US Admits Russia Bakhmut Advance, Russia Claims Solidar Gains, US France To Provide Light Armour (Alexander Mercouris)

Bakhmut is a key position in the area and is subject to relentless artillery attack. The French are set to transfer light tanks to Ukraine. However, because of the nature of the fighting the vehicles will only be of limited use without artillery and infantry support. It is not like these vehicles will be able to smash through the front lines. At best they can provide fire support where they don't face strong opposition, which is pretty much nowhere at present.

The biggest problem faced in the war is likely moves to send in Polish troops to create a buffer zone inside Ukraine.

The New Atlas Channel (and also Alexander) covered the French light tank issue, but the analysis seemed muddled. He criticised the vehicles for being too light, and then criticised the M2 Bradley of the USA for being too heavy. The French light tanks are indeed too light as use as tanks but not in the fire support role working with infantry and IFVs.

Overall when it comes to the general weight of vehicles, if T-72 tanks can get around then so can M2 Bradleys. Meanwhile relatively light Russian vehicles were described as just right as if they did not suffer from the same sort of problems in terms of armour?

In terms of the logistics train the Russian built equipment is better than the Western donations to Ukraine. When compared to the French light tanks they are much of the same when it comes to the armour. The real difference is the lack of artillery and the lack of drone support. And on frozen ground heavier armour would actually be more beneficial. All sides suffer problems with lighter armoured vehicles. The trick is to employ equipment in real combined arms operations with a heavy emphasis on indirect fire support (killer drones, mortars, artillery).

The point they have absolutely correct is that Western support is too little too late:

Western Escalation in Ukraine: Sending in Armor - But is it Too Little Too Late? (The New Atlas)


[Posted at the SpookyWeather2 blog, January 7, 2023.]