[OutsiderFan]

Watched a doc from German tanker perspective on the Eastern front in WWII. I've been aware that it ended for Germans in the brutal winter conditions for a long time, but it was interesting to learn the specifics and lessons that might apply to Ukraine in its counteroffensive given Germans had to conquer some of the same ground Ukraine must re-take. It got so bad for Germany that at one point a Panzer division that was suppose to have 218 tanks had none at all.

The weather conditions in the region suggest Ukraine will really only have about 2 months to push forward until the rain and mud, then brutal Winter comes. When faced with the mud conditions that slows advance, does Ukraine dig in for the Winter and pause until Spring? Or, unlike the Germans in 1941, will Ukraine be equipped to handle the cold weather and continue pressing forward against what likely will be exhausted resource-starved, but dug in Russians? My concern isn't the Ukrainian soldiers per se, I think they will have wet and cold weather gear. it's the equipment they rely on.  It's very difficult to maintain supply lines and spare parts in miserable mud and snow conditions, to say nothing about how difficult it is to move that equipment. Or will Ukraine be able to make such significant gains over the next month that the Russians will collapse and give up before the weather really becomes a factor?

From a strategic standpoint, it does seem like Russia is being slowly worn down. ATACMS, Abrams (capable of driving through heavy mud and snow), F-16s (all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions) do seem ideally suited for the Fall/Winter, so maybe that's why they will be delivered later.

Ukrainians are about half way through their Abrams training in Germany. This will line up with delivery of 31 Abrams tanks expected in September. Sure will be interesting how and where Ukraine decides to deploy them.

[OutsiderFan]

Watched a doc from German tanker perspective on the Eastern front in WWII. I've been aware that it ended for Germans in the brutal winter conditions for a long time, but it was interesting to learn the specifics and lessons that might apply to Ukraine in its counteroffensive given Germans had to conquer some of the same ground Ukraine must re-take. It got so bad for Germany that at one point a Panzer division that was suppose to have 218 tanks had none at all.

The weather conditions in the region suggest Ukraine will really only have about 2 months to push forward until the rain and mud, then brutal Winter comes. When faced with the mud conditions that slows advance, does Ukraine dig in for the Winter and pause until Spring? Or, unlike the Germans in 1941, will Ukraine be equipped to handle the cold weather and continue pressing forward against what likely will be exhausted resource-starved, but dug in Russians? My concern isn't the Ukrainian soldiers per se, I think they will have wet and cold weather gear. it's the equipment they rely on.  It's very difficult to maintain supply lines and spare parts in miserable mud and snow conditions, to say nothing about how difficult it is to move that equipment. Or will Ukraine be able to make such significant gains over the next month that the Russians will collapse and give up before the weather really becomes a factor?

From a strategic standpoint, it does seem like Russia is being slowly worn down. ATACMS, Abrams (capable of driving through heavy mud and snow), F-16s (all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions) do seem ideally suited for the Fall/Winter, so maybe that's why they will be delivered later.

Ukrainians are about half way through their Abrams training in Germany. This will line up with delivery of 31 Abrams tanks expected in September. Sure will be interesting how and where Ukraine decides to deploy them.