Sourced from video "Combat Vets from Ukraine Explain Drone Warfare, Trench Warfare and More" from Garand Thumb
Link: youtube.com/watch?v=Tge7YMi4gJs
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**KIT SETUPS**
Kits: Tailor your kits to the specific conflict you're in.
Water Pouch: Always have a water pouch with padding for comfort and practicality.
Warm and Wet Kits: Include items that keep you warm and dry. Any comfort helps, and you don’t want to risk conditions like trench foot.
General Pouches: Keep a general empty pouch for miscellaneous items or dump pouches for quick access.
Ammo Pouches: Have pouches specifically for ammunition or magazines.
Radio Pouches: Keep your communication gear secure and accessible.
Tourniquet Pouches: Carry at least one tourniquet for each limb.
Frag Plates: Attach frag plates to the sides of your pack for protection, especially with heavy artillery around.
Hilo Lanyard: Useful for either helicopters or for dragging bodies out of dangerous areas.
Frag Grenade Pouches: Smoke and frag grenades are essential in trench warfare.
Mapping Software (ATAC): Use advanced mapping software for situational awareness.
Foliage Shears: To help camouflage your gear, carry shears for adding foliage.
Pens: A few pens are essential for writing down key info or marking items.
Lens Cloths: To keep your optics clean and clear.
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**DRONES**
Blending Positions: Position yourself under solid overhead cover, such as blankets, to blend in.
FPV (First-Person View) drones are fast, dangerous, and custom-built with a payload that can be controlled by someone miles away through VR goggles.
MAVIK Drones: These consumer drones are used for spotting and sometimes come with thermal capabilities.
Identifying Friendly vs. Enemy Drones: You won’t be able to easily distinguish friendly drones from enemy drones unless you’re well-connected with your drone team. Call in your team if you spot a drone overhead. Drones are high-priority threats, and shotguns are effective against them.
Drone Droppers: These drones drop payloads, such as grenades, onto enemy positions. They’re useful for cleanup and can feel like something out of a video game.
Trench Depths: Some trenches are shallow and vulnerable, while others are deep (up to 8 feet) with overhead cover. Be prepared for various trench depths, and use camo netting to cover your position.
Drone Response: If you spot a drone, immediately take cover and get to the ground.
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**MINES**
Formation: Always move in a single file line to avoid triggering mines. Maintain 5-10 meter spacing between individuals. Keep your head on a swivel and remain alert, pivoting as you move.
Mine Identification: Mines are typically circular and may be buried under cigarette packs, food, or discarded weapons. Look for irregularities in the ground and avoid suspicious objects.
Trip Wires: Use a stick to check the ground in front of you, checking cardinal directions and applying pressure. Be aware of trip wires or even fish hooks hanging from trees.
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**TRENCHES**
Trench Warfare: Trench warfare is making a comeback in some areas.
Eastern European Tactics: In Eastern Europe, maneuver warfare often involves heavy artillery. Gain a position, then push forward and repeat the process as you make ground.
Types of Trenches: Different types of trenches include wood-lined, concrete-reinforced, and slit (zig-zag) trenches.
Approaching Trenches: From a rendezvous point, stay below the line of sight to maintain the element of surprise. Have a fire support team ready to cover your assault group as you move closer.
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**RUSSIAN TACTICS**
Probing Attacks: Small teams (4-5 people) are sent out to find enemy positions. Once located, triangulate the positions and call in artillery.
Layered Attacks: Conscripts lead the charge and pinpoint enemy positions. The better-equipped soldiers follow up, keeping enemies suppressed while skilled troops finish the assault.