This might be a little tougher than Putin thought...

[Jimmy McGill]

Ukrainians are tough as hell and they won't forget our support for them. There are times I'm ashamed of this country; but we absolutely have done our share for Ukraine. There was once a country named France that came into our conflict with UK to save our revolution. We owe it to the world to save democracy and sovereignty.

 

[h-hawk]

Historians would disagree with you. We knew damn well what we were doing.

Yeah, despite the hype over the Norden bombsight, carpet bombing was the only realistic method of bombing.

 

[mnole03]

Uh oh,

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Uh oh,

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Yep, Russia is going to collapse. We need to figure out how we deal with that. Also, Marshall Plan part deux is needed for Ukraine.

 

[lucas80]

This is a very interesting story to follow. A prominent British politician who was behind the brexit fiasco finally being called out and punished for being on the Russian money train. As Russia destabilizes and support increases for Ukraine (and the opposite for Russia), I suspect we are going to see a lot more of these politicians outed in West Europe and US. The army of media propagandist (traitors) they employed also.

I said it a thousand plus pages ago, but I think in the years that follow this war, and all the books and analysis that come after, one of the biggest things that will come out is Putin lost touch with how much money was being spent on non military warfare. I truly think 100s of billions were spent on troll farms and bots and, most important off all, politicians and media propagandists beginning over 20 years ago. And it was working. They were absolutely winning, as evidenced by 2014 grabbing of Ukraine, Trump being elected with their help in 2016, Brexit, evidence of them being behind anti vax campaign on social media, the destabilization of NATO, and rise of a rabid pro Putin far right in US and Western Europe who all wanted a similar style authoritarian leader.

But he forgot why this all started 20 years ago: They were too far behind and could never compete with a military exchange with NATO and US. They knew it and at some point he did too. The strategy was actually brilliant and working. But then he got impatient likely due to age and health and said “**** it” and has now found out.

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Was there ever any doubt that Farage was an FSB stooge, and Russia pushed hard for Brexit to weaken the West?

 

[h-hawk]

 

[lucas80]

Uh oh,

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Every bit of economic data coming out of Russia is terrible, and that’s after it’s fudged to look as good as possible. They are hurting badly. 2023-24 will be a brutal winter for Russia even if the wat ends today.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Yeah, despite the hype over the Norden bombsight, carpet bombing was the only realistic method of bombing.

Yep.

During the first gulf war my squadron didn't drop a single guided munition.

Our F-16's used CCIP to drop our "dumb" bombs. Basic load out was 4 x MK-84's....2000 lb dumb bombs.

CCIP stands for "Continuously Computed Release Point".

So basically it was computer assisted bomb release...pilot depresses bomb release and the computer determines when the munition was released.

Big upgrade over the Norden bombsight.

That said...we'd watch video's of missions in a tent during desert storm. Remember watching video of a 4 ship attack on a bridge somewhere in Iraq. 16 2000 bombs dropped....lots of close misses but all misses. Need a direct hit for a bridge.

Smart munitions have changed everything. That bridge gets taken out by a couple aircraft carrying GBU's nowadays...

I think in Gulf war 1 less than 10% of the munitions were guided....Iraq war virtually all were guided.

 

[Tenacious E]

Yep.

During the first gulf war my squadron didn't drop a single guided munition.

Our F-16's used CCIP to drop our "dumb" bombs. Basic load out was 4 x MK-84's....2000 lb dumb bombs.

CCIP stands for "Continuously Computed Release Point".

So basically it was computer assisted bomb release...pilot depresses bomb release and the computer determines when the munition was released.

Big upgrade over the Norden bombsight.

That said...we'd watch video's of missions in a tent during desert storm. Remember watching video of a 4 ship attack on a bridge somewhere in Iraq. 16 2000 bombs dropped....lots of close misses but all misses. Need a direct hit for a bridge.

Smart munitions have changed everything. That bridge gets taken out by a couple aircraft carrying GBU's nowadays...

I think in Gulf war 1 less than 10% of the munitions were guided....Iraq war virtually all were guided.

I love hearing these first hand accounts of people with personal knowledge, and not just guys like me repeating what they have read or heard elsewhere.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

I love hearing these first hand accounts of people with personal knowledge, and not just guys like me repeating what they have read or heard elsewhere.

Well, I'll can tell you personal experience that C-Rams were not used at BIAP because they were shot from neighborhoods and we didn't want to kill innocent civilians. It was frustrating when the mortars and rockets landed right next to us but we couldn't shoot back.

 

[h-hawk]

TGIF

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[torbee]

 

[hydro2.0]

Yep.

During the first gulf war my squadron didn't drop a single guided munition.

Our F-16's used CCIP to drop our "dumb" bombs. Basic load out was 4 x MK-84's....2000 lb dumb bombs.

CCIP stands for "Continuously Computed Release Point".

So basically it was computer assisted bomb release...pilot depresses bomb release and the computer determines when the munition was released.

Big upgrade over the Norden bombsight.

That said...we'd watch video's of missions in a tent during desert storm. Remember watching video of a 4 ship attack on a bridge somewhere in Iraq. 16 2000 bombs dropped....lots of close misses but all misses. Need a direct hit for a bridge.

Smart munitions have changed everything. That bridge gets taken out by a couple aircraft carrying GBU's nowadays...

I think in Gulf war 1 less than 10% of the munitions were guided....Iraq war virtually all were guided.

Love that CCIP = CCRP

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Love that CCIP = CCRP

Military acronyms

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Love that CCIP = CCRP

It's actually Constantly Computed Impact Point (CCIP)

I was going off memory...

 

[torbee]

I've been following this WSJ reporter since the beginning of the war - one of the best out there. This is a good read:

If there are any winners in the aftermath of Prigozhin’s uprising, none are inside Russia. Ukraine, Lukashenko, and the U.S. and its Western allies all stand to benefit in different ways from the exposure of Russia’s fractures. But every part of the Russian regime—Putin, Prigozhin, the armed forces and the country’s extensive domestic security and intelligence services—has emerged enfeebled by the ordeal. “There are no heroes here,” Lukashenko summed up the mutiny’s outcome.

Essay | What’s Next for Russia

The Wagner rebellion that briefly sent tanks toward Moscow exposed damaging rifts within the regime, and the turmoil isn’t over. How a weakened Putin responds has huge stakes for Ukraine and the U.S.

www.wsj.com

Non-subscriber link:

Essay | What’s Next for Russia

The Wagner rebellion that briefly sent tanks toward Moscow exposed damaging rifts within the regime, and the turmoil isn’t over. How a weakened Putin responds has huge stakes for Ukraine and the U.S.

www.wsj.com

 

[Jimmy McGill]

Military acronyms

I never thought they could be worse than the military until I started to hear medical terms, and legal terms. One big life of acronyms.

 

[TigerHawk33]

Yep.

During the first gulf war my squadron didn't drop a single guided munition.

Our F-16's used CCIP to drop our "dumb" bombs. Basic load out was 4 x MK-84's....2000 lb dumb bombs.

CCIP stands for "Continuously Computed Release Point".

So basically it was computer assisted bomb release...pilot depresses bomb release and the computer determines when the munition was released.

Big upgrade over the Norden bombsight.

That said...we'd watch video's of missions in a tent during desert storm. Remember watching video of a 4 ship attack on a bridge somewhere in Iraq. 16 2000 bombs dropped....lots of close misses but all misses. Need a direct hit for a bridge.

Smart munitions have changed everything. That bridge gets taken out by a couple aircraft carrying GBU's nowadays...

I think in Gulf war 1 less than 10% of the munitions were guided....Iraq war virtually all were guided.

We were privy to the ATO(air tasking orders) and we knew which poor bastards were being targeted. You really really did not want to be part of the “vaunted” Republican Guard. Not sure how many thousands of tons were dropped on them but it was staggering to see it day after day, night after night.

 

[h-hawk]

 

[h-hawk]

Should have bought an Evinrude.

 

[artradley]

I’m beginning to think my Lukoil stock is never going to take off…

 

[RollingBallofButcherKnives]

Should have bought an Evinrude.

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Damn. Knowing that those humans are Russians helps ease my guilt feelings of seeing those f*cks get blowed up….

 

[torbee]

Damn. Knowing that those humans are Russians helps ease my guilt feelings of seeing those f*cks get blowed up….

Pretty easy to not get shot or blown up if you stay in your own goddamn country.

 

[hawkeyetraveler]

Pretty easy to not get shot or blown up if you stay in your own goddamn country.

Exactly. They also could have ditched the boat and made a run for it. My guess is they stole the boat and we’re going to use it to haul away other stolen stuff.

Either way, I am out of f*cks to give for Russians that die in Ukraine.

 

[lucas80]

Damn. Knowing that those humans are Russians helps ease my guilt feelings of seeing those f*cks get blowed up….

After Bucha, and all the other legit war crimes and carnage we’ve seen I don’t have emotions for Russia soldiers.

 

[h-hawk]

"The Gunners of the 28th OMBr, under the guidance of the “Gyurza” unit, destroyed with accurate shots a tank and a truck with ammunition belonging to the Russian occupants. The emotions of the crew commander are priceless."

 

[Tenacious E]

If reports are true that a new Wagner base is being set up in Belarus, since Wagner was an invading force in Ukraine, they become a legitimate target there, right?

 

[silasstarr]

Japan in WWII was the ultimate example. I think we would all agree that nobody ever should use nukes but it worked...

McNamara’s explanation in The Fog of War was fascinating.

 

[bunsen82]

If reports are true that a new Wagner base is being set up in Belarus, since Wagner was an invading force in Ukraine, they become a legitimate target there, right?

The issue is he lost a lot of his troops respect by standing down. Add in Russia won't do him many favors I don't think they will be much to worry about, the rest are currently in camps.

 

[silasstarr]

Was there ever any doubt that Farage was an FSB stooge, and Russia pushed hard for Brexit to weaken the West?

Who of the US politicians were on the FSB payroll? Tulsi and Rohrabacher? Who else?

 

[torbee]

Who of the US politicians were on the FSB payroll? Tulsi and Rohrabacher? Who else?

Rand Paul for sure.

 

[Jimmy McGill]

McNamara’s explanation in The Fog of War was fascinating.

 

[DFSNOLE]

 

[Jimmy McGill]

 

[Joes Place]

 

[lucas80]

AP story about incremental gains. Sorry, not the big breakout we all want. Russian defenses are stout, and complex. Morale seems unchanged by last Saturday’s events.

Ukraine aims to wear down and outsmart a Russian army distracted by infighting

Ukrainian forces are attempting to wear down the Russian army and reshape battle lines to create more favorable conditions for a decisive, eastward counteroffensive.

apnews.com

 

[h-hawk]

"2 tanks of the 3rd Azov Assault Brigade attacking positions while covering each other interspersing shots from both guns to keep the defenders' heads down at all times"

 

[mnole03]

Sometimes things work out for the best,

 

[h-hawk]

SIAP

 

[DFSNOLE]

SIAP

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