APC Development and related topics.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I just wanted to make sure you had all the data I already had and more to make the best decision possible for a date.

The only concern I have is that based on the Australian CRV is if the German AIFV will match it in regard to the FCS and TI/GSR. Remember one of the refs from my last as noted was that the Germans were evaluating the CRV in Australia.

The FCS is very advanced and the numbers should reflect this if not already. Also, from what I've read my opinion is that the TI/GSR should be 60.

Both will use all the ammo available for these vehicles.

We basically had the same issue with the OPLOT-M difference from now was the roles were "reversed" and it ended up being the right call.

For what it's worth, I have no further issue with the German BOXER AIFV.

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

For now I have them in for mid 2026 but that may change by the time we finally get this final release done.

We have the Extension OOB's for USA and Russia working now as those were the only OOB's that were critically close to being full. Ukraine was filling up fast but it's not even close to critical and I suspect the flurry of new units added will end "soonish"

The code changes needed to give the SP arty systems capable of accurate move and shoot are in progress now, which, if all goes well, will allow an on-map SP arty system capable of holding target lock after firing and moving to do so in the game. Basically, it means adjusting the code that prevented that from happening since the original SP2 code was written to be modified so that code is circumvented if a trigger is found in the unit OOB.

[MarkSheppard]

https://www.mod.gov.lv/en/news/latvi...hting-vehicles

On Thursday, January 30, Latvian National Armaments Director Major General Andis Dilāns and the Vice President of the Spanish company “General Dynamics European Land Systems - Santa Bárbara Sistemas” Alejandro Page Hernandez signed a 373 million euro contract to procure 42 “ASCOD” infantry fighting vehicles for the Latvian National Armed Forces.

[DRG]

Originally Posted by MarkSheppard

https://www.mod.gov.lv/en/news/latvi...hting-vehicles

As interesting as this is maybe a decade or more ago if this re-armament in the Baltic states had occurred, we MIGHT have considered creating a Baltic States OOB to mirror the Gulf States OOB but that "ain't gonna happen" now so I would request to everyone to keep posts about weapon procurements confined to the OOB's actually in the game

In a perfect world we would have non OOB flags for scenario designers to use in building hypothetical scenarios for nations like Latvia but you all may have noticed we don't live in a "perfect world" and as much as I think it would be a good idea I can say with 100% certainty that "ain't gonna happen" either

Not to mention the fact that there is not exactly a glut of new scenarios being produced

So ( for everyone ) save yourself time and effort and keep posts regarding new weapons and vehicles to nations covered by the game please

[Pibwl]

Slovakia

I've found a Polish 2024 article on Slovak BMPs. In Slovakia they are designated BVP-1/2 (units 22, 23) (as in Czechoslovak oob)

022 BMP-1 - BVP-1 were used at least until 2022, when they gave it to Ukraine (however it is not clear, if their last BMP-1 were given, or rather last ones from a batch of 30 vehicles...)
https://defence-blog.com/slovakia-co...ry-to-ukraine/
https://en.defence-ua.com/industries...aine-4991.html

025 BMP-1D Cobra - Cobra turret didn't enter production eventually (https://armoredwarfare.com/en/news/g...nt-ot-64-cobra )
However, since 2018 there were delivered different modernized BVP-M https://kotadef.sk/projekty/bvp-m/?lang=en
It has the same 30 mm cannon and PKT CMG and Konkurs missiles, but only 2.
Crew is 3+7 - however I don't know, if the commander of the vehicle stays with it or disembarks as the 8th soldier - it might be 2+8 to fit a section.
There is a modern FC system with laser RF, and the commander has a thermal observation sight. It has a laser detection system and SD.

015 BRM-1 - there is no information if Soviet BRM-1, bought in a small number by Czechoslovakia, were ever used in Slovakia - however, 58 of Czechoslovak equivalent BPzV Svatava were used (unit 404 in Czechoslovak oob).
Should be modified accordingly (lbm 8017, more ammo: 38/38, added #145 Malutka launcher with 7 missiles, 3 SD). Speed should be 22.
Crew should be 3+3 (fits 3-men Scout section in Slovak OOB)

Both this and Czechoslovak 404 BPzV should however have 1700 icon, since it had original 1-man BMP-1 turret.

Along with BVP-M there were modernized recce vehicles introduced by 2017: BPsV-I. It has the same specifications and armament as BVP-M, but the crew is 3+1 (with an option of fitting additional two seats, so it can take 3-men scout section)

BMP-1/2

BTW: I've noticed, that BMP-1/2 and BRM-1 in Soviet OOBs are size 3, while most in other OOBs are size 4. I guess all should be 3 for a cosistency (and they were quite low, especially comparing to Bradley).
Also, some BMP-2s have speed 24, while it should be 22 like BMP-1 (and like in Soviet OOB)

Units with incorrect size 4 (and/or speed 24)

Slovak OOB:
015 - BRM-1 (to be replaced by BPzV)
022 - BMP-1
023 - BMP-2
024 - OT-90
025 - BMP-1D Cobra (to be replaced by BVP-1)

Czechoslovak OOB:
064 - BVP-1
065 - BVP-2
066 - OT-90
079 - OT-90M2

Poland:
063 - BWP-1m
064 - BWP-1
065 - BWP-1
404 - BWR-1D
676 - BWP-2 (speed only, size is 3)

East Germany
063 - SPZ BMP-1
064 - SPZ BMP-1
065 - SPZ BMP-1P
066 - SPZ BMP-1P
129 - SPZ BMP-2
574, 575 - BRM-1 (these two too fast only... BTW , I can't see a practical difference between them. However, being Soviet BRM-1, they should have BMP-2 icon with a bigger turret)

Ukraine
329 BWP-1 - Polish-delivered, should be in a camouflage 3474. It may be assumed, that vehicles with modern radios 90 and vision 30 were given. Or at least they should be.

Bulgaria
063,064,065 - BMP-1
BMP-23 is a different and bigger domestic machine

Romania
uses only own BMP clones MLI-84, size 3 is correct and speed 24 more or less so (reportedly they drive 70 km/h, although 23 might be more appropriate)

China
056 - Type 86 IFV (Chinese clone)
063 - Type 86-I IFV (size 4 is justified by a high turret in this case?)
727 - Type 86G IFV

Sweden
056 Pbv 501

I didn't check other nations using BMP-1/2 under original names.

[Pibwl]

Slovakia still:

Bought Patria AMV XP wheeled IFVs, named BOV locally. Armed with the same Turra-30 turret as BVP-M, although the gun was designated GTS-30/N and fit to fire NATO 30x173mm rounds.
The first were received in 7/24, although probably it takes some time until the first unit is ready.
https://armyrecognition.com/news/arm...-patria-amv-xp
https://defence-blog.com/slovakia-un...hting-vehicle/

I believe Polish 686 Rosomak might serve as a pattern, with green 3541 icon. Armour level should be similar, since the Slovak vehicle also has water screws (Polish uparmoured Rosomaks M1 lost floating capability)

By the end of 2025 there are expected first CV90 Mk IV, armed with 35 mm autocannon, Spike-LR and Iron Fist active protection system.
https://armyrecognition.com/news/arm...anized-brigade

[DRG]

Here a project for somebody

Vietnam is listed as a former operator of the M113
When did they retire the ones they captured after the fall of Saigon?

https://www.globalsecurity.org/milit...-equipment.htm

Does not show them after 2020 but they don't show any APC past 2020

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

This might help but, my concern is that army recognition site doesn't list Vietnam having such as the BTR-60PB/70 I'm providing that site as well.

Concerning the BTR-60PB there might be some "wiggle room" there based on how they described the Country User (CU) section as saying "Currently, the BTR-60PB is in service with the Russian army and many countries over the world."
https://www.armyrecognition.com/mili...60pb-russia-uk

As opposed to this for the BTR-70 as referred to by one of the first two refs of them having also. From the CU section in alpha order
"Country users
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Mali, Macedonia, Moldovia, Nepal, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan."
https://www.armyrecognition.com/mili...r-70-russia-uk

The FIRST TWO refs.
https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/modern/vietnam
https://totalmilitaryinsight.com/vie...rmy-equipment/

As noted above.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/mili...onnel-carriers
(Click on Left to access the other equipment categories. The listings seem to have a good amount of information and a listing of in the TANK section of Cold War era ones as well if it is felt any might be worth revisiting.)

Yesterday we were given the GIFT of receiving our 1st Great Grand in this daughter!!

That was the BEST news of the day after finding out when I got to work a very good friend of mine from passed away the same day. He was a co-worker and 30-year veteran of the USMC.

When very young my grandmother once on the way to mass after hearing similar news said something along the lines of "Sometimes the Lord takes one (Life) to give one (Life)".

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

Originally Posted by FASTBOAT TOUGH

Yesterday we were given the GIFT of receiving our 1st Great Grand in this daughter!!

That was the BEST news of the day after finding out when I got to work a very good friend of mine from passed away the same day. He was a co-worker and 30-year veteran of the USMC.

Sometimes life does toss those kind of wildly divergent to-good / too bad events at the same time.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

It's about time that FINALLY we've got an update I just found for AJAX/ARIES APC as it's been a while since I last posted a couple from MOD/Parliament last year.

Unfortunately, it fully supports what I already have posted from the MOD/Parliament websites. But this not a bad thing as it shows the project is on track and there is a uniformed message from MOD/Parliament and GDLS UK.

From the ref. which is quoting from MOD and Industry...
"GDLS UK and the British Army plan to achieve IOC in the second half of 2025, with the first Ajax squadron ready to be deployed and capable of sustaining operations for up to six months. Following this, the next steps will include integrating Ajax into the Armoured Cavalry Battle Group, then into the Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team by 2026-27. Full Operational Capability (FOC) is expected to be achieved between October 2028 and September 2029, marking the completion of training and conversion of all units to the Ajax platform."

AJAX/APR 2029/MAYBE//

I would expect ARIES sooner by a year or two as my best guess.

If the AJAX FOC holds, the CVR (T) and to give us a "cushion" should have... CVR (T)/END/DEC 2029/ALL UNITS. //

The "message" has been consistent now for about 2 years concerning the dates. After the "noise" issue and as I found and posted why the UK was, I'm sorry to say so "STUPID" to modify their main gun is beyond comprehension.

I'm sure in a backroom somewhere the French are having a "good laugh" as their JAGUAR got fielded the end of last Fall I believe it was.

The French built the JAGUAR "around" their gun however, the UK basically did the opposite. But history back to WWII has shown they weren't the first and won't be the last to make that mistake.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/focu...led-by-gdls-uk

Time for the annual Navy wide game of "How good is your Security?"

I better get some sleep!

Regards,
Pat