APC Development and related topics.

[Suhiir]

I'll freely admit much of my information is probably outdated. I was on active service 1974-1994 and a LOT has changed since then, both in the USMC and the US Army, and I have NOT followed the changes in the US Army nearly as closely.

I don't recall there even were a 1st or 3rd Infantry or 25th Light or during the 80's, and the 101st is, if I'm not mistaken primarily an airmobile unit, thus while it fights as infantry it's a valuable overall asset (like the 82nd Airborne/parachute division) and not used lightly.
These units may well exist now, and I say GOOD, and apologize for my assumptions that the US Army of 2014 is the same one that existed in the 80's/90's.

[Suhiir]

Clarification to the above:
The 1st and 3rd Infantry DID exist as formations during that period, but they were Mech Infantry not leg.

[Airborne Rifles]

No need to apologize, and thank you for your service! It's something I love about this game and this forum, the commitment to realism and accuracy.

Think of the 82nd and 101st in similar terms to the USMC. they each have their specialized mission (parachute assaults and airmobile operations) that they conduct extra training for, but for otherwise they are just high-quality light infantry formations.

And you're correct, the light brigades in 1st and 3rd ID, and 1st AD were not implemented until the GWOT, though the Army had other light divisions in the 80's that have since been deactivated (7th ID, for example).

[Suhiir]

Yeah I know the Army has long used the 82nd and 101st as light infantry. I'd sort of assumed it was because they were the only light infantry available not because they were intended to be used that way.
Learn something new every day.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well this next is to acknowledge "The Kings of Re-purposing" in this case dealing with old tank hulls. Of course this means the Russians and in this case the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians have found out the hard way that their BMP-2's are not up to the task and have suffered heavy losses in APC and MBT's early in the conflict. Since then in the area of MBT's a better protected and capable version of the T-64 has been fielded (MBT Thread.) and now the push to field a heavy APC/IFV has been revitalized and will see the light of day now. Next is the main story followed by examples of what is "already in the can".
http://www.janes.com/article/47949/u...fv-development
http://www.military-today.com/apc/bmpv_64.htm
http://www.military-today.com/apc/bmp_k_64.htm
http://www.military-today.com/apc/bmp_55.htm
http://morozovkmdb.com/

For the KMDB link click on the "Upgrade Packages for Vehicles...section just below the BTR-3U. Some of those upgrades have already been applied to the current Ukrainian military equipment.

TRACK/TRACK/TRACK

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

Well, well this is interesting........ the stated effective firing range at night for a T-64 A and B is 600m, or in game terms.. 12 hexes. 1500 after modernization..... 30 hexes

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Now you know why I've used this site (OPLOT/OPLOT-M) and have kept it but, the "boys" from Ukraine I'm sure have contacts or use the site themselves. Any way I show the history tank section this might be of some general use especially dealing with pre and WWII tanks. The site is rich in data after all this plant has been making tanks for over 75 years. The cautionary note here is dealing with the upgrades available that the data fields are looked at completely so as not to miss items such as gun upgrades and protection benefits (With tested values.)of items such as ERA like NOZH etc. You have to remember they are in the business to make money and have been very successful in the export business in countries like Thailand and Iraq.
http://morozovkmdb.com/eng/body/tank...?page=history5

I don't know where we're at with the Ukrainian tanks but the last one I submitted was the OPLOT-M and modifications to the OPLOT. So I suspect at least a couple of these will need to be submitted. Further I will move this post to it's home thread later just wanted to wrap this "chain of events" up here.
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/t72ua1.htm
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/t64e.htm
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/t64b1m.htm
(JANE'S (And others.) has reported the two above as in service, there are reports of a T-64B2M as well FCS upgrades probably in line with the T-84 below. Also it seems the T-72UA1 MIGHT BE in service as well though they have better options in the field now.)
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/t64bm_bulat.htm
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/t84.htm
(For reference to the previous ref above.)

A note on NOZH is that it has very similar characteristics of the same armor package used on the MERKAVA. It is in essence a further development of KONTACT-5 which Russia a couple of years ago (In MBT Thread.) accused the Ukraine of stealing. As noted it improves protection especially when used in conjunction with "conventional" ERA. Right now not many reports of Ukrainian T-72 or OPLOTs being used actively in the current crisis. Same for reports that the T-72BM3 is operating within the Ukraine sightings thus far have been confirmed as newer T-64 variants and possible older T-72 types. However the T-72BM3 has been confirmed on being seen inside the Russian border with the Ukraine. Again some of this is in the MBT Thread.

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well this has long been "what if'd" , wish listed, do they or don't they etc. I can't do better than DID covered this topic from the start of their site. Again refs/additional readings are both highlighted in blue and certainly covered at the end of this article. USMC amphib "hopes and desires" with a dose of reality and a little "we're still waiting on a decision" is all rolled into this article covering 2001 to the present. This reading is not for the faint of heart it is long by even their standards.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...updated-02302/

It's as good as it gets no fuss no mess, I just wait a decision to do what I do. The only question I have for now is does our AAV-7 meet the current/coming improvement standards?

Regards,
Pat

[Suhiir]

Some folks just refuse to understand you can't make a fully amphibious MRV-IFV.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well an update of the correctly named (I was using the old designation.) ACV 1.1 and ACV 1.2 (We always did like our decimal points with our numbers in our military.) so from JANE'S and more for likely WinSPMBT 1.0...
http://www.janes.com/article/48255/u...ehicle-contest

I don't know what we'll all be doing over the next 20yrs., but if this plan holds up the USMC will be doing it (What ever "it" is!?! ) still with the AAV.

Regards,
Pat