The Ukraine Crisis Part 2 . The Battle for the Donbas

Possibly hit by a Ukraine Antiship Missile .

A Russian Cruiser in the Black Sea

 

Not a good week for the Russians

 

A Snippet from Defense One

The United States will send an $800 million security assistance package of additional military weapons systems, vehicles, and munitions to Ukraine as Russia prepares to significantly increase its assault on the Donbas region, President Joe Biden announced Wednesday.

The latest arms transfer will include 11 Mi-17 helicopters that the administration had originally planned for Afghanistan but will send to Ukraine instead. The package also includes

18 155mm Howitzers, 300 Switchblade drones, 200 M113 armored personnel carriers, and 100 armored high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles.

The new capabilities are “tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine,” Biden said in a statement.

 

From the Eurasian Times

Ukraine could receive the German Leopard 1 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) within six weeks according to German Defense Contractor Rheinmetall who awaits approval from the German Government.

Rheinmetall chief executive Armin Papperger told Germany’s Handelsblatt business newspaper that the company is ready to deliver 50 Leopard 1 tanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, provided, the federal government approves such a transfer.

 

Six weeks is too long....

 

It's only a small gesture but the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) has banned all runners from Russia, and Belarus from this year's Boston Marathon to be held on Monday April 18th

 

Leopard 1s arnt that good anyway . I agree 6 weeks will be too late but they could get them before .

It looks like the British Harpoon Anti Ship Missile has scored today

I'll place pictures of the equipment later

 

Some of the Equipment as promised .

I will start off with what I think is least useful which is the Leopard 1 or Leo1 in treadheads parlance



Pictured is the last mark the 1A5 produced and is an 80s Cold War Tank for the then West German Army .

50 of these has stated earlier have been ear marked to go to Ukraine .

Here are the shortcomings

1) They may arrive too late

2) The armour is very thin by todays standards

3) Its main gun being the 105mm L7 is under sized these days . The norm including Ukraine's own T64s and T80s are 125mm caliber

4) Ammunition will not be standard . A supply issue

5) Spares with it being unstandard in the Ukrainian army .

 

200 M113s supplied by the USA

Despite their age as they were used in Vietnam , these are exactly what the Ukrainians need ,a good rugged proven battle taxi.

They are armoured albeit thinly and they can deliver a squad of troops right into the battle.THERE have been many upgrades and so I dont know the specification of the vehicles that they will be given .

They will be useful for delivering those Javelin and NLAW Anti Tank missile armed troops close to their targets.

My only reservation is the issue of spares ,as again they are unstandard in the Ukrainian army . But as the US have lots of these in storage ,spares I suspect will be coming as well .

I conclude that these will be very useful and I suspect the number quoted is much lower than the numbers that will be supplied.

 

MI 17 Helicopters x 11

A Robust transport chopper . Nothing to add really, used for transportation of troops and is a type already used by Ukraine . So no spares issues . From the USAs captured stock

 

18 x 155mm Howitzers

Again something Ukraine needs to help defend the East . Should help to pummel the advancing Russian forces and take out their Rocket Artillery .

 

Now sunk ,whilst being towed into port




The victor

Ukraines very own developed Neptune Missile

 

We're giving them everything they need to win this conflict or at least hold the Russians to a stalemate - Helos, Drones, Javelins, Air surveillance radar

 

well is the bear blowing smoke or?
Russia sends formal letter warning US to stop arming Ukraine: report | The Hill
“unpredictable consequences,”

 

Perhaps Ukrainians should start lobbing missiles into Russia. Turnabout would seem to be fair play. What would Russia do about that? Bomb them? Oh no!

 

I would call his bluff . He sends in mercenaries and other countries troops like Chechnyans . The USA should tell him to F off and start placing things on their terms and not his . In a straight contempory conflict with NATO ,Russia stands no chance .

Welcome Finland and Sweden to membership of NATO