[troopie]

Chromed metal is more heat resistant. You don't have to chrome your gun barrels, and they will still function, until they burn out. And according to Murphy's laws of combat, they will burn out when you most need them. That is, when you are facing two Front armies, and you need everything that can shoot. That is no time to have barrels burn out.

Chromium is essential for jet engines. Jets operate at a much higher temperature than piston engines. And again Murphy's laws apply. Your unchromed jet engine will burn out when you most need it to function.

And then there are the other shortages, petroleum, molybdenum, tungsten. And power. You have the British busting your dams, the Americans blasting your power plants, and the Russians burning everything else.

troopie