Ukraine's Next Ordeal: It's Going Down to 20 Below

[babylonsister]

Ukraine’s Next Ordeal: It’s Going Down to 20 Below
MISERY
A cold snap will turn Russian military hardware into “40-ton freezers,” say analysts as the senseless war rages into its second week.
Barbie Latza Nadeau
Correspondent-At-Large
Updated Mar. 09, 2022 9:27AM ET / Published Mar. 09, 2022 9:26AM ET


The death toll continues to rise in Vladimir Putin’s deadly assault on Ukraine—now two weeks old—as the misery deepens for millions of Ukrainians who by now realize this nightmare is not ending any time soon. To make matters worse, an Arctic cold front is set to sweep the nation over the weekend, undoubtedly adding unthinkable agony to those who are already sheltering without electricity or proper clothing.

Their only consolation: The cold will also be devastating to the Russian invasion force, especially those soldiers in the 40-mile convoy idling on the outskirts of the capital city Kyiv.

“Minus 20C [or -4F] will degrade the Russian force, there is no question. It will improve cross-country mobility because there will be less mud but the Russians are not ready for Arctic conditions,” military analyst Major Kevin Price told the Times of London, adding that it will essentially turn Russia’s tanks and trucks into “4o-ton freezers.”

more...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/ukraine-forecast-of-freezing-temperatures-endangers-russian-troops-and-complicates-ukrainians-escape?ref=home

[Achilleaze]

1. "Genius" - Republican leader and family-values role model

[h2ebits]

2. Misleading headline: 20C is equal to -4F

Cold is cold, but when a US article uses the Centigrade number for click bait and sympathy; it's just plain wrong.

[Deminpenn]

6. Agree. -4F is still pretty cold, though

nt

[h2ebits]

9. -4F is very cold. . . . however, I spent a number of years in Wisconsin

The year that I left Madison, Wisconsin, we had a week of temperatures where the high was 20 below zero Fahrenheit. Wind chill factors made it dangerous to be outside. Warnings such as: exposed flesh freezes in 30 seconds--including your eyeballs--were common with that kind of weather.

The Daily Beast article with that headline should be an embarrassment to them and they should correct it for accuracy--it is just plain wrong. If they wish to ever be taken seriously, they need to do some work.

[babylonsister]

11. A military analyst was quoted in the

Last edited Wed Mar 9, 2022, 09:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Times of London, where I believe the celsius scale is used. So, I'm not too upset about it. In fact, I'm not at all.

Also, the military uses it, too.
The U.S. military has generally high use of the metric system, partly because of the need to work with other nations' militaries. Executive Order 12770, signed by President George H.W.

[2naSalit]

3. And at those temps...

Cheap steel gets very brittle, diesel fuel turns into jelly and grease into a firm solid substance, starting a diesel engine in that kind of cold is hard on the rings and stuff. If they think those heaps are falling apart now, the cold will do some serious damage all its own.

[Best_man23]

8. Diesel fuel begins to wax around 20 degrees

At 0 degrees, you pretty much have to keep a diesel fueled vehicle running 24/7 to keep the fuel from waxing to the point where the engine cannot be restarted. You can get such an engine started again by heating the fuel system, which I can see the Russians doing by performing a crazy stunt like burning a tire under the fuel tank(s).

Also, weapons tend to freeze up as the lubricants used to keep parts moving begins to gel. Frankly, I would be shocked if we see this happening to Russian AK-47s; that would really speak volumes to how degraded the Russian military has become.

[2naSalit]

12. All those lubes and fuel...

Become a detriment. There are methyl alcohol (though in a pinch others like isopropyl will work) additives for diesel and gas that help inhibit the gelling but so many other parts and petrochems fail at those temps. I have run a number of heavy machines in those temps and I never felt good about it while I was operating them in those extreme conditions, the worst was when I was many miles from rescue points.

[NCjack]

4. B/Y night hunters: We wish you a successful weekend!

[jeffreyi]

5. Windy, too.

May all their invader diesel turn into jelly.

[gab13by13]

7. I'm not so sure who that will hurt more,

Ukranians without heat are going to suffer.

[2naSalit]

13. Big time.

[WarGamer]

10. maybe the Ukrainians should take a play from the Russians own playbook

When winter froze the Germans in their tracks outside Moscow and Stalingrad... the Russians launched counter-attacks.