Syrian Civil War: News #9

calm wrote:

..................

PapaDragon wrote:Daym, is it Thanksgiving already? Because somebody's goose is cooked...    

Major General Qassim Suleimani, the commander of Iran’s elite “Quds Force,” made a secret trip to southern Aleppo on Tuesday in order to discuss the upcoming large-scale offensive with his counterparts in the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).

Among the many people that met with the Iranian general on Tuesday, Major Duraid Abu ‘Ammar of the Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” was likely his most important meeting.

Major Abu ‘Ammar is considered one of the highest ranking officers in the Tiger Forces and one of Colonel Suheil Al-Hassan’s (leader of the Tiger Forces) most trusted commanders.

According to a military source in the Aleppo Governorate, the Tiger Forces commander and Iranian general discussed the upcoming offensive’s battle plans.

For the first time in this war, the commanders of the Tiger Forces and Iranian military advisors are coordinating a wide-scale offensive in the Aleppo Governorate that is geared to retake a large chunk of territory from the jihadist rebels.

While several Syrian Arab Army units fight alongside Hezbollah and Harakat Al-Nujaba (Iraqi paramilitary), the Tiger Forces were one of the few that did not directly coordinate with the latter.

No official date has been set for this southern Aleppo offensive; however, it is expected to start in the coming weeks, as the Tiger Forces and Republican Guard conclude their operations near Al-Ramouseh.

airstrike wrote:Video: Turkish M60T Sabra tanks hit by ISIS ATGM near Al-Rai, northern Syria

http://echelon-defense.com/2016/09/07/video-turkish-m60t-sabra-tanks-hit-by-isis-atgm-near-al-rai-northern-syria/

KoTeMoRe wrote:

airstrike wrote:Video: Turkish M60T Sabra tanks hit by ISIS ATGM near Al-Rai, northern Syria

http://echelon-defense.com/2016/09/07/video-turkish-m60t-sabra-tanks-hit-by-isis-atgm-near-al-rai-northern-syria/

Two tanks hit by Konkurs....There are aftermath pictures according to ISIS. Two BBQ.

KoTeMoRe wrote:

airstrike wrote:Video: Turkish M60T Sabra tanks hit by ISIS ATGM near Al-Rai, northern Syria

http://echelon-defense.com/2016/09/07/video-turkish-m60t-sabra-tanks-hit-by-isis-atgm-near-al-rai-northern-syria/

Two tanks hit by Konkurs....There are aftermath pictures according to ISIS. Two BBQ.

SeigSoloyvov wrote:SAA advancing on Khan Tuman, ever since those Russians got there the SAA has been making dam fine progress. Guess they took over leadership positions after all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh7xkdSpp7U

OminousSpudd wrote:

KoTeMoRe wrote:

airstrike wrote:Video: Turkish M60T Sabra tanks hit by ISIS ATGM near Al-Rai, northern Syria

http://echelon-defense.com/2016/09/07/video-turkish-m60t-sabra-tanks-hit-by-isis-atgm-near-al-rai-northern-syria/

Two tanks hit by Konkurs....There are aftermath pictures according to ISIS. Two BBQ.

A bit of the roaring 70's coming back. Soviet rough love.

SeigSoloyvov wrote:SAA advancing on Khan Tuman, ever since those Russians got there the SAA has been making dam fine progress. Guess they took over leadership positions after all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh7xkdSpp7U

Walther von Oldenburg wrote:Ali Khalouf, commander of 87th Brigade, 11th Tank Division, killed in Ma'ardes:


What's up with those Syrian/Iranian generals that they drop like flies? It's already 3rd or 4th general killed this month.

KoTeMoRe wrote:

This Syrian war is really showing that WW3 was going to be a fucked up affair for tankers.

Walther von Oldenburg wrote:Sending high ranking officers to the frontline serves no purpose and is a trendemous waste of men with invaluable staff experience (you can't fight wars with just captains, lieutenants and sergeants).

Khepesh wrote:

KoTeMoRe wrote:

This Syrian war is really showing that WW3 was going to be a fucked up affair for tankers.  

For those who do not know what they are doing, yes. But that video shows perfectly how to get killed in a tank, it is in fact the worst example of positioning tanks in combat I have ever seen, like a parade of ducks to shoot at a fairground. Turkish commander needs sacking immediately and that battalion needs withdrawing from combat for extensive training in how to use tanks, and to learn what "hull down" means, or "using cover" or "fire and maneuver" or "common sense".

KoTeMoRe wrote:
Yeah: ride on a M60. Guaranteed BBQ.

No seriously...it's impossible to get a well protected position in this war because the numbers are too small and the terrain too hostile.

Northern Syria= Bald plains or medium sized hamlets with great kill funnel (we all have seen those nasty ATGM shots all war long).
Southern Syria...Desert.
Eastern Syria Desert and small hamlets...
Western Syria Huge ass ridge impossible to attack with mechanized forces without getting pieced.

The tactical advantage that ISIS and the beardies have on such troops is that they don't need to disguise their vehicles or have a huge footprint, they can wait until the Mech force needs to halt to assess the progress. Kurds hit the Turks exactly like that. ISIS ddin't do it differently. The Turks and Syrians do...because those are force multipliers. Also hull down means nothing in this case, the ATGM hit the turret on the first tank which started cook off. Second tank was hit on the trapshot ERA which eased off the penetration. Still 4 wounded (driver is critical according to twitter, tank's turret ring is fucked, 't was a miracle it didn't brew and I don't belive on "slight injury" from Turkish press).

In this case unless they were sporting T90's/Leo2 they were goners anyway.

Khepesh wrote:

KoTeMoRe wrote:
Yeah: ride on a M60. Guaranteed BBQ.

No seriously...it's impossible to get a well protected position in this war because the numbers are too small and the terrain too hostile.

Northern Syria= Bald plains or medium sized hamlets with great kill funnel (we all have seen those nasty ATGM shots all war long).
Southern Syria...Desert.
Eastern Syria Desert and small hamlets...
Western Syria Huge ass ridge impossible to attack with mechanized forces without getting pieced.

The tactical advantage that ISIS and the beardies have on such troops is that they don't need to disguise their vehicles or have a huge footprint, they can wait until the Mech force needs to halt to assess the progress. Kurds hit the Turks exactly like that. ISIS ddin't do it differently. The Turks and Syrians do...because those are force multipliers. Also hull down means nothing in this case, the ATGM hit the turret on the first tank which started cook off. Second tank was hit on the trapshot ERA which eased off the penetration. Still 4 wounded (driver is critical according to twitter, tank's turret ring is fucked, 't was a miracle it didn't brew and I don't belive on "slight injury" from Turkish press).

In this case unless they were sporting T90's/Leo2 they were goners anyway.

Hull down reduces target visibility by 50% and makes it a bit harder for the enemy, so is worthwhile. They were in the open on the forward slope of a ridge when they should have been in hull, or even turret down positions on the reverse slope, no excuse not to do this. If and when they need to advance over the ridge, were is their reccon, they know the nature of what they face so no need to send tanks in completely open. If they see terrain or buildings that are likely to hide enemy, then use speculative fire to see if it stirs them up, and then if necessary call down artillery strike, and in situation that looks bad from the beginning, hit it with artillery first anyway, or at least use their tanks as artillery. They broke the most basic rule of tank warfare, exposing themselves in full view on a ridge tracks up while remaining stationary, they may as well have been static targets on a range, total incompetance by them. And while hight of M-60 makes it a big target, the trunnions are sufficiently high and the commander is so high up that hull or turret down positions from reverse slope are easier for it than with T-72.