Thought about this last night and its definitely not in my area of expertise and so a question for the 'experts' here. Could Ukraine use ground or air launched thermobarics to rapidly clear pathways through minefields or a they a) not suitable for that purpose or b) on the 'to provocative' list of potential weapon systems that Ukraine isn't allowed to have?
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
2022-2024 Russo-Ukrainian War
Collapse
This is a sticky topic.
X
X
-
Petraeus: Ukraine has ‘adapted very impressively’ to Russian defenses
Retired Army Gen. David Petraeus complimented the Ukrainian military for a long-awaited counteroffensive that has disappointed some Western allies, saying the Ukrainian army has “adapted very impressively” to defenses that were more formidable than expected.
“No plan survives contact with the enemy and that has been true in this case,” Petraeus said in a CNN interview Tuesday. “Certainly there were hopes … that they might be able to mount combined arms operations that could penetrate the Russian defenses, but that was before we all learned about the depth of these defenses, about the sophistication of them.”
“The Russians have not distinguished themselves in many respects … but this defense in depth is quite formidable,” he continued.
The comments come as some U.S. officials have cast doubt on the Ukrainian goal of taking back much of southern Ukraine with a late-summer counteroffensive. Progress has been very slow, but Petraeus said that detractors should trust Ukrainian decision-making and that progress appears to be on the horizon.
“The Ukrainians, I think, have adapted very impressively. I do think those in the West oughta acknowledge the Ukrainians probably know best their own terrain … their own troops, they know their own strengths and they know their weaknesses,” he said.
“They are picking their way through these minefields and they have made progress,” he added.
On Tuesday, the U.S. announced an additional $250 million in military aid for Ukraine, mostly in the form of small arms ammunition and air defense missiles. Petraeus said the current fighting could last until November, when harsh winter weather is expected to halt combat.
In the next four months, the U.S. and Western allies must continue their support for the Ukrainians with military and financial aid, he said.
“All of this is slow. It’s very, very hard. But they are making progress. What we need to do is everything we can to enable them to succeed in what will probably stretch for another four months,” Petraeus said.
_________“He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”
Comment
-
Originally posted by zraver View PostIIRC, today is the 9th anniversary in Minnies death at Ilovaisk, the base that was hit in Peskov didn't have the 331st there, but did have VDV troops homebased there besides the IL-76's.“He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by TopHatter View Post
I would dearly love to know what happened to Minnie. I'm also concerned about Sara (Snapper). She hasn't logged in since August 2021.If you are emotionally invested in 'believing' something is true you have lost the ability to tell if it is true.
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by Monash View Post
No contact emails you could follow up?“He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”
- 1 like
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by zraver View PostIIRC, today is the 9th anniversary in Minnies death at Ilovaisk, the base that was hit in Peskov didn't have the 331st there, but did have VDV troops homebased there besides the IL-76's.sigpic
Win nervously lose tragically - Reds C C
- 4 likes
Comment
-
Originally posted by Monash View PostThought about this last night and its definitely not in my area of expertise and so a question for the 'experts' here. Could Ukraine use ground or air launched thermobarics to rapidly clear pathways through minefields or a they a) not suitable for that purpose or b) on the 'to provocative' list of potential weapon systems that Ukraine isn't allowed to have?
The issue with thermobarics is they form a circular blast...the is my understanding.
A better solution is doing what they are doing...using things like a MICLIC to blast a patch is more efficient.
Still need a plow tank to lead the way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M58_MICLIC“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
Mark Twain
- 1 like
Comment
-
Reports that 4 Il-76 strategic airlifters were damaged/destroyed in Pskov. At least one in the video on TheDrive I think we can chalk up as definitely destroyed.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...-inside-russia
https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status...84537085264230
Regarding Russian minefields, I've seen recent footage that infrared imaging is able to detect the mines at night, since apparently they retain heat differently than the surrounding soil which them visible. Infrared imaging might have different effectiveness as the weather changes, no idea, but at least for now the Ukrainians should be able to know where mines are and where they aren't, and can figure out where to direct clearing efforts."Every man has his weakness. Mine was always just cigarettes."
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by Monash View Post
Facebook, Twitter?“He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”
- 1 like
Comment
-
Originally posted by Albany Rifles View Post
I'll take a stab.
The issue with thermobarics is they form a circular blast...the is my understanding.
A better solution is doing what they are doing...using things like a MICLIC to blast a patch is more efficient.
Still need a plow tank to lead the way.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M58_MICLIC
USMC experimented with them prior to using MICLIC. Looking at "In Stride" breaching during an amphibious assault. MICLIC works way better
- 2 likes
Comment
-
Originally posted by Ironduke View Post
Regarding Russian minefields, I've seen recent footage that infrared imaging is able to detect the mines at night, since apparently they retain heat differently than the surrounding soil which them visible. Infrared imaging might have different effectiveness as the weather changes, no idea, but at least for now the Ukrainians should be able to know where mines are and where they aren't, and can figure out where to direct clearing efforts.
The workaround to defeat that technique is to plant steel plates with the same shape as your mines in the minefield. They heat up in the sun just like the real mines do and give off the same signature at night. Nihil novi sub sole
Don't get me started on the Oohs and Aahs with their "Revolution of 21st Century Warfare" in using cheap drones for artillery spotting and recon. And hen telling us how backward we are for trying to get them to learn and use old school human assets
- 2 likes
Comment
-
Originally posted by Gun Grape View Post
To add a little, Thermobarics work great in confined spaces. But try using one in a open field on a windy day. Also the blast isn't consistent over the entire area. So more mines don't receive enough force to detonate.
USMC experimented with them prior to using MICLIC. Looking at "In Stride" breaching during an amphibious assault. MICLIC works way betterLast edited by Monash; 31 Aug 23,, 08:55.If you are emotionally invested in 'believing' something is true you have lost the ability to tell if it is true.
- 1 like
Comment
Comment