comment: >
  
  This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 90%. (I'm a bot)
  
  
  During a New Year's Eve speech published on her social media account, Lambrecht reflected on "War raging in the middle of Europe," a reference to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
  The IOW notes that Russian forces have suffered significant losses of artillery systems and armored vehicles in operations in Ukraine since the start of partial mobilization in September.
  The IOW commented on a Ukrainian report that Russian forces in eastern Ukraine are currently firing artillery shells at roughly one-third the rate of the summer of 2022.
  
  
  Extended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Russian^#1 Ukraine^#2 Skip^#3 Ukrainian^#4 artillery^#5
context: Infantry support vehicle with a big ass gun can't hurt. It can't take on tanks directly but it can still help. >
  
  It can definitely take on tanks directly.
  Russia is sending in t55s lol >
  
  It's limitation is it's 105mm gun. It cannot engage a modernish MBT from the front, unless at close range, I understand. Flanking and older MBTs? Those situations it can handle. >
  
  T-55 or T-62 are not modern MBTs. They also use 105mm guns, albeit now on average 40~50 years old with no stabilizers. >
  
  Yeah, Russia is sending in MBTs that it can deal with. It should also be able 5o take out APCs and IFVs with no issue. Russia still has t72s around which it needs to be smart with though. 
  It's a useful vehicle, no doubt. Just explaining It's limitations  :) >
  
  
  "This is the first time that Western-made armoured vehicles are being delivered in support of the Ukrainian army," a French official said.
  
  I was not aware of that.
  
  The official did not provide any further details about the amount of vehicles to be sent or when they would be delivered.
  AMX-10 is an armored reconnaissance vehicle with a high level of mobility, with a carrying capacity of four crew. >
  
  Western made armored vehicles were supplied but they were all MRAPs. Nothing capable/intended to fight directly was supplied until now. I hope this will at least open the door for IFVs. IFVs and tanks would be even better. >
  
  That's not true though... Netherlands for example donated almost their entire stockpile of AIFVs with 25mm autocannons, and Australia gave some 200+ M113AS4s, which have the same armor rating as the AMX-10 and some carry 76mm main guns. 
  Denmark has been trying since the war began to send Piranha IIIs armed with 35mm autocannons, but Switzerland keeps being a shithead and blocking it >
  
  Surprised that NATO members haven't divested from Switzerland in terms of military manufacturing yet. If they're not willing to supply ammo in this case they're definitely not going to supply ammo in a conflict that involves NATO. >
  
  Germany has started. One of their largest military companies (Rheinmetall?) bought an ammo production company to bring Gepard ammo production in house. This may be the beginning of the end for the Swiss arms industry in Europe. >
  
  The fact it was a thing in the first place was risky and shortsighted >
  
  This is good and well orchestrated. Slowly supply more and more advanced weapons. Not too much at a time, just the right amount to slowly increase the heat and cook that frog putin until he boils. I am really impressed with how well the west has handled this. Never giving russia an excuse, always making it look casual and not planned. The demise is coming and he can't even see it. Beautiful. >
  
  Oh he sees it, everyone does >
  
  Sure about that? Putin? The megalomanian paranoid hiding-in-my-villa covid-terrified little man that he is? Surrounded by "yes men". Killing anyone opposing him?
  If so, who has the balls to tell him that he is loosing? Who has the balls to tell him that he does not have the second most powerful army in the world, and rather the second most powerful army in Ukraine? Who has the balls to tell him that his soldiers lack moral, training, command & control, logistics, equipment or even a coordinated plan? Who has the balls to tell him that most of the money he´s spent on his military has been embezzled and used on yaths and villas.
  But if he does see it - oh man, imagine the pain, the endless pain. The feeling of pending doom. >
  
  Tanks alot >
  
  Anyone know the purpose of the cage-like material attached to the exterior of the tank? >
  
  The cage armor is intended to protect against infantry-carried anti-tank weapons. If it catches a round between two slats it can crush the warhead or damage the fuze, preventing it from detonating. It isn’t guaranteed protection, as the round can still detonate it if strikes a bar directly, but it increases the vehicle’s chances of survival for a comparatively minor increase in weight. >
  
  essentially you're right, i's protection against anti tank weapons. But it's meant to detonate shaped charges early, outside the vehicle, so they squirt their molten metal at the outside of the vehicle instead of into the crew department. >
  
  No, early detonation of shaped charges is not the primary purpose of slat armor. Most slat armor is not placed far enough away from the hull of a vehicle to allow the shaped charge to dissipate properly, especially considering slat armor is most common on lightly-armored vehicles. Its primary function is to prevent shaped charges from detonating in the first place by damaging the fuze or main charge.
  There’s a very good post on the subject pinned on r/TankPorn that goes into more detail for a better explanation. >
  
  Good move, the mention of light tanks + we will say to Russia, it is only light tanks will prepare them to do shit about medium and heavy in the future. It is the opening of tank season, now Germany, you need to send tanks too ! >
  
  I wasn't very clear. I meant it can't take on tanks directly because I can't imagine it can take a hit even from the old T-55s and T-62s Russia is supposedly fielding. I suspect it's 105mm cannon and ATGMs could be very effective assuming it can't be targeted in return. >
  
  Russia isn't using T-55s. Russia has sent T-62Ms, which were modernized in the 80s to keep them relevant. Russia isn't likely to have any functioning T-55s. Ukraine is using T-55s, specifically the M-55S donated by Slovakia. >
  
  Cool. >
  
  
  Former Russian Deputy Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who was injured last month in eastern Ukraine, said he sent shrapnel in an envelope to French President Emmanuel Macron. He claimed that this shrapnel from a French howitzer caused his wounds
  
  Aww how sweet. Melt that shrapnel down into another shell and send it back to Ukraine. >
  
  instead of sending material to Ukraine, we should send troops there. NATO could have ended the bloodshed a year ago. >
  
  This might make Putin panic and launch nukes. >
  
  About time France has a big army and I think they have been a bit stingy.