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Originally Posted by Raellus
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To answer the question, the Finnish doctrine prior to the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines was to mine the hell out of most of the Eastern Finland (but keep tabs on every mine layed) and use the narrow avenues between the fields to drive the enemy under concentrated fire. However, things have changed with the ratification of the treaty (which many active reservists consider a bad idea due to the fact, our easternly neighbour has not done the same).
As for Nato, the Finnish Defence Forces has constantly been setting up gear so that it would function well with the gear Nato uses. Our special forces obtained bunch of FN SCARs just recently, to be used alongside the indigenous Rk62/95 -series. The older Rk62s are going to be upgraded so that they can mount the same optics (until now, they only had iron sights) and other paraphernalia, the Rk95 can.
As for the comments on Light Infantry versus Armour, there are certain tactics for that. Defense in depth with the forward units making guerilla strikes against the enemy columns and fading away before the enemy can react, only to allow the enemy to advance to the next ambush and the next and next, until the enemy has been worn down a notch and the final ambush with anti-tank mines, missiles, directional charges (that is, Claymores - we don't get to call them mines but directional explosive munition) and precission artillery strikes, and of course, conventional small-arms fire.
The limited offensive capability is based on the Armoured Brigade fielding Leopard 2A4's and 6's (including the Leopard 2 Marksman -systems that have the quite advanced Marksman ADA turrets with twin 35mm Oerlikons formerly mounted on T-55 chassis' that have now been phased out), BMP-2's, MTLB's and mechanized infantry riding the CV9030FIN. They are supported by the Finnish built Tampella 155mm's and MRLS units, not to mention their organic 120mm mortars.
Nato discussion, especially now that we're preparing for parliamentary elections, is flaring up and the Defence Minister outed himself with his opinion about the Russians not giving half of a dead rat's ass on whether Finland is neutral or not, if it suits their plans. With earlier cutbacks in the funding, the FDF has not had the chance to hold refresher training for most troops in the past few years which has caused some damage to the quality of the troops that will take a long time to repair.
With what has been going on in the Baltic, my best guesstimate is, Sweden will apply for membership in Nato within the next three years and Finland will most likely follow suit. We've been living next to, under and eventually next to Russia for a long time and fought a number of wars against them. There are some Finns, including a particular adjunct professor of the University of Helsinki, who spread bullshit about Finland in Russia to advance the goals of Putin's crew. Most Finns do strongly condemn that behavior.
p.s. Gentlemen, I'm back...
