Oshkosh M-ATV will lead, next by AMX-10RC in the coming offensive
The Ukrainian armed forces continue to prepare for the upcoming counteroffensive. It is still unclear when, but in recent days there has been talk that Ukraine is likely to begin its main hostilities at the end of May. Ukrainian President Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky says that Ukraine’s goals are clear – the return of all temporarily occupied territories from Russia, including Crimea.
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Photos and videos from recent weeks are being shared on the web reflecting the preparations. For example, BulgarianMilitary.com has photos from the training of the 37th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces [UAF].
Oshkosh M-ATV training
The training location is unknown. However, the American Oshkosh M-ATV MPAPs are seen on the training fields. Lined up, they wait for their operators to drive them. After a brief briefing on the purpose of the exercise, the teams launch the Oshkosh M-ATV MPAP and deploy them in a battlefield configuration. Along with them, the AMX-10RC APVs recently delivered from France are participating in the deployment.
The joint participation of the Oshkosh M-ATV MPAP and the AMX-10RC APV suggests that these units will be at the forefront of the counter-offensive. The American Oshkosh would have to support the ground advance with manpower through its light and heavy machine guns and anti-tank guns. One of the main roles that this vehicle will have with the teams in it will be short-range reconnaissance just before the offensive. Weapons simply allow it.
Behind them are supposed to be the French AMX-10RCs, which with their longer range 105mm F2 BK MECA L/47 gun will provide supporting fire to the forward Ukrainian positions.
It is expected that the tanks delivered from the West will participate in such a deployment. It is assumed that the Leopard 2 will be launched in the first days of the offensive to provide artillery support for the American Oshkosh M-ATV MRAP and the French AMX-10RC. In fact, another video appeared on the web showing a column of Leopard 2 tanks. The video is believed to have been filmed in Poland.
Oshkosh will lead
Although the Oshkosh M-ATV MPAP is supposed to lead, the long-range artillery of the AMX-10RC and Leopard will play a major role. The Oshkosh M-ATV will ensure the awareness and engagement of targets that have not been hit or are partially hit. A direct attack by the American anti-aircraft missiles on the Russian armored vehicles and tanks can also be expected. Especially if, in advance, Moscow decides to dismantle the obsolete T-55/54 and T-62, which are already deployed in Ukraine.
Of the three combat platforms listed, it is the Oshkosh M-ATV that is supposed to be the fastest and most mobile on the battlefield. If the ground dries out of the mud and slush, and the weather warms up, American vehicles will be able to spread across the front line at speeds of at least 80-90 km/h.
The Oshkosh M-ATV suspension itself is well suited for the conditions ahead. The TAK-4 is coil-sprung, which makes the suspension completely independent, and with 16 inches of wheel travel, it will allow the Ukrainians to quickly reconfigure into a different battle formation confusing the enemy.
The Oshkosh M-ATV can handle the smaller targets. Mobile teams in this vehicle will have an M240 machine gun, Mk 19 grenade launcher, M2 Browning machine gun, MILAN anti-tank guided missile, or BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missile launcher.
If the teams in the American MPAP come under siege, the Americans have provided for their rapid withdrawal directly from the vehicle. The rear doors are self-exploding, which saves time and provides space.
MPRAP is vulnerable
However, the Oshkosh M-ATV is highly vulnerable. Kamikaze drones such as the Lancet can easily take casualties in an upcoming battle. Not to mention intense machine gun fire that can hit armor at a moment’s notice. The most vulnerable would be the soldier who took control of the machine gun nest in the turret of the translator.
There is already evidence of how easy targets MPAP is becoming in the Russian intensive shelling. The M1224 MaxxPro MRAP was simply destroyed by Russian machine gun fire without the need for an anti-tank gun. And one of the weakest points of this type of vehicle is precisely the chassis where the engine is located. Hitting a mine precisely in this part of the chassis guarantees that the vehicle will be stopped.
The Oshkosh M-ATV will certainly play its part in the upcoming counteroffensive. However, whether the Ukrainians will be able to use it much more effectively depends on them. At certain times, the Ukrainian armed forces act more pragmatically. They look for efficiency, not quantity. Simply because they don’t have quantity makes they think before they act.
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