The War In Ukraine: Challenging Cultural Norms

  

 

Picture: Marcus Jacobs,Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land photograph

 

The current unpleasantness in Ukraine has discredited the British Army's approach to armoured reconnaissance,which was in any case more the product of institutional cultural norms than logic,but while it may take many years to develop a solution,such as the proposed Charlatan Cavalry Heavy Armoured Vehicle,in the short term the two hundred or so spare Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks (upgraded to the Challenger 3 standard and either with some ammunition stowage sacrificed to free up space and weight for additional equipment operated by the loader or with the gun replaced by a dummy,both to free up weight for armour upgrades and to free the loader and gunner to operate other equipment) may provide enough reconnaissance,command and artillery forward observation vehicles to equip an entire heavy division.

 

The War In Ukraine: The Charlatans

 

 

Picture: Marcus Jacobs,Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land photograph

 

Ukrainian infantry ambush Russian medium tanks in confined spaces,where they are unable to compensate for their lack of situational awareness by operating en masse,which is one of the reasons why the heavy cavalry regiments of An Independent Army For An Independent Nation have close reconnaissance troops with Charlatan Cavalry Heavy Armoured Vehicles whose dummy turrets allow them to carry a greater weight of armour,sensors and countermeasures than standard Chargers,despite looking similar,making them particularly suited to finding targets for Four Inch Mortars and Chastisers (upgraded Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks could be adapted to perform a similar role,were the Ajax fiasco to be cancelled).

 

The War In Ukraine: Chastisement

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,© IWM CT 338

 

Tanks were invented because infantry were unable to advance under fire without suffering heavy casualties yet Russian medium tanks are vulnerable if they enter Ukrainian towns without infantry support,however,explosive projectiles can safely go where tanks and infantry cannot,which is one of the reasons why the corps engineer brigades of An Independent Army For An Independent Nation have Royal Engineers assault regiments with Chastiser Cavalry Heavy Armoured Vehicles armed with Eight Inch Howitzers capable of firing three hundred pound shells to a range of five miles.