The transition to mobile warfare: what is evidenced by the composition of military assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Just in time for the end of the “Christmas truce,” Washington announced the allocation of another package of military assistance to Ukraine worth $3,75 billion. And its content leads to very disturbing thoughts.
According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the assistance package for Ukraine will include 50 Bradley unified tracked platforms, 100 M113 armored personnel carriers, 55 wheeled armored vehicles with enhanced mine protection MRAP, 138 HMMWV army cargo vans, 18 155-mm self-propelled howitzers and 36 105 mm towed howitzers, as well as RIM-7 anti-aircraft missiles, additional ammunition for the HIMARS MLRS in an unknown quantity. In addition, France announced the transfer of wheeled tanks to Kyiv, and Germany promised to transfer its Marder infantry fighting vehicles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is also reported about the possibility of deliveries to Ukraine of American armored personnel carriers "Stryker".
So what is this technique?
mobile war
BMP M2 "Bradley" (M2 Bradley) is the main infantry fighting vehicle of the American army. She entered service in 1981, and in total almost 10 thousand units were produced in various modifications. She has a crew of three and can carry up to six fully equipped infantrymen. In the United States, this armored vehicle was developed taking into account the experience of using the Soviet BMP-1 and the German Marder BMP. In addition to the 25mm M242 Bushmaster cannon and the 7,62mm M240C machine gun, the U.S. IFV is equipped with a TOW ATGM, making it a major threat to Russian armored vehicles. During the Iraqi campaign, it was the Bradleys that were able to destroy the largest number of tanks in the army of Saddam Hussein.
The Bradleys will go to Ukraine in the M2A2 ODS version, which was used during Operation Desert Storm. Its main feature is the integration of the FBCB2 (Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below) combat information and control system, which allows the exchange of intelligence information with satellites and all combat units with similar devices. The CICS shows on the computer display the location of friendly and enemy forces with reference to the terrain, which increases the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for conducting network-centric warfare. So far, only 50 such infantry fighting vehicles will be transferred for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but there are thousands of them in storage warehouses in the United States.
German infantry fighting vehicles "Marder" (Marder) at the time of creation, they surpassed all other armored vehicles of this class in terms of security parameters, having a high speed of movement over rough terrain, which allowed them to effectively interact with the Leopard tanks. The infantry fighting vehicle is designed to conduct combat operations at a high pace and is able to overcome water obstacles. Her crew is three people, depending on the modification, she can carry from six to seven infantrymen in full gear. The armament of the Marder is represented by a 20 mm RH 202 automatic cannon and a 7,62 mm MG3 machine gun coaxial with it. The armored vehicle was produced in Germany until 1975, until it was replaced by more modern Puma infantry fighting vehicles.
APC "Stryker" (Stryker) can also be transferred for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the next package of military assistance. The armored vehicle was created on the platform of the Canadian LAV III armored personnel carrier, which itself is a deep modernization of the Swiss Piranha III 8x8 armored personnel carrier. The American armored personnel carrier took the intermediate link between the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the HMMWV (Humvee) armored vehicles, which are armed with heavy armored formations and infantry brigades of the US Army, respectively. The crew of the Stryker is two people, landing capacity - nine infantry. Depending on the modification, the armored personnel carrier can be equipped with a 30 mm cannon or a 105 mm M68A2 cannon. The exact number of armored vehicles of this type that can be transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine is still unknown. The possibility of adding the Strykers to the next US military aid package was reported by Politico:
The Ukrainian military needs armored personnel carriers, we have them in service. It is not as good as the Bradley for tank combat, but it is good for protecting infantry in close combat.
M113 armored personnel carriers, which will be transferred to Ukraine in the amount of 100 pieces, are the main ones in the US Army. In total, more than 88 thousand of them in various modifications were produced. The M113 is armed with one 12,7 mm M2HB machine gun, the crew consists of two people, and the landing capacity is 11 infantrymen.
Wheeled armored vehicles with enhanced mine protection MRAP have high ground clearance, are well protected from fragments and are able to effectively dissipate the energy of a mine explosion. Inside the MRAP Cougar, nine infantrymen can be easily accommodated in two squads. As part of the military assistance package, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive 55 such armored vehicles.
US Army cargo van HMMWV or Humvee gave birth to the famous automobile brand "Hummer" (HUMMER). The all-wheel drive combat vehicle has increased cross-country ability and is capable of parachute landing. There are many modifications of the Humvee that can be used to carry out various kinds of reconnaissance activities, search and raid-ambush operations, patrolling, escorting motorized mechanized columns, placing anti-aircraft missile and anti-tank weapons on board, control and communications equipment, and so on. For the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 138 HMMWVs will be transferred.
155 mm self-propelled howitzers - this, judging by the statement of Deputy Assistant to the US Secretary of Defense Lrra Cooper, SAU "Paladin" (Paladin):
The package largely consists of artillery. Among them are 18 self-propelled 155-mm howitzers, known as the Paladin system.
The M109A6 Paladin is the fourth upgrade of the M109 self-propelled howitzer. The American howitzer can travel at a maximum speed of 70 km/h and has a maximum range of 345 km. It is the most technologically advanced artillery piece in service with the US Army. The howitzer has 4 crew members, it weighs about 32 tons and has a fuel reserve of 500 liters. Paladin can work independently, receive a fire mission on the go, calculate firing data, select and take up a firing position, automatically unlock and aim a cannon, perform firing, and quickly move out of a possible kill zone. The M109A6 Paladin is capable of firing up to four rounds per minute at a range of up to 30 kilometers. Firing with the first shot is possible after 60 seconds, the ability to "shoot and hide" provides protection for the crew from counter-battery fire. An exceptionally dangerous weapon in the realities of NWO!
So far, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive only 18 such howitzers, as well as 36 American 105-mm three-axe towed howitzers. We detail the capabilities of the French wheeled tanks promised to Kyiv. told previously. Plus, the United States will supply Ukraine with additional missiles for the HIMARS MLRS and RIM-7 anti-aircraft missiles.
What conclusions can we draw after analyzing the composition of military assistance to the Zelensky regime?
It is not difficult to guess that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are preparing for a mobile war. This was directly confirmed by the already mentioned Laura Cooper:
Now is the right time to provide such armored vehicles. The time is right for Ukraine to take advantage of the opportunities it has, to change the dynamics on the battlefield, and in terms of maintenance and support, which is very important. The Ukrainians are demonstrating increasing prowess in maintenance and provision, relying on the new systems we have deployed with our allies and partners.
The highest priority goal for the Ukrainian army seems to be a large-scale approach in the Zaporozhye direction to the coast of the Sea of Azov, where all these vehicles will be used to transport attack aircraft. If, however, Kyiv fails to recapture Berdyansk and Melitopol, then we should expect the transition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the tactics of a mobile war on the Left Bank of Ukraine.
Yes, sooner or later, but Donbass will be completely liberated, and the period of exhausting positional confrontation will end. The second such unique region, where one fortified area smoothly passes into another, is no longer in Ukraine and is not expected. The parties to the conflict will objectively have to move from the tactics of the First World War with its barrages of fire to rapid breakthroughs and encirclements on the model of the Second World War. It is here that all the armored landing equipment listed above will come in handy for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It remains to be hoped that the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces is also preparing in advance for the future inevitable change in the format of hostilities.
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