Originally published at: Britain first western power to offer main battle tanks and artillery to Ukraine | Boing Boing
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There is some risk involved in this move, but it’s a calculated one. The key here is to emphasise that this is a decision of the UK as distinct from NATO.
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The UN is not focused on the military aspects of Putin’s unprovoked aggression. Its focus is on humanitarian relief, documenting war crimes, and offering a venue for peace negotiations.
[extra appropriate!]
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There is reporting that the “unspecified number” of tanks the UK will send is
On Monday, the U.K. government is expected to hold a press conference at which it will formally announce the transfer of a dozen Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine.
blather-in-passing that Mark Sumner on DailyKos really puts his back into Ukraine reporting, for someone not actually there.
(pull o’ forelock to Master @beschizza who does make mention of a ‘dozen’)
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A dozen tanks won’t change the outcome of the war, but that’s gotta be demoralizing to the Russian soldiers who are going to be facing those tanks without air superiority to back them up
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I needed to know more! It’s fascinating. In fact all British armoured vehicles have apparently had at least some facility for making tea. In the Challenger 2 it seems to be a dedicated unit integrated into vehicle systems. If you wondered what a teapot made by a defence contractor looks like, it’s this:
War bad and all that, but I sort of love this thing.
More details about how specifically it is integrated in the Challenger 2 are hard to find, because of course tank interiors are highly classified. I couldn’t find any more than a few promo shots from the contractor.
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On the M1A1 we used to heat our water using the exhaust port from the crew heater, and cooked our MREs on the engine’s exhaust baffles
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You should see their cookie jars 
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True - British tanker teams take their tea very seriously.
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Re the onboard tea making facilities, IIRC those were introduced during WW II because at some point the casualties from crews getting hit outside their tanks during a brew-up were higher than from crews perishing when their tanks brewed up.
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During operation Market Garden there was push to cross the river at Nijmegen, and after a tough battle involving using infantry to cross the river in boats a company of British tanks was able to cross the river. But instead of securing the bridgehead they spent the first half hour making tea, allowing them to be overwhelmed in short order and driven back
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It’s worth noting that the tanks that are going to be supplied to Ukraine are conveniently surplus to the UK army’s requirements.
There is a plan to upgrade a portion of the Challenger 2 fleet, but only around 150 of the current 227 are scheduled for upgrades, so that leaves around 75 to be supplied either directly to Ukraine, or supplied to other NATO members who can then free up equipment that the Ukrainians are more familiar with.
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Very happy to hear this. Even a small number of modern tanks are going to make a huge difference. Tanks are good for busting through defensive lines, which is what Ukraine will be doing as soon as the ground is frozen enough.
In other Russia news, the conflict between the Wagner Group and the regular Russian army is getting spicy! Prigozhin is claiming credit for victory over a tiny salt mining town. Meanwhile FSB is accusing Prigozhin of… being Jewish! I believe that the real “weapon” that will finally defeat Russia … is Russia itself.
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That’s unsurprisingly consistent with the inner logic of Market Garden as a whole.
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It also gives help to Germany.
A number of NATO states have said they are willing to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine. However, these were all purchased under deals that gave Germany a veto over reexporting the tanks.
The German Vice Chancellor said this week that Germany would not stop Poland sending Leopards to Ukraine. The UK’s action makes it less controversial as other countries are doing similar.
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No no, the Italians needed water heaters for cooking pasta.
Haven’t you played The Campaign for North Africa?
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Ahem. Biscuit barrel, if you please.
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