I like these posts and appreciate them. They give succinct and accurate and timely information I do not otherwise get. But I don't fully understand the Mikhail Popov's excellent maps.
What are the blue arcs connection the little 'sawtooth' icons? I assume the 'sawteeth' are either actual trenches or notional areas of deployed troops or perhaps MMG's or guns?
But why do the arcs connect this one with that one? Just to suggest a sort of general 'front line' ?
So then what are the blue (or red) dotted lines? Front lines that used to exist?
And the shaded area one side of the dotted lines?
While on the subject I may mention I think some explanation of the nature of the front line might help us all. It is clearly not an unbroken line of trenches. We see that quite clearly in the videos we get.
So it is many small positions like 'islands' across the front and probably in depth, another line of them behind the first and so on. Is this right?
Then what is in those positions? We heard of a khokhol unit supposedly had only 8 or was it 18 men to cover a line of a kilometer or perhaps it was even more.
That can't be real, surely? So what is the average distance between positions and what is in/at a position that enables it to 'hold the line' ? We see videos of tanks a APC's crossing kilometre wide fields and generally there's not a shot fired anywhere until suddenly the thing goes up. HIt by what? Often a FPV but often no specified. Is it infantry in these positions that are stopping that armour with RPG's ?
Is that the heart and soul of the front line? Little 'pockets' of infantry scattered across the landscape capable of stopping armour? And perhaps with LMG and MMG with fields of fire overlapping that prevent infantry creeping up on them?
And if so then how are the Donbas and Russian forces progressing through this? We hear of a tactic of total destruction by mass artillery (unfortunately destroying 'our' own property - they are the invaders, not we) followed by infantry after all is pulverised. Which is one thing. But we also hear of the motor bike 'commando' advances whereby many small two man teams it seems penetrate between these 'islands' of RPG bearing infantryman.
Which? Or both? Or something else?
And if anything that moves can be and is interdicted by guided munitions or drones then how come these 'far flung' front line positions are maintained, provisioned? Especially in for instance Kursk area with only one main road to bring everything from Sumy to the front - the P200? How can anything move along it?
And I feel the Mi 28 and the Ka 52's are tremendously powerful assets given air dominance so's they can fly. Well apparently they can in Kursk but they haven't helped clear the place yet. Am I wrong? What are the facts on that?
And so on. I think it is an area of discussion very largely ignored and quite a lot of it is 'written' on maps such as these excellent, clear ones of Popov's. I'd like to see a little expounding on it all; don't know about anyone else but I imagine many would.
I like these posts and appreciate them. They give succinct and accurate and timely information I do not otherwise get. But I don't fully understand the Mikhail Popov's excellent maps.
What are the blue arcs connection the little 'sawtooth' icons? I assume the 'sawteeth' are either actual trenches or notional areas of deployed troops or perhaps MMG's or guns?
But why do the arcs connect this one with that one? Just to suggest a sort of general 'front line' ?
So then what are the blue (or red) dotted lines? Front lines that used to exist?
And the shaded area one side of the dotted lines?
While on the subject I may mention I think some explanation of the nature of the front line might help us all. It is clearly not an unbroken line of trenches. We see that quite clearly in the videos we get.
So it is many small positions like 'islands' across the front and probably in depth, another line of them behind the first and so on. Is this right?
Then what is in those positions? We heard of a khokhol unit supposedly had only 8 or was it 18 men to cover a line of a kilometer or perhaps it was even more.
That can't be real, surely? So what is the average distance between positions and what is in/at a position that enables it to 'hold the line' ? We see videos of tanks a APC's crossing kilometre wide fields and generally there's not a shot fired anywhere until suddenly the thing goes up. HIt by what? Often a FPV but often no specified. Is it infantry in these positions that are stopping that armour with RPG's ?
Is that the heart and soul of the front line? Little 'pockets' of infantry scattered across the landscape capable of stopping armour? And perhaps with LMG and MMG with fields of fire overlapping that prevent infantry creeping up on them?
And if so then how are the Donbas and Russian forces progressing through this? We hear of a tactic of total destruction by mass artillery (unfortunately destroying 'our' own property - they are the invaders, not we) followed by infantry after all is pulverised. Which is one thing. But we also hear of the motor bike 'commando' advances whereby many small two man teams it seems penetrate between these 'islands' of RPG bearing infantryman.
Which? Or both? Or something else?
And if anything that moves can be and is interdicted by guided munitions or drones then how come these 'far flung' front line positions are maintained, provisioned? Especially in for instance Kursk area with only one main road to bring everything from Sumy to the front - the P200? How can anything move along it?
And I feel the Mi 28 and the Ka 52's are tremendously powerful assets given air dominance so's they can fly. Well apparently they can in Kursk but they haven't helped clear the place yet. Am I wrong? What are the facts on that?
And so on. I think it is an area of discussion very largely ignored and quite a lot of it is 'written' on maps such as these excellent, clear ones of Popov's. I'd like to see a little expounding on it all; don't know about anyone else but I imagine many would.
The best way to know the answer to all your questions is for you to go to the front and see it firsthand. Let us know what you find, huh?
😂 Your Amazing, But 🤣