(06-15-2022, 08:58 AM)dabigv13 Wrote: Ukraine and other former Warsaw pact countries such as Poland, Czechia, Slovakia do manufacture 152mm shells and other Soviet era ammunition.True, but their production is minuscule and decreasing. They basically manufacture just enough to replace their current stocks as they pass their "use by" date. This is therefore not a growth industry for them. Right now, I think all they can make is going to Ukraine. Unfortunately, it isn't much.
OTOH, China makes LOTS of this type of ammunition, because they too use the Soviet caliber weapons. We just need some unscrupulous arms dealers to buy it under the cover of some other country and divert it to Ukraine. I strongly suspect this is being tried. I also suspect China knows this. Question is, do they care?
(06-15-2022, 07:34 AM)81alum Wrote: Ukraine apparently is running out of artillery shells that fit their old Soviet-era artillery. This certainly points out a major problem for all those nations outside of Russia that still rely on this stuff.Ukraine apparently doesn't manufacture "common" artillery shells. They were "low" on ammo when the war originally started. However, they were trying some innovative things. https://ukroboronprom.com.ua/en/product/kvitnik.
Question: Does Russia itself have an unlimited supply of these obsolete artillery shells? Are they continuing to manufacture them? Will they ever run out too?
For that matter, can Ukraine (or anyone else outside of Russia) manufacture shells to fit this aging equipment?
Russia can and does manufacture these artillery shells basically continuously. I have no idea how many they can make per week, but I am pretty sure Russia is using more than they are making. How well they can ramp up production, and if they are even trying, I don't know. However, Russia has "of immense proportions" stockpiles of most "Soviet" caliber shells, the exception apparently being 122 mm for some reason. They export lots of those, and maybe depleted their stocks. The Ukraine is claiming that Russia has been using some ammunition that is 40 years old. This results in a lot of "duds" and "misfires". It also probably results in more than a few explosions when transporting shells. The idea they are doing this is credible. Russia never throws anything away is not just a stereotype. Witness the ammo storage facility in Transnistria that gives Russia an excuse to station troops there. Unfortunately, despite a few "compromises", Russia isn't running out of ammo anytime soon.
