Western artillery surging into Ukraine will reshape war with Russia

[Uncle Joe]

Members of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps fire artillery in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine in late March. (Stringer/Reuters)

(snip)

To date, Russia and Ukraine have traded fire using some of the same systems, including the powerful 300 mm Smerch multiple-launch rocket system, which can shoot rounds some 55 miles, and aging 122 mm howitzers first fielded in the 1960s. The introduction of various Western artillery pieces is expected to accelerate a tactical shift by both sides to employ what is known as counter-battery fire, in which military forces seek out their enemy’s artillery, determine its location and attack, analysts said.

“You’re trying to find, fix and finish,” said George Flynn, a retired three-star Marine general and former artillery officer. “You want to find the enemy howitzers. You want to fix their position. And then you want to finish them off. That’s the essence of targeting.”

After an artillery unit attacks an adversary, it needs to keep moving, Flynn said. “Once you get into a counter-battery fight, it’s shoot and scoot,” he added. “You don’t stick around and let yourself get targeted.”

(snip)

Ukraine’s ability to target Russian artillery units is especially important, analysts say, because of the Kremlin’s demonstrated willingness to lob round after round into cities and towns, destroying civilian homes and infrastructure. “Just the existence” of more Ukrainian artillery units performing counter-battery fire will degrade Russia’s ability to “sit there, pile up ammo and go to town,” said Scott Boston, a former U.S. Army field artillery officer who studies the Russian military for the Rand Corp.

(snip)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/04/30/ukraine-russia-artillery/

[Historic NY]

1. In addition to better COBRA, counter-battery radar

[BComplex]

2. Is George Flynn, a retired three-star Marine general, related to Michael Flynn?

And his nazi brother, Charles?

[Uncle Joe]

3. I don't know.

[3Hotdogs]

4. I wish there was a way to get at the submarine that is launching missiles into Ukraine.