BeirutDude
Posts: 2625
Joined: 4/27/2013 From: Jacksonville, FL, USA Status: offline
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IMHO, weather and overnight illumination conditions are sub-optimal for Russian action in the Ukraine for the next 7 days. Currently the high temperatures are in the low 30s F / near 2-4C with overnight lows in the 15-20F / -10 to -6C range, but not long enough of a duration to hard freeze the ground for a 40-50 ton MBT. By Tuesday we're looking at high temps in the 40-45F /4 to 8C range and overnight lows 30-35F/-1 to 3 C. This definitely will allow the fields to become mud quagmires (which from the videos I'm seeing they are now). If I were a Russian BTG commander I'd be scared S***less my columns would be completely road-bound and if the defenders even can use the ATGMs they had in inventory already to effect my columns would have trouble punching through and I'd be severely limited in my freedom of action. Now add Javelins to the mix, if they integrated them to front line forces and can use them effectively, could be a major mess for them. Full Moon is Feb 16th in just 4 days and Sunday Night's illumination is 80%. That means for infantry/Special Ops infiltration, as well as, aircraft the illumination will be greater taking away (or limiting) that advantage from a foe with lesser night vision equipment. Don't know how important that is today, but was huge in my dinosaur days of the 1980s. At bare minimum waiting until the New Moon on March 2nd give the Russian SOF forces, with the better night vision equipment/night training more advantages. However waiting until early March has the risk of even warmer weather and more rain. Thoughts? What am I missing here?
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"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN, 1985 I was Navy, but Assigned TAD to the 24th MAU Hq in Beirut. By far the finest period of my service!
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