Russian bikes

MacGalin · #1 July 3rd, 2005, 12:05 PM

I noticed that most of oobs lack modern motorcycles. It's kind of strange, because AFAIK, bikes are still quite popular in modern armies - especially among SF & recon units.

For example, Russian army still uses them. For now, standard type is IMZ-8.1030 with sidecar - one of the best all-terrain bikes ever produced, and direct descendant of M-72, Russian copy of famous German WW2 BMW R-71.

IMZ-8.1030 can be armed with PKM mg, AGS-17, or Konkurs - M ATGM launcher with two spare missiles in sidecar. (Yeah!

)

They are used by russian airborne forces - six were used during the famous russian KFOR raid on Prisztina Airport in Kosovo.

Anyway, they are small, agile, and cheap.

I've done some experiments, and in game, ATGM bikes work really great

.

(note: As far as i know, Israel also uses mc ATGMs - Rokons armed with Spikes, but i don't know any detalis.)

PlasmaKrab · #2 July 3rd, 2005, 02:00 PM

I added the whole series of recon bikes (not sidecars) in the East-German OOB that should lie around here somewhere.
I heard too that Russia should still be using sidecars, but ATGMs are not quite sure.
I agree a recon unit with various bike weapon carriers (MGs, GLs, LAWs, RLRs, SAMs...) could be fun in the game. Apparently the USMC considered re-creating some in the late cold war.

Are you sure about the AGS-17 though? Seems high recoil to me. Do you figure out a M2HB .50 on a 500kg bike at 50mph?

Problem being that data on this is hard to find. If you have some, well...

Oh, nice for Flo! Asked Dr. Bowman, did you?

Randy · #3 July 3rd, 2005, 02:10 PM

Army Rangers use bikes for recon also. I think that there are other nations which use m/c for recon (especially airborne) also. If I remember correctly the Italian OOB had modern bikes. These were listed in the infantry classification.

SCAJolly · #4 July 3rd, 2005, 02:16 PM

A very, very important issue, indeed! Thanks for bringing it up.

(Myself, I'd never have given m/cs a thought!

)

PlasmaKrab · #5 July 3rd, 2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Myself, I'd never have given m/cs a thought!

I can understand that! First time I used some was for testing the GDR orbat, sent them on recon, tripped on a BRM platoon, puff, bikes gone!!

Randy · #6 July 4th, 2005, 04:24 AM

I've been using m/c recon with my airmoble units alot since they are stealthy and they have good range.

cusbut · #7 July 3rd, 2005, 02:13 PM

I have some photos of the russian ATGM armed bike and sidecar but have not incorporated them into my obats due to lack of knowledge of start/end dates and formations they are used in