SK-105 probs
 

It looks like the SK-105 Kurassier is lacking the OFL 105 G1 SABOT round, at least going on performance - on about 10 hits on a t-72A with the G-105mm cannon (frontal) i have not had a single penetration, however the OFL 105 G1 SABOT is supposed to penetrate Nato tripple heavy target with 550mm penetration, the t-72A has the equivilant of ca. 440mm armour - so no problem, in theory. How however am I going to get the OFL 105 G1 SABOT into the game?

Also, the SK-105 has a "double barrel" autoloader which on the one hand allows the first 12 shots to be fired in 4-5 second intervals, OTOH however requires reloading from the main drum after the rounds are fired (40 rounds can be carried in total). If I tried to incorpoerate this, how would I proceed?

Re: SK-105 probs
 

The Kurassier available from '93 onward has sabot rounds with an APCR of 56. Could that be what you're referring to?

As to the autoloaders, the same problem more or less exists with all autoloaders in the game. They have a limited amount ready in the drums while the rest must be retrieved from within the vehicle. This should give the units a variable ROF (not to mention the limited selection from the ready ammo drums) but I don't think realistically feasible in the game system. Best and most simple solutions would be to base the ROF not on the speed of fire from ready drums but on the average for firing off the entire ammo load.

Narwan

Re: SK-105 probs
 

There are 5 "SK-105's" in the game and one "Kurassier" in three nations. Plus four "Kuerassier" in two nations and two named "Sk 105" .

The ones equipped with the latest gun can penetrate 56CM of armour with their Sabot

Knowing which one you are referring to would be most helpful

Don

Re: SK-105 probs
 

I do not know the specific doctrine for the SK-105 (or the AMX-13, which has the same issues) but it looks like an ambush weapon to me. Get in a good position, fire a few shots, get out and reload the autoloaders in a quiet place. That and maybe some infantry support. Not something meant to slug it out in the open battlefield for an extended period of time. Besides 4-5 seconds does not make it a 105mm machinegun.

Re: SK-105 probs
 

Looks like starting up an old debate all over again...
I'm all in favor of autoloaders per se (and also of intricately modelling technical tidbits http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ), but I kind of concur to the point that in the scale of the game, autoloader or not make no difference.

First thing, the gun ROF itself makes little difference since in combat conditions, the crew proficiency has a much bigger influence on the actual firing rate. Consider that even before the autoloader (or absence thereof) kicks in the firing sequence, the crew has to spot and aim a target. That factors in a number of other variables: crew communication, FC system, rate of turn of the turret and gun mantle, rangefinding... So even if the loading is automated, so many other operations critical to the firing process are handled directly by the crew, that the experience rating gets the upper hand, and for good reasons IMHO.

To make a long story short, take e.g. a Kürassier in Austrian service (or a Strv-103 in Swedish service) on one hand, and on the other, say, the same Kürassier in Tunisian service (no offense meant to anyone, that's just for the sake of the argument).
Even if the automation ensures that both rounds are loaded in the chamber in the same time, the assumed better training of here, the better training of Austrian crewmen will mean that they won't take as long to spot, target and engage the same target in combat conditions.

Hope that was clear enough...

Re: SK-105 probs
 

Yup, seems like an ambush weapon to me (though AMX-13's were able to duke it out even with T-54's but then it was thanks to crew proficiency on one side and (relative) lack thereof on the other) but I guess the 4-5sec ROF isn't too practical in combat (except if you are zeroed on a big and relatively immobile target you need to suppress) - I'd say new target acquisition would take roughly the same as on any other tank and thus practical ROF would be similar.

Re: SK-105 probs
 

You're right, Marek, that's how it should e used. As it lacks a stabilizer and - before 1998 -also had very primitive sights (except for laser rangefinder, but otherwise... like WW2), it's quite suicidal to do any other thing with it but delay. Its semi-auto-loader, however, gives it an awesome firepower in an ambush situation - a platoon would easily be able to stop a company-sized or larger force, then withdraw, re-deploy and play the game again. A well-trained crew would be able to use the ROF AND hit something as well.

Re: SK-105 probs
 

I'm STILL WAITING to discover WHICH of the many versions of this unit was the subject of the original post.......

Don

Re: SK-105 probs
 

Probablly not, sadly I have NO idea how the APCR is calculated (does that mean 560mm penetration?)and anyway it is probablly an error. The SK-105 Kurassier of the Austrian Army 1984 used the SABOT I talked about beforehand - the OFL-105-G1 with 550mm penetration at 1,700m - from 1981 onwards. From 1985 we developed the NP-105 SABOT which is even deadlier, can do up to 700mm, however it was NOT introduced in Austria (although it would have been used in a "long war" scenario). In 2004 a "Tandem-SABOT" was developed that reportedly allows up to 1,000mm penetration, but also not introduced as of yet

I understand this logic, taking the average makes sense. OTOH 12 rounds in ONE MINUTE is as far as I know a reccord, and much higher then conventional 105mm RoF. Reloading is a pain with the thing, you need to exit the turrent and reload the autoloader manually once the additional 5 "turrent-basket" rounds are used (i.e. 17 rounds)

the "ambush" (actually hit-and-run) tactic is correct for OVERWHELMING armoured attacks and in a restricted terrain delay scenario - for a platoon vs. tank company pairing each tanks was only expected to fire 3 rounds and retire to next phase line (the kurassier is VERY fast). however the accuracy and RoF means that only ONE such retreat would be necassary (and only as it was imperative to keep casulties to a minimum in this type of engagmenet only). OTOH in other scenarios they would function exactly like every other tank - was dug in and expected to fight from their positon. The armour was sufficent to protect against medium arty, the ca. 40% smaller size then a Leopard it's main protection against direct fire. Because of its accuracy over most enemies in the 1980s and the lack of armour perferred tactic was actually "long-distance" (for us over 1,200m) engagments, which minimized the chance of counter-fire and casulties.

A RoF of 12 rounds per second is easily achievably if the engagement-arc is IIRC below 50 degrees - and there are enough targets. In manuvers that I have knowledge of a platoon of the Kurassier regularly anhiliated M60A3 compnaies on line abrest attack without any casulties in a single engagmenet.

Not completly correct about the sites or stabilsation btw, although the ballistic computer and TI was added only in 1993 the stabilisation system in place beforehand was very good as were the optics, passive IR and XSW-30-U 950 /white light searchlight. 95% first-round-hit at 1,700m.

Btw the actual loadout should be 43 rounds (without loaded round): 10 HEAT, 10 HE, 20 SABOT, 3 SMOKE

Also a M2 12.7mm was added on the commander's hatch as an AA weapon, unfortunatly the accuracy in the game (slot 3) when I use it is much too high, nearly the same as the main gun

So the APCR of 56 in 1993 is equal to 550mm penetration? IF so then this should be adjusted for 1981, as for the other SABOTs i listed above I would include them (for Austria) as in war situation we would definetly use them instead of exporting them.

Re: SK-105 probs
 

the AMX turret cannot be done in game code - no way to have high ROF and then someone have to go out and move rounds from the hull to the mag (assuming your enemy will let you! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif). So a general overall rate is used, as if it was a normal turret. (Otherwise it could "machine gun" all the ammo in the casettes plus the hull storage in continuous fire).

There are no autoloaders in SP 1/2/3 based code, anyway.

Number of smoke rounds is not relevant as smoke is not a database ammo item (ie editable in Mobhack) - but a random number of rounds added to some classes by the internal game engine on creation a unit. (Which is why it is editable in the scenario editor as the unit is by then created from the template info).

Cheers
Andy