[Skybird]

Der Spiegel:
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14 German self-propelled howitzers were delivered to Ukraine, and now unexpected problems are surfacing: According to SPIEGEL information, there is a glaring shortage of spare parts. How it could come to this.

According to SPIEGEL information, planning errors in the ordering of spare parts are increasingly jeopardizing the operational readiness of German self-propelled howitzers in Ukraine. After the delivery of a total of 14 self-propelled howitzers 2000, the German Ministry of Defense had failed to order extensive spare parts packages in time to regularly maintain the weapon systems and thus keep them operational.

In the meantime, a large part of the artillery systems supplied by Germany is in need of repair due to intensive deployment on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. According to Bundeswehr sources, the Ukrainians are currently firing around 300 shells a day, which is causing the weapon systems to wear down considerably.

Six German howitzers were recently brought to Lithuania for technical overhaul. However, since the necessary spare parts for the howitzers were not available either from the industry or from the Bundeswehr, the technicians had to cannibalize one of the howitzers and leave it in Lithuania for the time being.

The lack of spare parts does not come as a surprise. In late summer, the Bundeswehr's procurement office had already unsuccessfully urged the ministry to order extensive spare parts packages for the howitzers and the Mars II multiple rocket launchers, since the special material had long delivery times. So far, however, no corresponding instruction has come from the so-called Special Staff Ukraine.

The lack of spare parts is now also paralyzing the so-called repair hub that Germany plans to set up in Slovakia by mid-December to repair weapons delivered there.
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Well. In Germany, carnival lasts 365 days a year now.