There is no incentive for Germany to help Ukraine.
The US not sending tanks is as equaly a load of BS as Scholz's 'no one else is'. There are so many M1A1's made the Ukrainians don't need to be able to fix them if it's something complex, just leave the thing there and climb into another. 10,400 have been built!
There are no more M1 Abrams tanks at the U.S. Marine Corps' base at 29 Palms in California, one of the service's premier training facilities and its largest base anywhere. The Marines have been retiring M1s, as well as M88 armored recovery vehicles and Armored Vehicle Launched Bridges...The Marine Corps plans to eventually divest the entirety of its M1 fleet, more than 400 vehicles in total
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35198/the-last-tank-has-left-marine-corps-base-29-palms-soon-the-entire-service
Give them what the Marines no longer want. 'But we don't have enough spare parts' - yes you do:
The US is doing a mighty job in support of Ukraine, but it also isn't doing anything like enough, if it truly means what it says and compared to what Ukraine actually needs.
"For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power," Biden said of Putin.
Biden Vows to Back Ukraine ‘as Long as It Takes’ Despite Economic Toll
If he meant what he said, the current level of aid is really a weak effort.
It's instructive to look at what the US does for itself, in a Soledar/Bakhmut type situation. In 2018, 30 US SOF and some Kurds in a conoco base in Syria were attacked by a force of 500 Wagner mercenaries and some T-72 tanks.
Here's a brief list of what weapons systems the US fielded to deal with the situation:
B-52s bombers
F-22 fighters
F-15E strike Eagles
AH-64 Apache attack helicopters
AC-130 gunships
MQ-9 Reaper drones
Marine artillery, so probably M777 howitzers. Probably morters too.
This lot were used to eliminate 200 or so of the attacking force.
From that list of hardware, what has been given to Ukraine to help them fight the entire Russian army?
M777 howitzers and some mortars. With that and a lot of very capable and brave troops, and a handful of DJI drones, Ukraine has reportedly killed over 1,000 at Soledar/Bakhmut.
The US lost not one person - Ukraine has not been remotely as fortunate in it's casualties.
The US uses vastly more resources and weapons systems to tackle a measly 500 Wagner than they are prepared to give Ukraine to fight all of Russia, Wagner, other mercenaries and a whole wave of additional conscripts.
White Sands is just about big enough, 160km long.
I was thinking that, but it seems to be roughly 32x100miles, which doesn't seem that big.
They always have the ocean to test anyway.
I know it's out of range, but it's like a message to the Kerch bridge with that video!
Maybe close to the coast, the right winds and weather 🤞
White sands in New Mexico certainly, 3200 square miles is pretty huge. Kwajelein (where they did the nuke interceptor testing in the 60's/70's), maybe even Alaska.
Lavrovs nose always gets bigger when he is lying
Lavrov: Moscow and Minsk are ready for "any scenarios" from the West
Any tank without infantry support will suffer the same faith,regardless if its a Leopard,T90 or Abrams
Several Leopard 2A4s belonging to Turkey were destroyed in Syria by ISIS militants.
Considered on paper yes,but the problem Germany have is spare parts,thats the reason why many european countries are going for other options.
Many european countries that have Leopards,have suffered from lack of spare parts and they are expensive too
Even Germanys own armoured battalions have issues because of it
Where in the US can they test its 150km range accuracy without overflying civilian territory, Nevada?
Rutte was on CNN yesterday and seemed to be saying that they aren't sending a system, but joining the US/German setup to aid with sending a Patriot (e.g. supplying parts, maintenance, training)
The US is obliged to announce any arms deliveries by law I believe. I'm sure there are some workarounds.
Most tanks aren't being made these days they recycle the hulls and use them for the next upgraded/updated tanks ,
I don't think the Leopards have ever been tested in serious combat unlike the Abrams and Challengers who's only losses came from friendly fire
Challenger 2's are no longer being made.
I agree there could be an element of this in their thinking particularly if the numbers of leopard tanks deployed was not sufficient to give the Ukrainian forces a decisive advantage in battle. From what I have read about WWII the Germans invading the Soviet union believed their equipment was well ahead of what the USSR had but the T34 that they faced in battle was a fairly good tank and in some respects better than what the Germans had at the time. It would be nice to see the American main battle tank the Abrams supplied to Ukraine as well and even if it makes supply lines more complicated I don't think having more equipment for a counteroffensive could be a disadvantage.
There does seem to be a lot of gear on the way and noticeably less hand-wringing in most countries, and very little talk about not provoking Putin or the dangers of escalation.
I’m starting to think that German tanks may not be all they are made out to be, and the German government is scared of this being exposed.
Prigozhin claims that Klischiivka "has been taken under control of Wagner PMC units"
If true it means there is only 5km of countryside between RU and highway 32 out of Bakhmut
Germany make a good chunk of change in export Leopard 2 models
Them supplying Leopards to Ukraine and seeing some of them get destroyed is not good for the image - much better if the competition (abrams, Challenger 2) are also in the same situation.
Another report the Polish are not going to restrain themselves in helping Ukraine even if Germany tries to slow them down.
What better way to see if your fighting vehicles work than in an actual fight.
There's been a step-up in the past week or so with support.
US: Bradley's, Stryker and possibly glide bombs
UK: Challenger's, AS90 artillery
France: AMX-10 IFV's
Sweden: Archers
Estonia announced their largest support package to date, which includes more howitzers.
Canada 200 armored vehicles.
The Leopard is considered the best tank in the world, the Korean panther 2nd but very dear.
What use is a great tank if Germany decides when you use and cannot when it is against an ally of theirs.
When they can send Marder infantry fighting vehicles,Gepard air defence system and anti tank weapons,,they can send MBTs too
I think Germany is afraid of the same issue Russia is struggling with at the moment,PR,in case some are being destroyed or captured.
Its a reason why Poland went for Abrams and K2 Black panther tanks and Norway have trials as well at the moment,the Leopards are struggling with sales.
Appears polish pm is going to send the leopard tanks with or without permission.
According to some media outlets here in Poland.
Avoid a Russian-Nato war....
Ah that's been the go to excuse for far too long.
If a Russian-Nato war breaks out it will almost certainly be Russia attacking first.
According to scholtz:
UK supplying tanks won't start a Russian-Nato war
US supplying tanks won't start a Russian-Nato war
France supplying tanks won't start a Russian-Nato war....
But Germany supplying tanks will?
So
Scholz doesn't want to escalate but he wants the Americans to ,so he can say I told you so ????
I believe Poland might do the right thing and send leopards regardless of scholz' s games
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