In another edition of the Russian tragic comedy, “A Truckload of Dudes will Win the Day,” we see an example of Russian tactical nuance. A loan BTR loaded with infantry is sent charging into the fray, alone and unafraid, and stops at the side of the road to unload its dismounts. The Russian infantry, piled atop the vehicle and crammed inside like sardines, spill to the ground. As men roll about on the ground, 25mm cannon fire from a Ukrainian Bradley hammers both BTR and dismounts, crating carnage and confusion. Even as the Bushmaster pounds the Russian vehicle, men continue to pop out of the side hatch like jesters from a cursed clown car, only to experience the same fate as their comrades. Indirect fire, likely mortars, join the sadistic symphony, and men and machine begin to smolder and catch fire. The attack is stopped, the squad is wiped out, leaving twisted metal and scorched carcasses for the crows.

Rarely have I seen an action more bereft of tactical skill. Vehicles are typically deployed in units, and at a minimum, pairs, so that they may mutually support each other – this did not happen. Suppression from artillery, mortars, or fire from a supporting element of tanks or armored vehicles might have allowed the BTR to advance and to discharge its squad unmolested – this did not happen. Smoke might have been nice – this did not happen either. Choosing a better release point to drop the dismounts, or even using the already disabled BTR as cover would have been preferable to stopping in the open, under observation and in range of enemy vehicles. As for the infantry, they clearly did not have a plan, but even if they did, their fate was sealed as soon as that Bradley opened fire. The Russian Army might have saved them the trouble and shot them in the assembly area, but then they would not have been able to absorb so much valuable Ukrainian ammunition.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing is preparing for the 2024 season of sailing on Galveston Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico. You can support the mission and next year's sailing season at Tri-Sail.Org.