Re: Battlefield Support Missiles and Rockets?
Sorry for jumping the thread late, not much online access these days...
But plenty of time to sort out OOBs, so I tried this one out not long ago.
I modded FROG-7 and SS-21 offmap batteries into the Algerian OOB for testing both end of the accuracy range.
Values were as follows: range according to formula for potential further use, HEK=HEP=255, WHS according to aircraft bomb ratings, accuracy 1 and 255 respectively.
Debriefing:
-Accuracy has really NO influence. None. Same CEP for both models. I reasoned that systems of that ilk had quite short unsupported service lifes so were phased out quickly, so one could pretty much time the ingame service dates with that of FO units of suitable technology level.
Even then, I haven't found the change in accuracy caused by top-notch FOs (including allied para OPs from OOB 13...) to be worth the bother and reflective of the accuracy of modern missiles.
In both cases, FROGs are basically in the ballpark (or out of it, if you prefer), but the 50m CEP of the Russian SSMs of the last 20+ years are nowhere to be found.
-HE effects are unimpressive at best. I tested the weapons first against assorted clusters of entrenched troops, and the lethatlity was close to zero. Effects on morale were better, routing a wide zone of good troops where it would have been taken several batteries of medium arty for the same effect.
Against softer opponents, it has to be mentioned that I happened to wipe out whole squads of moving troops regulary, but I still don't consider that worth the overall bother and potential tactical incoherences.
-I included them also as teh ultimate CB units, but haven't manageed to test that yet. In the case of backwater FROG/Scud users, the experience levels won't even raise the question in any case.
I have kept the ATACMS in the Cold War Mod in any case, and it turns out to be of less use as a regular MLRS latoon at game levels.
-I have kept them as 93-code offmap MRL batteries (can't remember the class right now), with 2 launchers/weapon slots per unit (that's for Soviet stuff with doctrinal 4-launcher battalions), ROF=1 and 1 or 2 TEL loadout depending on the estimated reload-refire time (anything over 2-3 minutes gets zilch available reloads, same for regular MRLs as far as I'm concerned).
Which means that you end with 2 to 4 missiles per battery, tops.
To sum it up, the exercise is rather pointless in usual combat terms, but you can include thm in custom OOBs where room allows, being understood they are for scenario use only. A specific text file could be interesting to have in that case.
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