On map MLRS with big caliber -- Rate of Fire = 4 - 6 and no smoke?!

[kevineduguay1]

Just a question. Do any of these MLRS realy have smoke rounds in real life? It would seem to me to be a big waste of a guided weapon.

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by kevineduguay1

Just a question. Do any of these MLRS realy have smoke rounds in real life? It would seem to me to be a big waste of a guided weapon.

German WW2 name was nebelwerfer - and as with many so-called "smoke" or "chemical" troops of the day, a major design point for these weapons was gas weapons delivery. (US 4.2 inch mortar was designed as a chemicals delivery system). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_mortar_battalion

Many post-war were still seen as good systems if you needed to slime the enemy. They deliver a lot of thin-walled high capacity unguided warheads in a salvo, and gas likes that so as to build up lethal doses rather quickly.

MLRS typically use unguided rounds - the more modern guided systems are a rarity amongst barrage rocket systems. And since they will not be rippling off a shotgun like barrage of these, then not really MLRS, just a carrier for several guided missiles.

Andy

[kevineduguay1]

Mobhack,

I do agree with your entire post. The only exception I could find so far was the U.S. MLRS in use now. Even the sub-munition bombardment rockets are GPS guided now. They can also carry a unitary rocket with a GPS guided 200lb warhead instead of the sub-munitions. Smoke cannisters and markers are only used in practice rockets in the U.S. system. There are now 5 rockests in the system.

M26, M26A1, M26A2 these are unguided, the A1 and A2 are extended range.
M28, Practice
M30, GMLRS This is the guided version of the M26 with range improvements and GPS
M31A1 (Unitary) 200lb warhead, GPS guided same size as M26 but longer range. 12 Rockets on M270. In service first quarter 2009.
M39 ATACMS Big rocket onlt 2 per M270 launcher. guided and very long range first used in combat 1/1991. First packed with 930-950 bomblets but they are now working on versions beyond the scope of this game. Unless there is a way to make a missile that carries 6 smaller guided missiles.

No smoke.

[Marcello]

Originally Posted by kevineduguay1

Mobhack,
I do agree with your entire post. The only exception I could find so far was the U.S. MLRS in use now.

The Smerch and the chinese equivalent may have some sort of basic inertial guidance system, probably made necessary by the long range (the description of the system is not very clear due to translation). Not something really in the same class of GMRLs though.
I recall the latter was pretty popular in Iraq, at least before Excalibur came online.