At least Europe is stepping up when the U.S. isn't. But they don't have the U.S. defense industry, so who knows how long Ukraine can hold out.
Also Europe gave away so many shells that now the European ammo factories work to replenish the most basic strategic stockpiles of the EU militaries.
I don't see that they have a choice. Russia isn't going to stop with Ukraine if they can take it.
At least from a German standpoint I can say: we never had stockpiles. Like literally. The official estimate was that the Bundeswehr had ammo for two days of war. No hyperbole.
The most efficient thing Germany could have done with all the Leopards would have been to use them as mobile roadblocks.
I mean, the point of strategic stockpiles is to use them when called for. This isn't necessarily a problem YET, until the stockpiles are empty, not just depleted, despite the factories churning out new ammo as fast as they can.
Europe can simply buy more arms from the US. This has the advantage of replacing old stock with new.
Bear in mind, these aren't charity donations. Weapons and aid are being provided to Ukraine under bilateral aid agreements - which are inherently two way, and almost always heavily favour the country giving, as the receiving country is desperate. Ukraine won't be expected to pay right away, but they will be expected to pay - and they will be expected to pay over the odds, with interest.
Granted, they probably won't be able to pay in full - but that's a future government's problem. In the meantime, the donating nations can treat the loans as a surefire return and fiddle their books, making their long term economic forecasts seem far better than they really are.
Also, Denmark is a small-ish country. It is not “Europe” as in whole of it.
I realize that. I was speaking on general terms.
Bring the guns!
How many?
ALL OF THEM.
We have 6 boss, do you want all of them?
ALL OF THEM!
According to the internet, they have 76 of these.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/M109_howitzer#M109A3_and_M109A3B
Ah. I read it in an other article as if they would donate all ammunition for artillery. I guess there are mixed sources at the moment
Edit:
Dude your link says 2-6 and the reference note says practically no functioning artilery
Denmark: 2–6 (upgraded to M109 A3DK, used to be 76)
What's actually being sent is 19 Caesar systems, the much more modern replacement for the M109 in the Danish army https://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/politik/danmark-sender-laenge-ventet-vaabensystem-til-ukraine/9596797 (article in Danish)
Caesar is a very good piece of artillery. Ukrainians love them.
I'd have a caesar
With tobasco and a squeeze of lime?
Would you walk him often?
::Denmark:: We're sending all of our artillery away!
::Germany:: Heavy breathing
Bravo to Europe for standing up to the fascist swine and their wholly owned subsidiary in the United States.
Half-owned
Not enough unfortunately. We are still debating sending weapons like the Taurus system, because Russia could get mad at us (like with the tanks and the planes and everything else we already delivered after long discussions and delays).
You boys are doing a lot better than us in the US right now. We have to eliminate our traitors and then we’ll be back in with you.
THE PLAN HAS SUCCEEDED! WE SHALL FINALLY HAVE OUR VENGEANCE FOR THE VIKING YEARS!
COMMENCE THE ATTACK!
I mean, I don't know what Denmark would attack with artillery anyways.
The Russians, when they make it that far. Might as well lend it to Ukraine to prevent that.
Invading russian swine.
Based on historical precedent, probably the Irish
One day they'll have the firepower to prove Cnut's lesson about the tides wrong, but the current equipment just wasn't up to the task
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Denmark
I expect that they probably played a role in some expeditionary activity.
It looks like some light direct-fire stuff was used in the several hours of conflict with Germany in World War 2.
I mean, the newer stuff isn't a land battle in Denmark, but if you go by that standard, the last time the US would have used artillery would probably be the American Civil War in the 1860s.
In the US I'd count action by the national guard. We had one of those in 1970, but the kids didn't put up much of a resistance so it wasn't a prolonged battle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings
There may be others, but this springs to mind.
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