Thread by @MarkHertling

Want a 🧵 on artillery (arty)?

Just got off @cnn where I also commented on this clip from the good ole COL Khodaryonok (who seems to have changed his tune since yesterday).

He's talking about how RU artillery is hitting UKR's new M777 arty pieces.

Except, he's full of BS. 1/

https://twitter.com/francis_scarr/status/1526998913986842624

I'm an old tanker, but I sometimes get to comment on the king of battle (artillery), because they are usually impressive.

This clip doesn't impress me. Here's why.

Watch the film COL Khordaryonok is commenting on a couple times, then come back. 2/

Okay, here's what's happening.

A UKR M777 is in a firing position, obviously getting set up for a shoot.

Gun is unlimbered (not being towed by it's truck), the truck is in the treeline, and there's a few soldiers walking around the vehicle.

Then, INCOMING! The round lands! 3/

Except, the round doesn't land ON the M777. It lands nearby.

W/ towed artillery, a round almost has to land ON the howitzer to destroy it. It doesn't. It may be slightly damaged, or maybe not.

Doesn't appear any UKR soldiers are hurt or wounded. Maybe, but maybe not. 4/

COL K keeps talking, but you see the M777 relimbers to the truck, and moves into the woods. (GOOD job, covered & concealed positons).

Then the clip shows a barrage of rounds, some hitting the woods, most hitting the dirt field.

No indication of any hits on UKR arty. 5/

Artillery dudes have an expression: "pounding dirt."

It can mean going to the firing range and practicing shooting, firing rounds against a mountainside.

It also means "we didn't hit sh#t (the target)."

RUs were pounding dirt.6/

That's not all bad because artillery is an "area fire weapon" in most cases.

That means "fire a bunch of rounds at an area in an attempt to damage, suppress or destroy equipment and kill solders who are congregated."

That's been the role of artillery thru the ages. 7/

In the past, artillery had to be good, but not necessarily precise.

Fire was called by forward observers (FOs) who would provide an estimated grid coordinate of the target and then adjust fire using their radio and binoculars. 8/

But with advanced technology, gun computers, lasers, drones, GPS and targeting systems, artillery has become much more precise.

Usually, you don't need an entire "barrage" that requires pinpoint adjustments from many guns to destroy targets.

There is now precise targeting. 9/

Rounds can be guided in using laser from FOs or aircraft, or even drones.

Some artillery rounds have GPS guidance, where the round is "fired" from the gun but then flies to the target.

The M777 is connected to a fire control computer that calculates wind, weather, data. 10/

One other thing, regarding this particular engagement.

Usually "self-propelled" (SP) guns are valuable to a maneuver force...they can keep up with the fast moving tanks, providing fire. That's what the RU have.

But self-propelled arty has cons as well.11/

SP guns:
1. Need a lot of logistics to keep the track running right. Every time the gun goes off, or the track runs over tough terrain, it rattles the vehicle.
2.SP guns are a bigger target. And crews of SP guns are on the inside. That makes for more casualties. 12/

3. If a round hits near an SP gun, it may not damage the gun, but it may damage/destroy the carrier. That usually doesn't happen with towed cannons.
4. The crew of a towed system is fewer, meaning less casualties. 13/

The M777 is perfect for UKR at this stage.

It's accurate, small crew, light logistics, quick, can hide easily, doesn't have propensity for as much damage. 14/

Bottom line is this:
-UKR can win the artillery fight.
-RU arty can cause a lot of damage when firing against civilian targets as that doesn't require precision.
-The M777 (part of the Stryker Brigade I commanded & the Division I led in combat) is one helluva great gun. 15/

...and COL Khodaryonok should go back to stating how bad RU is doing in this war, and not propagandizing the poor effects of RU artillery against Ukraine. 16/16