In spite of me getting e-mails and PM mails as to "inevitability" of Ukraine defeat , the facts say otherwise. Here are two game changers
Berlin approves $1.7 billion sale of PzH 2000 howitzers to Ukraine
By
Jul 27, 2022
Modified date:?8 seconds ago
German arms manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) confirmed on Wednesday that the Germany’s government approved the sale of self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine.
Citing a spokesperson for manufacturer KMW,?Der Spiegel?reported that Germany has approved the sale of 100 PzH 2000 (Panzerhaubitze) self-propelled howitzers worth 1.7 billion euros ($1.72 billion) to Ukraine.
According to a Spiegel report, KMW has already started manufacturing the howitzers, the full run of which will take several years to complete.
In addition, earlier in June, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that Ukraine has received first German-made 155 mm howitzers donated by Berlin to support to counter Russian troops.
“Panzerhaubitze 2000 are finally part of 155 mm howitzer arsenal of the Ukrainian artillery,” Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov tweeted, adding, “I highly appreciate the efforts of my colleague, Christine Lambrecht,” referring to Germany’s defense minister. Reznikov also thanked the Netherlands, which sent the German weapons.
Ukraine has received 12 PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers donated by the Dutch and German governments.
The Panzerhaubitze 2000 is a 155-millimeter self-propelled howitzer developed by German manufacturers KMW and Rheinmetall and is considered one of the most powerful artillery systems used by western militaries today.
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Also
quote
US-donated HIMARS is the 'perfect' weapon thanks to poor Russian logistics forcing senior commanders in its range, military expert says
Sinéad Baker?8 hours ago
Ukraine's fight against Russia now involves HIMARS, a long-range weapons system from the US.
The long-range weapons the US sent Ukraine are the perfect weapon for this moment in the war because of how it can exploit Russia's poor war planning, a military expert said.
The US sent 12 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) — long-range, high-precision rocket launchers that can hit targets?5o miles?away — as part of the arsenal Western countries are sending Ukraine to help fight Russia.?
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Ukraine had repeatedly said it needed more long-range weapons to fight effectively. Now it has HIMARS — and Ukraine says it's working.
Russian command more vulnerable
William Alberque, director of strategy, technology, and arms control at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told Insider the HIMARS is "exactly the right system at the right time" for Ukraine because of how Russia is fighting.
He said Russia's infantry and armored units are vulnerable as they are extremely dependent on their supply chain, and that Russia's lack of trust in lower-ranked officials to make decisions means it has to bring more senior commanders close to the battle.
"Because of their doctrine, they don't devolve decision-making down to the lowest level as we do in the West," he said.
"Therefore you have to move your command post much closer to the front," he said, with Russia also "moving massive amounts of ammunition, gathering them all together, and moving their command posts closer and closer to the front."
And Ukraine now has the equipment to hit them quickly, accurately, and from a safe distance for its own soldiers.
Alberque said the HIMARS?"is unbelievably accurate with no setup time. By the time Russians are even thinking about counter fire, the thing's gone."
Ukraine, he noted, is "hitting these massive ammunition dumps, these massive artillery masses, and the command posts." The weapons have so far "made such a massive difference" for Ukraine, Alberque said.
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FTR
Recently my PM box and e-mail has been littered by the wailing of "realists" who accused me as of being on the "wrong side of history " as that the EU, America, and the world will shake its fanny, kowtow to Putin over gas / oil and the Food blockade. One of the more annoying ones, as from a "realist" said I should get ready for Russian army victory parades all over the EU, in America and elsewhere as to the inevitability of Putin conquest of the entire world sinks in.
Aside from the moral decrepitude factor (and that is an understatement), GERMANY, long singled out as the "weak sister" in all sorts of bizarre conspiracy theories, has greenlighted delivery of MASSIVE and world beating artillery systems to Ukraine. An event which one of my entries into my e-mail derided as "fake news".
It gets worse. The "realists" in my reply to them, multiple times, STILL do not get it as to the significance of the HIMARS delivery
Bonus points in terms of being damn annoying, Germany, one of the MAIN victims of the NAZI empire in world war II, was tar brushed in the emails sent to me as being in cahoots with Vladimir Putin, in a divide the East "realpolitic " strategy
Um, NO
Right now the Federal Republic of Germany is selling MASSIVE Artillery pieces to Kyiv. This in spite of making plans for rationing of gas, oil and all that for winter
I wish that the "realists" would grow a spine and stop finding creative ways to imagine the "inevitability" of Ukraine defeat.
For the sainted "realists" please process the following:
quote
William Alberque, director of strategy, technology, and arms control at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told Insider the HIMARS is "exactly the right system at the right time" for Ukraine because of how Russia is fighting.
He said Russia's infantry and armored units are vulnerable as they are extremely dependent on their supply chain, and that Russia's lack of trust in lower-ranked officials to make decisions means it has to bring more senior commanders close to the battle.
"Because of their doctrine, they don't devolve decision-making down to the lowest level as we do in the West," he said.
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And mean while, I will get my tiny violin out to play as Putin does not get lockstep obedience
Andrew Beckwith, PhD