MBT's

[blazejos]

First Brits wants to sends Challenger 2 to Ukraine about 10 tanks but are some concerns hat will be great to send 50 to made any difference on eastern front.
https://en.defence-ua.com/news/ukrai...edia-5388.html

Here again about Leopard 2 from Poland for Ukraine is planed to send around 10 and Finland plans to add also some similar number
https://en.defence-ua.com/news/as_pa...anks-5409.html
https://www.politico.eu/article/fran...ks-to-ukraine/
https://www.politico.eu/article/finl...-nato-defense/

Germans also gave green light for Leopards from Poland
https://www.politico.eu/article/pola...robert-habeck/

Here is story which versions of Leopard 2 Ukrainians expected and from which country's?
https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and...ctor-5420.html

[DRG]

When ( IF ) they cross the boarder. I'll put them into the OOB but not before. I've already pulled out a number of things that were added from info that turned into nothing

[DRG]

sigh...........

UK to send Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, Rishi Sunak confirms

Published 33 minutes ago

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64274755

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well, the Challenger 2 has been building up for a while over the last couple of weeks. But this is why I'm here,
this from 1945 and here's the headline...
The Leopard 2 Tank Is Headed to Ukraine to Fight Russia

Now from the article...

Para 3: "But Germany, the manufacturer of the Leopard 2, continues to be hesitant to send the main battle tank to Ukraine. "

Paras 12/13: "But Germany is still reluctant to give the green light and supply Kyiv with the tank."

"As the manufacturer of the tank, Germany would have to grant a re-export permission to Poland, potentially Finland, and indeed any other perspective supplier of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. "

Ref.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...55ebd648ebc64a

The above is indicative of several articles on this and other related equipment.

This is the TRAP we've found ourselves in many times over the years. Many people have said over the years including myself, it's not going in until it's there and for my part the crews and maintainers are on the ground and trained. We ALL REALLY need to think about "holding the line here" AND JUST BE PATIENT.

I do not doubt that the Ukraine will get these tanks.

All I'm saying is THERE IS NO RUSH TO GET THESE IN THE GAME TO FIT THE "DEADLINE" FOR THE NEXT PATCH.

That can be easily handled. They won't get them before the next Patch has to be completed in the next 6-8 weeks or less to be ready for release.

We will hopefully be playing this game long after it expires so, from a player's standpoint does it REALLY matter WHEN THEY GET IN AS LONG AS THEY DO?

This will give Andy and Don after some time off I HOPE several months to focus on the weapon slot issue and others that the Ukrainian War has caused.

Sometimes I feel "I'm the lone voice in the woods" but, only to make the analogy vice comparison, they said the same thing about Churchill in the years before, well actually both World Wars.

I have to get ready for work. TGIF!

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

Originally Posted by FASTBOAT TOUGH

I have to get ready for work. TGIF!

YEAH BUT......... it's Saturday. You may be in for a surprise when you show up......

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I wish it were so but, as you already know military bases never shutdown so no surprise for me yesterday.

I'm a Tue. - Sat. kind've guy by choice as I'm the 6th (I was 184 when I first went full-time back in OMG Jan 2005 after 10 months as a part timer.) senior member of the guard force I have the pick of my shift and days off, 4 weeks paid vacation (After 6 yrs.), health, vision and dental on top of my military retired benefits and pension and I can assure you we don't get "mall cop" pay either.

Best of all I get to shoot weapons, fight the "Redman" and still run the obstacle course and rescue that "darn" idiot Mr. Sandman who every year manages to find himself strapped into a "burning" vehicle at the end of the course. Thank God he lost some weight as he used to come in at 180 lbs. now he's down to 150lbs.

Better still I complete the course in a time 2 levels below mine (50 and until you're in the ground ) in other words guys that are up to 40 years younger than me.

Along with our "sister" base on the West coast, we're the only armed contract civilian guard component in the "DON" and I believe in the DOD.

Hopefully I'll just have ONLY 4 more Summers left plus 8 months with the house being already paid off along with the new car coming this year if I'm lucky a nice Pre-owned Certified Audi A6 or similar. I just want for us to have that "nice ride" to drive before well riding will be the only thing we do!?!

It sure sounds good to me!

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Now to serious business...
Do we care about at this time about a German M-48 based mine clearing etc. piece of equipment?

It's for the Ukraine and is already confirmed as in country as operational. I haven't verified it's in the German OOB however I seem to think I came across it as a player and for "work" purposes.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/defe..._vehicles.html

I believe it can wait but that's your call.

To the AMX-10RC EVERYTIME someone posts an article on this for the Ukraine they are posting a picture of the AMX-10RCR WHY?

I'm really seeing too much evidence to support the latter vice the former.

Around 460 AMX-10RC vehicles were built and put into service between 1979-1980. In 2000 the contracts were signed to upgrade the AMX-10RC to the AMX-10 RCR to meet the real threats from Russia but mostly to address the RPG/ATGW threats from their own combat experiences. Around 260 units were built based on attrition and foreign sales in the 20 years the AMX-10RC already served up to 2000.

Also, that newer round for the AMX-RCR has an effective range 1200m against "heavy" tanks and 2200m against NATO standard Triple Heavy Targets.

Reference 1. They are at a minimum of 2 months out before delivery. But also note like with the other articles posted that's a AMX-10RCR in the picture AGAIN.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/defe..._2_months.html

Reference 2. This is indictive from others concerning the transition from "RC" to "RCR". It also has a picture of a PROPER AMX-10RC. And as taken from the below,

"The first AMX-10 RCs entered service in 1979, and the vehicle has cemented the French Army’s love for wheeled tank destroyers. In 2000, the RCs were upgraded to the Renové (Mine-that's the "R" in the RCR.) standard and are expected to remain in service until 2020-2025, at which point they should be replaced by the EBRC Jaguar (Mine-France just got the first 16 by Dec 2022. Not operational yet.) ."
https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldw...-10-rc-rcr.php

The RCR is not in the French OOB.

I see a fix for it plus I also see 1- or 2-unit deletions.

Why I'm not surprised but given the dates, this issue is another of many that got in the game I've already uncovered of the years (AMBRAMS comes to mind right now.) BEFORE Andy and Don continued the game.

Finally I don't mean this in a "vindictive" manner, however, who cares that the Ukraine captured ONE T-90S?

ORNX (Good to see they're keeping out.) is reporting 2 destroyed and 1 captured. The value here is "They're robbing Peter (Foreign Customer.) to pay Paul (The Battlefield.)" result loss of money for Russia a good thing.

Now to the player 1. I hope you've been paying attention to the posts concerning the weapons slot and other issues affecting the game "architecture" at this time.

2. Based on that and having to ONLY choose between the Russian T-90A or the lesser capable T-90S WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

On my Russian capture list based on the data we have and the minimum standard I spelled out in the Patch Thread (2+1) I can safely say the Ukraine can and has fielded the T-90A.

That's the one I'd pick (OK have picked.) between the two.

A song from around '83-'84 comes to mind right now from Franky goes to Hollywood "RELAX" we all need to do that right now afterall "War is Hell." at least currently in our world.

And please before someone thinks it or says it, I make no light of the real thing anywhere in the World. My Dad served in three wars up until he retired in Dec 1969 after 28 years, and his one wish for my brother and I were "I hope you boys will never have to see the horrors I did in war when you grow up. "

So, on that "Cheery" note "RELAX" that song though is making me have this urge to take a shower for some reason!?! alright it feed that urge also.

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

Pat.

DO NOT bother obsessing over RC vs RCR. When they show up we'll know for sure. We could play these maybe this maybe that games forever.. I know because a quarter century of doing this sometimes feels like forever.

AND the RCR IS in the French OOB it's just named "wrong" ( AMX-10RC sbd U12, 13 and 41 ) and has been changed (and they have new photos now). Any without amphib speed has the added armour but IMHO the old one with amphib ability suits Ukraine better because they can work with BTR's but we really don't need to get too bent out of shape over it... I'm not. French OOB unit 41 is now named RCR and the Ukrainians have the RC with the G2 gun/ammo until I know for sure what it is......speculation I don't have time or energy for

If an AMX has text that says "This vehicle is fitted with add-on armor and without amphibious capability.*" it is the RCR upgrade

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I actually had it in my notes to seek to revise French UNIT 012 to the RCR as that is the one, I put the "? " mark against.

That you increased the armor value as well is the bonus. THANK YOU!

All this "other stuff" going on has just gotten me all "amped up".

I'm with you we're either going to see the AMX-10RC sbd or AMX-10RCR whenever those planes land in the Ukraine.

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Scroll Down on this story from BLOOMBURG concerning German LEOPARD 1 (88) and 2 (22) that Rheinmetall has available. Ones from BUNDESWEHR I feel are unlikely as the newer tanks are undergoing conversion to the newest LEOPARD 7 version. Hell, I'll just post it as I just realized this is a daily update story.

"Rheinmetall CEO Says Leopard Repairs Take a Year (9:15 a.m.)
The maker of Leopard tanks says it would take about a year to get the vehicles it has in inventory ready for the battlefield, meaning deliveries to Ukraine couldn’t start before 2024, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said told the Bild newspaper.

The German defense company has 22 Leopard 2 tanks and 88 Leopard 1 vehicles, “but we can’t repair these tanks without an order, because the costs are several hundred million euros and Rheinmetall can’t finance that in advance,” he said.

The comments are likely to put more pressure on the German government to approve deliveries of vehicles in active service. Countries including Poland and Finland have said they’re ready to send their Leopards to Kyiv."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...019addc4360918

And the world continues "to spin round and round again" and while it does, WE continue to wait and see as it does.

Regards,
Pat