Extended edition: Episode 3-22-23

Good morning, my friends!

Here’s today’s brief round-up of news, thoughts, etc.

If you just happened to stumble by, here’s what I’m doing with The View from the Front extended edition.

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My name is Stan R. Mitchell and I’m a prior Marine, journalist, and man who loves this country with all of my heart. I also like to focus on covering our military and looming hot spots, while also trying to unite the country as best I can.

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Check these four:

AP

NPR

Washington Post

put links in bold

U.S. news:Task & Purpose @TaskandPurposeHere is a breakdown of weapons systems that the military services want to buy in the 2024 fiscal year: trib.alMilitary buying more missiles and other weapons to fight China, RussiaHere is a breakdown of weapons systems that the military services want to buy in the 2024 fiscal year.1:21 AM ∙ Mar 19, 202314Likes2Retweets

From the story:

If you had any doubt that the Defense Department is pivoting away from fighting terrorists to getting ready for the big war against China or Russia, just look at the missiles and other munitions that the military branches plan on buying in fiscal year 2024.

The Department of the Navy in particular plans to invest in buying and upgrading a total of 830 of various types of Tomahawk missiles in the coming fiscal year, compared with the 552 Tomahawks that it procured for this fiscal year, according to the service’s proposed budget.

And if you want a glimpse into the kinds of things strategists debate inside our Defense Department, here’s a glance:

Mike Yeo 杨启铭 is also at post.news/thebaseleg @TheBaseLeg“One lesson the US may take from this conflict is that towed artillery – like the M777 howitzer system – may be a thing of the past. Those systems are harder to move quickly to avoid return fire (in a world of ubiquitous drones & overhead surveillance)” cnn.comHow Ukraine became a testbed for Western weapons and battlefield innovation | CNN PoliticsLast fall, as Ukraine won back large swaths of territory in a series of counterattacks, it pounded Russian forces with American-made artillery and rockets. Guiding some of that artillery was a homemade targeting system that Ukraine developed on the battlefield.9:42 AM ∙ Jan 19, 2023190Likes25Retweets

Here’s a better look at a towed piece of artillery, the M777, which has to be pulled behind a truck.

@1st_Marine_Div, fire an M777 Howitzer in a 'Top Gun' competition between batteries during Fire Exercise 19 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. ","username":"USMC","name":"U.S. Marines","date":"Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 +0000 2019","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/EAvZ85...U.S. Marines @USMCClear Skies with a Chance of RainMarines with @1st_Marine_Div, fire an M777 Howitzer in a 'Top Gun' competition between batteries during Fire Exercise 19 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. 12:00 AM ∙ Aug 1, 20191,942Likes403Retweets

And here’s why it’s not the worst thing to be lightweight and manueverable.

Rob Lee @RALee85Self-propelled artillery have been critical in this war, but the terrain in Ukraine suits them better. M777 are lighter, can be transported by helicopter, and can be deployed in mountainous, jungle, and other environments where self-propelled howitzers would be less useful. Mike Yeo 杨启铭 is also at post.news/thebaseleg @TheBaseLeg“One lesson the US may take from this conflict is that towed artillery – like the M777 howitzer system – may be a thing of the past. Those systems are harder to move quickly to avoid return fire (in a world of ubiquitous drones & overhead surveillance)” https://t.co/aFoBCsoc269:21 PM ∙ Jan 19, 2023989Likes73Retweets

And here’s an example of a great piece of self-propelled artillery. (It can shoot and drive off before the enemy can track the round and fire back.)

news.yahoo.com/sweden-send-8-… ","username":"ChuckPfarrer","name":"Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings |","date":"Fri Mar 17 22:19:16 +0000 2023","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FrdF8-...Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | @ChuckPfarrerLONG RANGE ARCHERS: Sweeden confirms that it will transfer 'Archer' self-propelled 155mm howitzwes to UKR. The Archer's computerized fire control systems and Excalibur shells make it deadly against point targets. news.yahoo.com/sweden-send-8-… 10:19 PM ∙ Mar 17, 20232,699Likes294Retweets

So, how would you like to be the person trying to plan purchasing plans for artillery for the next five to ten years?

And which do you pick? Something towed and light-weight, such as the M777, which can be moved easily by air using helo’s?

Or something self-propelled? That can fire and move but costs far more?

Russia and Ukraine news:

Moving to Russuia-Ukraine news, one thing to consider as the talk of a spring offensive for Ukraine increases is that Russian troops will be even worse this year than they were when they invaded a year ago.

economist.com/graphic-detail… ","username":"biannagolodryga","name":"Bianna Golodryga","date":"Wed Mar 08 22:54:49 +0000 2023","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/Fqu4io...Bianna Golodryga @biannagolodryga“the troops killed in 2022 were many of Russia’s best young officers and most experienced soldiers. The men who replace them will have less training, discipline and skill. Nor will they have the same quality of equipment.”economist.com/graphic-detail… 10:54 PM ∙ Mar 8, 2023314Likes95Retweets

And not only are they less skilled and trained, but their equipment is also worse and Ukrainian training is FAR superior. (Some of it is even conducted by NATO countries.)

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