The advance into LTTE areas by Task Force I is taking longer than expected due to various trappings, despite plans for expediting military operations. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), desperate to end the SLA onslaughts have heavily entrapped terrain under its control, particularly in Mannar and Vavuniya fronts.
Some of the soldiers engaged in the limited offensives are losing limbs due to Johnny Mines (AP Mines). They have also buried mines in terrain infested with Unexploded Ordnance (UXOs) such as unexploded artillery shells. Exploding AP mines are setting-off these UXOs, causing secondary explosions. The Tigers have also buried the occasional Anti-Tank Mine targeting bulldozers engaged in mine clearing operations.
Meanwhile confirmation of the numbers of LTTE cadres killed in recent SLAF bombings have started to arrive. 17 LTTE intelligence cadres have been killed in the January 14th bombing of an LTTE Intelligence Base at Kombavil Kulam. 28 Cadres are confirmed dead in a recent attack on an LTTE base at Iranamadu. Another four cadres are confirmed dead in the SLAF attack on the LTTE Garage situated at Depot Junction, Kilinochchi. Several 'Canter' Trucks and a Jeep brought for repairs have also been destroyed.
A Sinhala language weekly had reported that LTTE Weli Oya Leader Kumaran has been injured in an LRRP attack and that he had returned to Weli Oya to coordinate attacks. This information needs to be corrected as follows. 'Lt. Col' Kumaran was injured in an LRRP attack six months ago. He is now paralyzed and will never return to battle. Another area commander from the Military Wing was targeted by LRRP recently. He has escaped with injuries.
Monday, February 11, 2008
War Grinds On
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Army to Expedite Operations
The Sri Lanka Army is demonstrating signs of expediting military operations against the Tigers following LTTE attacks in the south. State Intelligence sources believe a major disruption, the first of its kind, was averted when an LTTE suicide bomber detonated her suicide jacket inside the Fort Railway Station, instead of aiming it at a bus load of Air Force personnel on their way back from the military parade on Independence Day. A special security plan put in place the night before and the selfless pursuit of the suicide bomber by an officer from the Police Special Branch (Intelligence) seem to have caused the premature attack, which still killed many innocent civilians.
30 bunkers were destroyed by troops in the Jaffna FDL along the villages of Kilali, Nagarkovil, and Muhamalai last week. 12 Tigers were sniped and killed by the Sri Lanka Army at Periyapandisurichian, Kallikulam, Nagarkovil and Muhamalai FDLs yesterday alone. SLA deployed own snipers after several soldiers were injured by Tiger sniper-fire along Vavuniya and Mannar FDLs when SLA attack teams were collecting Tiger bodies. The SLA collects Tiger bodies only in Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli Oya, given the presence of the ICRC in these areas.
Heavy artillery and mortar fire was also directed at identified LTTE positions and group movements observed by recce teams in Muhamalai and Vavuniya. The casualties to LTTE in these attacks cannot be fully confirmed. Weeks of continuous pounding and limited operations by the SLA Avenue of Approach in Adampan managed to secure the area west of Adampan Tank last morning.
Meanwhile the Special Boat Squadron deployed in Peraru West, East and Naval Headworks Sanctuary on Friday night ambush an 8-man team of Tigers including an LTTE local leader bound for the coast (Nilaveli) via Kumburupiddi jungles. Bodies of two Tigers killed in the confrontation have been recovered.
In the meantime, troops from the 59 Division are successfully marching towards Nendunkerni and Mulaithivu. In the initial stage of operations, an LRRP team tasked with assassinating the Weli Oya Military Wing Leader of the LTTE missed their objective but managed to seriously wound the Tiger leader. This follows a familiar patter of the SLA's recent strategy, which is to decapitate the LTTE's local leadership in swift blows. This pattern started with the assassination of the Vakarai Military leader 'Lt. Colonel' Arivu by a Special Forces (LRRP) team ahead of that campaign. Another 'Lt. Colonel' and several Malathi Unit leaders are feared killed in last week's SLAF attacks in Kilinochchi and Mulaithivu.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
COIN Aircraft: Alternative to MiG29s
Part of a Super Tucano's ArsenalCrew: One pilot on single seat version, one pilot plus one navigator/student on double seat version
Length: 11.33 m (37.17 ft)
Wingspan: 11.14 m (36.55 ft)
Height: 3.97 m (13.02 ft)
Wing area: 19.4 m² (208.82 sq ft)
Empty weight: 3,020 kg (6,658 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,520 kg (9,965 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 5,200 kg (11,464 lb)
Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68C , 1,600 hp (1,193 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 593 km/h (368 mph) Full enough to avoid the LTTE’s anti-aircraft system.
Range: 4,820 km (2,995 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,670 m (35,008 ft)
Rate of climb: 24 m/s (79 ft/s)
Armament
2x 12.7 mm FN Herstal M3P machine guns
1x 20 mm cannon pod below the fuselage
4x 70 mm rocket launcher pods
Conventional and intelligent bombs
2x AIM-9 Sidewinder or MAA-1 Piranha or Python 3/4 air-to-air missiles
External stores on 5 hard points
In this overall perspective, the plane has enough speed and armament, even better than MiG-27. Many of the existing supersonic and subsonic attack-craft in the SLAF make successful dive bombings at low speeds all the time. This is the point in which the aircraft are more vulnerable. However, the LTTE is still incapable of shoot them down. If this is the case, they will face the same problem with the Super Tucano, which flies at the same speed of a dive bombing jet. In addition, the maintenance fee for overhauls, are incomparably lower for Tucanos than jets and the single reciprocal engine of Super Tucano can be easily maintained by the ordinary engineers.
Pride Vs Practicality
During times of peace, a high-tech weapon would be reinforcing a national pride for the people. United Arab Emirate and Saudi Arabia are market makers in the arms trade. Those countries are collecting high-tech weapons like F-15 air superiority fighters, F-16 multi role fighters with their enormous oil money. Even though those weapons never get a chance to be used in reality until the end of airplane’s lifespan, the presence of high-tech weapon system could give a secured mind and pride to the people.
How many countries spend billions of dollars for that sort of military pride? For Sri Lanka, we do not have resources to waste on our pride. Sri Lanka is in a civil war. We need a solution through cost-effective investments of public money.
Video of a Super Tucano Shooting-down a Light Aircraft
SHY & DW
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Pasilan 2000
Pasilan 2000Pasilan 2000, shown in the above picture has been known as a mortar or arti-mortar like the 122mm canon, successor to the ‘BABA mortar’ used by the LTTE for ground operations since 1980s. A factory manufacturing Pasilan 2000 and other IEDs was destroyed in an air-raid on 16th January 2008 at Puthukudiirippu.
However, latest ground intelligence indicates that Pasilan 2000 has been developed with characteristics similar to a rocket launcher. The way the tube is installed in the above picture is similar to the positioning of rocket pods. The length and caliber of the barrel indicates Pasilan 2000 system has common features to the Chinese made Type 82 130mm 30-tube MLRS (introduced by the Palestinian Liberation Army (PLA) in the early 1980s) rather than rail-guided Katyusha variants such as the Qassam Rocket. The rocket weight for Type 82 is around 25-30kg, and the Pasilan 2000 warhead has been known to have the same weight. Recent intelligence reports have cautioned that the latest variant of Pasilan 2000 may have a range of upto 25kms.
Our speculation about the LTTE’s production of Pasilan 2000 is that the LTTE imported Type 63 130mm MLRS (early version of 130mm Type 82) which is no longer used by PLA, and installed as single tubes on their tractors allowing for greater camouflage and conceal of the weapon and less chances of damage in a single air strike. The rocket has since then undergone some modifications. Pasilan 2000 is not heavily used for ground attacks currently, but if imported artillery and rockets run out, the weapon could become a significant counterbalance to SLA's MBRL and a hindrance to troops.
Chinese T-82 130mm MLRS used by PLA
The Type 82 130mm 30-tube multiple launch rocket system was introduced by the PLA in the early 1980s as a successor to the ageing Type 63 130mm artillery rocket system deployed at division artillery level. The system is carried by a 6X6 truck with 30 launch tubes grouped in three rows each with 10 tubes. The rocket system made some modest improvement over the Type 63, but is inferior to the Type 81 122mm artillery rocket system. Only a limited number of examples were built before it was replaced by the Type 81. Some Type 82 rocket systems are still in service with the PLA reserved forces (source).
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Northern Theatre Heating Up
The Sri Lanka Army launched an attack on the LTTE FDL in Kilali and Nagarkovil early this morning. Infantry and Main Battle Tanks (MBT) from the newly formed Mechanized Infantry Regiment, backed by artillery and Mi-24 helicopter gunships launched this coordinated attack.
Official sources indicated that troops have caused serious damage to the LTTE 1st FDL in Kilali, Nagarkovil, and areas north of A-9 and that 12 LTTE cadres have been killed in the attack. The Tigers had rebuilt parts of the FDL damaged in a pre-dawn attack by the SLA on the 30th. Tiger cadres retreating from today's attack have carried the bodies of their fallen comrades. The SLA does not collect Tiger corpses in this area due to logistical problems in delivering them to ICRC. Five soldiers with serious injuries were taken to Army Hospital Palaly.
Meanwhile a Hartal called by 'PLOTE Kannan' in Vavuniya, under the auspices of the Army, has had major success. Vavuniya Town was completely desolate today. Private enterprises, government offices, public transportation all ground to a halt.The Hartal was declared as a protest against the Thachanamarandamadu, Colombo Fort, Dambulla and Weli Oya bomb blasts targeting civilians. The organizers of the hartal and citizen groups put up hand-written posters at public places condemning the attacks.
Security Update
7 sailors went missing in seas off Mannar after two LTTE vessels disguised as Indian fishing boats, lured and opened fire at two Navy Water Jets on Monday. The Sri Lanka Navy has raised this issue sternly with the Indian Coastguard and Navy. How a large flotilla of fishing vessels managed to enter Sri Lankan Maritime Boundary undetected is a mystery. More information on this will follow.
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Air Force carried out two sorties at 10.40am on Puthukudiiruppu and 3.15pm at Karadipokku in Kilinochchi yesterday. Allegations of damages to a UNICEF building is false, though a UNICEF compound was situated in the area. Damages caused to LTTE is not confirmed.
The government has also decided to suspend all public transport south of Vavuniya following intelligence alerts.
DefenceWire
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
No Retreat, No Surrender!
The Sri Lanka Army has started training its newest Division, the 61 Div. Last year and this year, the Army managed to recruit over 35,000 youth. It raised several new Regiments, including 9 Armoured Corp, which is now undergoing Battalion Training at Maduru Oya Combat Training School (CTS).
A battalion training involves around 750-1000 officers and men in live firing, inclusive of heavy guns, close air support simulations etc to ready troops for actual combat. For many years during war, the Army was unable to retrain its frontline troops through such trainings. Even though a war is ongoing, the large numbers recruited into the Army has enabled Battalion Trainings even at the height of war.
Meanwhile civilian hardships in LTTE areas has increased to an unbearable level. Unknown to southern dwellers, the LTTE too is suffering from same sabotage issues in areas under its control. Daily road clearing operations using forced labour is a familiar sight. Many areas are demarcated 'High Security Zones'. But the most hardships are being experienced by new recruits to the LTTE. Due to Special Forces ambushes (LRRP) and air raids, many senior Tiger leaders hardly ever visit the frontline and have left one or two experienced cadres to control platoons of fresh recruits. Like lambs to slaughter, it is only a mater of time until these young recruits end their lives in trenches they themselves dug.
Meanwhile further confirmation regarding the Thachcnamarandamadu attack has come to light. Sources close to DefenceWire confirmed that only one Special Forces attack was launched in the vicinity on that day. This attack was on an LTTE 'Canter' Truck transporting cadres to the battlefield. The attack to which the Army is blamed for is mentioned in a letter sent to the UN by LTTE Police and Peace chief Nadesan. Senior officers expressed severe anger at the failure of government bureaucrats and propaganda machine to defend the Army against what they called 'blatant lies' by the LTTE, some NGOs and a section of the 'internationals'.