Russia and Turkey among others try to establish a localized
area of dominance, while avoiding directly challenging the big dogs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There seems to be a lack of coherent objectives for the US political
leadership in this competition. But the minimum viable objectives were well
presented by Martin Skold:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“The adversary means to either collapse us or coopt us, discrediting our
governance model and turning our elites toward it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Any day that doesn’t happen is a good day. Any day we do that in reverse
is better.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He also quoted Tanner Greer to explain the issue further:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“<span style="color: #0f1419;">As Beijing sees it, China’s success depends
on discrediting the tenets of liberal capitalism so that notions like
individual freedom and constitutional democracy come to be seen as the relics
of an obsolete system.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0f1419; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But how does this competition affect the smaller
nations? The economically struggling countries in Africa, Asia and South America
are mostly forced to pick a camp to be able to obtain the economic and/or military
support they need. But European countries have real options.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0f1419; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If we look at what a hegemony of either of the major
powers would look like, we can deduct the answer. An American hegemony, with its constitutional
democracy and emphasis on civil liberties, has been a decently good for the
smaller countries that have been able to conduct independent domestic and
economical policies, while enjoying the stabilizing effect of the US military
hegemony between 1991 and 2008. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0f1419; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A Chinese hegemony promotes authoritarian leaderships
and exploits dominated regions natural resources. The goal is to solidify the
Chinese dominion via. supporting the local autocrats with both economic incentives
and tools of repression to control the population. This would be a drastic
change to the smaller European democracies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0f1419; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thus, the prime objective of the European democracies
should be to prevent Chinese influence in all spheres of the society: Economic,
military, political, research and education. In addition to the local situation,
the democracies should also co-operate to slow and if possible, reverse the
Chinese control on the countries with strategic locations or resources. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pursuing these objectives will cause some short term economic hardships, but in
the long term the ability to avoid becoming a peripheral exploited client of
the Communist China will outweigh the short-term costs. The biggest problem in
this equation is the short-sighted political apparatus that is very focused on
an election term, instead of the long-term benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-Petri Mäkelä</span></p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-4557044308281983502021-07-08T19:00:00.003+03:002022-01-31T08:49:41.762+02:00Death from above – Russian ad hoc top attack defenses<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb352uW0zjodXsoqOi2T7NevfgJbrEobU4LvRDrTDb4iGthntx-zaA6iv3YxeTx5fEesBTnuyOn7QcrJAzLFkSYo8YOrSmlfl4IIT3_5ONC3jKOcEliDYYYDaaTRfyo_vXNjRsDaKK_v0/s1143/Untitled2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="1143" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb352uW0zjodXsoqOi2T7NevfgJbrEobU4LvRDrTDb4iGthntx-zaA6iv3YxeTx5fEesBTnuyOn7QcrJAzLFkSYo8YOrSmlfl4IIT3_5ONC3jKOcEliDYYYDaaTRfyo_vXNjRsDaKK_v0/w640-h308/Untitled2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-72B3 tanks with crude top armor cages</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
The recent Russian tank upgrade programs and the ever slower moving
T-14 Armata saga, have all had significant portion of the efforts put into improving the survivability of the tank and its crew. Both
static and explosive reactive armor (ERA) have been upgraded and
small amount of the latest <a href="http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2019/12/t-90m-breakthrough-armata-russia-has-to.html">T-90M</a> and T-72B3 tanks have active
protection systems that may be able to defeat most of the anti-tank
missiles and slower moving HEAT shells.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZT7dqERMolWxJNCaZWw5VraKdMYiE-JFTpC2NvFUDD6_A2L9BnM_5drZA7C3wAmLP8bSPkJ8x3jFcUvtM17pPBYocKbMa3bdFFu9EqpotEqpeA_QflGiwD952eO9ujyoeE5eR-qyjkGs/s640/41ca7e1aa23e62cdf641fcbd23cc31be.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZT7dqERMolWxJNCaZWw5VraKdMYiE-JFTpC2NvFUDD6_A2L9BnM_5drZA7C3wAmLP8bSPkJ8x3jFcUvtM17pPBYocKbMa3bdFFu9EqpotEqpeA_QflGiwD952eO9ujyoeE5eR-qyjkGs/w640-h426/41ca7e1aa23e62cdf641fcbd23cc31be.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Environmentally friendly T-90M</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">While these programs
have put some emphasis on the armor on the top of the turret, the
main focus has been in the sides and the front of the hull and turret.
Additional ERA elements have been mounted on the skirts of the
vehicles and slat-cage type standoff armor has been attached into the rear sides of the
turrets and hulls.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">These modifications
however have very little effect on direct top attacks by modern
anti-tank missiles such as the American Javelin, that is also in the
Ukrainian inventory. Another, more recent, threat to the turret tops
has been the proliferation of armed UAVs capable of delivering rather
light weight, but extremely accurate, munitions directly to tanks,
even when they are placed behind traditional obstacles.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The combination of
Turkish Bayraktar TB-2 drones and MAM-L and other precision munitions
proved somewhat devastating in the recent Azeri offensive against
Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia had a front row seat in
this conflict and it has had a full access to the Armenian losses and
battle damage suffered by the Armenian vehicles.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV_nQfByp8ncxlcnexQ_np9eX1R1xg4IYsULMnDGD8xa8rqNsn6_Bh_I0R1oIwzu0WwnRMfX12WZRCqvQY2n_IsWyOKe-GT29fbUPWbC35JUgb7h3nqx9jem2Ya-0aE5r3Y7f3FeRMLg/s1024/Bayraktar_TB2_of_UAF%252C_2020%252C_09.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHV_nQfByp8ncxlcnexQ_np9eX1R1xg4IYsULMnDGD8xa8rqNsn6_Bh_I0R1oIwzu0WwnRMfX12WZRCqvQY2n_IsWyOKe-GT29fbUPWbC35JUgb7h3nqx9jem2Ya-0aE5r3Y7f3FeRMLg/w640-h480/Bayraktar_TB2_of_UAF%252C_2020%252C_09.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ukrainian Air Force TB-2 with MAM-L under the wings</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">In the recent weeks
several of the Russian Southern Military District units have been
spotted with a variety of standoff armor solutions on top of their
T-72 series tanks. Some of the armor kits seem rather refined with
what looks like an set of small sandbags mounted on a light weight
frame.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysPfcwuo9V0Gkb9gczYbFRiXY4kg16iTTEm8Zub5ULgSIqnln3g-EMB3jM37VTQG-Am1IbBLXyrmCmF26cU9okiNKH5UhxwUcOWb7agXsMafgtYIgZITbvmbqxbwW37tgNNTmiJfXUnA/s1421/E4MQ6pHXEAo_7PQ.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1421" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysPfcwuo9V0Gkb9gczYbFRiXY4kg16iTTEm8Zub5ULgSIqnln3g-EMB3jM37VTQG-Am1IbBLXyrmCmF26cU9okiNKH5UhxwUcOWb7agXsMafgtYIgZITbvmbqxbwW37tgNNTmiJfXUnA/w640-h390/E4MQ6pHXEAo_7PQ.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-72B3 obr 2016 with additional armor on turret top and soft ERA bag elements on the skirts</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Other armor kits
look like they were constructed by the company level maintenance crews
from the materials they found or managed to source from a local steel
vendor. Unpainted RHS frames roughly welded into the turret sides and
slat armor made of flat steel bars placed between the frames. While
crude, the system looks reasonably effective.
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD188l7YROaz9yORfPIs8DqNOIXMwSD3L7nzft96BnBA9r8ySUSIiIqY10je0ephe7CBh35WTnemIF84y-ACpPECicxba5idtjqKGklM9fVPNykjfsIZpNhS8bHg-mD1wmkGY3of2iUec/s911/E5xbizpX0Acv4fm2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="911" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD188l7YROaz9yORfPIs8DqNOIXMwSD3L7nzft96BnBA9r8ySUSIiIqY10je0ephe7CBh35WTnemIF84y-ACpPECicxba5idtjqKGklM9fVPNykjfsIZpNhS8bHg-mD1wmkGY3of2iUec/w640-h532/E5xbizpX0Acv4fm2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crude, in unit made top armor.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The fact that the
Russian armored forces are welding additional armor into their tanks
on unit level, rather than supplying the units with factory
manufactured and easily removable kits via the normal procurement
channels reveals that the additional top attack protection is an
urgent requirement.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">A lot of additional slat-armor kits have been used in Syria and Libya, but they have always been aimed more against RPG and ATGM attacks from the sides than from above.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rkhwWrcxg2svIziVHHIqluDm-tbdiX316lF_PHRsHGcdjpgEpqJKnX2Pr0k9JUs_uw-4UJdXZ70LgkfPaYQNPe8CDV9YzvebIMV0iz7F88UPoxpxcyAWQXrgUA5rDgbdbt4_6hwMLKU/s960/jxqmz84.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rkhwWrcxg2svIziVHHIqluDm-tbdiX316lF_PHRsHGcdjpgEpqJKnX2Pr0k9JUs_uw-4UJdXZ70LgkfPaYQNPe8CDV9YzvebIMV0iz7F88UPoxpxcyAWQXrgUA5rDgbdbt4_6hwMLKU/w640-h480/jxqmz84.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Syrian slightly up armored T-55</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Ukraine is currently procuring the TB-2 from Turkey and that sort of
a deal and a Russian plan to use their armor against Ukraine might
explain the urgency. And while Russia is updating its front line
units with these additional defenses, it’s unlikely that they will
need them for very long as they are capable of rapidly grinding
through any adversary’s smart munitions stocks with the sheer
weight of their armored forces. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Attrition still matters.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">-Petri Mäkelä</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://twitter.com/pmakela1">@pmakela1</a></p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-28425359436880230452021-04-08T20:45:00.003+03:002022-01-31T08:50:03.231+02:00The Hammer and the Sickle - Potential Russian Pincer-OffensiveFor the past weeks the social media has been filled with sightings of Russian troops moving towards the regions bordering Ukraine. The buildup was initially called an exercise, but in the most recent press releases Kremlin has been rather clear that the troops have been deployed there as an operational deployment, if Russia feels a need to act upon any real or imaginary escalation in Donbass. The troops will stay in the region as long as President Putin sees it necessary.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwHMTZiJbRTu_VcyWkUzY0kMCAiYHhPfBtFSjplb2MB_JuX-d9wF2C6I9XP2lzByXX_FSrrq8srSksjdOLKFI1FAKvFIcJjsRqmRSYe8hxvTJanPbFeBfahcEp78vC4kE8tjCljBFoVM/s550/516516514-550.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="550" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwHMTZiJbRTu_VcyWkUzY0kMCAiYHhPfBtFSjplb2MB_JuX-d9wF2C6I9XP2lzByXX_FSrrq8srSksjdOLKFI1FAKvFIcJjsRqmRSYe8hxvTJanPbFeBfahcEp78vC4kE8tjCljBFoVM/w640-h454/516516514-550.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russia Serna-Class landing crafts of the Caspian flotilla</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The initial buildup was focused on occupied Crimea that has so far received an additional VDV airborne regiment, multiple mechanized battalion tactical groups and heavy artillery units equipped with at least the enormous 240mm 2S4 Tulpan mortars. </div><div><br /></div><div>Additional trains and convoys have been spotted in Rostov, Krasnodar and Voronezh regions. The Russian controlled Belarusian military has also been alerted and multiple, very Russian looking units are operating in the southern part of the country. Unlike the typical training deployments, these convoys have had a larger portion of supply vehicles, including fuel tankers. The main battle tanks, predominantly T-72B3:s deployed have had their external fuel tanks fitted and they more frequently than normally carry dozer blades and mine plows.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1k_up-oAPjAEdTSHuJ7mqTC_2wADa-SdMI8dC0mHDtt1shBexFOKvXcwMsLpYrUfHjGVNYfxeKnXNZXkrBwQnx-r3m7H8hRn38MH9eErN2nFSKnI-Xg5OmJlfJ5sh1nwQf31F9aDqLw/s1371/Screenshot_20210404-213908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1371" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1k_up-oAPjAEdTSHuJ7mqTC_2wADa-SdMI8dC0mHDtt1shBexFOKvXcwMsLpYrUfHjGVNYfxeKnXNZXkrBwQnx-r3m7H8hRn38MH9eErN2nFSKnI-Xg5OmJlfJ5sh1nwQf31F9aDqLw/w640-h422/Screenshot_20210404-213908.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russian T-72B3 with external fuel tanks and a dozer blade</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>The troops have been gathered all the way from the Central Military Districts Siberian units and some trains are on the way from Arkhangelsk and Murmansk in the Arctic. In addition to the troops deploying close to Ukraine, the Russian ICBM TELs carrying the intercontinental nuclear missiles have been dispersed to the vast Siberian taiga to provide a nuclear umbrella for any upcoming operations.</div><div><br /></div><div>One surprising location where at least two Russian battalions have been spotted is the port city of Yeisk in Krasnodar oblast. The city is located on the southern shore of the Azov Sea, right across the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzV2tFsfbiPKtIhAXUg2z_vWxXxxhsNRN-8CKKebgvegQAJYWJ3eGxadWPyEXWmccgp8RtAnT1nnnLuhdVySw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On 8th of April the Russian Ministry of Defense <a href="https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12353278@egNews">announced </a>that over ten vessels of the Caspian fleet would transit from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea. The Volga-Don canal route takes this flotilla of gunboats, landing crafts and corvettes directly into the Azov Sea, less than a 100km form the Yeisk docks, that are well suited to loading all sorts of watercraft. The flotilla would be able to cross the 50 km stretch of water to Mariupol in less than an hour, bypassing the heavily fortified Ukrainian defense lines east of the city.</div><div><br /></div><div>Russian beachhead on the northern shore of the Azov Sea would simultaneously threaten the rear of both the defenders of the Mariupol sector and the troops guarding the narrow approaches from Crimea to the Ukrainian mainland.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another concentration of Russian reinforcements has been <a href="https://twitter.com/trbrtc/status/1380069652584230914/photo/3">spotted</a> building a temporary base of operations in the Voronetzh oblast, roughly 180 km from the Ukrainian border. The base has at least <a href="https://twitter.com/TheLoudHawk/status/1380094400827564035?s=20">600</a> vehicles with heavy artillery and electronic warfare support. Together with the forces of and in Belarus, this multi-brigade force threatens to bypass the Ukrainian forces facing off with the Russian forces already in Donbass. It looks like the Russian high command is setting up a pincer move that would force the well entrenched Ukrainian defenders to react and move. </div><div><br /></div><div>The maneuver warfare this would result in, is something that the Russian forces have trained a lot in the recent years and their new command and communications infrastructure allows a tight integration of different components of their force, while the extensive electronic warfare capabilities could severely hamper the Ukrainian response. </div><div><br /></div><div>If successful the pincer movement would either force the Ukrainian army surrounding the Russian control areas in Donbass into full retreat towards west or to their complete destruction. It would hardly be the first massive encirclement operation in the Ukrainian steppes.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-8845967171729278992021-04-02T15:15:00.001+03:002021-04-02T15:16:09.352+03:00Vantage Point on Gear: Särmä TST Shooter’s Belt<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dc2_3gJsgFKqbqNtqOHbJnn62hX6HvxmrRryVbQ_Hpp8xyZfIKUmlPLDRJXsmVrsRqcTlJIM6x4TWirI2LCL7Hot71lQt8v9T1W2_NJ9mGhgDwiHF1J4glh1IpaCmZkj3vklJ2wp1XU/s2048/IMG_20210331_162706+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2048" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dc2_3gJsgFKqbqNtqOHbJnn62hX6HvxmrRryVbQ_Hpp8xyZfIKUmlPLDRJXsmVrsRqcTlJIM6x4TWirI2LCL7Hot71lQt8v9T1W2_NJ9mGhgDwiHF1J4glh1IpaCmZkj3vklJ2wp1XU/w640-h370/IMG_20210331_162706+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Särmä TST Shooter's Belt with a Ghost holster and my Armscor</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
My old and faithful CR-Speed IPSC belt started to deteriorate after 17
years of use (and occasional abuse), so I needed a new belt for my
competitive shooting. After a quick check on what’s available, I
decided to buy something that would allow me to have a single rig for
both <a href="https://www.ipsc.org/ipsc/">IPSC</a> and its <a href="https://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2020/03/sra-finnish-4-gun-shooting-for.html">reservist oriented cousin SRA</a> as well as potential
2-gun brutality matches. Being an ethical chap who likes to ride on
a very high horse, I decided that I want something that is local, or at least
made in a country that has some basic respect for human rights and
workers conditions.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I saw that
Varusteleka had just released <a href="https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/sarma-tst-shooters-belt/66002" target="_blank">a Shooter’s Belt</a> into their Särmä
TST line of combat equipment. I’ve had some good experiences with
their clothing, such as the merino hoodies and sweaters and with my
wife absolutely loving their windproof jacket, I felt rather
confident to try out their belt, that is designed in Finland and
manufactured in Germany. The price isn’t cheap, but you can’t
really compete with the far east made products with European labor
these days.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeIT2CcXXLu3pLLlRf5TJ24KnMSUaoSaO5JIFNlwzPFe6zp260hnl8X0oYOnsXg9bIyI0rMUHdrd5SW6NgSger17pqaXBwa1PVmG91iED3DBFSs6cQjbyGLI-CE0iJ-MbLpvqDb2KPo4/s2048/IMG_20210331_162514+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1695" data-original-width="2048" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeIT2CcXXLu3pLLlRf5TJ24KnMSUaoSaO5JIFNlwzPFe6zp260hnl8X0oYOnsXg9bIyI0rMUHdrd5SW6NgSger17pqaXBwa1PVmG91iED3DBFSs6cQjbyGLI-CE0iJ-MbLpvqDb2KPo4/w640-h530/IMG_20210331_162514+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Varusteleka has rather distinctive and very cool packages.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I placed the order
without measuring my self. I have a well built waistline, so thought
that going for the biggest size would be a safe bet. When the packet
arrived 3 days later, I noticed that I should have paid a closer
attention to their sizing guide as the minimum length of the belt is
really that. So I had to sent it back to get the shorter size. Return
process went smoothly and by the next Monday I got the correct size
and proceeded to unpack it.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The initial
impression of the belt could be summed up into one word: solid. You
can actually grab one end of it and the rest will stay perfectly
level. The workmanship is good, with all of the stitching being
uniform and the molle channels are evenly cut. The velcro is very
grippy, but the inner belt, that I also purchased removes without
excessive force.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHtrS0njBQrsE2z5vzqlDNEHrPp4b14K80O5RA3ceJQ9ZHGAx-X1dOD9GiUvN0uDLYKTHsysqQHwuq9-IJ9Nb0sm1Qx7pPWtKyW-i1cKYQUGxlQhbVacJP2i0EN6tX7qqIUuhakg9IVg/s2048/IMG_20210330_165614+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1038" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHtrS0njBQrsE2z5vzqlDNEHrPp4b14K80O5RA3ceJQ9ZHGAx-X1dOD9GiUvN0uDLYKTHsysqQHwuq9-IJ9Nb0sm1Qx7pPWtKyW-i1cKYQUGxlQhbVacJP2i0EN6tX7qqIUuhakg9IVg/w324-h640/IMG_20210330_165614+%25282%2529.jpg" width="324" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stiff as an English upper lip</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I built a quick test
rig in order to do some dry practice runs in my garage and backyard.
Fixing the ghost holster was easy as it screws on perfectly. There is
absolutely no play between the hanger and the belt when the screws
are set. Fixing a set of molle magazine pouches into the channels was
a bit more tricky, but not much harder than putting the same pouches
to a British issue battlebelt.
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mgnHxbozS_CnIZuYnhWtu2n2KGz3yZ2TtuK3w0DUTCHuR0D7xPbfFzumAXCr512A1dQNSlMcn_qAl7ZFo2o0wztAZXmSJsXvWrbCb098QUeMqV9SQL9VWi59V_Fc5p7lzM7pj462Bu8/s2048/IMG_20210331_162634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mgnHxbozS_CnIZuYnhWtu2n2KGz3yZ2TtuK3w0DUTCHuR0D7xPbfFzumAXCr512A1dQNSlMcn_qAl7ZFo2o0wztAZXmSJsXvWrbCb098QUeMqV9SQL9VWi59V_Fc5p7lzM7pj462Bu8/w640-h480/IMG_20210331_162634.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I dropped my
slightly modified Armscor Hicap 1911 into the holster and did some
practice draws. So far so good, no difference in time compared to the
CR-Speed and the whole set up felt secure. A couple of Kassarda
Drills later the setup was still secure and but I did remember that
my molle mag pouches still suck and I really need to get better ones
especially for pistol magazines.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGk8C9D4G6HA0VIVVcIaDmqTty8HK2GMUbblswGF7XDGZCRB1cLgZLoymx9wdeepXVUlvgi81ZCtme0b9GsXrWQkbMAwuFliXFtOt6YFt1NqEMqDg_I9m15nS3q4kAAsm4VDhfyg4y7c/s2048/IMG_20210402_132646+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1841" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGk8C9D4G6HA0VIVVcIaDmqTty8HK2GMUbblswGF7XDGZCRB1cLgZLoymx9wdeepXVUlvgi81ZCtme0b9GsXrWQkbMAwuFliXFtOt6YFt1NqEMqDg_I9m15nS3q4kAAsm4VDhfyg4y7c/w640-h640/IMG_20210402_132646+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really need a model for reviews, but here is the rig on the author.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The only real gripe
I have with the Särmä TST Shooter’s belt is that it’s a buckled
design. While it’s sharper looking and more secure than the
tradition velcro only IPSC belts, it’s also a bit more tricky to
put on and get all of the holsters and pouches oriented properly.
This is amplified if you have to slip the rig on while wearing a
jacket etc. And even this complaint probably has more to with my 17
years of experience with a velcro only rig and a year from now I
probably have forgotten the whole issue. And the buckle on this belt is a rock solid one and I really can't think of a better one for this kind of use.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So beyond actual long term durability, it looks like I got what I wanted: A solid European made
belt to build a rig for my various dynamic shooting and reservist
activity needs. They also ship worldwide with rather reasonable flat rate shipping costs.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>Disclaimer: I have
no affiliation with Varusteleka, they did not sponsor me or this
review in anyway and all of the gear shown in the pictures was
purchased with my own money.</i></p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-75340959998392713532021-03-28T15:02:00.005+03:002021-03-28T15:02:49.673+03:00An OSINT week in Baltiysk: the Nanuchka class upgrades and a sub visit<p> OSINT, and especially social media based OSINT, on military installations can be tricky. But some bases are a lot more accessible than others. The Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet is one of the easier ones. Both of the fleets major bases, Baltiysk and Kronstadt, are popular tourist and outdoor locations with people boating, walking, fishing, ice fishing and filming almost all year around. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaP5ueeYmdp-mBtcNkOejyntDPfbw2UlTrBTbN0XriN0rosay_Vn7vfPddaa4QtPIHDI97sOcCqbFNscRJWhrdTFaMihEDKCLm8fHbxbM0fr8R2gDoRqFItVOW1Ttg6b8hNjMdlU2RJs/s1439/Screenshot_20210328-131619_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1439" height="517" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaP5ueeYmdp-mBtcNkOejyntDPfbw2UlTrBTbN0XriN0rosay_Vn7vfPddaa4QtPIHDI97sOcCqbFNscRJWhrdTFaMihEDKCLm8fHbxbM0fr8R2gDoRqFItVOW1Ttg6b8hNjMdlU2RJs/w640-h517/Screenshot_20210328-131619_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An unmodified Nanuchka-class corvette Geyzer and the Swans that hang out along the canal</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /><br />So what kind of information can be derived from the typical weeks worth of digging through the various social networks? The most obvious fact is that a Russian city can have more nail saloons than residents. When it comes to the military side of things, the first one is the locations of the vessels within the port area. This also allows one to observe the ships that are missing from images. But be warned, some ports have more static berthing than others.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-N4m_6OIFj-MdnOQf_Qn2S68WZcfmRL8Gradcn_fakiGO43yXXpaY1QBIe3iNm629a5JGOqEtAbzJ4s794KX6sclwAB7EQvTXN98ttBoRCIJ_r3fSEJ2LnOBlxFqsyndq9B-Oruc4nI/s1058/Screenshot_20210328-131508_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1058" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-N4m_6OIFj-MdnOQf_Qn2S68WZcfmRL8Gradcn_fakiGO43yXXpaY1QBIe3iNm629a5JGOqEtAbzJ4s794KX6sclwAB7EQvTXN98ttBoRCIJ_r3fSEJ2LnOBlxFqsyndq9B-Oruc4nI/w640-h532/Screenshot_20210328-131508_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Zubr-class LAC:s in their special concrete landing pads are the easiest to locate</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>You can also see the various ships entering than exiting the port and tie these sightings to the various exercise announcements that the Russian MOD and various defense publications do.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYaiv3hyphenhyphenKvUgIYGMMM3zW7CX3LwdaEo8OyU2Evp3kWDxdyy-nHpM4yDPLV_OQKtBUXr0LhLfIPTq3HfsIwCVxsLnYSLX5gwj5Xe1XaQqdPh5w-hdkKJmQCExtd38T9H8D13xOfn-YWMw/s156/Screenshot_20210328-131831_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="141" data-original-width="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYaiv3hyphenhyphenKvUgIYGMMM3zW7CX3LwdaEo8OyU2Evp3kWDxdyy-nHpM4yDPLV_OQKtBUXr0LhLfIPTq3HfsIwCVxsLnYSLX5gwj5Xe1XaQqdPh5w-hdkKJmQCExtd38T9H8D13xOfn-YWMw/s0/Screenshot_20210328-131831_.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.16px;">Dyugon class landing craft</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CDA15yMpkQXec5_a_VOGzKizpbPKAEvoZSjymU7JBeYbPF7SpCQYfgYfdYoc1NjYJvjABfbE279Lh4F1JyVHKEM4jD1bWlnCqm3lbw55ZbBwQ_Az1_WErBqVZq4EA4wwF0yPykdIstY/s1439/Screenshot_20210328-131904_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1439" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CDA15yMpkQXec5_a_VOGzKizpbPKAEvoZSjymU7JBeYbPF7SpCQYfgYfdYoc1NjYJvjABfbE279Lh4F1JyVHKEM4jD1bWlnCqm3lbw55ZbBwQ_Az1_WErBqVZq4EA4wwF0yPykdIstY/w640-h534/Screenshot_20210328-131904_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tarantul class corvette</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Quite often there are also visitors that aren't mentioned in the headlines, like this Kilo-class diesel attack submarine that had a quick two day stop at the Baltiysk.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8m4ZAVUycOuAdFv6giVqBitqEs__QsI897iICFG7_cX4297dEx7a1mEvt5YH3rPwP8D1TW4QYsQB_tHi8LeyvhyphenhyphenNSIqURtjjgG53dDLZdH8R1bnePOqyPl0e_MA8bJblXZIGlzIlM34/s1431/sub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1431" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8m4ZAVUycOuAdFv6giVqBitqEs__QsI897iICFG7_cX4297dEx7a1mEvt5YH3rPwP8D1TW4QYsQB_tHi8LeyvhyphenhyphenNSIqURtjjgG53dDLZdH8R1bnePOqyPl0e_MA8bJblXZIGlzIlM34/w640-h336/sub.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kilo class submarine entering Baltiysk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6fGV51Ta1kXOh04nRWIhapKoDzKZTUYBjUIhMoft2Ap8HO0gpDvs3uBPzsMz3nFv9phFtxnz1OR-4WGZzIDoascS2uID_F5jDm54eyI9QUlUF214sJHSz6Sg8h6U_9r991kvA6dTwO8/s1432/Screenshot_20210328-132211_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1432" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6fGV51Ta1kXOh04nRWIhapKoDzKZTUYBjUIhMoft2Ap8HO0gpDvs3uBPzsMz3nFv9phFtxnz1OR-4WGZzIDoascS2uID_F5jDm54eyI9QUlUF214sJHSz6Sg8h6U_9r991kvA6dTwO8/w640-h292/Screenshot_20210328-132211_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kilo class submarine leaving Baltiysk</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Some of these ships are local ones that regularly patrol the waterways around the base, like the Alexandrit-class minesweepes, RVK-class rescue boats and Parchim-class corvettes. The ASW focused Parchims rarely venture very far.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fbxmh-vo9AIYdEob6faImBwOfNoJzH22Q0INAhFJIwEZOetbJALo5yyCBlR2EXP0axqlp77tSmq33DqAfZTwioRKyH57Tq_Z4tynoh7ful2JPPYex27-TIop3MHXGsSN0DI3edasr-4/s1439/Screenshot_20210328-131708-c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1439" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fbxmh-vo9AIYdEob6faImBwOfNoJzH22Q0INAhFJIwEZOetbJALo5yyCBlR2EXP0axqlp77tSmq33DqAfZTwioRKyH57Tq_Z4tynoh7ful2JPPYex27-TIop3MHXGsSN0DI3edasr-4/w640-h296/Screenshot_20210328-131708-c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parchim class corvette</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO2J6Yd-Tzpcs7bXtc4y_MxraylLYs6wvU6suyn6kqHzIKNRS4VRXLYrZaZQbsEk79mINv32aJfuhxFCIVEeTvYhILa2zHuVeq1NhgUtDZBD_eZP7n2V6UkKqR6wl_6qYVOaWxe3mh-4/s1440/Screenshot_20210328-132254_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="1440" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO2J6Yd-Tzpcs7bXtc4y_MxraylLYs6wvU6suyn6kqHzIKNRS4VRXLYrZaZQbsEk79mINv32aJfuhxFCIVEeTvYhILa2zHuVeq1NhgUtDZBD_eZP7n2V6UkKqR6wl_6qYVOaWxe3mh-4/w640-h422/Screenshot_20210328-132254_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RBK class rescue boat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPC164wT0IHaUlDIKMfHU7uAA5zZ1sd0OagGfKtbL7pon2nMlTlQ9AssE7JJPwXpmZcaMqxBKUjy5YrPTo_BK9sXnBUsgHD0BD6oDXfuPMHCIT75GntzNE-Ch9pIvI3_Rs9U6jlj3heQ/s1431/Screenshot_20210328-131537_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1431" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPC164wT0IHaUlDIKMfHU7uAA5zZ1sd0OagGfKtbL7pon2nMlTlQ9AssE7JJPwXpmZcaMqxBKUjy5YrPTo_BK9sXnBUsgHD0BD6oDXfuPMHCIT75GntzNE-Ch9pIvI3_Rs9U6jlj3heQ/w640-h384/Screenshot_20210328-131537_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexandrit-class minesweeper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The most interesting spot of the week was moored right along the popular walkway by the entrance into the harbor. A Nanuchka-class missile boat / corvette Passat was recently on the Baltiysk floating dock receiving unspecified upgrades. It seems that the ship was fitted with PK-10 countermeasure launching system in front of its rear mounted 30mm AK-630 CIWS. The fact that the Russian Navy still invests in the survivability of these old hulls, tells you a low about how far their eventual replacement still is.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="1440" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ft0thiRz36SnotsETJysDc-RUvE3zbRtwW8Z9VGvh6GiqpdzFo7YlhvKlPph4ifhR9YeBHrTTJuaqIeWnRbc4UrB_8Ur3q0iR3uEGfbM1G61XZlKbXObKkGlf6RSF-0WuHewboL1BRM/w640-h516/Screenshot_20210328-131640_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanuchka class corvettes Passat and Liven</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6uvwbpoXXS4raZq_6bMjZbwYKUCHBxys_8XE2nVeLF_vO9lTHGoD53BDQbo86lodSZd6EyHpkshDA2nNgxCFxzWCacxpA_fjJQ8s9JHIH7GMZxrkctDNoaRIlcmTbdAnhsfXIIbVEKQ/s1212/InkedScreenshot_20210328-133245__LI_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="1212" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6uvwbpoXXS4raZq_6bMjZbwYKUCHBxys_8XE2nVeLF_vO9lTHGoD53BDQbo86lodSZd6EyHpkshDA2nNgxCFxzWCacxpA_fjJQ8s9JHIH7GMZxrkctDNoaRIlcmTbdAnhsfXIIbVEKQ/w640-h310/InkedScreenshot_20210328-133245__LI_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Passat's PK-10 Countermeasure launchers</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3aXvbbACiFyMGzA7TmhIkCzxnZCB2WoDoXvvfpN-y40QbrwcVVjeNTC2FgvSXZuByzNEhkpfWZZos9sSw3eo-mzTObhkWE1-ErkkkJwsyKuBCuOQzcHo2odCc2a5u9lFjrFBXANxEb8/s1321/Screenshot_20210328-132104_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1321" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3aXvbbACiFyMGzA7TmhIkCzxnZCB2WoDoXvvfpN-y40QbrwcVVjeNTC2FgvSXZuByzNEhkpfWZZos9sSw3eo-mzTObhkWE1-ErkkkJwsyKuBCuOQzcHo2odCc2a5u9lFjrFBXANxEb8/w640-h578/Screenshot_20210328-132104_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Buyan-M class corvette on a Baltiysk floating dock</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>I hope that you enjoyed this brief Baltic Fleet newsflash, more similar posts might happen later on.</p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-1221839008559868922021-03-12T14:37:00.004+02:002021-03-12T14:38:29.095+02:00Military readiness during a pandemic: Finnish local defense exercises 2021<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNrOCtVgaxJROCO6m8Vaw_cFrbCuiO86lDaZMmrJ4qf295OV3A2mTZVkwv_ivmjbub9ISrL0T9ebsoeGiBkFdx1ZPXfa5t1W8UInuzeoCvcJNEAgO4OhqVUtfJsjGbSe_sh4ByEA-cfU/s1500/IMG_0075.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNrOCtVgaxJROCO6m8Vaw_cFrbCuiO86lDaZMmrJ4qf295OV3A2mTZVkwv_ivmjbub9ISrL0T9ebsoeGiBkFdx1ZPXfa5t1W8UInuzeoCvcJNEAgO4OhqVUtfJsjGbSe_sh4ByEA-cfU/w426-h640/IMG_0075.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Readiness battalion with their CV9030 (Photo: FDF)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Finnish
Defense Forces have put an extra effort to increasing their readiness and
capability to counter surprising threats after the Russian invasion of Crimea. This
has been possible as the focus of the FDF has remained in the defense of the
Finnish territory against the Russian threat and unlike the rest of the European armed forces it still maintains a reserve based army geared for high intensity
warfare.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXFT0CASBWP6XmKZgZ9_8JQ4ZvQHj9BVn4lqEIa087FQBtvfjJiQ2cvcA-sEcN3zyoO-3FaaW_PZxUevu-Wze6vq9JvGE2I2ZOuYxbaL5T6f7be2NW64Ges07E82Z3Es27Dt2mtEvbes/s1000/image00004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXFT0CASBWP6XmKZgZ9_8JQ4ZvQHj9BVn4lqEIa087FQBtvfjJiQ2cvcA-sEcN3zyoO-3FaaW_PZxUevu-Wze6vq9JvGE2I2ZOuYxbaL5T6f7be2NW64Ges07E82Z3Es27Dt2mtEvbes/w640-h426/image00004.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the environmentally friendly wooden bullets in use (Photo:FDF)</td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Recent <a href="https://www.foi.se/en/foi/news-and-pressroom/news/2021-03-11-defence-efforts-in-northern-europe-should-focus-on-the-near-term.html" target="_blank">report</a>
from the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI) suggests that Russia still has
an edge over the NATO forces in Eastern Europe. The Russian forces have the
advantage of better strategic mobility, faster chain of command and superior
numbers in land combat. This disparity increases the risks of a military
conflict in Northern Europe. The FOI estimates that the Finnish and Swedish
effort in a fight against a Russian offensive in the Baltic's would be crucial and that Russia
would take action, either by using conventional forces or threats of a nuclear
strike to intimidate Finland and Sweden.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The second part
of the FOI <a href="https://www.foi.se/report-summary?reportNo=FOI-R--5013--SE" target="_blank">report</a> focuses on the European forces and their capabilities. It
lists the Finnish combat readiness in the following table:</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XdkMA_EjdSyMwLj0ixZBk3cjDgrL0ZOZBqn4gFz0gDb8g3SuPC2qPW3Mi68ZwVpjvw8kzYdIIUOfoALPUMdD-BBKy3w5lJag2NhjQOOzHjHkUAAi5xGDhxXu7bi_rAEt87aaNm-AkHk/s675/Suomen+joukot.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="675" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XdkMA_EjdSyMwLj0ixZBk3cjDgrL0ZOZBqn4gFz0gDb8g3SuPC2qPW3Mi68ZwVpjvw8kzYdIIUOfoALPUMdD-BBKy3w5lJag2NhjQOOzHjHkUAAi5xGDhxXu7bi_rAEt87aaNm-AkHk/w640-h458/Suomen+joukot.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p>The amount of forces available at short notice has increased during the past five years. </o:p></span>I have
covered the changes in the Finnish force structure and training in my previous
articles:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2019/09/countering-hybrid-war-2019.html">http://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2019/09/countering-hybrid-war-2019.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2017/09/countering-hybrid-warthe-finnish-way.html">https://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2017/09/countering-hybrid-warthe-finnish-way.html</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The latest
round of local defense exercises was held in the middle of the Covid19 pandemic.
The Defense Forces have had strict and very successful measures in place to
combat the spread of the infection. Conscript units have been compartmentalized
into smaller units with rotating shifts in the woods, on barracks and on vacation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The five <a href="https://maavoimat.fi/en/-/local-defence-exercises-of-the-army-prepare-for-disturbance-situations-in-society" target="_blank">local defense exercises </a>that were held in the winter of 2021 were:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">Lapland and North Ostrobothnia 2021</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Exercise time:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>26.2.-5.3.2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Exercise area: North Ostrobothnia, Lapland
(Oulu, Rovaniemi, Sodankylä, Ivalo)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Number of troops: c. 1,200 personnel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Number of vehicles: c. 250 vehicles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Participating authorities: Police, Finnish
Border Guard, Rescue Department, North Ostrobothnia Hospital District, Kainuu
Social Welfare and Health District, North Finland Regional State Administrative
Agency, Lapland Regional State Administrative Agency, Customs, Judiciary,
Centre for Economic Development, Transport and Environment <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Kehä 2021<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Exercise time: 6.-11.3.2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Exercise area: Capital city area; Helsinki and
East Uusimaa, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Number of troops: c. 750 personnel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Number of vehicles: c. 150 vehicles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Participating authorities: East Uusimaa Police,
Helsinki Rescue Department, Finnish Border Guard<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b>Salo 2021<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">Exercise time: 8-12.3.2021<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">Exercise area: Säkylä, Salo,
Oripää, Kemiönsaari/Säkylä Garrison, Oripää Airfield and Kiikala Airfield<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Number of troops: c. 700 personnel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Participating authorities: Southwest Finland
Police, Southwest Finland Rescue Department, West Finland Cost Guard District,
(Southwest Finland Hospital District)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Pirkanmaa 2021</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Exercise time: 8. - 12.3.2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Exercise area: Pirkanmaa / Kanta-Häme <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Number of troops: c. 820 personnel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Number of vehicles and of armoured vehicles:
tens of vehicles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Participating authorities: Police, Rescue
Department, Tampere City<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Kymi 2021<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Exercise time: 8.-11.3.2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Exercise area: Region of Kouvola<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Number of troops: c. 1,000 personnel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">All these
exercises focus on co-operation between authorities and rapid reaction to
localized threats. So, let us take a closer look at one of them, the<a href="https://maavoimat.fi/-/kohonnutta-sotilaallista-uhkaa-vastaan" target="_blank"> Kymi 2021</a>
hosted by the Karelian Brigade in Kouvola.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The
exercise begun with the mobilization of the readiness battalion of the Karelian
Brigade and the reservists of the local defense units based in the Kymenlaakso
region. These units then linked up with local police and Border Guard forces to
establish a common situational awareness. After gearing up the units deployed
into the region, taking control of the pre-planned control points. Units then
used the local resources to maintain their combat readiness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEi1KfbvKhVyMcnV9HrzhAy5KyWilAn8TOJPMexW3ERWCfkBou9yU0Wd8RhyxDFIoBWOVny3y0YN8SchgluvuoPhn-IAipzoch9hN_lEJ1y8Wag_bKnW4ZAreQsIn6yTsWPBO5vRmiqE/s1220/N%25C3%25A4ytt%25C3%25B6kuva+2021-3-11+kello+17.46.37.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEi1KfbvKhVyMcnV9HrzhAy5KyWilAn8TOJPMexW3ERWCfkBou9yU0Wd8RhyxDFIoBWOVny3y0YN8SchgluvuoPhn-IAipzoch9hN_lEJ1y8Wag_bKnW4ZAreQsIn6yTsWPBO5vRmiqE/s320/N%25C3%25A4ytt%25C3%25B6kuva+2021-3-11+kello+17.46.37.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a CV9030 Commander of the Readiness battalion </td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On the
second phase of the exercise the Army forces responded to an enemy military incursion
into Finnish territory, that was detected and delayed by the Border Guard forces.
The mechanized readiness battalion then linked up with the Border Guards and
conducted a counterattack in order to destroy or push pack the hostile forces. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The force
structure of the Finnish readiness and local units, when combined with the
other authorities and Special Forces enables a very wide range of options to
deal with threats that may emerge. Units can be used as disaster relief or security
forces or to conduct high intensity offensive operations backed by organic
armor and heavy artillery.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsSc9oqc4Q1dE6l23TBq7nVmaE1q8OQFYQ41uORQYZLVnON9roDfm1nRflxjc_5se0FDG21kx1bXx4ATpKl1Y219jlMNh01wBVLqONByxPtxTxZof6YvenklomHyuptoILv0VABmEhDM/s2048/IMG_0093.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsSc9oqc4Q1dE6l23TBq7nVmaE1q8OQFYQ41uORQYZLVnON9roDfm1nRflxjc_5se0FDG21kx1bXx4ATpKl1Y219jlMNh01wBVLqONByxPtxTxZof6YvenklomHyuptoILv0VABmEhDM/w640-h426/IMG_0093.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Finnish Air Force provided support for the troops with their F/A-18C/D Hornets</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-48752761890593170132020-08-20T17:45:00.002+03:002020-08-20T17:51:22.790+03:00Russian Battalion Tactical Group southbound from Saint Petersburg<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A social
media video of a Russian train loaded with military vehicles surfaced
20.8.2020. The video was supposedly filmed south of Saint Petersburg. While videos
of Russian convoys and trains laden with tanks are not rare, there are some
interesting features in this one. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLO3xKyfEhyphenhyphenSSiH9LWTihN12vvpA59mZVLDauogGiSx5sbOaaXYLOJrOXSpAxDu1LZz2CshcVvY9qZ7GoePrTTCzYvAW0fiNIfRNrTFeUSYdnj2qN_Ha8TshrB3Jm8nfpi1KHdYRGToI/s1015/mtlb.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1015" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLO3xKyfEhyphenhyphenSSiH9LWTihN12vvpA59mZVLDauogGiSx5sbOaaXYLOJrOXSpAxDu1LZz2CshcVvY9qZ7GoePrTTCzYvAW0fiNIfRNrTFeUSYdnj2qN_Ha8TshrB3Jm8nfpi1KHdYRGToI/s640/mtlb.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It seems to
feature a fully functional Russian battalion tactical group. The maneuver unit is
clearly based around a motorized rifle battalion that is equipped with the venerable
MT-LB tracked armored personnel carriers. In the Russian system a Motorized
Rifle unit can be classified as either mechanized or motorized in the west
depending on the set of vehicles it is equipped with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This
battalion has at least 35 baseline MT-LBs, which is consistent with the 3 vehicles
per platoon and 3 platoons + ATGM-section per company structure that is typical
with the battalions of the motorized rifle brigades.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUc84MdWedgjukvq4idgpr-znE5UPe8LrW6_sRPb1hkarnzVPc1OheUVlYYYjB7qtBh6BcK1YyxI9_Vx5uLD5wuvovYi3lck081DE182xeQ0R_nNrif9JIOq4GvsbxTOoRaqJsrhmzGk/s1363/Screenshot_20200820-164756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="1363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUc84MdWedgjukvq4idgpr-znE5UPe8LrW6_sRPb1hkarnzVPc1OheUVlYYYjB7qtBh6BcK1YyxI9_Vx5uLD5wuvovYi3lck081DE182xeQ0R_nNrif9JIOq4GvsbxTOoRaqJsrhmzGk/s640/Screenshot_20200820-164756.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
battalion also has its integral command and communications assets in the form
of two <a href="https://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2017/09/russian-military-reform-command-and.html">R-149</a> unified command and communications vehicles based on the BTR-80
wheeled APC. They are equipped with the latest Russian digital communications
systems and allow very high level of coordination between formations. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpewT5zExooBIpAAxj-QV-Q17lhWVO3gesYpLmso3aeiJRLSX9AepqIenDc21f1zSN4_nefBYyNolstLVjBlOm8duAYZy6mZvnl8GvmVy1nvb27Y48Po_ejO5N5r02ORNykJGuQINl_w/s1403/Screenshot_20200820-164153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="1403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpewT5zExooBIpAAxj-QV-Q17lhWVO3gesYpLmso3aeiJRLSX9AepqIenDc21f1zSN4_nefBYyNolstLVjBlOm8duAYZy6mZvnl8GvmVy1nvb27Y48Po_ejO5N5r02ORNykJGuQINl_w/s640/Screenshot_20200820-164153.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A rarer
asset in the battalion is an R-330B electronic warfare vehicle with basic abilities
to jam and locate hostile communications.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6C_Z675qviTXhoEQ0XfKNYuq8vh9TwuJmDo4nexmb9J86ajzadKAAaubh3IDmmEol7kb4A_Qm7jE-QTAguY4TJYGRT1rbQbmevBDdCgKmSLvOlepRH5gaH-3HMCeujd4W2hZOjE8ym0/s1406/Screenshot_20200820-164749.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6C_Z675qviTXhoEQ0XfKNYuq8vh9TwuJmDo4nexmb9J86ajzadKAAaubh3IDmmEol7kb4A_Qm7jE-QTAguY4TJYGRT1rbQbmevBDdCgKmSLvOlepRH5gaH-3HMCeujd4W2hZOjE8ym0/s640/Screenshot_20200820-164749.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The supporting
elements of the battalion consist of at least a platoon of four <a href="https://blog.vantagepointnorth.net/2019/01/quick-guide-to-identifying-russian.html">T-72B3 tanks</a>
that provide direct fire support for the infantry. The T-72B3 is an advanced upgrade
of the T-72 tank with a new reactive armor and upgraded electronics, including
thermal optics. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTxKN6aHQotUadBUWwA0EtyXEc7VXY8XUhFPMQ6YWjy5HTiXAGoqRzmIIsXvkpqhI1zdCCgon0ECLrp2selU7JBeYN7-2pyP63Y6r4veH6P2hjgF4d49zjBaUg0KwuF7WqtsFqjyQ2Vs/s1394/Screenshot_20200820-164237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="1394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTxKN6aHQotUadBUWwA0EtyXEc7VXY8XUhFPMQ6YWjy5HTiXAGoqRzmIIsXvkpqhI1zdCCgon0ECLrp2selU7JBeYN7-2pyP63Y6r4veH6P2hjgF4d49zjBaUg0KwuF7WqtsFqjyQ2Vs/s640/Screenshot_20200820-164237.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For
indirect fire purposes the BTG is attached with a battery of six 2S3 Akatsiya
SPGs. While the 152mm 2S3 is an outdated design that is being replaced by more
modern systems, it is still capable of providing fire support within the BTGs
area of operations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A battalion
tactical group like this is capable of conducting limited operations independently
and it’s a highly flexible asset for the Russian high command. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxdK9w1gb-M6hwaESIxJfIF8YxLoPnsB8fdSXHn6JGHP69g5dyYcNDL79Ve42awjeS2rzNLIp9XJGjlCksaSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Where exactly
this particular BTG is heading to is unknown. The t</span>racks lead to Belarus, but there
are also several large Russian training areas in that direction and the Russian
army has announced that multiple motorized rifle units will conduct force on
force training in the region.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">-Petri Mäkelä</p>Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2691150609885869606.post-31221651841376466102020-05-17T15:02:00.004+03:002020-05-17T15:05:20.709+03:00Russian Robots: From combat to engineering<h1 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></h1>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKIKma77YJyJ0rOXJoBNOim7G0j65OKHv50MQqOaFMFRRXPfZ1ZuH_WZ1DokGw_MzXjCLfAtTOmfgnzZHi70kQZJCcPaSF_MJ2IQ32DRyYYLe_APq7VkZoX_bvip1npOEosL2F65NQ-M/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1200" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKIKma77YJyJ0rOXJoBNOim7G0j65OKHv50MQqOaFMFRRXPfZ1ZuH_WZ1DokGw_MzXjCLfAtTOmfgnzZHi70kQZJCcPaSF_MJ2IQ32DRyYYLe_APq7VkZoX_bvip1npOEosL2F65NQ-M/w640-h346/1024417057_53_518_2883_2046_1200x0_80_0_1_dd2fb2777b55a9b8c78bb42f6201cf29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BMR-3M</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">For the past ten
years the Russian army has been boasting about it’s upcoming combat
robots, or unmanned ground vehicles, UGV:s, as the parlance goes
in the west. The focus has been on the swanky looking combat robots
bristling with weapon stations and missiles.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The idea of a
remotely operated tank for attack operations isn’t exactly new in
the Russian army. The Soviet Red Army studied and tested radio controlled
teletanks already in the 1930’s. These were simple remotely
operated versions of the existing T-18, T-26, T-38, BT-5 and BT-7
tanks. These early UGVs couldn’t share any sensor data with their
controllers, who were traveling in the accompanying regular tanks. This resulted in aiming
problems, that were solved by arming the teletanks mainly with
flamethrowers, machine guns and demolition charges that didn’t rely
on precision aiming. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglI3DZHIrZciBsWAFfoybaES-RKsTiYUg64vqz8yzFMKUJ3kjRB_4jrkk9nKZLHS5FYv56g2Xvm16XHaOucwQAO0ZE1tD-DVM-RfTL_d43gpLksMNsdySFRX8gWLSMEXZzOAwBRHl7f2s/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="1000" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglI3DZHIrZciBsWAFfoybaES-RKsTiYUg64vqz8yzFMKUJ3kjRB_4jrkk9nKZLHS5FYv56g2Xvm16XHaOucwQAO0ZE1tD-DVM-RfTL_d43gpLksMNsdySFRX8gWLSMEXZzOAwBRHl7f2s/w640-h346/1041582627_0_52_1000_593_1000x541_80_0_0_270b0fc859cd6e7878141f42a5b4d427.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T-26 Teletank<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The teletanks saw their combat debut during the
Winter War in 1939-40, but the success of the units were minimal, with
many tanks bogging down and loosing contact with the controllers. The
performance wasn’t unusually bad by the soviet standards and so the
defending Finnish forces usually didn’t spot the teletanks being
used from the failures of the regular Soviet tank crews.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnqRezU4AEgf86wqdHydt7bkMw03iq4dWj55w3xxt36B2gYVfK2SNN5nTbot7FfYtxE8aYtWnnVc9xalPd2mkjpLMyw5K2e9T1HAC6fkZ-51kNC2fuXc7sV4QM_ixuNWcDkJNjuVy65k/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1020" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnqRezU4AEgf86wqdHydt7bkMw03iq4dWj55w3xxt36B2gYVfK2SNN5nTbot7FfYtxE8aYtWnnVc9xalPd2mkjpLMyw5K2e9T1HAC6fkZ-51kNC2fuXc7sV4QM_ixuNWcDkJNjuVy65k/w640-h410/4329229.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uran-9 (TASS)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />The present day
Russian teletank, Uran-9, was field tested in Syria. The Uran-9
boasts a far more advanced weapon and sensor suite than its 1930’s
counterparts. The small tankette is armed witha 30mm 2A72 mod ABM M30-M3
auto-cannon and four ATGMs or short range surface to air missiles.
It’s capable of relaying camera and sensor data to the operators a
few hundred meters of few kilometres away.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">While the official
Russian fanfare about the Uran-9 before its combat deployment was
loud, the silence with any official after action reports has been
deafening. The unofficial accounts claim that the tests were a complete
failure. Mobility and communication problems rendered the units unusable,
just like the 1930’s teletanks. The lack of any artificial
intelligence or rudimentary autonomous capability beyond “drive
100m straight, then stop” style commands just isn’t enough to
survive, let alone have a meaningful impact, on the modern battlefield.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikemDSuu-P7e50U1fbIH4IeNkkSfqsEunM1JnlsGP3sECs4djgVM-YHL3zFetH8KQ8gdvkfwPT3oDyel7FGbbBxV0zFTsdB_ozVXjX3gFpachmaEWwnKPMFUPPuW1GJ4EyQ6mKu9mocKI/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="790" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikemDSuu-P7e50U1fbIH4IeNkkSfqsEunM1JnlsGP3sECs4djgVM-YHL3zFetH8KQ8gdvkfwPT3oDyel7FGbbBxV0zFTsdB_ozVXjX3gFpachmaEWwnKPMFUPPuW1GJ4EyQ6mKu9mocKI/w640-h360/56fc15dec361886d7c8b4599.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uran-6 operated by a combat engineer equipped with an exoskeleton prototype<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Another member of
the Uran robot family has also been tested, but with a bit less
fanfare. The Uran-6 is a smallish, remotely operated engineering and
mine clearing vehicle. It has been successfully used to de-mine areas
in Syria and in Russia. The vast artillery firing ranges used by the
Russian military have been a prefect testing ground for Uran-6 and
few other similar engineering robots. The level of autonomity that
proved disastrous in combat, is fully capable of doing route and area
clearing operations in rear areas without endangering service
personnel.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Next logical step
after the concept was proven with Uran-6 seems to be to employ the
similar sensor and command components to a heavier vehicle that can
be used to clear routes for attacking mechanized units under enemy
fire. The Russian combat engineering units should be receiving the
first test batch of the new remote-operated combat engineering
vehicles called IMRTK-SR and IMRTK-RT. Judging from the public
information fragments available, these vehicles will be optionally
manned variants of the IMR-3M and BMR-3M.
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHnU49sKMuftXdJ2ahdQts4NzoD2zcBcoIQlD-0-2i2paV6TExjvYeBtZQxSTUsc13V7eu-KxXgIgDC_PUme-DyuaA7yO8Z86dPR0oRAkzKNUHFk2P8xR658QXJO4Te-WxfbMlRsxB5U/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="2560" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHnU49sKMuftXdJ2ahdQts4NzoD2zcBcoIQlD-0-2i2paV6TExjvYeBtZQxSTUsc13V7eu-KxXgIgDC_PUme-DyuaA7yO8Z86dPR0oRAkzKNUHFk2P8xR658QXJO4Te-WxfbMlRsxB5U/w640-h426/zasncouirzb21.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IMR-3M<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">These vehicles would
allow the Russian mechanized formations to clear obstacles and mines
in advance of an actual assault that would most likely see the new
manned UBIM combat engineering vehicles as the spearhead as well as
acting as command vehicles for their robot minions. The UBIM is intended to replace a multitude of existing combat engineering vehicles in the Russian service, but it remains to be seen if there will ever be a full replacement of the legacy systems.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHH1ECWmYix77x5rShRvSqKuV_0cWo6XoSadxLUJUb-ijKoWBKrsIPXZG2iURhu_JhV2xRf9VoXLSuyvx5rRXZPPIDmYfuUkGAnFclsbWXaDB_bK-u13pXRHtzsCWA0m9C4iSDSfMBC8/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHH1ECWmYix77x5rShRvSqKuV_0cWo6XoSadxLUJUb-ijKoWBKrsIPXZG2iURhu_JhV2xRf9VoXLSuyvx5rRXZPPIDmYfuUkGAnFclsbWXaDB_bK-u13pXRHtzsCWA0m9C4iSDSfMBC8/w640-h426/366c3a6930d8732e3343c2fbc9367c24.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UBIM<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">With new bridge and
pontoon vehicles, mineclearing equipment and upgrades to pipeline and
railway engineering equipment, it seems that the Russian army is
still committed to the preparations of a major land war against a
peer- or near peer-level opponent. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">It also highlights the experiences
from Ukraine, where field fortifications and minefields have been
extensively used. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Future of warfare isn’t all about agility and
cyber-capabilities, the need for brute force is also still there.</p><br />Petri Mäkelähttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719719044533661148noreply@blogger.com2