More lessons from Ukraine (155mm+ artillery & AFVs)

[Big Insect]

Whilst we all sort of knew this, especially based on the Angolan War South African experience, well directed 155mm+ artillery appears to be having a significant killing effect on enemy AFVs in Ukraine.

Feedback from Ukrainian forces indicates that even some of the better armoured Western AFVs (even MBTs) are especially vulnerable to accurately delivered dropping fire from 155mm gun batteries. The Russian defensive strategy on the south-western front in Ukraine, where the use of extensive deep mixed minefields and specifically created movement corridors, choke-points and cul-de-sacs upon which pre-plotted target points have been established for the Russian guns, has been a major factor in slowing down the Ukrainian advance.

As most CWCII players will know, having adequate off-table artillery with supporting FAOs is an essential part of the game, but I just thought it was interesting that the deadly effect of the 155mm guns is turning out to be proven in battle.
However, MRLs don't appear to be having a similar impact. Maybe that is because they are fewer in number (on both sides), and their pay-load is generally dispersed over a wider area. Or maybe the munition supply challenges make using them in this pin-point attack strategy non-viable. It will be interesting to understand more about this at some point.

Thanks
Mark

[Ben Waterhouse]

Interesting, however the standard Russian round is 152mm (Ex Int spotter hat off)

[Big Insect]

Interesting, however the standard Russian round is 152mm (Ex Int spotter hat off)

Indeed it is Ben but I think the difference (as far as CWCII is concerned anyway) is probably not worth us worrying about 

[Last Hussar]

Aren't MRLS an AP weapon, where as a 15x mm round is a bloody great lump of metal dropping at speed from height?

[Matt J]

Depends on the MLRS.

HIMARS and the like are having massive impact on fortifications, MBT's, IFV, bridges, Russian Generals...
BM-21's and similar are a bit more hit and hope.

Ukrainian artillery also has Excalibur shells which are GPS guided and deadly accurate.

Also Ukraine has much more and better counter battery radar. Russian arty is being particularly battered on the Zaporizhzhia front. Hunted down and destroyed, so much so Ukrainian forces now have artillery parity.

[dylan]

I suspect that mines and artillery (in that order) have been the main killers of AFVs in Ukraine, with RPVs next.

Doesn't make for a very exciting wargame though.

[DecemDave]

I saw an apparently reliable source (but not sure I can find it again. but I will try) that the known KIA of personnel were mainly attributed to Artillery something like 70% plus,  followed by Drones followed by snipers of all things.   I assume Mines tend to disable vehicles but leave the occupants wounded rather than killed as long as they bail out before the artillery locates the now stationary vehicle.  Maybe the mines main effect is to  slow attacks to a crawl as everything waits on a path being cleared by one means or another other than soldiers walking over them.   There are also lots of you tube videos from mine clearance teams where the predominant anti-tank mines seem to be less danger to infantry unless booby trapped.  Unlike the anti personnel or jumping varieties. 

WW1 rules would seem more appropriate.