![]() The HIMARS then could suppress it, clearing the air space for another round of drone strikes or bombing runs by manned fighters. The Harpoons could cut off and starve the island garrison. A HIMARS can fire M30 rockets out to a distance of 44 miles-more than enough to reach Snake Island from Ukraine’s southwestern coast. In time, however, the new launchers could have a real impact. “In effect, Ukraine is wanting to field a new army with Western equipment, with unfamiliar processes, while fighting a war,” explained Mark Hertling, a retired U.S. Even after initial training, it takes time to push a new weapon forward toward the front with all the necessary support for sustained operations. That doesn’t mean the HIMARS will be ready for combat this month. The first Ukrainian crews reportedly are just a week or so from completing their training on the high-tech launchers. ![]() The administration of President Joe Biden on June 2 pledged an initial four of the wheeled, six-round HIMARS. ![]() With the Neptunes protecting Odesa, the Ukrainian navy in theory could stage some or all of its new Harpoons near the Romanian border-and deprive the Russian fleet of any safe approach to the island.Īt the same time, the Ukrainian army could place some of the HIMARS it’s getting from the United States in the same area. However, there’s a sliver of coastal Ukraine extending south toward Romania that’s just 20 miles from Snake Island. Russian ships resupplying Snake Island can avoid the Neptunes by sailing toward the island from the south. But at 80 miles, a Neptune runs out of fuel. That makes sense, as defending the port against possible amphibious assault is one of Kyiv’s top priorities. The Neptune battery apparently is somewhere near Odesa. Where the Ukrainians stage their Harpoons could determine their usefulness in a renewed fight over Snake Island. “Together with our Neptunes, the Harpoons are already forcing the enemy fleet to keep the distance to avoid the fate of the Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva,” Ukrainian defense minister Oleksii Reznikov stated last week. Defense Department announced it would supply an additional two truck-mounted Harpoon systems.Ī Harpoon has a range of a hundred miles or more, depending on the model, compared to the 80 miles or so a Neptune can travel. The Danish Harpoons apparently were ready for action by mid-June. Defense Department announced that the Danish government would donate to Ukraine a battery of truck-mounted launchers for Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The Ukrainians at the same time shifted their attention to the fighting on land.īut that might change. And the Russians apparently managed to ship a fresh Tor air-defense system to Snake Island. Even after losing Moskva and several smaller vessels, the Black Sea Fleet remains in control of the Black Sea. The May phase of the island battle was costly for Russia, but not decisive.
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