Reports: Pro-Russian separatist forces storming Debaltsevo city

Initial reports are emerging that pro-Russian separatists have stormed the city of Debaltsevo from the east within the last hour or so. Latest reports say intense street fighting breaking out in suburban area. Casualties already piling up for both sides.

Donno how much they can take before sunday. There's estimated 7,000 Ukraine gov soldiers & paramilitary units in the city.

Pro-Russian separatists halt assault on Debaltsevo city, pulls back to defensive positions on outer city limits

Probably just a reconnaissance-in-force, trying to provoke the city's defensive system and probe for any possible weaknesses. However the separatists are already dug in just 2-3 kilometers from the city itself.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Feb 14 2015, 11:10 AM

Sooo...western talkshow hosts keep saying IS is is 'under intense pressure' and 'losing', is this what 'under intense pressure' and 'losing' looks like?

US intelligence services estimate IS and other Islamist groups has recruited 20,000 foreign fighters, including westerners


IS fighters in digital desert camouflage uniforms during the execution of Jordanian pilot Ali Al-Kasasbeh

US intelligence services estimated that Islamic State and other Islamist groups in Syria and Iraq has recruited at least 20,000 foreign fighters, including 3,500 westerners and 150 US citizens. This includes those who have intercepted or failed to actually get into Syria and Iraq. The actual status of the foreign fighters in Syria are currently unknown, it is probably some are already killed in the battles there, but intelligence agencies cannot absolutely confirm their status. It is feared some have falsified their deaths and are using 'clean' identities to return to their home countries for bombings and terror campaigns.

"This is a tremendous estimate" said a US intelligence official, adding "The number of foreign fighters in this conflict is greater than 1980s Afghanistan, Iraq, Yugoslavia and Somalia all put together"

UK delivers decommissioned Saxon armored vehicles to Ukraine


Alvis Saxon arrmored vehicles, under service of British Army


Meanwhile:


Hahaha first class facepalm right there.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Feb 14 2015, 06:44 PM

The Saxon is designed from late 1970s, so not so strange it looks rather dated. Also it was never intended for frontline duties, just rear area armored personnel carrier and counter-insurgency duties. Sorta like a proto-MRAP.

It spent most of its career running COIN duties in Northern Ireland.


British Army Saxon on patrol on the outskirts of Belfast, Northern Ireland

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Feb 15 2015, 01:19 AM

Meet Olga Sergeevna A.K.A "Corsa", NAF supreme commander of Debaltsevo task force




Wow....never saw that one coming.

MMEA Enhance National SAR System With International Cospas-Sarsat Programme


APMM Petir-class fast boats

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to create another history when receiving banknotes tech assistance systems, namely International Cospas-Sarsat Programme as an effort to enhance national capacity in search and rescue (SAR). Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim said the use of the system will also make MMEA comparable with SAR teams developed countries that have high-tech systems. "These systems use satellites to track the location of the beacon signal and emergency such as Emergency Locator Beacon (ELT), Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) that are ready to be installed and tested in Jan 30 and is now fully operational. "Through the signals obtained, the emergency signal monitoring will be carried at all times and an emergency signal reception is available in real time with information related, "he said. He was speaking to reporters after the Malaysian Maritime Day celebrations 10th Maritime Academy Sultan Ahmad Shah (AMSASA) here on Saturday.

In the event he also officiated the use of International Cospas-Sarsat Programme witnessed by MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Amdan Kurish. Shahidan said the system will be used to detect any emergencies that occur as far as 400 nautical miles from the coast. Earlier in his speech Shahidan said, APMM is receiving two vessels from the Australia later this month in addition to the six new vessels will further enhance maritime surveillance and enforcement capability in the future. "We also received two 'Petir'-class boats from the Canada and nine 'Halilintar'-class boats from the Australians to improve enforcement capabilities in the Straits of Malacca and the Special Security Area East Coast," he said.

For future plans, he said, MMEA is giving consideration to enhance existing assets with additional HH-65 Dauphin helicopters. "The existing Dauphin helicopters can fly three to four hours ... if we buy a little larger that there are 16 seats, it can last six hours. "We need this additional assets immediately, I informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and he is positive about the proposal to enhance existing assets," he said.

Doesn't look like it gives a lot of ballistic protection. Is it safe? even the ears are exposed as hell.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Feb 15 2015, 07:48 PM

Also have to consider tanks that compatible with Malaysian terrain, don't just buy willy-nilly buy modern tanks just bcoz they look cool. Pics of tanks bogged down in palm oil estate won't help very much with public opinion. Plus can be used by certain people for political mileage.



This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Feb 15 2015, 08:40 PM

They're made of what anyway? I don't see it as being made of ballistic Kevlar. I don't get why SF guys prefer wearing these kinds of helmets.

Cost is ballistic protection. Doesn't look like can even stop shrapnel, especially those ridiculous plastic skateboard helmets Delta Force used to wear.

Malaysia not premium tank country. Prolly more suited to FIBUA and skirmishes than full-on tank-on-tank orgies. IMHO lighter tanks should also be considered rather than exclusively looking at 50 ton + behemoths that prolly would get stuck the in first mud pit it finds.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Feb 15 2015, 09:06 PM

If western tanks, Leclerc almost fits the bill (3-men crew, autoloader), only snag is heavy (62 ton) and expensive as fark ($6M USD).

If wanna play that style, use Humvee with ATGM is sufficient for the role, no need armored vehicles. Cheaper and more economical to use, also smaller silhouette, can hide better.



This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Feb 15 2015, 09:27 PM

Certainly fit the bill, but politically not so expedient.

PRC kata jangan!



This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Feb 15 2015, 09:39 PM

I wanna put spoiler & turbo for my Perdana, probably should ask Proton to pay for it.

Funny anecdote from Ukraine civil war.
Russian volunteer with military experience teach separatists to remove ERA blocks from totalled Ukraine government tanks to use for demolition charge or IED. When they actually get a tank, they find out the blocks were empty of explosives, only the metal cover is left. Turns out Ukraine gov soldiers removed them and sold the explsoives on black market earlier.

Hahaha damn kedekut this pak arab. If you sign contract for vanilla version of leclerc, you get vanilla version of leclercs la.