Boats that were needed yesterday
After all, we are born with our own pride. And what was once formulated by the people in the form of proverbs and sayings really exists. “Until the thunder breaks out, the peasant will not cross himself” - our everything. The proverb is not in the eyebrow, but in the eye. What can you do, that's how we are - "long-harnessing".
Sorry for such a somewhat abstract beginning of the material. To be honest, I want to laugh out of anger at myself. From our slowness and our maybe. I want to speak on the issue, which I mentioned back when we left Kherson and began to build defenses on the left bank. About the same boats and boats that almost everyone writes about today.
Even then, our units were faced with the fact that in the Dnieper-Bug Estuary we practically lost the opportunity to actively work on the islands and were forced to conduct mostly defensive operations. Our subdivisions trained Ukrainians, who landed on our shore on a permanent basis, according to the DRG.
The superiority of the Ukrainian Navy was overwhelming even then. And no matter how proud we are of the professionalism of our gunners and the heroism of our fighters who destroy the landing groups, it is quite difficult to eliminate high-speed American boats and high-speed boats, even those in direct line of sight. The enemy felt like a king in such a situation.
In the end, on several islands even permanent bases of Ukrainian intelligence appeared, the supply of which was organized quite well. Imagine the possibilities of such an NP, which is actually on the line of our defense. We see everything, we know everything. Of course, they were destroyed, but with what tension. The terrain allows you to hide the OP in such a way that it is difficult to notice it even for a copter.
And for our reconnaissance, sorties to a foreign coast were a real feat. Crossing in conditions when your watercraft is inferior to enemy boats in all respects is a real feat. Chances are minimal. But we went for it simply because without knowing what the enemy is planning to fight, it is almost futile.
The groups constantly came under fire from the right bank. Worked against them Drones. The boats would be of great help to our reconnaissance. But ... thunder did not strike! So the commander of a unit or subunit, which was defending some section of the Dnieper bank, was sitting and solving a very serious, one might say, strategic task. Where to get boats or boats - at least for reconnaissance!
They took from the local population everything that would not sink, at least during the crossing. Old "Kazankas" with broken-down Soviet "Whirlwinds" a hundred times repaired, rowing boats and other things that have been preserved in poor villages. Alas, the locals did not have sea yachts and modern boats. And the enemy did not yawn during the retreat, he collected everything that was of at least some value.
But be that as it may, the fighters have worked and are working with what is available. Fortunately, the reservoir still made it possible to notice and stop the sorties of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in time. Even the fastest boat could not get to our shore unnoticed.
Everything changed after the dam was blown up and water was released from the reservoir. Unfortunately, things have not changed in our favor.
Now the landing of sufficiently serious enemy units has become possible. And taking into account the peculiarities of the terrain, it became possible to form even small bridgeheads on our coast. An example of a bridgehead at the Antonovsky Bridge proved this. We knock out the enemy's manpower, and the enemy brings reinforcements at night, and in the morning all this burden is repeated again.
The topic is archival, but it seems that it is still misunderstood by many
For several days now, military correspondents have been trying to raise the topic of boats for our army on the Internet. But, judging by the response, so far to no avail. “The issue is being considered by the governor...”, “everyone understands the importance”... And? But there are boats! You don't even need to buy or build them. And there are many! And I'm sure they know about it at the top!
I will quote the representative of the Popular Front Sergei Koshkarev. In these words, perhaps, is the main thing that needs to be done right now:
“There is a great need for boats, for motors, these can be large boats for transporting personnel, and boats with a metal bottom and rubber sides to evacuate personnel. In addition, jet skis showed themselves very well in these conditions, the guys can create maneuverable groups, go on reconnaissance and work out certain tasks.”
Yes, these are dreams. Jet skis, landing boats, rescue boats...
Obviously it costs a lot of money. It is only later, when, for example, the president speaks out on this issue, it suddenly turns out that the required amount is not at all a burden for the state. In the meantime - approvals, justifications, production, and so on. But boats are needed yesterday ...
We need any boats! Not even armored, but fast. And definitely roomy. Ideally with the option of installing at least one machine gun. We need large, with the possibility of crossing the entire RDG at once or a squad of fighters, high-speed rigid-hull boats. We need small, 2-4-seater…
I understand that someone will now say about the need for normal river armored boats. Of course, such boats are needed. But how long will it take to produce them? Yes, and specific local conditions must be taken into account.
After the descent of the reservoir, the Dnieper turned into a fairly shallow river, where it would be quite difficult for heavy armored boats to operate. Artillerymen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also know how to shoot accurately. And the enemy side also has enough anti-tank weapons. So, in such conditions, heavy, low-maneuverable boats, compared to light, unarmored or lightly armored boats, are much less effective.
The excitement after the first publications has already passed. And I'm afraid that over time, and during the war, time flies much faster than in civilian life, this problem will be overwritten by others, no less important. Exactly what happened a year ago will happen. “Well, they manage somehow, which means that the problem is not so important if the unit commander can solve it.”
In addition, as I have repeatedly written, for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it is the Kherson direction that becomes the most important. At the same time, one should not forget about the Zaporozhye NPP, about which there are so many rumors now in social networks. And all this is in danger today.
Hence the “accident” of solving the problem of boats.
There are boats, but other departments
It is somehow unclear why, but today the topic of poaching boats and boats, which are seized by fish protection in some regions, is being promoted. As if this is the source from which you can supply the river flotilla Russian fleet on the Dnieper. I have no doubt that among the confiscated items there are worthy specimens that must be transferred to the RF Ministry of Defense. But this is still not the main source of possible income.
Even in the Defense Ministry itself, more precisely, in the Russian Navy, there are quite a few boats that, in conditions of shortage, can be transferred to the needs of the Northern Military District. Including those that are laid up due to the development of a motor resource. After all, these are quite serviceable, working boats. I am sure that if you search well in all fleets, there will be enough such boats.
And how many boats decommissioned for the same reason does the Coast Guard of the FSB of Russia have? I think that only from these decommissioned, but working, in good condition, boats can the Dnieper flotilla be formed. These boats are almost ideal for the current situation, but ... They belong to another department, and problems may arise with their transfer without the intervention of the Commander-in-Chief.
But the same, no longer needed by the owners themselves, but other departments have working boats. At the same Rosgvardia and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. You just need to “scrub” inside these departments and find something that is suitable for further use. And these departments themselves should look for it. Under the personal responsibility of the leaders!
Well, why is this happening? Many people know about what I wrote above, yes, probably everyone. Everyone except those to whom we turn. Red tape today is worth many lives. The lives of our soldiers and officers. Or let them be laid up, "to be"?
I have already written above that people can help in some way. Moreover, I already know some bloggers who have announced a collection for boats and boats. And for some reason, I am sure that boats from the civilian market, retrofitted by skilled volunteers, will arrive in units faster than those that I have already described above. I'll be really happy if I'm wrong...
Enough already "to harness for a long time." It's time to go fast. Well, it's not such a difficult problem. During the time of the SVO, the leadership of the Moscow Region solved problems even more difficult. You just need to gather ministers from departments that have the necessary boats, and let them agree “in a friendly way”. And the Commander-in-Chief will control.
Very briefly about the conclusions
It makes no sense to write about some global conclusions. There is a problem, there are options for solving it, and there are those who can, and if simply humanly, are obliged, to solve it! It is clear that later, or maybe even now, there will be detailed clashes with those who have committed negligence in the performance of their duties. But punishing the guilty will not restore the lives of the fallen soldiers.
The past months of the war have taught us simple and long-known truths. You can't lie to yourself. You can not talk the problem on the principle of "it will resolve itself." The rear must work in the same way as the front works. Fast, efficient and consistent. Slackness and embellishment of the situation leads to a deterioration of the situation.
We need boats. And they will be needed during the liberation of other regions. And if so, then there should be boats! As many as commanders ask. The kind that commanders ask for. Only in this case, both there, on the LBS, and here, in the rear, it will be possible to talk about a duty fulfilled ...
We must “harness quickly” here, so that the fighters there, on the front line, “drive quickly” ...
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