You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Putin 'sacks' top ranking general after '16 days' following crushing defeat in eastern Ukraine which has seen Ukrainian forces push to within 30 miles of the Russian border - and panicked troops abandoning tanks, weapons and supplies
2022-09-12
  • Russian president is reported to have sacked Lieutenant General Roman Berdnikov after just 16 days in the job

  • It comes after Ukrainian forces took 1,000 square miles of territory in just days as part of a counter offensive

  • There are reports Russian troops have abandoned tanks, weapons and supplies as they flee from the advance
Posted by:Skidmark

#21  Odd fact: I have touched the two "star" tanks from "Fury", but have never seen the movie.

Terrific film.
Posted by: badanov   2022-09-12 18:13  

#20  It is available to watch on Tubi.

In case that doesn't work I have my own DVD copy.
Posted by: badanov   2022-09-12 18:12  

#19  Odd fact: I have touched the two "star" tanks from "Fury", but have never seen the movie.
Posted by: Rob Crawford   2022-09-12 18:11  

#18  Indeed, a good film. I believe "tank boy" was introduced in this film. Guderian said it best: "New weapons require new tactics. Never put new wine in to old bottles". Von Manstein nods in agreement.
Posted by: Rex Mundi   2022-09-12 17:05  

#17  /\ The Beast(1988) is an interesting film. I enjoyed it on late night cable and got a DVD ...no where did I stash it?
Posted by: magpie   2022-09-12 14:15  

#16   (George Dzundza) "You know our standing orders."

I'm guessing the quotes come from "The Beast", an exciting flick about a Russian tank crew in Afghanistan being hunted by the muj after becoming separated from their unit.
Posted by: SteveS   2022-09-12 13:35  

#15  (George Dzundza) "You know our standing orders."

(Donald Patrick Harvey) "What?"

(George Dzundza) "Out of commission, become a pillbox. Out of ammo, become a bunker. Out of time, become heroes."
Posted by: badanov   2022-09-12 13:09  

#14  One reason to abandon a functioning tank is that when you catch up with any organized force they are going to refuel you and put you back in the line. A few stray tank crew on foot can lose themselves a lot more effectively.
Posted by: Snesing Slereling3444   2022-09-12 12:45  

#13  Well, as for fleeing in tanks, see this yakity sax thing: https://t.me/den_pihoty/15630

Sometimes your panicked flight ends in a collision with a Nazi tree.
Posted by: Mitch H.   2022-09-12 10:32  

#12  /\ Most effectively executed just before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Run a minimum of 75m (150m if you have time), then get down.
Posted by: Besoeker   2022-09-12 10:31  

#11  You abandon your tank when you suspect it might make you a more inviting target than just a few guys on foot.
Posted by: Rob Crawford   2022-09-12 09:51  

#10  The MacArthur dismissal was a distinctly political play.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-09-12 09:39  

#9  ref 6 and ref 7.
If you're low on fuel, as opposed to just dry, then at least there are a few miles you won't be putting on your sore feet. In that context, five or fifteen miles is a big, big distance.
Loved "Up Front". A soldier walking down the road isn't exactly invisible, either, as opposed to being in a hole. And the guy walking is vulnerable to a lot more of what's available in a mixed-up battlefield situation.
So either the report overgeneralizes the situation, or the tanks and other vehicles in question all crapped out, including refueling vehicles, more or less at the same time. Even in the Russian army, such timing is unlikely, so maybe the resupply lines were cut pretty hard.
Posted by: Richard Aubrey   2022-09-12 09:24  

#8  Truman fired MacArthur. Right? Wrong?
Posted by: DooDahMan   2022-09-12 09:04  

#7  ...old Willie and Joe cartoon. Joe is looking over his shoulder at a tank, "I'd ruther dig. A movin' foxhole attracts th' eye"
Posted by: Procopius2k   2022-09-12 09:01  

#6  ^ Lack of fuel?
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-09-12 08:52  

#5  Have I got this wrong? If you really need to "flee", how about getting in your tank and flooring it? Fast. Armor. Got your rations and clean socks. Water. Cover rough terrain. Why abandon it to get out and walk?
Posted by: Richard Aubrey   2022-09-12 08:32  

#4  Give Putin credit, he will at least fire generals who fail to deliver. Can't say the same here.

It took a world war for the US to start doing that, then we stopped again for some reason. Pray it doesn't take another World War for us to do it.
Posted by: DarthVader   2022-09-12 08:00  

#3  Give Putin credit, he will at least fire generals who fail to deliver. Can't say the same here.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2022-09-12 07:18  

#2  It's "churn" when it's down deep, it's "froth" when it's at the top...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-09-12 06:59  

#1  Well, that's one thing proxy wars can do--show where you are weakest and need improvement.

Maybe V.V. Putin should attend the same defense contractor conference as Zelenskyy.
Posted by: DooDahMan   2022-09-12 04:23  

00:00