Comments by "David Himmelsbach" (@davidhimmelsbach557) on "Ukraine War: How the weather could hamper Russian offensive" video.

I've been harping on MUD for weeks. Tanks, laden trucks, are so heavy that soft ground has ALREADY hampered Putin. The recently ceded terrain above Kyiv is very swampy during Mud Season -- so it was Mud that defeated Putin's drive on Kyiv. The Russians had to pull out before total capture by the Ukrainians. Toughing it out was not an option. Putin's boys are now road (bound) warriors. This is a restriction known to panzer troops during Barbarossa. (See: diaries) During Mud Season, foot-infantry have more mobility than mechanized troops... until even they get bogged down.
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@Drew Peacock During Mud Season, the Ukrainians really need to go after Putin's helicopter fleet. He can't NOT use them. If they are gutted, all hope for Putin is lost. Javelins, NLAWs, Stingers -- ALL are effective against ultra-low and slow helicopters. (I.E. during lift-off.) Commanders fly by helicopter.
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@Drew Peacock As long as a helicopter is on the ground -- or just hovering above it -- NLAW's logic can deem it a target. Once it picks up speed, the NLAW will reject it -- as noise. You'd be shocked as to how many US Army helos were shot down with RPGs in Afghanistan. See: "Sole Survivor" for how things really worked. NLAWs are a huge step up from any RPG, of course. Helos go for millions; yes, they are much more expensive than tanks. So, even a $120,000 Javelin is a bargain if it kills such a target. The pilot and crew cost millions -- themselves. Believe it. They are harder to replace than the machines. I would never attempt a Javelin shot at a KA-52, of course. Defenders should go for airmobile troops riding heavy in a Hind (Mi-24) or a Hip. (Mi-8 or Mi-17) I'm also advocating that America send in M-2 machine guns. The Ukrainians already know how to operate such a beast. America has thousands in its warehouses. An M-2 is the kiss of death for trucks, fuel tankers, especially. Its range is wicked.
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@Drew Peacock It's funny we're talking about it -- as I now see a stream of videos from Ukraine wherein Ukrainians have shot down helicopters with ATGMs -- in numbers that amaze me. By which I mean: they even have their video camera rolling for the shot ! To listen in, it's apparent that the shooters regard Russian helos as mere sport -- even KA-52s. (!) That is a very lethal machine, BTW. It may look ugly, but it flies like a demon. Russia doesn't really have all that many of them, either. So every single machine shot down hurts Putin a lot. Now that it's Mud Season, the KA-52s simply HAVE to fly. The defenders simply have to shoot them down. For the next five-weeks, (mud) each KA-52 is worth twenty-five tanks. At least they can move and shoot.
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