Reading Putin’s statement as quoted there, I’m hearing it being shouted in a stereotypical Hitler rant. I’m seeing more parallels all the time.
According to Wikipedia, they’re tripod-mounted Mk 19 grenade launchers:
EDIT: They are like heavy machine-guns that fire grenades:
We’re gonna need another Timmy general…
For those who didn’t see Zelensky’s speech to the US Congress this morning, here’s a video – it starts at 6:55. Of particular note is the unexpected emotional video he shows, starting at 20:15.
Wow. Those things are still in service?
“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.” - Ian Fleming
History does not record what Ian Fleming thought four times was.
Keep marching forward or get shot is the traditional arrangement, I believe.
Question is if these assets are being pulled from US/NATO stocks already in Europe (so they should be available relatively quickly to the Ukranians) or if they are coming from CONUS (CONtinental US) Depots and need to be staged and loaded for aircraft lift. When days, indeed hours, count, the sooner the better, IMHO.
Still, wouldn’t be wanting to fly a Russian helicopter anywhere close to Ukraine–after what the Afghans did with Stingers we gave them…
Press on.
I suspect (with no evidence) that Russian troops are either tipping off Ukraine about where the generals are located, or are doing the deed themselves.
Terminal Lance had something similar to say about the M240. As he said in his comment, “Barrels are replaceable… the moment is not.”
It’s better to die in battle than get killed for disappointing Putin.
He’s probably lashing out at all his top officers.
At a guess, trying to pick up morale in the front lines (or threaten soldiers with dire consequences if they don’t show enough aggressive actions). And possibly because they don’t trust the information they are getting from their subordinates at the front and are going to have a look for themselves–which for Ukraine is the best option, since those would be the Generals who would press the offensive if they could; the idiots are staying well back from the lines and just reading reports from there.
All IMHO as always.
In case I’m not the only one who didn’t know what these are:
Separately, I haven’t heard much about improved coastal defense. I saw Ukraine had ordered some anti-ship missiles earlier this year but I don’t know if they received them. And I don’t know if there’s much use to them at this stage. I’m interested in others’ opinions.
That day is today. Apparently, prisoner exchange, not special ops.
BBC:
D’oh! You missed a fantastic opportunity to craft an epic line for Oliver Putin:
“Please sir, may I have some MRE?”
The only reason a general needs to visit the front lines is if he doesn’t have a grasp on what’s going on there. Things aren’t going as planned.
Good news guys, you get to go home.
I’m willing to bet that the soldiers are less than thrilled with this concept. They’re likely to be in the group that Putin has said that Russia will “self-clense”
Latest summary from the Institute for the Study of War: