Begin Morning Nautical Twilight (BMNT): “The start of that period where, in good conditions and in the absence of other illumination... enough light is available to identify the general outlines of ground objects and conduct limited military operations. Also called BMNT.” (U.S. Department of Defense)
I don’t know why they say “limited” in the definition above. How about a “full invasion?” I expect, if I’m right, the media will report that the offensive kicked off at dawn or “in the early morning hours.”
Having a little bit of light allows the attacker to move rapidly forward using those low light levels to give them a little bit of an advantage — especially if the defenders don’t have night observation devices or thermal sights.
Before this movement across the border starts, I would expect the Russians to let loose with full artillery barrages that would last up to an hour. These are meant to kill and destroy the enemy/defenders and then also disorient them. They also allow attacking forces to move forward while potentially not being observed. Soldiers tend to keep their heads down with artillery landing all around them. For the record, it was artillery in World War II that killed or wounded the most opposing forces.
The American 155mm Howitzer can shoot conventional ammunition about 14 miles at its maximum range. There have been reports of Russian separatists moving their artillery forward to have greater range into Ukraine and therefore also provide more covering fire for their attacking forces. I’d like to have two thirds of that range above available for attacking the enemy.
As has been stated, this would be the largest European offensive since the end of World War II.
Get your maps out and study them to be able to track what is happening where.
And, if/when economic sanctions are imposed by the West, get in your cybersecurity foxhole, as we could have incoming right here in the United States.
For the record, for 10 of my 20 years as an infantry officer in the Army I had the title “operations officer” serving at battalion, brigade, division, corps and army levels. The above is what we planned for!
