Thread by @MarkHertling

While Americans are focused on the House & the the election of a Speaker, Ukraine continues to fight.

And the US & @NATO cotinues to look for *viable* solutions for equipping & supporting Ukraine on the battlefield.

Many rumors the last few days. What might happen? A 🧵 1/11

A few days ago, @bloomberg was 1st to report possibility of US sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine.

IMO, this is a a great idea...something I support wholeheartedly!

Why?

As I said a few days ago, I was a Brad Commander in Desert Storm. 2/

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

The Brad (or IFV/CFV) is NOT a tank, but it can be a tank killer...and a troop carrier. (IFV=Infantry Fighting Vehicle, CFV=Cavalry Fighting Vehicle).

On the Turret: 2 TOW anti-tank missiles, 25mm Bushmaster chain gun, 7.62 co-axial machinegun, all effective at long ranges. 3/

Two pictures of our CFV from 1990-91, the first variant of the Brad, with "poor man's sandbags," and add-on
luggage rack.

This was a great vehicle. We effectively engaged Iraqi tanks, BMPs, & other targets.

Our cavalry troop was in the battle of the Medina Ridge (google it).4/

While a tracked vehicle, it doesn't have a lot of complicated engine/turret issues. Good gas mileage, max speed of about 40mph cross country, low maintenance, solid protection & firepower.

The infantry variants has a lot of room in the back for troops. 5/

Another rumor the last few days has been that Macron of France has promised some AMX10RC "tank killers" (also NOT A TANK) to Zelenskyy.

A GREAT piece of kit.
105mm Main cannon, a 12.7 anti-air machine gun, and a 7.62 coaxial machine gun.

Wheels, not tracked! 6/

These are also low maintenance, high mileage, easy to support, and great cross-country on any kind of terrain.
7/
weaponsystems.net/system/513-AMX…

I also suspect Biden and NATO will push Germany to provide their equivalent of these two vehicles, the Marder.

This vehicle sports a MILAN anti-tank missile system, a 20mm cannon, and also a 7.62 machine gun. 8/

military-today.com/apc/marder.htm

The advantage of all 3 is their firepower, great cross-country mobility, low maintenance, easy repair, & small logistics trail.

None are tanks, which many will still scream about. But they will allow Ukraine's emerging combined arms teams to conduct high tempo maneuver. 9/

A down side...the training, repair parts (and repair techniques) are not interchangeable.

But they'll be easy to incorporate on the battlefield.

They are all deadly against RU equipment, including tanks (the Anti-tank missiles have a longer range than the RU tank cannon).10/

If I were a Ukrainian Commander, I'd be exceedingly happy to field any or all of these, especially in the southern theater.

And I also suspect we'll see new NATO rounds of support in the coming weeks & plans to train UKR combined arms teams.

But that's just a guess. 11/11