Quote from: majorhavoc on March 25, 2022, 02:51:53 PM
I read somewhere that the reason so many Russian generals are at or near the front lines may have something to do with extraordinarily low troop morale and the need for high ranking officers to be there to gin up (or threaten) the rank and file.

Whatever the true reason Russian generals are dying in droves, I'm certainly not losing any sleep over it.

The Russian military doesn't really trust the grunts to make any type of decisions, which means they require more guidance from higher-ups.  When anything goes really wrong (which pretty much describes the entire war in Ukraine) the commanders have to go to the front lines to try to fix it. 

Now add in that Ukraine has MUCH better tactical intelligence than the Russian army (hey, they're the home team, so go figure), and it's sort of a target rich environment for the Ukrainians...

BBC has resurrected their Shortwave broadcasts (which tjey havent done since WWII.) to circumvent Russia censoring news of the Ukraine war.


https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/4/22961286/bbc-news-blocked-in-russia-ukraine-invasion-shortwave-radio

Quote from: Moab on March 26, 2022, 05:46:20 AM
BBC has resurrected their Shortwave broadcasts (which tjey havent done since WWII.) to circumvent Russia censoring news of the Ukraine war.


https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/4/22961286/bbc-news-blocked-in-russia-ukraine-invasion-shortwave-radio

Thanks for finding this Moab.  The BBC broadcast schedule, times, frequencies:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2x9tqt6mc05vB2S37j8MWMJ/global-short-wave-frequencies

So 1300-1500 GMT (9-11am EDT) on 15730 kHz and 2000-2200 GMT (4-6pm EDT) on 5875 kHz.  Targeted at Ukraine and Russia so unlikely we'd be able to listen in from North America, but might give it a shot today.

ETA:  Strong signal into the northern midwest on 15730 kHz AM today.  R4 S8.  A little surprised. 

Cannot vouch for this guy's credentials as a military analyst, but here's a detailed take on the current military situation.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksZJytaqpAY

Just going to drop this here:

Russia starts military drill on disputed islands off Japan

The original report is from a Ukrainian journalist on FB, so not sure how accurate it is, but it is certainly interesting if true:

Russian troops attack own commanding officer after suffering heavy losses

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 02:30:04 PM
Just going to drop this here:

Russia starts military drill on disputed islands off Japan

more "while the big kids aren't looking"
https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3573442.html

there was a poster on r/Ukraine a week or so back urging any other country that ever had a territorial dispute with Russia or USSR.................now might be a good time to make some moves

Quote from: aikorob on March 26, 2022, 08:48:41 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 02:30:04 PM
Just going to drop this here:

Russia starts military drill on disputed islands off Japan

more "while the big kids aren't looking"
https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3573442.html

there was a poster on r/Ukraine a week or so back urging any other country that ever had a territorial dispute with Russia or USSR.................now might be a good time to make some moves

I just want to clarify that if you are dyslexic or just really tired, that article says Armenians, not Americans.  I was initially pretty confused and had to read it again.


It definitely looks like they are positioning.  Not good.

Quote from: Moab on March 26, 2022, 05:46:20 AM
BBC has resurrected their Shortwave broadcasts (which tjey havent done since WWII.) to circumvent Russia censoring news of the Ukraine war.


https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/4/22961286/bbc-news-blocked-in-russia-ukraine-invasion-shortwave-radio

Because when you're fighting Cylons you need to be detached from their infiltration of the grid.

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 09:30:12 PM

Quote from: aikorob on March 26, 2022, 08:48:41 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 02:30:04 PM
Just going to drop this here:

Russia starts military drill on disputed islands off Japan

more "while the big kids aren't looking"
https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3573442.html

there was a poster on r/Ukraine a week or so back urging any other country that ever had a territorial dispute with Russia or USSR.................now might be a good time to make some moves

I just want to clarify that if you are dyslexic or just really tired, that article says Armenians, not Americans.  I was initially pretty confused and had to read it again.


It definitely looks like they are positioning.  Not good.

no.............just pointing out that other hotspots may flare up while the world is distracted---and given the heavy hand of the USSR keeping internal tensions in check is gone; and there is new leadership in various countries .......
I wouldn't be surprised if Georgia starting making moves against Russian "peacekeepers" in South Ossetia

Interesting. Boobytrapped AK mag. Used in Afghanistan, Bosnia and now Ukraine. Wth?!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CbnRIFqlz2s/?utm_medium=copy_link

Admin edit: Unfortunately, the link has to be disabled due to it discussing illegal activity (boobytraps)

Quote from: Moab on March 27, 2022, 04:20:11 PM
Interesting. Boobytrapped AK mag. Used in Afghanistan, Bosnia and now Ukraine. Wth?!!!

Code Select Expand


https://www.instagram.com/p/CbnRIFqlz2s/?utm_medium=copy_link

Thats pretty cool. All i posted was the instagram link. And it shows a full image of it here in my post. I had no idea.

Quote from: aikorob on March 27, 2022, 07:30:01 AM

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 09:30:12 PM

Quote from: aikorob on March 26, 2022, 08:48:41 PM

Quote from: Anianna on March 26, 2022, 02:30:04 PM
Just going to drop this here:

Russia starts military drill on disputed islands off Japan

more "while the big kids aren't looking"
https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3573442.html

there was a poster on r/Ukraine a week or so back urging any other country that ever had a territorial dispute with Russia or USSR.................now might be a good time to make some moves

I just want to clarify that if you are dyslexic or just really tired, that article says Armenians, not Americans.  I was initially pretty confused and had to read it again.


It definitely looks like they are positioning.  Not good.

no.............just pointing out that other hotspots may flare up while the world is distracted---and given the heavy hand of the USSR keeping internal tensions in check is gone; and there is new leadership in various countries .......
I wouldn't be surprised if Georgia starting making moves against Russian "peacekeepers" in South Ossetia

I'm not clear how that's a "no".  I didn't specify what they were positioning for, so didn't rule out the potential for them positioning for other flare ups whether Russia starts them or other countries choose to take advantage of the situation.  If it looks like the latter, I wouldn't expect Russia to just sit around and wait for it instead of improving their position.

Ive been watching this Russion doc that was reproduced with english. And i think additional graphics too. But it goes into great detail about how the Russians/Ukrainians defended individual cities in Ukraine during WWII. It shows a massive amount of strategically placed defensive positions in and around various cities. It made me wonder whether any of those positions are still in place. Some were massive concrete and steel bunkers. Others were deep fighting trenches.

It also made me wonder what blueprint this set or what the current Ukrainian military and leadership has learned from that conflict. I think there was an even more recent stuggle in the region. But these defensive lines were massive. Were to fight off the huge invasion from Germany. And they used a huge amount of Russian civilian labor to accomplish it. Some of these defensive lines were miles long. With tank traps, barned wire, huge gun enplacements.

https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.8ead2430-3d6e-d74d-60bd-8f1df67ae67d&ref_=atv_dp_share_seas&r=web

If that link doesnt work or it doesnt take you to the exact episodes on this subject. Its called Soviet Storm: WWII in the East.

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 25, 2022, 09:54:14 PMThe Russian military doesn't really trust the grunts to make any type of decisions, which means they require more guidance from higher-ups.

I mean, yeah, if you let the guys at the bottom take initiative and make decisions themselves, they're going to want to keep making decisions when they're out of the military, but they're supposed to shut up and just be good little cogs in the state apparatus. 

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 28, 2022, 08:47:42 AM

Quote from: EBuff75 on March 25, 2022, 09:54:14 PMThe Russian military doesn't really trust the grunts to make any type of decisions, which means they require more guidance from higher-ups.

I mean, yeah, if you let the guys at the bottom take initiative and make decisions themselves, they're going to want to keep making decisions when they're out of the military, but they're supposed to shut up and just be good little cogs in the state apparatus.

I offer this video as some insight into the command mentality of the Soviet and likely carries forward to the current Russian Army to some extent.

This is a link to a video discussing a Soviet VIP transport crash that wiped out 16 Soviet Admirals and the entire Pacific Fleet command structure save one admiral who missed the flight.

The plane was piloted by two very competent & experienced flight crew. To make it a short story (see @ 20:25): The Admirals insisted on overloading the plane and loading a heavy roll of news print without proper restraints. The restraints broke, the roll of paper rolled and changed the plane's CG aft to point beyond it's designed capability to fly. This is a pilots nightmare since the plane cannot be recovered. It is generally a death sentence for all aboard.

Before the crash the pilots objected to the overload and were told that they were just drivers, to STFU and do as ordered. They did and everyone died. The pilots had no recourse but still pleasing the boss is stupid way to die.   



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU1f47SC_A8

Quote from: Raptor on March 28, 2022, 10:55:09 AMThe Admirals insisted on overloading the plane and loading a heavy roll of news print without proper restraints. The restraints broke, the roll of paper rolled and changed the plane's CG aft to point beyond it's designed capability to fly.

8 seconds into their flight.  Wow.  I mean, it makes sense, that's when the plane is trying to gain altitude the quickest, the angle is steep, the shift in the center of gravity would be rapid and drastic, and that's all she wrote.   




Also, I think there's something to be said there about putting all your eggs in one basket.  Especially when you tell the guys whose expertise is in carrying the basket how you want them to shut up and carry the basket the way you tell them to.

I'll have to watch this video when I get home from work but I have to ask: what was so !$&#+@ important about a giant roll of newsprint?

Quote from: Mr. E. Monkey on March 28, 2022, 12:19:05 PM

Quote from: Raptor on March 28, 2022, 10:55:09 AMThe Admirals insisted on overloading the plane and loading a heavy roll of news print without proper restraints. The restraints broke, the roll of paper rolled and changed the plane's CG aft to point beyond it's designed capability to fly.

8 seconds into their flight.  Wow.  I mean, it makes sense, that's when the plane is trying to gain altitude the quickest, the angle is steep, the shift in the center of gravity would be rapid and drastic, and that's all she wrote.   




Also, I think there's something to be said there about putting all your eggs in one basket.  Especially when you tell the guys whose expertise is in carrying the basket how you want them to shut up and carry the basket the way you tell them to.

It is the stereotypical command mentality of "I am in charge! Make it happen!". We have all dealt with that mentality. It is one thing when you are in a shooting war situation to issue such commands/decisions for mission needs and another in a less than critical situation.

That mentality is likely to some extent still present today.

Part of that can be explained by the fact Russia still uses conscripts in their land, air, sea & even submarine forces. A conscript army has been shown to be less effective (except for headcount) than a volunteer professional army.

Would you trust a conscript trooper/sailor with any complex and dangerous equipment;     
knowing that person is there for only 1 year and does not want to be there in the first place? BTW here is a tank, go drive it.

https://www.bizpacreview.com/2022/02/27/russia-reportedly-forcing-conscripts-to-sign-military-contracts-to-be-sent-to-ukraine-families-left-in-dark-1206318/

Quote from: majorhavoc on March 28, 2022, 12:56:07 PM
I'll have to watch this video when I get home from work but I have to ask: what was so !$&#+@ important about a giant roll of newsprint?

A bureaucracy runs on paper.

Since I spoiled the story already, the paper was newspaper for the Pacific Fleet Newspaper. They wanted to make sure to print "all the news that fits" and ordered that "if it fits...it ships!".

BTW a common personnel issue was alcoholism...from conscript to Fleet Admiral.

Lets see get 16 admirals and aides who are intoxicated and throw in ego and an airplane...what could possibly go wrong?

Quote from: Raptor on March 28, 2022, 01:01:36 PM
It is the stereotypical command mentality of "I am in charge! Make it happen!". We have all dealt with that mentality. It is one thing when you are in a shooting war situation to issue such commands/decisions for mission needs and another in a less than critical situation.

That mentality is likely to some extent still present today.

Indeed.  Seems the Soviets dialed it up to 11, though, and Russia misplaced the knob (okay, let's be honest, they probably sold it under the table)!

QuoteLets see get 16 admirals and aides who are intoxicated and throw in ego and an airplane...what could possibly go wrong?

Gravity.  Gravity went wrong. 


That, and no matter how many Admirals you add up, they still don't outrank Murphy.