Well, shotguns are widely applicable in large part due to the fact that (depending on load) the shot loses KE and lethality really quick, unlike bullets. Bird shot etc. raining down back on you, after full flight, is no biggie.
I’m pretty sure this was the plot of Toys,
The big problem is getting 14 Tanks into Ukraine without getting bombed.
If they are in danger of not making it into Ukraine without getting bombed, the Russians have more problems to worry about than just 14 tanks.
Disguise them as parade floats and invite Putin to the celebration?
There’s still no hope of negotiation to get out of this war. This could drag on for years.
This article focuses on Putin and his unwillingness to end the war.
Link Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 26, 2023 | Institute for the Study of War
Shotguns are not uncommon, but they’re not typical military arms except for unusual circumstances. Mostly because of their very short range compared to even an assault rifle or other intermediate cartridge longarm. Even a pistol could outrange a shotgun loaded with anything besides slugs.
Close-contact fighting like trench sweeping is the classic military shotgun use case. Air defense is a new one.
The Germans complained about the Americans using pump shotguns in trench warfare. They were using flame throwers.
Shotguns are still a better weapon than shovels.
As far as “innovative” weapons go, might the Russians dig deep into the history of Soviet warfare and once again train booby-trapped dogs to blow up tanks?
That didn’t work because they fed the dogs from their tanks, and the dogs did not want to lose their meal ticket.
Ukraine counts heavy cost of Russian attacks on hydropower plants | Reuters
Russia has been attacking Ukraine’s power grid for months now. This is forcing Ukraine to redesign their electrical systems with protection and survivability as top priorities, and constructing things underground when possible. This, however, is really expensive.
Expensive, but worth it even under normal life.
I suppose that’s a bit of a silver lining. Kinda like how Japan had to completely rebuild their industrial base following WW2. Having to rebuild from the ground up did partly account for their explosive economic growth in the 40 years or so to follow. They had all new factories, equipment, and more efficient operations for a time.
Do they still have power at 60 Hz in some areas and 50 Hz in others?
Yes, you can’t change that sort of thing easily. It’s more of an east/west divide, though.
And seeing as how hundreds of billions is going to be spent in rebuilding Ukrainian infrastructure after the war, maybe they should also use the opportunity to change their existing Russian 1524 mm rail gauge to European standard 1435 mm
I recall my father, a radio engineer, cursing about the inferior quality if their electronic parts in the 1960s.
Immediately after the war it seems like much of what we saw in the US from Japan was cheap toys and trinkets. But they climbed the value chain very fast. By the 80s they were setting the standards in consumer electronics.
Bringing it back on topic, I wonder how the Ukrainian arms industry will be regarded after the war? They’ve proven themselves to be quite resourceful and innovative.
Shit just got real. Russia will soon face a counter offensive supported by 40 Marder Infantry fighting vehicles, 14 UK Challenger 2 and 18 Leopard 2 tanks. That should finally give Ukrainian forces a chance to significantly push Russian forces out of Eastern Ukraine.
Guardian blog
Putin may be tempted to shoot one of his tactical nukes at them.