Cold War, The Reimagined Series

[BansheeOne]

Orgchart of current German battlegroup in VJTF. STF = JTFS cell.

 

[Gregory]

Latvia is planning to form 18 high readiness companies of Zemssargi (Latvian National Guard) by 2018. These companies will be formed in east of the country.

 

In general, Latvia is planning to increase the size of Zemssargi from current 8,000 to 12-13,000 by 2020.

 

http://rus.delfi.lv/news/daily/latvia/v-sluchayah-chp-policii-pozvolili-vyzyvat-na-podmogu-zemessardze.d?id=45734638

Edited April 22, 2015 by Gregory

[bd1]

ah, so they read my post about company battlegroups a page ago. i feel a bit proud

 

 

seriously, i think this is one of the best decisions they have done lately. i wonder if they keep their equipment at home too, incl. weapons?

Edited April 22, 2015 by bd1

[Gregory]

ah, so they read my post about company battlegroups a page ago. i feel a bit proud

 

 

seriously, i think this is one of the best decisions they have done lately. i wonder if they keep their equipment at home too, incl. weapons?

That's in the works for guardsmen who go through special training (on what, it's unclear - perhaps it refers to the 18 companies above?) and receive a MoD weapon safe for their house. The article I read said that guardsmen who do not attend training regularly will not be allowed to keep their service weapon at home.

[BansheeOne]

Norwegian Army modernizing through a technological leap

 

On April 23 the Norwegian Ministry of Defence announced plans to further strengthen the capabilities of the Norwegian Army. Defence minister, Ms Ine Eriksen Søreide stated that a plan to modernize the main battle tank Leopard 2A4NO and to procure a new and modern air defence system will come in addition to the ongoing fielding of a host of modern infantry fighting vehicles in the CV-90 family. The total investment is estimated to approximately $1700 millions.

 

The plan constitutes a great technological improvement for the Norwegian Army. When completed, the Norwegian Army will have a fleet of modern tanks and fighting vehicles that are fully network enabled, with increased firepower, mobility and protection. Together with a new mobile air-defence system, the war fighting capabilities of the Norwegian Army will be significantly improved.

 

The primary task of the Norwegian Army is to constitute a threshold for war. The modernized version of the Norwegian Army will likely be operational by 2020.

 

For further information please contact the Norwegian Army spokesperson, LtCol Aleksander Jankov by mail aleksander@army.no or by phone +47 40029631

 

 

http://www.mynewsdesk.com/no/haeren/pressreleases/norwegian-army-modernizing-through-a-technological-leap-1147992

[TonyE]

The army will still consist of only one small brigade + 40.000 homeguards scattered throughout the whole country in static formations with no manouverelement above platoon level.

[bd1]

 

Norwegian Army modernizing through a technological leap

 

On April 23 the Norwegian Ministry of Defence announced plans to further strengthen the capabilities of the Norwegian Army. Defence minister, Ms Ine Eriksen Søreide stated that a plan to modernize the main battle tank Leopard 2A4NO and to procure a new and modern air defence system will come in addition to the ongoing fielding of a host of modern infantry fighting vehicles in the CV-90 family. The total investment is estimated to approximately $1700 millions.

 

The plan constitutes a great technological improvement for the Norwegian Army. When completed, the Norwegian Army will have a fleet of modern tanks and fighting vehicles that are fully network enabled, with increased firepower, mobility and protection. Together with a new mobile air-defence system, the war fighting capabilities of the Norwegian Army will be significantly improved.

 

The primary task of the Norwegian Army is to constitute a threshold for war. The modernized version of the Norwegian Army will likely be operational by 2020.

 

For further information please contact the Norwegian Army spokesperson, LtCol Aleksander Jankov by mail aleksander@army.no or by phone +47 40029631

 

 

http://www.mynewsdesk.com/no/haeren/pressreleases/norwegian-army-modernizing-through-a-technological-leap-1147992

 

LOL (though it might be polish ancestry, but still)

[BansheeOne]

I was slightly chuckling myself.

[BansheeOne]

Men in black – NATO’s cybermen

• 24 Apr. 2015
• Last updated: 24 Apr. 2015 14:57

There are six men. All dressed in black like the ones in the famous movie. They have black cases too but they are not using their technology to erase your memory. Their name: NATO Rapid Reaction Team, or RRT. Their aim: to provide assistance to NATO nations or facilities suffering a cyber attack.

 

"The RRT can act on very short notice to deal with an attack that affects the operational capability of a NATO system during a crisis or to assist a member state, at its request, in the event of a significant cyber attack at national level," says Jean-François Agneessens, a cyber security expert at the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) in Mons, Belgium.

 

He is one of six civilian members of the RRT who can be deployed to NATO sites, in operational theatres or in support of an Ally, in order to provide technical assistance or respond to incidents arising from a cyber attack.

 

Cyber threats are becoming more intense and complex. Every day, NATO has to manage more than 200,000,000 events; after analysis, about ten on average turn out to be sophisticated attacks requiring remedial action.

 

Cyber attacks can have devastating consequences, potentially as serious as conventional attacks with bombs and tanks. For this reason, cyber defence is considered part of the Alliance’s collective defence commitment under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The decision to send the RRT to help an Ally is taken by the North Atlantic Council, the Alliance's highest political decision-making body.

 

Experts with complementary profiles

 

Trained at the Belgian Royal Military Academy and a former army officer, Jean-François is familiar with security flaws in the communication protocols of information systems. He is also in charge of a pool of cyber experts who can be called on to reinforce the RRT.

 

Jean-François and the other RRT members have complementary skills: experts in security audit, system penetration tests, forensics or computer codes. They work out of the NATO cyber defence centre which is situated in Mons, Belgium and is responsible for NATO's front-line cyber defence.

 

RRT members have all the equipment they need in a few black travel cases: computer and telecommunications equipment, instruments for intrusion detection, forensic analysis (remote or on the affected system), vulnerability analysis, network security, etc.

 

Jean-François and his colleagues train regularly with this kit and act out various scenarios for assistance in the event of cyber attacks. "We try to imagine what we might be called for, what equipment would be needed, what skills would be required, and where they can be found. We study all the most likely scenarios and the responses.”

 

Improve responsiveness

 

In order to remain operational, RRT members take part in NATO exercises in which they can practise their ability to respond to a crisis, in realistic conditions.

 

Jean-François tested his responsiveness during the international exercise “Locked Shields”, held on 22-23 April 2015 and organised by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, the Alliance’s cyber defence think-tank. During this 48-hour war game, which involved 15 experts from each of the 15 participating nations, he and the other RRT members simulated deployment to a fictitious country under cyber attack. Their mission was to restore the primary drone control facility of this fictitious NATO member state and help secure the auxiliary control system which can take command of the military drones.

 

In November 2014, during another exercise called “Cyber Coalition”, cyber activists managed to take control of the aerial detection system of a NATO AWACS surveillance aircraft deployed on an operation. The RRT was sent to an airbase in Greece to identify the problem and put the aircraft back into service as quickly as possible.

 

The defence against other types of sophisticated cyber attacks was tested during Exercise Cyber Coalition, ranging from the hacking of deployed forces’ smartphones with malware to the kidnapping of a senior NATO officer’s family in order to blackmail him to steal thousands of classified data records on the Alliance's military networks.

 

"The RRT will never take action in respect of an ordinary cyber defence problem or day-to-day cyber attacks," says Jean-François. And the deployment of the RRT is never planned – it is a last resort. "We must be prepared for action in an unknown environment – we may not know which infrastructure network, or what software we will be faced with. All these unknowns make it harder for us to be prepared, but this difficulty is what makes our job even more attractive," he adds.

 

The support of external experts

 

"Cyber espionage, or dormant codes which can disable national or NATO systems, pose new threats with a higher level of sophistication, and the Alliance and the nations must be well prepared against them," says Jean-François. In addition, the development of Cloud-type environments, with virtual services and machines, presents more and more security problems for which NATO and the private sector have to find joint solutions.

 

The malicious cyber attacks used in all recent crises show that it is important for the Alliance to have a comprehensive approach to cyber defence and acquire skills and appropriate tools.

 

“The RRT is actually a modest resource; however, it constitutes a strategic core capability which would be reinforced, as needed, by experts from nations, when NATO is responding to an assistance request from a nation,” states Suleyman Anil, Head of the Cyber Defence Section of the Emerging Security Challenges Division at NATO Headquarters.

 

These national experts from Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERT) are not the only ones involved in such reinforcement. "We work with industry to exchange security information and also to identify the profiles of experts in certain areas of technology who could contribute to the team,” says Jean-François. The NATO-Industry Cyber Partnership, agreed by Allies at the 2014 Wales Summit, helps to strengthen this cooperation with industry.

 

Background

• NATO’s main cyber responsibility is to defend its own networks, while Allies protect theirs. NATO also helps Allies to boost their defences. NATO does this by sharing information about threats, by helping to develop capabilities, and through education, training and exercises.
• The creation of the Rapid Reaction Team was a result of the Alliance's revised cyber defence policy of 2011, which was enhanced at the 2014 Wales Summit and is now part of the Alliance’s collective defence framework.
• Cyber attacks could reach a level posing a threat to the prosperity, security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic states, and their impact could be just as disastrous as a conventional attack. At the Wales Summit , NATO leaders decided that a cyber attack could trigger Article 5, the Alliance’s collective defence clause.
• The NATO Computer Incident Response Capability (NCIRC) is responsible for the defence of NATO's communication and information systems.

 

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_118855.htm

[Gregory]

Scenario 1: Åland Islands, Finland

 

A month ago an oil tanker with a full cargo was captured in the Baltic Sea. Two weeks ago Russia announced that there had been an attempt at sabotage on the Nordstream undersea gas pipe 40 kilometers south of Helsinki. Only a faulty radio-controller unit prevented an explosion and catastrophe.

 

Videos from a group called Oil Fighters Front (OFF) have been spreading in social media. In those the reasons for OFF’s strikes against Russia’s oil export via the Baltic Sea is given. The leader of the organization who calls Åland, Finland, his home has publicly thanked a political party that is part of the Finnish government for their support. The Finnish prime minister denies any claims of support from the Finnish government.

 

Soon there after news emerge that an attempt to capture another oil tanker has been made. Russia announces that it will step up patrolling in the Gulf of Finland and in the northern Baltic Sea.

 

Despite the increased monitoring, an oil tanker that was returning to the Primorski oil port without cargo sends a distress signal late at night using international emergency frequencies: there has been a massive explosion below decks and the ship is sinking. The crew is rescued, but the tanker is lost about 30 km south of the island of Jurmo.

 

The Russian Baltic Fleet and the Western Military District begin a wide-scale readiness exercise the very next morning. A full combat unit of marines with all gear from vehicles to anti-aircraft missiles is loaded onto ships.

 

On Saturday morning the international media is told of a Russian fisherman who has seen sea mines in the northern Baltic Sea. The information is corroborated with photos taken by the fisherman. Cargo ships immediately begin to change their routes and by the afternoon all sea traffic in the region has ceased – and along with it 90% of Finnish imports and exports.

 

Finland announces that it is sending a minesweeper vessel of the Katanpää class to the area. All focus is, however, taken by Russia’s announcement that it is now forced to shoulder the main responsibility over the security of the Baltic Sea, because terrorists supported by western governments are trying to destroy Russia by strangling its exports.

 

Finns are waking to their Sunday chores when the captain of the minesweeper Katanpää receives a message directly from the commander of the Russian naval task force. It is a complete surprise: Finns are told to remain in the Turku archipelago. Russia will take care of identifying and dismantling the mines and will hunt for the terrorists.

 

An hour later the intelligence chief of the Defence Forces gives his update to the Finnish Foreign and Security Policy Committee that includes a number of ministers and the president. The chief of defence suggests enacting certain powers given in the emergency powers act and that Finland interprets the demilitarization treaty of Åland in a way that allows free access to the Defence Forces.

 

The political leadership is not ready to accept the latter suggestion. They are afraid that it would send a wrong signal and could escalate the situation. On the matter of using emergency powers, the assembled ministers cannot agree whether the situation fits criteria for emergency conditions set in Chapter 1, Section 2, Paragraph 3, which states that emergency conditions include “the threat of war [or] other specific conditions outside Finland having a comparable effect“. Nevertheless, the level of readiness is raised for the military.

 

Monday morning breaks and the main news in all countries around the Baltic Sea are about a new video that the Oil Fighters Front has published online. It says that the group will also use aircraft and submarines against Russia’s oil exports. In the background of the video there is a glimpse of the Åland islands. Russia immediately announces a no-flight zone up to 10 km that will be enforced from the sea and air.

 

The Finnish military intelligence is informed by Sweden that the components of the division ordered to participate in the readiness exercise are still in their ready positions in Kaliningrad.

 

The Finnish navy is then informed that three Ropucha-class landing vessels are moving to the sea. A Swedish submarine has followed them closely and the captain’s assessment is that the ships are filled to capacity with equipment and troops.

 

A brief telephone conversation between the Finnish and Swedish Chiefs of Operation confirms one thing: Russia has with its readiness exercise created the ability to conduct amphibious and airborne assaults anywhere in the Baltic Sea region within 24 hours.

 

Finns cannot make it to Åland in time should Russia choose to invade. A Swedish amphibious battalion has been in a high state of readiness for two days. After a quickly called meeting of the Swedish government they offer the battalion to the defence of Finland.

 

The offer comes as a shock to the Finnish political leadership. Even though Finnish military intelligence has presented alarming assessments for a long time, the political leadership has not dared to decide upon partial mobilization. Because of these delays only the air force has the immediate capability to defend the integrity of Finland’s territory.

 

Finland thanks Sweden for the offer but is not ready to accept it yet.

 

 

 

When the Foreign and Security Policy Committee adjourns, the prime minister is given an urgent message. Its main point is that Russia does not foresee improvement in the security of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland, therefore it would be important that it would be given a base from where it could fight against the terrorists.

 

Russia suggests a joint base with Finland and Sweden. The military port in Upinniemi or the Hanko port are presented as good choices.

 

The message ends with a statement that Russia wishes for cooperation but is prepared to take independent actions to secure a base for the operations.

 

The Finnish Foreign and Security Policy Committee is immediately reconvened.

https://disciplescientist.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/what-if-russia-demands-a-naval-base-in-finland/

[Gregory]

Some more details for Latvian defense plans for the next 5 years:

1) Land Forces Infantry Brigade (currently two combat bn + support bn) will be partially mechanized with purchase of 120 armored tracked vehicles.

The CVR-Ts will equip 1 battalion. This will be concluded by 2019.

2) In addition, the army intends to buy between 120 and 150 wheeled armored vehicles. It would seem logical that these would go to the 2nd battalion.

 

I guess that answers the question on how the Latvians are planning to mount infantry in CVR-Ts. Normally Spartans would require 3 crew + 4 dismounts, \

however I guess they could potentially be run as 2+5. That would mean that 2 Spartans could carry 1 squad. Assuming 3 squads per platoon,

3 platoons per company, 4 companies (3 line+1 HW), we're looking at around 70 Spartans needed to move the entire battalion. That fits

within the 120 vehicle buy, and leaves sufficient amount of other variants to staff specialty units.

[Mike-L7]

What's the terrain like, CVR-T (circa 9 tons)makes a lot of sense if your restricted by poor roads, light bridges etc?

[Gregory]

What's the terrain like, CVR-T (circa 9 tons)makes a lot of sense if your restricted by poor roads, light bridges etc?

Forest, swamps - that sort of thing.

[bd1]

if the CVR-T would not be so old (and thin-skinned), i´d think that they would be the best option for baltics due to their size, so the latvian purchase makes a lot sense in this regard. i just wrote here couple posts ago how latvians mentioned that even hummer is occasionally bit too big on forest roads.

 

on certain conditions cvr-t would be better suited to local conditions than estonian cv-9035. BTW, estonians looked into Bradleys too, but the whole package was more expensive than cv-9035nl.

Edited April 26, 2015 by bd1

[Gregory]

if the CVR-T would not be so old (and thin-skinned), i´d think that they would be the best option for baltics due to their size, so the latvian purchase makes a lot sense in this regard. i just wrote here couple posts ago how latvians mentioned that even hummer is occasionally bit too big on forest roads.

 

on certain conditions cvr-t would be better suited to local conditions than estonian cv-9035. BTW, estonians looked into Bradleys too, but the whole package was more expensive than cv-9035nl.

As far as I know, CVR-Ts are armored against 14.5mm fire over front quarter fire, and MMGs over the rest. But to go to the next level, they would need to be armored against 30mm AP cannon fire, and there are no APCs in their class that have that. And as far as age, they are supposedly rebuilt at the factory, so hopefully maintenance would not be a problem. I'm still ambivalent about having to devote 30%-40% of your vehicle transport capacity to vehicle crew.

 

Something that a poster on Militaryphotos mentioned - if Latvians wanted to get just armored transport, UK FV432s are available in large quantities as well, and are considerably cheaper.

[bd1]

i´d like to think that in our conditions the most important protction is against 122/152mm. fragments, everything else is additional bonus.

 

but i´m an amateur anyway

[BansheeOne]

This is a good example how personal political posturing will produce all kinds of crap reports even before you put on some national political spin.

 

German Army Has No Chance Against Russian Tanks - German Newspaper

EUROPE

16:46 26.04.2015 (updated 16:47 26.04.2015)

Germany lacks effective ammunition and will not be able to withstand Russian tanks in case of military conflict, the German newspaper “Die Welt” wrote.

Despite the fact that Germany possesses the Leopard 2, one of the best battle tanks in the world, its armed forces lack powerful ammunition and have no chances against Russian tanks, according to the newspaper.

The German wolfram-based ammunition does not produce enough kinetic energy to breach the modernized and technologically advanced Russian T90 and T80 tanks.

There is a constant race among countries to develop their military industrial capacity and improve their weapons as well as their protection, the article said. New types of weaponry are constantly filling the market, with Germany remaining behind its competitors in some areas.

Thus, Russia has been modernizing its tanks blazingly fast. For instance, T90 tanks introduced in the 1990-s have been modernized several times, and in 2017-2020 Russia is planning to introduce a new model called Armata.

The key characteristic of Armata is its unmanned remotely-controlled turret, with crew members seated in an armored capsule at the front of the tank's hull. It also has fully automated ammunition loading and computerized targeting systems

 

http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150426/1021402890.html#ixzz3YVr8O9WH

 

The source of this is Hans Rühle, who was chief of the plans staff in the German Ministry of Defense from 1982 to 1988, mouthing off in the conservative "Welt am Sonntag" about how back during his term the Bundeswehr reached the conclusion that the frontal armor of the T-80 could not be defeated by the Leopard's current AP ammunition, but the cowardly political leadership would not allow introduction of DU ammo due to fear of public opinion. He then went on to maintain that the current DM63 from the 120 mm L/55 has about the performance of the American DU ammunition from the 80s, which could just about penetrate the T-80 of the time. But since the Russians have since improved the T-80, introduced the T-90 and are about to field the Armata Überpanzer, we need DU ammo, stat!

 

Of course people have pointed out that his experience ended before re-unification and the tests against actual WarPact armor which IIRC did not quite validate Western fears about a penetration gap, and after he left the MoD (Helmut Kohl prevented him being named a state secretary) he did what many old warriors do and became a publicity whore. It didn't help that the media in their state of excitement over the recent string of Bundeswehr equipment problems culminating in the current G 36 affair seized on the issue and typically mixed up all sorts of stuff, including that a new type of ammunition is being introduced to counter the Russian threat, but only the 20 Leopard 2 A7 would be able to fire it. Which however refers to the programmable DM11 HE that obviously needs the requisite equipment to program on the tank side, while any Leopard 2 can fire the same AP ammo just fine.

[Gregory]

Found some more info on Latvian defense planning:
1) MoD plans to ask the parliament to boost size of active force from 4800 to 6800 in 2018. National Guard is to be boosted from 8000 currently to 12-13,000 by 2020.
http://www.sargs.lv/Zinas/Military_News/2015/01/22-02.aspx#lastcomment
2) Based on 2012 plan, there should be investments in the artillery branch and army intelligence capabilities, as well as replacement of
Latvian helicopter fleet (2 Mi-2 and 4 Mi-17). Also, it's interesting to note that the mechanization of the land forces was also budgeted
for in 2012, so it's not driven by events in Ukraine as I thought.
http://www.sargs.lv/Zinas/Military_News/2012/10/25-01.aspx#lastcomment

 

ETA: The artillery branch investments were budgeted for about 60 million Euros. That would be sufficient to purchase about 12 PzH-2000 - if that's the direction the government decides to take it.

No sign of wanting to purchase Marders, unfortunately.

Edited April 27, 2015 by Gregory

[Gregory]

What they are going to have to worry about are fatigue cracks. I somewhat doubt the whole fleet got replacement hulls, and towards the end of their life a number had to get new hulls (which were essentially the same as Spartan) as a stopgap. But they dont appear to have been many.

 

It was a damn good vehicle in its day, and probably more than good enough against BRM, BMP1 and 2, BMD. But I would have severe concerns about it being used against anything newer than 1989, even with the thermal kit on it. Its not like it was ever supposed to stand and fight anyway.

 

Im not sure we actually have any FV432s now. We did have a limited batch (perhaps only as many as a battalion?) updated for Iraq, but Ive not seen photos of those for some time and I would guess they have probably been withdrawn by now.

 

Might be worth asking about Warrior. We bought over 700 of those of various types, and its hard to see that we need anywhere near that amount now.

 

 

No, BAE upgraded about 500 FV432s to "Bulldog" standard, so that's a fair amount right there. In total, including old versions, there should be well over 1000 still in service. I'm a bit puzzled by your comment re: fighting against BMPs - it's an APC armed with a MMG, it's fighting ability is very limited. Are you sure you're not thinking about something else?

 

As far as Warriors, I suspect they will be in the CV9030 price range.

[BansheeOne]

More mystery submarines.

 

World | Tue Apr 28, 2015 6:01am EDT Related: WORLD

Finnish military fires depth charges at suspected submarine

HELSINKI

(Reuters) - The Finnish military fired on Tuesday handheld underwater depth charges as a warning against a suspected submarine in waters near Helsinki, an incident that comes amid growing military tensions with neighboring Russia.

The navy said it noticed an underwater target on Monday and again on Tuesday morning and fired some warning charges - the size of grenades.

Finland, which shares an 833 mile (1,340 km) border with Russia, has been increasingly worried about its powerful neighbor after a year of Russian air force sorties and military border exercises.

Defense minister Carl Haglund did not say whether Russia was involved. He told Finnish media that the target could have been a submarine, and that it has likely left the area, adding that Finland has rarely used such warning charges.

"We strongly suspect that there has been underwater activity that does not belong there. Of course it is always serious if our territorial waters have been violated," Haglund told Finnish news agency STT.

"The bombs are not intended to damage the target, the purpose is to let the target know that it has been noticed," Commodore Olavi Jantunen told Helsingin Sanomat newspaper.

Reports of a submarine spotted off Stockholm last year led to Sweden's biggest mobilization since the Cold War.

Regional tensions were reflected earlier in April after an unprecedented hawkish joint statement by Nordic countries - Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland - that directly cited the Russian "challenge" as grounds to increase defense cooperation.

Moscow retorted immediately, saying moves by Finland and Sweden towards closer ties with NATO were of "special concern".

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/28/us-finland-navy-idUSKBN0NJ0Y120150428

[urbanoid]

 

"The bombs are not intended to damage the target, the purpose is to let the target know that it has been noticed," Commodore Olavi Jantunen told Helsingin Sanomat newspaper.

 

That's too bad...

[JasonJ]

Sounds Scandinavia could use some JMSDF ASW assistance.

[Gregory]

I think there might be a misunderstanding. BAE had a contract to update FV432 with an engine and braking system, but I would be surprised if they updated 1000 vehicles before the plug got pulled. More to the point, the version that deployed to Iraq was the only one that (AFAIK) was known as bulldog, and had the grill armour and CIWS. However that was built from a number of those updated vehicles, it was not 500 built to that standard.

 

This webpage points to the breakdown which seems to mesh with what I remember of how many were modded to the Bulldog standard.

http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1031.html

I personally have heard nothing of the vehicle since that initial batch deployed to Iraq, and I think judging by the financial crash occuring in 2008 the project got cancelled. It was after all consuming money sorely needed for FRES. No idea how many vehicles we have left in service, but Id be surprised if it was as many as 500. Im thinking probably a lot less, its probably cheaper to convert some of the warrior section vehicles to other roles.

Right, I was actually going by info from that page as well. See: http://www.army-guide.com/eng/article/article.php?forumID=1059, "British Army Takes Delivery of 500th Upgraded Bulldog Infantry Armored Vehicle".

So..there were at least 500 upgraded FV432 Bulldogs. I don't know what happened to them - perhaps they are in storage?

 

I was talking about Scimitar fighting BMPs, I wasnt very clear was I.

Err...no. I actually thought you were talking about FV432s.

[Gregory]

Fun little Facebook post written by Ukrainian MP after visit to Estonia.

I've decided to start from one of the links of the system of defense of Estonia - a citizen and patriot - a member of the Estonian Defence League Kaitseliit named Heino, who was kindly introduced to me by my Estonian friend, General Johannes Kert.

Heino is 61 years old. However, he is in excellent physical shape. When he gently shook my hand, it seemed to me that I had broken the little finger and ring finger of my right hand at the same time. But everything turned out OK.

Heino is strong not only physically. He is strong spiritually, as a patriot of Estonia. In Soviet times, he, like all Estonian men served two years in the Soviet army conscripts.

When, in 1991, Estonia became independent, Heino was among the first to join the public organization Estonian Defence League (Kaitseliit), to use their knowledge and energy in defending Estonia, which had no armed forces. Meantime the 100,000 men Soviet, and then Russian, garrison, which remained there until 1994, was a real threat to Estonia - threatening to turn it into another Transnistria or Abkhazia under the guise of protecting the interests of ethnic Russians.

Simultaneously Heino volunteered to serve in the ranks of the Armed Forces created by Estonia, which in 1991-1992 had nothing but hunting rifles and small arms that had been stored by descendants "Forest brothers" in the caches in the dense forests of Estonia.

First President and spiritual leader of the Estonian people Lenard Merry said then Russian President Boris Yeltsin: "We do not need any of your Soviet machine or gun or the gun. Take it all with him to Russia. We will build our armed forces from scratch on the Western model ". And he was right!

Although, as I said Gen. Kurt, when he in 1992 decided to make a first review of the recently reconstituted Kaitseliit, some Estonian "forest brothers" brought the 120-millimeter mortars and anti-tank guns which were hidden for 50 years on farms under a haystack. And also many Soviet weapons were traded by Soviet and Russian warrant officers for jeans and Western electronics.

As they joked in Estonia at the time, the Russian lieutenant for ten VCR "Sony" will be able to make Estonia a nuclear power by selling nuclear bombs from the Tartu Air Base, where there was a division of strategic bombers, T-95, one of the commanders of which, incidentally, was Dzhozhar Dudayev.

But back to Heino. He served in the Estonian army about 10 years. And he rose from sergeant to major. Now he is working in his small private company with his son and a few other employees engaged in the production of spare parts for small arms, which are exported to the countries of NATO.

He is also a member of a Tallinn-based Kaitseliit unit, which belongs to one of 10 regional units and serves as the instructor on shooting, teaching other Kaitseliit volunteers sniper skills, accurate pistol shooting and use of automatic weapons.

Once or twice a month, early in the morning on Sunday, Heino goes to the range where, together with one or two other instructors he conducts classes for around the 30 recruits.

Also, from time to time, he lectures on the tactics of effective use of small firearms in combat. All this is done for free.

The state only gives him through Kaitseliit ammunition for training, travel expenses and meals in a day of field training at the shooting range. Or he can take with him rations made with hands of caring wife - also a member of Kaitseliit.

State of Estonia respects the willingness of Heino to protect their home and their country. To do this through the structure Kaitseliit, the state has issued to Heino a uniform , Kevlar helmet, body armor, LBE, medical first aid package, and finally automatic rifle AR-4 produced in Sweden, which is the standard for the Estonian armed forces, and for Kaitseliit.

Uniform, assault rifle and ammo are kept according to the law at home in a special vault equipped with alarm system and physical protection from burglars, who would need a lot of time and welding equipment to break into a room-safe which is in the basement.

Heino is a collector of weapons and can have unlimited number of small arms, as long as they are properly protected in accordance with established safety standards.

Normal citizen of Estonia - non-collectors can keep at home to 9 units of any type of small arms (except automatic) unless they are crazy or drug addicts. Only Kaitseliit members can keep automatic weapons in the house - which are provided bythe state.

Heino has kindly invited me to visit his weapons room, along with his old friend General Johannes Kert.


For example, no one in Ukraine can have at home usable mock gun Degtereva which is kept by Heino in perfect condition and ready to strike the enemy, just as it did in 1939-1945.

Or a machine gun "Maxim" in full combat readiness.

Or two 82-millimeter mortars, modestly hiding in the corner of the cave of treasures. He said that these mortars can not shoot as they have been demilitarized. However, I did not believe him. He himself makes parts for weapons.

If it is necessary, the courtyard of Heino's house can accommodate 1/2 mortar battery, and its arsenal of more than twenty different weapons, including the most advanced sniper rifles, pistols and assault guns to arm a platoon Estonian Army or Kaitseliit.

Now the most important - of the combat readiness of the average Estonian patriot Heino.

If he will receive an SMS or e-mail message, or if the messenger will come with a warning, old Heino will (as real Estonian, without hurrying) get dressed, put on a helmet, take his assault rifle issued by the state, put into the trunk of his "Jeep" a couple of his own sniper rifles with 24x scope, ammo enough to destroy a company of Russian Guards infantry. Then Heino go slowly to the collection point of his company, and will be there in just half an hour after he received an alarm signal. After all Tallinn - a small town and traffic jams there that I had not noticed.

I don't envy Guards, who by the will of Putin may be in sight of Heino's sniper rifle. He literally can hit them in the head at a distance of 500 - 600 meters from the ambush site.

On a longer distance Heino cannot guarantee same results when shooting at the head of the target - after all, he is older - the hand and eye coordination is not the same.

Although with his ultra-modern Finnish sniper rifle with a 24-fold sight and laser rangefinder Heino can hit a grown man at a distance of one kilometer.

So for sure,to defeat a potential enemy, invading the territory of Estonia, Heino will need between one and two bullets. Of which he has more than enough.

Total in Estonia with a population of 1.3 million people ( 35 times less than in Ukraine without Crimea), there are 23,000 such volunteers as a Heino.

Of which 12-13 thousand for half an hour can be ready to repel an enemy attack or protect strategic facilities of the country.


The remaining 8-9 thousand will also be armed and will provide combat troops with logistics, communications, supply, security together providing precious time for deployment of the Armed Forces of the Estonia and it's NATO allies.

 

 

 

 

 

[BansheeOne]

I've decided to start from one of the links of the system of defense of Estonia - a citizen and patriot - a member of the Estonian Defence League Kaitseliit named Heino, who was kindly introduced to me by my Estonian friend, General Johannes Kert.

Heino is 61 years old. However, he is in excellent physical shape. When he gently shook my hand, it seemed to me that I had broken the little finger and ring finger of my right hand at the same time. But everything turned out OK.

 

The Russians are proper fucked then if they try anything.