www.cnn.com
Because the front line troops are doing such a great job let's send in the reserves...Putin may soon officially declare war on Ukraine, US and Western officials say
Russian President Vladimir Putin could formally declare war on Ukraine as soon as May 9, a move that would enable the full mobilization of Russia's reserve forces as invasion efforts continue to falter, US and Western officials believe.
I have no doubt that somewhere in the pipeline that somebody is going to be lining their pockets with some of it, that is the nature of the beast.
Whilst I abhor the waste that is inherent in anything military, I can look back to 1939 and see the cost of not getting involved. I believe the European countries are looking at the same thing and thinking if they can stop Russia in Ukraine then they won't be fighting them on their own doorstep.
That is more or less how I feel about it - despite how many times I have said we shouldn't be the policeman of the world (police generally don't hand you a gun and say "here, defend yourself" - which is what we are doing with Ukraine).
The problem I have with the "this is just like 1939" argument is that it's become something like the hammer from the aphorism, "When your only tool is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail." Not everything is WW2 again. To illustrate, "This is just like 1939" is, incidentally, also the exact argument Putin makes as well to justify his actions, only placing himself on the anti-Nazi side.
Standard Russian tactics is to carry a couple ready rounds in the turret, Incase the auto loader jambs or can't get the correct shell as the commander orders! Also, Russian tank ammo is not a self contained round, they have a separate power charge and shell that get loaded and rammed when selected! There is no armor inside the barbette, anything that gets through the turret can set off not only the ready rounds, but the powder charges in the ammo carousel! That carousel isn't really under a floor, mostly beneath the commander and loader/gunner, kinda open with Zero protection!
1) If you read to the end it is a Daily Beast article which explains the titlePope Francis Says NATO Started War in Ukraine by ‘Barking at Putin’s Door’
Claudio Peri/Pool/ReutersROME—Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis has floated the idea that he wants to take a trip to Kyiv to try to broker a ceasefire. But now he says he would prefer to go to Moscow to try to talk some sense into Vladimir Putin, who he has not...www.yahoo.com
They should just start installing pull tabs on top of the turrets at this point.
Agree, that explanation makes sense to me. Good view of the reactive armor at the 5:26 mark. Goes back a ways on the side then stops. So many of the videos show hits from rpgs etc in the rear quarter side of the hull. They are aiming for the right spots!
FIFY
