Why do I care so much about Ukraine?

It all has to do with Afghanistan, in part.

In the spirit of this incredible competition by @ArmyLdrExchange that is in its final round, I’m going to open up a bit about my personal experiences…strap in.

1 | 9

https://twitter.com/armyldrexchange/status/1777326155437342824

I’ve written about it briefly but training w/ 🇺🇦 had an incredible impact. 4 yrs of fighting had made the 🇺🇦 95th Air Assault BDE a seasoned unit & 🇺🇸173rd learned much from them.

They taught us camo-ing against drones & we taught them Javelins (they didn’t have many yet)

2 | 9

https://twitter.com/casualartyfan/status/1759969181775040574

If you’ve seen this picture before, you’re not alone. Taken in March, 1945, it shows 2 artillerymen who narrowly escaped a SS massacre.

The story of the 1st African-American combat unit to earn the Distinguished Unit Citation is one of incredible bravery and tragedy 🧵

1 | 10 Seeing action in WW1, the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion was re-activated in August 1942 as a segregated arty unit: black enlisted soldiers & white officers.

Manning M1 155mm guns, they fought in Normandy, Brest & in the Battle of the Bulge, where tragedy would strike.

2 | 10

Where did 9,334 pieces of Russian tube artillery go?

According to imagery of Russian bases, almost half of Russian pre-war artillery has been pulled from storage. What’s left (9,747) is often missing barrels and other key parts.

Russia is running out of time to win.

1 | 2

https://twitter.com/highmarsed/status/1753578879367713117

Although Russia can make 20 new SPGs a month (best case), this trend of dipping into storage is increasing at a faster pace.

If 2 years of war has wiped 9k from the stockpile…2 more years could wipe out the remaining 9k.

However, Russia won’t let it get to that point.

2 | 2

Nuclear Field Artillery & the Origin of Shoot & Scoot:

This phrase, once doctrinally used to avoid nuclear fallout, transformed over the decades & now poses a risk to everyone who uses it as a catch-all in the artillery.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒕, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅

1|21 You’ve probably seen this term in the past year.

While it gained popularity in European artillery circles in the ‘10s, its usage exploded with the full-scale Russian Invasion of Ukraine in FEB ‘22.

With a major ground war in Europe, artillery terms became used everywhere

2|21

Are Russian tactics improving?

In this great thread from Ukrainian Officer @Tatarigami_UA, he clearly describes how Russian forces effectively use frontal attacks on fortified Ukrainian positions.

What he doesn’t say, is far more interesting… And it’s about artillery.

1|6

https://twitter.com/tatarigami_ua/status/1628289157461078018

Frontal attacks are used when there is no means to maneuver around or “flank” the opposing force.

To overcome the problem of your frontal approach, you either attack elsewhere or constantly suppress the objective through direct (MGs) AND indirect fire weapons (arty/mortars)

2|6

Can towed artillery still be an asset on the modern battlefield?

Let’s take a look at M777s, the most numerous 155mm system and NATO arty system in Ukraine today.

Ukraine has innovated in many ways to still make them relevant in the face of UAVs.

Here’s a recent video👇

1|16 In the 1st month after their arrival, they were praised for their ease of use & accuracy despite their slow rate of fire.

@ratushnyi_r, a 🇺🇦 activist & soldier, reported that his recce team was constantly getting 1st round effects, the main objective of artillery.

2|16

https://twitter.com/casualartyfan/status/1525117849517363201

Lieutenant Liubov Plaksiuk, a Battery Commander in the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade, stands amongst the wreckage of Russian vehicles her artillery has recently destroyed.

1/ She joined the Ukrainian Army in 2016 to defend her homeland from Russian aggression. She is the first woman to command an artillery battery in Ukraine’s history as far as I can tell.

2/

🇷🇺 convoy destroyed by GMLRS.

Observed by drone, here’s a rare video of a Russian artillery unit destroyed by M31A1 or M30A1/2 on its way to emplace/displace.

Now that so many ammo depots have been destroyed, 🇺🇦 can use HIMARS in their NATO/doctrinal role of counter fire.

1/ While the video description claims mainly drones were used, counter-battery radar could have detected Point of Origin (POO) sites in this area, which led to a drone being tasked to confirm the target acquisition/provide refinements as necessary.

2/

🇬🇧 LH119 105mm Howitzers on the Donestk front via 🇺🇦 81st Air Assault BDE

“Great for assault operations”
“You can tow with SUVs”
“Much better than D-30s” 🇬🇧 aid to 🇺🇦 is substantial and continuing to grow every day.

Check out this list from @JimmySecUK from a more detailed list:

jamesrushton.substack.com/p/western-heav…

⚡️ Antovosky Bridge, Kherson ⚡️

After a second GMLRS strike 2 hours ago, the bridge is being shut for repair. This will mean Russians have to travel 100+km round trip to Nova Khahovka to resupply the defense of the city 🔥

@bayraktar_1love @JimmySecUK @TrentTelenko @noclador

https://twitter.com/thedimsol/status/1549794555444207619

This photo makes me so damn proud. Described as the “high-water mark” of the confederacy, it depicts Pickett’s Charge on the 3rd day of Gettysburg.

It’s also where 1LT Alonzo Cushing, BTRY commander for A Battery, 4th U.S. Light Artillery gave his life 159 years ago TODAY. 1/

https://twitter.com/WendyRogersAZ/status/1543408559605653504

1LT Cushing, a 1861 West Point grad, was a decorated field artillery officer before that day on Cemetery Ridge. This 🔑 position had been selected by MG Buford, 2 days prior for its elevation & lines of sight for artillery.

A BTRY would take the brunt of the charge that day. 2/

“Is the Kerch Bridge in Crimea on fire?”

No, but something interesting is going on. 🇷🇺 CBRN units are using a TDA-3 Smoke Vehicle to practice screening the bridge.

Smoke makes it difficult to observe & adjust arty, and is a 🔑 part of attacking/defending water crossings

1/4 Crossing water w/ large mechanized forces req a lot of space.

Obscuration (SOSRA) allows for you to build up forces as safely as possible, but the enemy can also use smk to hamper your efforts.

Below is a diagram from CALL showing how much is vulnerable during this op.

2/4

Why Russia won’t be able to take Severodonestk without also eliminating all UKR resistance in Lysychansk…UKR not only has the high ground but rivers, forests, and DISTANCE between them and the Russian artillery. By committing to the urban fight prematurely, Russia…

1/2

https://twitter.com/warmonitor3/status/1533106810294607872

Now is “trapped,” or at the very least stuck in the low ground without the operational tempo or reserves to get out. Every day UKR gets newer and more artillery from Allies, whereas every day Russian arty continues to degrade due to poor maintenance, overuse, and bad employment