Latvia borrows tank to Estonia for training

[nisse]

Sure, it's expensive, but it's also fast and effective against ground forces, which all invading armies need -- unless they just want to bomb and nuke the place without actually moving in, which wouldn't make any sense.

It would make sense for them to bomb your airfields and then move in with ground forces though

[Eldritch]

It would make sense for them to bomb your airfields and then move in with ground forces though

That's exactly what fighter jets are for: shooting down bomber planes.

[Äike]

@Karl: aren't wide catterpillar track tanks fine in marshes? I would say the bigger problem would be forested terrain....(and I assume Estonia is pretty forested)

Yes, Estonia is very forested. Over 50% of the Estonian terrain is forested.

[nisse]

That's exactly what fighter jets are for: shooting down bomber planes.

Obviously military strategy for your country is none of my business, but I liek it as a theoretical question .

Well-concealed, mobile, ground defences (thinking 4th generation warfare-ish) that take advantage of the fact that you know your country better than invaders (and your country has lots of places to conceal stuff ) still seem optimal beacuse they can function as autonomous units, and as long as there is one, no war is lost.

Defensive airforce will never be 100% effective, especially if the invading army is large, because it requires many permanent and not easily repaired installations - the price of imperfection is too high - a lot of planes can be taken out of commision all at once.

[esaima]

Also the Estonian terrain (Finland has the marshiest terrain in the world, Estonia being 2nd after Finland.

I think the marshiest land in Europe is White-Russia.

[esaima]

Yes, Estonia is very forested. Over 50% of the Estonian terrain is forested.

According to wikipedia 48%.
But Latvian tanks may use our roads.
But, ok, I am not a military expert.

[Äike]

I think the marshiest land in Europe is White-Russia.

Your statement is false and I own a book that disproves your statement. I'll type it from my book word by word: "Bogs cover 22% of Estonian territory. Estonia ranks second place in the world after Finland for having the most marshy land."

According to wikipedia 48%.
But Latvian tanks may use our roads.
But, ok, I am not a military expert.

That's Wikipedia... I have a book which states that over 50% of Estonia is covered by forests.

[W. R.]

I think the marshiest land in Europe is White-Russia.

When asked what the most outstanding literary work of the Belarusian literature is, most often Belarusians answer - the novel "People on the Marsh" by Ivan Mielež - 18,4% of answers.

[esaima]

That's Wikipedia... I have a book which states that over 50% of Estonia is covered by forests.

I considered it and searched from the internet a bit.I think Karl you are right. Internet is full of controversial statements. I only know that the percentage of forested lands has grown here in Estonia during the last decades because of decreasing of agriculture.
But, yeah, what is exactly more boggy: Belorussia or Estonia, is the exact percentage of forests 48 or 51-it is not a big deal in fact. Maybe the main problem of wikipedia and such things is that anybody actually doesn´t edit them. Books are still more reliable things.

[Inese]

Yes, Estonia is very forested. Over 50% of the Estonian terrain is forested.

But we are near to you

" Latvia encompasses 64,589 square kilometers, a size surpassing that of better-known European states such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Denmark.
. Undulating plains cover 75% of Latvia's territory and provide the main areas for farming; 25% of the territory lies in uplands of moderate-sized hills. About 27% of the total territory is cultivable, with the central Zemgale Plain south of Riga being the most fertile and profitable.
About 10% of Latvian territory consists of peat bogs, swamps, and marshes, some of which are covered by stunted forest growth. Forests are the outstanding feature of Latvia, claiming 42% of the territory. Timber and wood products are among the country's most important exports. Two-thirds of the forests consist of Scots Pine or Norway Spruce. "

42% forest and 10% swamps or marshes ---- but our tanks can drive!! ^_^