Thank you.
It’s reported that Sweden will tomorrow announce that it will be supplying Ukraine with Archer self-propelled howitzers.
Here’s a video of an Archer. It can arrive at a location, fire off three rounds and depart before the first round has even hit the ground, making it an ideal shoot and scooter for evading enemy counterbattery fire.
It also has a cool-looking remotely-controlled weapons station on the roof:
That is super cool looking.
The US is reportedly going to supply Ukraine with Stryker infantry fighting vehicles, but not tanks.
The US is also reportedly going to supply ground-launched Small Diameter Bombs. These have a range of 94 miles (150km), which is a significant increase on the 57-mile (92 km) range of the GMLRS rounds that Ukraine has been supplied with so far for the HIMARS, but less than the 185-mile (297km) range of the ATACMS missiles that Ukraine would like to have.
Stryker infantry fighting vehicle
You’ll no doubt be pleased to hear that it’s also found on US Stryker infantry fighting vehicles.
Well, the Treaty of Versailles did provide some grounds for the German people to feel persecuted. Doesn’t excuse how the Nazis used it as a springboard for their propaganda, of course.
Yeah, fuck them. The turned a regional conflict into WWI because they didn’t have enough colonies. They deserved the blame they got.
Not arguing that, though I will point out Germany was even more at fault for WWII but the victors setting up the Marshall Plan rather than Versailles-ing Germany a second time made a huge difference in how that country rejoined the civilized world.
Modding: and on that note, please take anything further on Germany to a new thread.
The Daleks have joined the war. This can’t be good.
Offshoot thread: Putin = Hitler… or Kaiser Wilhelm II?
Summary
Matt Yglesias tweeted recently that those of us on the left frequently underestimate how sincerely conservatives believe what we consider to be their own bullshit. They honestly believe in low tax rates for the wealthy “producers” and in rigid social hierarchies, among other stuff, believing things like that are in the nation’s best interests.
Demonstrating that they’re wrong is really hard.
Remember this is not the thread for politics.
General Hodges reacts to news that the US will supply longer-range Small Diameter Bombs to Ukraine:
The Polish prime minister says they may not wait for Germany’s permission to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine:
Estonia’s military aid to Ukraine reaches 1% of GDP:
‘It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.’ - Rear Admiral Grace Hopper (1906-1992)
And Canada is sending 200 new armored vehicles:
It’s unclear if we have these already in stock, but from other sources, it seems the plant producing these has been ramping up production on the expectation that we would be sending a bunch. I heard they have the capacity to build about 1,000 per year, so hopefully it won’t be too long before at least some of these are on the ground in Ukraine.
Maverick: “Tower, this is Ghost Rider requesting a flyby.”
Tower: “Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full.”
Goose: “No, no, man. This is not a good idea.”
Maverick: “Sorry, Goose, but it’s time to buzz the tower!”
In addition to the Archer self-propelled artillery, Sweden will donate 50 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine:
The theme of the latest tranche of military aid seems to be armored fighting vehicles, to bolster Ukraine’s offensive capability and help them recapture territory.
The CBC article I linked mentioned that the vehicles of this type we’ve already sent are being used on the border with Belarus, which makes me think they’re part of a rapid response force intended to keep Belarus out of the fight, so they don’t get flanked while trying to deal with Russia in the west.
Denmark is donating 19 CAESAR howitzers, which should be delivered to Denmark from France this year.