British Forces since 2000

[IronDuke99]

Just a few points about British Forces since 2000, for the people who run the game to consider, maybe for the next update...

Mortar platoons in the British Army and Royal Marines are now eight rather than six 81mm tubes. 60mm mortars are also available, including as a company weapon on occasion.

Spike LR was purchased from Israel in time for the second Gulf War against Iraq and was also used in Afghanistan. Initially it was on a M113. These days Spike LR is 'core force' with the British forces, but mounted on a four tube towed launcher and mostly assigned, it seems, to the Royal Artillery.

I don't know about other people but I think F35 in the game seems a bit too vulnerable to enemy SAM's given it has stealth technology, at least from in front, when carrying internal weapons...

The two new, very large, Royal Navy QE Class Aircraft Carriers, largest warships ever built for the RN, are due to carry a normal air wing of 24 F35B and could carry, in a important war situation, up to 36, in addition to helicopters. Aircraft maximum, all types, is said to be at least 56.

Hope this proves useful to the good blokes who keep this game up to date...

[Mobhack]

You haven't opened up the UK OOB have you?

Mortar platoons have been a moveable feast since the 80's. It was 9 in 3 sections of 3, for a while at least in mech bns. It was never quite clear if light role bns followed the mech establishment. TA bns, would naturally be their own specific case.

(Our Bn, 1/51 Highland had 2 mortar platoons (not the regulation 1), each of 4 81s, in the 1970s. And also we had 2 AT platoons, one with towed MOBAT and One portee WOMBAT, 4 of each. But 1/51 was a weirdly organised bn destined for rear defence of BAOR areas, with about 5 rifle coys, 2 English-based (Liverpool Scottish and the London Scottish - who had their very own tartan!))

60mm mortar - see unit #412. 60mm are X3 radio code, as they are "golf bag" items, issued temporarily to replace 81s as required by particular mission. So made available for human use only. If you think you should have 8, then buy another section after the platoon.

Spike, see "Exactor" #691, 692.

[IronDuke99]

I have merely posted what I have been told, and read, recently including on ARRSE, etc, etc, etc. i believe it to be reasonably accurate.

British TA battalions often had odd orbats, depending on recruitment, task, etc.

8 tubes in a mortar platoon does now seem standard across all infantry battalions of all types.

Spike/Extrator latest I can find: UK purchased in excess of 600 missiles and 14 M113 platforms around 2006/7. As M113 was not a UK vehicle it proved a problem to service and, these days, Spike LR is mainly used on what looks like a four tube towed launcher (photos available on the internet) mainly assigned to the RA, who use it for long range engagements that are accurate and with limited collateral damage.

F35, in the game, still seems extremely vulnerable to enemy SAM systems to me.

[IronDuke99]

PS can you give me a link to 691 and 692 please?

[DRG]

Open the Brit OOB with MOBHack and look at unit 691 and 692 and you will find the Exactors or start the game anytime after April 2007 and they are in the "Exactor" formation under "Armour"

[DRG]

.....and the icon for the "Exactor 2" is really just a placeholder as we had nothing concrete to work with when it was entered but I have something better now

[IronDuke99]

As I said seems to be a four tube launcher (shown on a Pakistani military site, and one or two others) and it seems it is mainly a Royal Artillery weapon in UK Service accurate and unlikely to cause many civilian casualties.

[DRG]

There's also this I'm following up on........BUT that may be a Korean unit.....still trying to get a translation

[IronDuke99]

Interesting, British Special Forces( SAS and SBS) are almost always a special case in terms of weapons...

[DRG]

AH!!



Sandcat 4x4

BUT...it's unclear ATM if this is one idea being bandied about or something actually available for use. I don't think the towed launcher is anything but an step towards mounting it on a vehicle