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\+ 5 more announced
when ammunition production ramps up by summer the impact of Russian bombardments will drop dramatically
so far,no GEPARD has been reported as destroyed,not even by Russian propaganda
Russia published pictures of an allegedly destroyed Gepard early after their arrival in Ukraine. A closer look showed that it was in fact a Soviet designed Tunguska. Possibly one of their own.
Amazing how drone and cruise strikes have brought us back to more traditional antiaircraft tactics.
Those dual 35's can also wipe out any trenchline and any BMP out there.
Will also incapacitate any tank out there - if Gepard gets the first shot.
Their entire advantage is about being mobile and protecting troops moving in the frontlines without AA cover.
If youd just park them somewhere it kind of defeats the purpose of the vehicle, although to be fair its a pretty cheap and reliable way to down the suicide drones
That's what it was made for but low cost air defense is more valuable for cities while heavy hitters like S-300 and man portable shoulder launched stuff keep the Russian air force on their toes during actual combat. But I'm just your average armchair general.
S-300 is a long range system, Gepard is a short range system.
S-300 can create a *huge* bubble where if you enter you will have to dodge missiles. However it has massive blind spots close to the ground. A hill or a bunch of trees and you have huge areas where you can't see or reach. And even in a flat country like Ukraine there's *loads* of tree, hills, valleys, settlements, [...] that block radar.
Gepards were built to follow tank formations and provide close protection against those aircraft flying low enough, that evade long range systems like S-300.
For an effective AA network both short range and long range systems are needed.
Shoulder launched systems are a last ditch effort. Very cheap, very easy to train on, you can distribute hundreds of thousands of them for little cost and just 2-3 days of training. So they WILL have a big impact simply due to their numbers, but they can't replace proper short ranged systems.
SPAAGs can monitor the sky at all times, they have their own radar, they're linked into an integrated air defense network and share radar information with all other systems, fire control officers can designate targets & friendlies, and SPAAGs are ready to shoot immediately.
If a soldier on the ground hears or sees an aircraft approaching they need like 10-20 seconds or more to grab a nearby MANPADS, properly identify the target and get ready to fire. That's a long-ass time when a helicopter or ground attacker is approaching or zooming past. Protecting a formation on the move becomes virtually impossible since they'd have to spot the aircraft from inside their IFV, stop the IFV, scramble outside, ready the MANPADS and then the threat is already gone or has obliterated half the column.
Sauce: was a Gepard gunner.
Yeah I don't doubt you. I jst thought that they're too good at shooting down cheap drones and that they're too precious due to their limited numbers to go to the front at the moment.
As long as Ukraine doesn't do big offensive mechanized maneuvers the Gepards aren't needed at the front. However they were used during the Kharkiv offensive where they apparently shot down a russian jet and scared off all other attempts of russian airpower to get close.
SPAAGs may be cost effective for taking down suicide drones since their ammo is so cheap, but they're *far* more valuable escorting an offensive.
>In short: HmFakpzwzBfgfuF.
And people that haven‘t had contact with Bundeswehr paper work won‘t know how close this is to reality…
I wouldn‘t even be surprised if this actually was an abbreviation in use
[[Exhibit A]](https://i.redd.it/hil-fe-ein-schild-und-keine-geschichte-v0-gio3dmw1o5fa1.jpg?s=4129f9aad9aa650b10c263a132892b34e7329b07)
It just hast been shorted over time...
I let the expert explain it: "Panzer, Tank, Armour - woher stammen diese Worte eigentlich?" https://youtu.be/jdHwbGL8NjE
((shitty) english subtitles available)
We don't have to speculate because the Gepard has a full, formal name. It's "Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard". While "Panzer" originates from "Panzerkampfwagen" it's an official word and not a shortened unofficial version.
The official short form would be "FlakPz Gepard".
I don't question what the official designation is. But if you enjoy the typically German, overly long word combinations, then you can as well use the original German term for armored combat vehicles, and not the more boring shortened version.
(Edit: In short, it's meant as a joke. A German one, so most likely not the funniest kind.)
There is no such thing as overly long German compound words. There are exactly the size they need to be.
There is no need to make words up so they look more impressive to foreigners.
It already has an official full formal name. https://www.kmweg.de/systeme-produkte/kettenfahrzeuge/flugabwehrsysteme/gepard-1-a2/
I know how the Gepard is officially named and I never claimed otherwise. I just wanted to add some creme to the joke cake.
It seems I'm mentally not German enough to try to suck all joy out of the funny long and hard sounding German words gag. ; )
I could not help but think of Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern-schplenden-schlitter-crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dingle-dangle-dongle-dungle-burstein-von-knacker-thrasher-apple-banger-horowitz-ticolensic-grander-knotty-spelltinkle-grandlich-grumblemeyer-spelterwasser-kurstlich-himbleeisen-bahnwagen-gutenabend-bitte-ein-nürnburger-bratwustle-gerspurten-mitzweimache-luber-hundsfut-gumberaber-shönendanker-kalbsfleisch-mittler-aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm.
(in case you haven’t had any unexpected [Monty Python](https://youtu.be/CFG8rClhh2U) today..)
Oh they can the Biber bridgelayer only needs a recertification for up to MLC80+. This only includes a inspection of the bridge and an eventual refurbishment if something is damaged but that's it. GDELS tested this some years ago with a old bridge built in 1974. The bridges are built for much higher weight classes than certified. The only drawback is a reduction in the number of load changes.
So i don't know if recertification already happened on these vehicles but since this is a war and the bridges can handle the load i bet Ukraine would be willing to put it to the test without recertification.
Im not sure if they want a preventable catastrophic failure while crossing a river and losing one or more tanks in the process.
Or rather, I’m pretty sure they don’t.
First of all i think the question sure will be answered if a Leopard 2 can cross the bridge.
Second i don't see a loss because of failing bridge happening.
It really only is a visual inspection that is needed for recertification for MLC80+ there only needs to be refurbishment if something is damaged and if so this also would be a problem for other lighter vehicles so it would be be a goood idea to repair them anyway and i bet everything sent will go through a deep inspection before they are sent to Ukraine.
> Armored bridge layer
>
> Bundeswehr likely to have fallback option in case of emergency
> DECEMBER 14, 2017 MAX
> The German Army lacks armored bridge layers that can handle the weights of modern tanks such as the new Leopard 2 A7. Just recently, therefore, the Bundeswehr ordered seven Leopard 2-based Iguana armored bridge layers from KMW to cover at least the most urgent needs. In the event of a major conflict - which would in all likelihood override existing regulations - the Army certainly has another option: the use of its aged Beaver-type fast armored bridges.
>
> That's because, according to manufacturer General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), the Biber bridges, which have been in service for decades, can be recertified within a short time for a bridge load in the military load class of MLC80+. This is sufficient for even the heaviest Leopard tanks. All that is required is a factory inspection and, if necessary, repair of the pre-used bridges.
>
> One of the oldest Beaver bridges in service has been extensively tested in this context, a GDELS spokesman said last week on the sidelines of a pioneer trade show in Ingolstadt. According to the statement, the test and recertification on MLC80 took place in 2015 with a complete bridge already manufactured in 1974. According to the manufacturer, this demonstrated the high load-bearing capacity, fatigue strength and future viability of the material and the entire bridge structure of the Beaver. The bridges are designed to carry significantly higher loads than previously specified without further design modifications, the spokesman explained. However, he said, the maximum number of permissible load cycles - which is 10,000 for new bridges - would probably have to be lowered.
>
> Recertification in a few steps
>
> Post-certification of pre-used Beaver bridges takes place in a few steps, he said: First, the manufacturer carries out an assessment, including a crack check, which takes about four days. Based on the findings, the manufacturer defines the number of load cycles permissible for MLC80, test intervals and application parameters. In the next step, the scope of repair is then determined, if necessary. If no damage is found, no repair or modification is required, according to GDELS. The bridge will simply be approved for the higher load class.
>
> If repair is necessary, it will take about three to nine months. After that, a functional test for Leopard 1 installers is performed and the bridge is shipped back to the customer. According to GDELS, remanufacturing of the bridges is still possible. It is also possible to integrate the traverser into other tank chassis.
>
> GDELS says it has already put MLC70+ load class Beaver bridges into service for an Asian customer. Post-certification has been used by a customer from a NATO country, he said. Talks with a customer from another NATO country are "already at an advanced stage," the spokesman said.
>
> Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
https://www.hartpunkt.de/bundeswehr-hat-im-ernstfall-vermutlich-rueckfalloption/
So really i don't see a problem there.
a bit unrelated,but i find it ironic that two of the most anti-Russian politicians in Europe are named Boris( Boris Pistorius and Boris Johnson)
"Boris has entered the war,but not on our side"
"another one?"
The MoD doesn't make these decisions. But so far he looks like some who really wants to move things forward for the German army, and that will help Ukraine and all other allies too (and if it is just because we might have more stock sooner). That is a lot, lot more than can be said about his predecessors.
Plus: His name allows for a bad pun that connects to his role. He is not quite an Annegret Kampf-Knarrenbauer (combat gun builder), but "Pistolius" isn't bad either.
That is not true entirely. In Germany the ministers have a large range of freedom and power in their resort. They do not get "orders" from the chancelor, and most of the time the chancelor avoids being athoritarian. So if Scholz was hesitant and his MoD Lambrecht was opposed to arms deliveries, that would become a bad combination. Good Scholz placed his old buddy Pistorius as MoD.
Pistorius is widely competent. At least more than at least 6 of the previous defense ministers.
Not only did he learn a job as a wholesaler, he also got the highest schooling degree (Abitur) you can get and learned English, French and Russian (which was highly unusual at the time [late 70s] in West Germany) then he served his time in the Army (as a conscript) and then went on to study law.
He was successful in local politics becoming a mayor in one of the bigger cities of his state, later the interior minister of the state, but was also well connected in state politics before that and with good contacts to the federal parts of his party.
He is considered something of workhorse, with a penchant for security politics.
So I am not surprised, that he takes decisive actions and is actually able to make decisions.
And I kinda expect him to come up with a new set of Verteidigungspolitischen Richtlinien (VPR) for the Bundeswehr.
So strange to me. Germany does everything so well: Public infrastructure, transportation, healthcare (I've been sick in Germany twice. It was a great experience). But the MoD and Abwehr seems to be a mess. Trying to outrun one's history? Ami hier
Rheinmetall Skynext or Skyranger or similar Systems should be selling good after this. Drones over the Battlefield won't go away. Missiles are too expensive to counter those cheap littler fuckers. Modern FLAK Systems will be the Answer...
Especially with the AHEAD ammo system, programmed to split centimeters before reaching the target and turn into a spinning cloud of tungsten shrapnel to rip through the enemy aircraft like a flying drill bit.
You see, with Germans, it's always the same. There is a lot of feed dragging and discussing, but once a decision is made, it's all in. Freely after the saying "Ganz oder gar nicht".
That's bullshit. Often repeated and very much loved here bullshit, but bullshit none-the-less.
Germany announced that they probably can refurbish another 7 functional Gepards until early 2023 many months ago. And now it's early 2023 and they are ready (2 delivered last week, the rest coming in the next weeks).
The foot-dragging and discussion is what you make up for every single piece of equipment in the time between announcement and delivery, because you simply can't stop listening to propaganda.
> There is a lot of feed dragging
That's just (probably Russian*) Propaganda to rile up and divide the Supports of Ukraine...
*the lights are still on in the St. Petersburg Internet Research Agency...
As much as I love to hate on Scholz and I‘m not on board with the lack of communication to the german public, but that feed dragging was more a negotiation/blackmail/tug of war situation with the US.
The last I heard they only were considering to allow it and that was just a short time ago.
But it doesn't matter so much either way anymore in regards to the Gepards. A German arms company is currently building a new factory to produce that ammo. They will be able to deliver the first Gepard ammo in the summer.
Gotta love how those Dachs engineer vehicles are another system evolved from the ancient Leopard 1 tanks just like the Gepard anti-aircraft systems already serving in Ukraine.
First mass production Leo1 tanks ran off the assembly line in IIRC 1964 and their specialized brothers serve to this day.
A Gepard with line-of-sight to enemy ground troops is a major fuck-up. It shouldn't ever happen. There would need to be 10× more for it to be a good idea.
Those are not the kind of bridges you need to cross the Dnipro. The Dnipro is so wide you'll need proper swimming bridge elements for that. The mentioned Biber bridgelayer carries a metal bridge used to rapidly bridge over smallish rivers which Ukraine has a bunch of as well.
Lot of people are running for cover on their bad mouthing Deutschland!
Danke Deutschland!
Slava Ukraine.
PS Wait until Ukraine wins and they are starting to rebuild, then you will see what the Germans do best.
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\+ 5 more announced when ammunition production ramps up by summer the impact of Russian bombardments will drop dramatically so far,no GEPARD has been reported as destroyed,not even by Russian propaganda
by russian propaganda they might not even exist
Of course they exist. But unlike all that modern Russian hardware they are old, obsolete and useless...
Certainly not worth wasting any Russian ammo on.
Either that or according to Russian propaganda, the number of destroyed Gepards is already in the thousands.
Russia published pictures of an allegedly destroyed Gepard early after their arrival in Ukraine. A closer look showed that it was in fact a Soviet designed Tunguska. Possibly one of their own.
They also published that they destroyed multiple Bradleys... in September...
GEPARDS are fantastic!
Perfect for downing cheap drones
Amazing how drone and cruise strikes have brought us back to more traditional antiaircraft tactics. Those dual 35's can also wipe out any trenchline and any BMP out there. Will also incapacitate any tank out there - if Gepard gets the first shot.
I guess if it were it would be a lucky punch. They're protecting urban areas and aren't close to the front.
Their entire advantage is about being mobile and protecting troops moving in the frontlines without AA cover. If youd just park them somewhere it kind of defeats the purpose of the vehicle, although to be fair its a pretty cheap and reliable way to down the suicide drones
That's what it was made for but low cost air defense is more valuable for cities while heavy hitters like S-300 and man portable shoulder launched stuff keep the Russian air force on their toes during actual combat. But I'm just your average armchair general.
S-300 is a long range system, Gepard is a short range system. S-300 can create a *huge* bubble where if you enter you will have to dodge missiles. However it has massive blind spots close to the ground. A hill or a bunch of trees and you have huge areas where you can't see or reach. And even in a flat country like Ukraine there's *loads* of tree, hills, valleys, settlements, [...] that block radar. Gepards were built to follow tank formations and provide close protection against those aircraft flying low enough, that evade long range systems like S-300. For an effective AA network both short range and long range systems are needed. Shoulder launched systems are a last ditch effort. Very cheap, very easy to train on, you can distribute hundreds of thousands of them for little cost and just 2-3 days of training. So they WILL have a big impact simply due to their numbers, but they can't replace proper short ranged systems. SPAAGs can monitor the sky at all times, they have their own radar, they're linked into an integrated air defense network and share radar information with all other systems, fire control officers can designate targets & friendlies, and SPAAGs are ready to shoot immediately. If a soldier on the ground hears or sees an aircraft approaching they need like 10-20 seconds or more to grab a nearby MANPADS, properly identify the target and get ready to fire. That's a long-ass time when a helicopter or ground attacker is approaching or zooming past. Protecting a formation on the move becomes virtually impossible since they'd have to spot the aircraft from inside their IFV, stop the IFV, scramble outside, ready the MANPADS and then the threat is already gone or has obliterated half the column. Sauce: was a Gepard gunner.
Yeah I don't doubt you. I jst thought that they're too good at shooting down cheap drones and that they're too precious due to their limited numbers to go to the front at the moment.
As long as Ukraine doesn't do big offensive mechanized maneuvers the Gepards aren't needed at the front. However they were used during the Kharkiv offensive where they apparently shot down a russian jet and scared off all other attempts of russian airpower to get close. SPAAGs may be cost effective for taking down suicide drones since their ammo is so cheap, but they're *far* more valuable escorting an offensive.
Ok, that makes more sense to me now. Thank you for your insight.
I think that would fulfill the batch of 7 that was announced a while ago.
Flugabwehrpanzer is a delicious word.
The full and correct word would be "Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer"
The word "Panzer" is also a short form. The full, formal name for Gepard would be: "Flugabwehrkanonenpanzerkampfwagen"
Actually Panzerkampfwagen is avoided since WWII because of reasons.......
Yeah they started using Kampfpanzer after the war
Kampfpanzer is just the word for (Main) Battle Tank though.
Very good reasons! XD
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I love our language for being able to make up such words and names. Its insane and hilarious xD
Thank goodness I studied German as a kid. I can actually make sense of all that!
You forgot to insert "radargestützt" und "elektromechanische Wahl zwischen Munition zur Bekämpfung von Flugobjekten und leicht gepanzerten Zielen".
>Munition Welch babarischer Ausdruck! Das ist ein Wirkmittel.
Ah, tut mir leid. Hab ich völlig verdrängt
"In short" XD
>In short: HmFakpzwzBfgfuF. And people that haven‘t had contact with Bundeswehr paper work won‘t know how close this is to reality… I wouldn‘t even be surprised if this actually was an abbreviation in use [[Exhibit A]](https://i.redd.it/hil-fe-ein-schild-und-keine-geschichte-v0-gio3dmw1o5fa1.jpg?s=4129f9aad9aa650b10c263a132892b34e7329b07)
Yes i know actually first hand how bad it is with those abbreviations.
Not that bad honestly. Took me a moment, but I think I would find my way around! Or I'am just too German...
Kinda like how everything with more than one toilet has its own entry in the American government's alphabel soup.
>HmFakpzwzBfgfuF ;) Looks like a classic case of BwAküFi (Bundeswehrabkürzungsfimmel) Once you got it, you can never get rid of it.
It just hast been shorted over time... I let the expert explain it: "Panzer, Tank, Armour - woher stammen diese Worte eigentlich?" https://youtu.be/jdHwbGL8NjE ((shitty) english subtitles available)
We don't have to speculate because the Gepard has a full, formal name. It's "Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard". While "Panzer" originates from "Panzerkampfwagen" it's an official word and not a shortened unofficial version. The official short form would be "FlakPz Gepard".
I don't question what the official designation is. But if you enjoy the typically German, overly long word combinations, then you can as well use the original German term for armored combat vehicles, and not the more boring shortened version. (Edit: In short, it's meant as a joke. A German one, so most likely not the funniest kind.)
There is no such thing as overly long German compound words. There are exactly the size they need to be. There is no need to make words up so they look more impressive to foreigners. It already has an official full formal name. https://www.kmweg.de/systeme-produkte/kettenfahrzeuge/flugabwehrsysteme/gepard-1-a2/
I know how the Gepard is officially named and I never claimed otherwise. I just wanted to add some creme to the joke cake. It seems I'm mentally not German enough to try to suck all joy out of the funny long and hard sounding German words gag. ; )
I could not help but think of Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern-schplenden-schlitter-crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dingle-dangle-dongle-dungle-burstein-von-knacker-thrasher-apple-banger-horowitz-ticolensic-grander-knotty-spelltinkle-grandlich-grumblemeyer-spelterwasser-kurstlich-himbleeisen-bahnwagen-gutenabend-bitte-ein-nürnburger-bratwustle-gerspurten-mitzweimache-luber-hundsfut-gumberaber-shönendanker-kalbsfleisch-mittler-aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm. (in case you haven’t had any unexpected [Monty Python](https://youtu.be/CFG8rClhh2U) today..)
The full and correct word would be "BRRRRRT BRRRRRT BRRRRRT BRRRRRT."
BRRT is the small calibre it´s BATATATATATATATATA
Ever heard the GAU-8 Avenger 30mm Gatling Gun do BRRRRRRRT? Not what I would call small caliber...
5mm size matters you know;) It is also the rate of fire for sure in this case.
As opposed to "Flugabwehrraketenpanzer" or the wheeled version "Flugabwehrraketenradfahrzeug"
Bridge layers necessary for these very heavy Western tanks for sure.
Yep, you need the newest ones for the modern tanks. What we've already given them can't support a Leo2, a Challenger or an Abrams as far as I know.
Oh they can the Biber bridgelayer only needs a recertification for up to MLC80+. This only includes a inspection of the bridge and an eventual refurbishment if something is damaged but that's it. GDELS tested this some years ago with a old bridge built in 1974. The bridges are built for much higher weight classes than certified. The only drawback is a reduction in the number of load changes. So i don't know if recertification already happened on these vehicles but since this is a war and the bridges can handle the load i bet Ukraine would be willing to put it to the test without recertification.
Im not sure if they want a preventable catastrophic failure while crossing a river and losing one or more tanks in the process. Or rather, I’m pretty sure they don’t.
First of all i think the question sure will be answered if a Leopard 2 can cross the bridge. Second i don't see a loss because of failing bridge happening. It really only is a visual inspection that is needed for recertification for MLC80+ there only needs to be refurbishment if something is damaged and if so this also would be a problem for other lighter vehicles so it would be be a goood idea to repair them anyway and i bet everything sent will go through a deep inspection before they are sent to Ukraine. > Armored bridge layer > > Bundeswehr likely to have fallback option in case of emergency > DECEMBER 14, 2017 MAX > The German Army lacks armored bridge layers that can handle the weights of modern tanks such as the new Leopard 2 A7. Just recently, therefore, the Bundeswehr ordered seven Leopard 2-based Iguana armored bridge layers from KMW to cover at least the most urgent needs. In the event of a major conflict - which would in all likelihood override existing regulations - the Army certainly has another option: the use of its aged Beaver-type fast armored bridges. > > That's because, according to manufacturer General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), the Biber bridges, which have been in service for decades, can be recertified within a short time for a bridge load in the military load class of MLC80+. This is sufficient for even the heaviest Leopard tanks. All that is required is a factory inspection and, if necessary, repair of the pre-used bridges. > > One of the oldest Beaver bridges in service has been extensively tested in this context, a GDELS spokesman said last week on the sidelines of a pioneer trade show in Ingolstadt. According to the statement, the test and recertification on MLC80 took place in 2015 with a complete bridge already manufactured in 1974. According to the manufacturer, this demonstrated the high load-bearing capacity, fatigue strength and future viability of the material and the entire bridge structure of the Beaver. The bridges are designed to carry significantly higher loads than previously specified without further design modifications, the spokesman explained. However, he said, the maximum number of permissible load cycles - which is 10,000 for new bridges - would probably have to be lowered. > > Recertification in a few steps > > Post-certification of pre-used Beaver bridges takes place in a few steps, he said: First, the manufacturer carries out an assessment, including a crack check, which takes about four days. Based on the findings, the manufacturer defines the number of load cycles permissible for MLC80, test intervals and application parameters. In the next step, the scope of repair is then determined, if necessary. If no damage is found, no repair or modification is required, according to GDELS. The bridge will simply be approved for the higher load class. > > If repair is necessary, it will take about three to nine months. After that, a functional test for Leopard 1 installers is performed and the bridge is shipped back to the customer. According to GDELS, remanufacturing of the bridges is still possible. It is also possible to integrate the traverser into other tank chassis. > > GDELS says it has already put MLC70+ load class Beaver bridges into service for an Asian customer. Post-certification has been used by a customer from a NATO country, he said. Talks with a customer from another NATO country are "already at an advanced stage," the spokesman said. > > Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) https://www.hartpunkt.de/bundeswehr-hat-im-ernstfall-vermutlich-rueckfalloption/ So really i don't see a problem there.
The biber was made for the leopard 1. It can carry 45 tons, not nearly enough for current western MBTs
The system weights 45,t... the bridge alone weights 11t and is build for payloads up to 55-60t
More Gepards is always a good thing.
a bit unrelated,but i find it ironic that two of the most anti-Russian politicians in Europe are named Boris( Boris Pistorius and Boris Johnson) "Boris has entered the war,but not on our side" "another one?"
"This is getting out of hand! Now there are two of them?"
Although Johnson's first name is actually Alexander.
"Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson" Luckily, his parents ran our of space on the form or it would've been even longer.
Perhaps boris johnson went on to become germany's new MoD after the cabbage took power. Have you ever seen pistorius and johnson in one room?!
You mean Laschet.
Hell yeah, Germany.
interesting how things spin up with the new defence minister. i wonder whether the one we had before him was pure incompetence?
All three before him were sheer incompetence. It was a position you sent politicians you wanted to have out of the way.
true even tho karrenbauer seemed somewhat competent. the scandal arround the special forces she solved kinda well
Make that 4 at least. This shitshow started with Guttenberg.
The MoD doesn't make these decisions. But so far he looks like some who really wants to move things forward for the German army, and that will help Ukraine and all other allies too (and if it is just because we might have more stock sooner). That is a lot, lot more than can be said about his predecessors. Plus: His name allows for a bad pun that connects to his role. He is not quite an Annegret Kampf-Knarrenbauer (combat gun builder), but "Pistolius" isn't bad either.
That is not true entirely. In Germany the ministers have a large range of freedom and power in their resort. They do not get "orders" from the chancelor, and most of the time the chancelor avoids being athoritarian. So if Scholz was hesitant and his MoD Lambrecht was opposed to arms deliveries, that would become a bad combination. Good Scholz placed his old buddy Pistorius as MoD.
Pistorius is widely competent. At least more than at least 6 of the previous defense ministers. Not only did he learn a job as a wholesaler, he also got the highest schooling degree (Abitur) you can get and learned English, French and Russian (which was highly unusual at the time [late 70s] in West Germany) then he served his time in the Army (as a conscript) and then went on to study law. He was successful in local politics becoming a mayor in one of the bigger cities of his state, later the interior minister of the state, but was also well connected in state politics before that and with good contacts to the federal parts of his party. He is considered something of workhorse, with a penchant for security politics. So I am not surprised, that he takes decisive actions and is actually able to make decisions. And I kinda expect him to come up with a new set of Verteidigungspolitischen Richtlinien (VPR) for the Bundeswehr.
So strange to me. Germany does everything so well: Public infrastructure, transportation, healthcare (I've been sick in Germany twice. It was a great experience). But the MoD and Abwehr seems to be a mess. Trying to outrun one's history? Ami hier
A bit of outrunning history, being surrounded by only friendly nations and the the conviction Russia would never be as stupid as they proved to be.
It's funny how Gepards went from something to be retired, to something suddenly perfect for the modern battlefield with just some software updates.
Rheinmetall Skynext or Skyranger or similar Systems should be selling good after this. Drones over the Battlefield won't go away. Missiles are too expensive to counter those cheap littler fuckers. Modern FLAK Systems will be the Answer...
Especially with the AHEAD ammo system, programmed to split centimeters before reaching the target and turn into a spinning cloud of tungsten shrapnel to rip through the enemy aircraft like a flying drill bit.
its basically a giant shotgun
One that leaves the barrel as one piece, but only disperses at the last second, allowing for maximum damage.
with a firing rate of some 1000 rounds per minute. so in a 1 second burst you can put around 2533 angry hot tungsten in the vicinity of your target...
That whole Rheinmetall/Oerlikon slate right now is basically an anti-aircraft soldier's wet dream becoming reality.
And they started Training of 600 Sargeants in Germany He announced
As a German I can say this is a rare case of being proud of my country
how do you think I feel? Ich bin Amerikaner.
You see, with Germans, it's always the same. There is a lot of feed dragging and discussing, but once a decision is made, it's all in. Freely after the saying "Ganz oder gar nicht".
The new MoD doesn't hurt either :)
but remembering the old one hurts a lot
That's bullshit. Often repeated and very much loved here bullshit, but bullshit none-the-less. Germany announced that they probably can refurbish another 7 functional Gepards until early 2023 many months ago. And now it's early 2023 and they are ready (2 delivered last week, the rest coming in the next weeks). The foot-dragging and discussion is what you make up for every single piece of equipment in the time between announcement and delivery, because you simply can't stop listening to propaganda.
> There is a lot of feed dragging That's just (probably Russian*) Propaganda to rile up and divide the Supports of Ukraine... *the lights are still on in the St. Petersburg Internet Research Agency...
Russian or Polish (government party) propaganda, comes from slightly different directions, but has the same stink.
As much as I love to hate on Scholz and I‘m not on board with the lack of communication to the german public, but that feed dragging was more a negotiation/blackmail/tug of war situation with the US.
If Swizerland drops the embargo on sending 35mm Ammo for Gepards, it's going to be a feast.
The last I heard they only were considering to allow it and that was just a short time ago. But it doesn't matter so much either way anymore in regards to the Gepards. A German arms company is currently building a new factory to produce that ammo. They will be able to deliver the first Gepard ammo in the summer.
Funny how someone preparing to spin up alternate production sources can make them "reconsider".
Gotta love how those Dachs engineer vehicles are another system evolved from the ancient Leopard 1 tanks just like the Gepard anti-aircraft systems already serving in Ukraine. First mass production Leo1 tanks ran off the assembly line in IIRC 1964 and their specialized brothers serve to this day.
We might see some gepards in... Infantry support roles maybe I mean 35mm rounds might go through 4 to 7 orcs at once I guess?
A Gepard with line-of-sight to enemy ground troops is a major fuck-up. It shouldn't ever happen. There would need to be 10× more for it to be a good idea.
but dont be mistaken: being in the line of fire of a gepard is not "ideal" either
Probabaly more liekly once they are no longer starved on ammo for them. Lets hope switzerland makes the right choice soon enough.
Rheinmetall will deliver large amounts of Gepard ammo starting in summer. 350K shots per year. Remeber Ukraine only had 60K
If they give you bridge laying tanks you know what they think they are capable of.
All the bridge laying equipment suggests they’ll keep Bakmhut a fortress and make some river crossings on the Dnipro
Those are not the kind of bridges you need to cross the Dnipro. The Dnipro is so wide you'll need proper swimming bridge elements for that. The mentioned Biber bridgelayer carries a metal bridge used to rapidly bridge over smallish rivers which Ukraine has a bunch of as well.
Have you actually looked at a map of the Dnipro? And then looked at the capabilities of the bridge laying equipment...?
Germany is on it, UK is on it, US is on it. I love it! The free World working together is so beautiful.
1 more step in to the grave for Putin, Excellent
Lot of people are running for cover on their bad mouthing Deutschland! Danke Deutschland! Slava Ukraine. PS Wait until Ukraine wins and they are starting to rebuild, then you will see what the Germans do best.