Paratroops Question

Listy · #1 June 29th, 2005, 04:03 AM

Tip for senario desginers: Can't you dismout the Crew for a vehicle and then drop them both seperatly? or would the vehicle start the game as destroyed?

PlasmaKrab · #2 June 29th, 2005, 04:54 AM

Good idea to simulate separate dropping. Bound to be doable.

But as Andy said,

Quote:

I was going to remove the ability of vehicles to be thrown off planes while dangling on big hankies (It was not a design decision to alow vehicles to drop, it was a side effect the playtesters found, and I was going to remove as an unintended bug, but they persuaded me to leave it in with the above caveat - that the higher casualties were vehicles which were destroyed or renderd unserviceable by the drop .

So you will have the worst of both worlds if you try that with the present parameters:

Crews landing apart AND half of the crews and vehicles surviving...
Since only the origianl crew can mount a precise vehicle, probability laws will get you with not a single running vehicle...

Marek_Tucan · #3 June 29th, 2005, 01:49 PM

AFAIK Russians have tested dropping BMD's with crews in, but due to extreme risk they've decided to limit it only to commander and driver and IIRC later on they've abandoned the practise completely.
IIRC one of the main reasons - after the overall risk - was very bad psychical state of crew during the drop in the vehicle, as they were closed for a long time inside that small metal coffin, with all periscopes covered by bags with parachutes, and they were just waiting until they'll be thrown out of the plane. Not too comforting feeling I'd guess.

PlasmaKrab · #4 July 1st, 2005, 05:51 AM

From JED database:

Quote:

The BMD-3 can be airdropped from transport aircraft with the complete crew remaining inside the vehicle. In the past, the crew was dropped separately, and it often took a considerable time for them to locate the vehicle. By dropping the vehicle with its crew ready in the vehicle, the element of surprise associated with airborne operations is enhanced.

This confirms what you said about early BMDs, but adds its own grain to the problem, since it means some vehicles could be dropped ready, in some extent. This text sounds like manufacturer advertisement, so I won't trust it too much regarding the ability of this thing to roll on without any packaging to remove or parts to mount back on...

SCAJolly · #5 July 1st, 2005, 08:27 AM

Have anyone run any tests on dropping BMDs? I just did, twice, and not once did I NOT lose a crewman. Perhaps dropping crew separately shouldn't be such a bad idea?
On five out of twelve occasions, I lost both crewmen. These statistics aren't good.
As for BMDs being dropped with the crew inside in real life... I bet the Russian ministry of defense has an expense post in vodka for that.

PlasmaKrab · #6 July 1st, 2005, 08:41 AM

Is it me or is the 'bail out crew' function not available in the deploy phase? Since I don't have an English keyboard I fumbled for a while looking for it, found it once test game started, but it won't work in the editor.
Anyone knows how to get round this? I was going to test this 'separate crew dropping' technique (still quite sure the survivors would be useless at best) but then...

SCAJolly · #7 July 1st, 2005, 12:16 PM

Another interesting issue:
My AN-12PB gets shot at as it performs a parachute drop of a platoon of BMDs. It aborts, and the vehicles land among some coastal artillery. Three of the five take two causalties, the other take one each. In the vicinity (1400m) is an armed boat, which opens fire on the remaining BMDs when they hit the ground. BMD A becomes immobile when hit by a 105mm round from the CA, and then the two start amazing me:
BMD B opens fire on the boat, 22% hit percentage, and damages it. BMD A opens fire on the CA, causing one causalty with its MG. Then, it opens fire on the boat and destroys it!!
BMD A has a suppression value of 2. BMD B has 1!!
They ought to be scared out of their boots! Their commander (or driver) has been either killed or severely injured in the landing, and one of them has even lost all hope of moving!
The exp/mor for these lads are about 75. (66 base exp + 10)

KevinRanger95 · #8 July 1st, 2005, 01:26 PM

As a paratrooper for most of my career, heavy drops was not the best thing on this planet, great concept, but not worth it. It caused alot of vehicles to be redlined(not working) as soon as they hit the ground. But one thing that was working was LAPEING, deployment of vehicles were quicker, it took out missing drop zones, and it was delivered in less than 30 sec in a ball a dust or snow.
unpacking was alittle different, like a fellow trooper from the 82nd said it took awhile to unpack during his time, I was in the 82nd and the 3rd ranger bat. during the 90's and it is still slow, and if you think unpacking a jeep took awhile try unpacking a hummer.