Recently, Germany played the reluctant, virginial, arranged marriage, trembling bridesmaid on the eve of her wedding being coy about slipping out of her knickers and approving the transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine from other countries as well as from Germany.

If you buy a Leopard, unlike if you buy a BMW or a Mercedes, the Germans must approve any subsequent transfer. Seems a bit silly, but you play them the way they lay.

After prolonged sweaty foreplay and heavy breathing, and extracting a promise the Americans would send their lovely Abrams tanks to the deb ball, Germany finally drew its skirt over its head and delivered the permission and one hopes the Leopards are soon running free and wild incinerating Orc tanks.

But there’s more?

Germany is great at making things including military gear.

In World War II, they made great tanks and the best howitzer, the infamous multi-role (direct fire, high angle fire, anti-aircraft fire) Kraut 88 against which my father and his cannon company dueled in the Italian campaign of which he eloquently said, “It’s a son-of-a-bitch.”

Luckily, his 105s out shot them enough that he was able to survive the war and return to marry my mother and produce me for which I am eternally grateful.

The Germany – Russia machine goods two step

At the core of the twisted Nordstream I/II stories was the German Faustian economic bargain that they could sell the Orcs machine goods of all kinds (as noted the Germans are great makers of metal kit) and the Orcs would send them gobs of cheap oil and gas via pipelines.

It was implied in the small print that everybody would live happily ever after. What could possibly go wrong?

You will recall the second this Donald Trump character showed up on the scene, he said at the United Nations, rather rudely as I recall, words to the effect:

“What the fuck are you morons thinking getting in bed with the Russians? They’re going to turn the bloody tap off the second the balloon goes up leaving you dumbasses to freeze in your lederhosen.”

The German mission to the UN in the audience laughed and smirked in that way that only a self-importunated, arrogant Kraut really can.

Turned out like a myriad of things — the Trump cat was right.

Where is this going, Big Red Car?

OK, sorry. Here’s where it’s going: AMMUNITION. Guns and howitzers and tanks need ammunition.

The Ukrainians and the Russians are shelling the bejesus out of each other. There are whispers the Ukrainians are going to run out of ammo. Great chance the Russians are spreading this canard because they may be running out of ammo.

The Ukrainians need five kinds of ammunition:

 1. Russian caliber shells for their Russian guns and howitzers. The Russians have an active program of “donating” gear to the Ukrainians, but they are stingy with the ammo.

 2. NATO caliber shells for their newly supplied US and NATO guns and howitzers.

 3. Russian caliber shells for their Russian tanks. Again, including Russian donations primarily when their tanks run out of diesel.

 4. NATO caliber shells for their NATO supplied tanks.

 5. Missiles for their US/NATO supplied HIMARS multiple rocket missile launchers.

You can begin to see the problem, no?

Praise the Lord and pass the ammuntion!

Comes now the German company Rheinmettall which makes ammunition and is run by Armin Papperger who is a Kraut with a nose for a deal.

So, what does Armin do?

Armin does the following:

 1. In 2022, Rheinmetall produced approximately 60,000 rounds of 120mm tank ammunition.

 2. In 2023, Rheinmetall will produce 220,000 rounds of 120 mm tank ammunition.

Pressed on the subject, Armin told Reuters, “We can produce 240,000 rounds of tank ammunition (120mm) per year, which is more than the entire world needs.”

Bravo, well played, Armin!

 3. In 2022, Rheinmetall produced 60,000 rounds of artillery ammunition in NATO calibers.

 4. In 2023, Rheinmetall will undertake to produce up to 500,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammo.

This combined production makes Rheinmetall the largest ammunition supplier of those calibers.

 5. Rheinmetall is finalizing a deal to produce the HIMARS in Germany under license from Lockheed Martin to include rocket engines, warheads, and the launcher itself.

The HIMARS is wildly effective and has forced the Orcs to reorganize their typically untidy battlespace and move barracks, headquarters, supply dumps, and ammo dumps back from the front line because: HIMARS! Boom!

 6. Rheinmetall is all considering a propellant plant, a powder plant.

All of this will require money.

How about it, Germany?

The Germans have been laggards on meeting their 2% of GDP commitment to NATO and this represents a perfect opportunity for them to tee it up.

Is there a market for this much ammo, Big Red Car?

The short answer is yes.

 1. A good bit of the ammo the Ukrainains are sending down range has come from US/NATO stockpiles that are now in need of replenishment.

This is an immediate requirement and orders will flood in most rickety tick.

 2. The Ukrainians will continue to use gobs of ammunition to kill Orcs and to destroy their invasion of Ukraine.

This, too, is an immediate requirement and the orderly men at Rheinmetall will have a fat order book.

Bottom line it, Big Red Car

The handwringers who are afraid the Ukrainians will be defeated because they will run out of ammunition can rest a little easier. Just a siesta, not a long sleep.

But, hey, what the Hell do I know anyway? I’m just a Big Red Car.

Red Leg Six, give me left two hundred, add one hundred, fire for effect! We have Orcs in the open.

Help is on the way. Hang in there, Ukraine.