KFS Refit

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by mmartin798

One of Gamerguy's problem is the sourcing of materials that are not abundant in the US that are currently imported from South Africa or parts of Asia. Primarily chromium used to improve the corrosive properties of steel for weapons. So let me ask something for my personal clarity, as I am not a metallurgist.

Other than requiring more frequent cleaning and replacement, is there a problem using high carbon steel without the addition of chromium for firearms and cannons? My assumption thus far has been it is not a problem and that KFS trade rifles used a steel with lower carbon content to make the wear characteristics such that they wear out quickly. Is that basically it or am I missing something critical?

I have been told the only chromium mine in the U.S. is in Riddle, Oregon.... though that is seldom run due to cheaper methods to mine in other countries.
*edit* Nevermind...that is a Nickel mine.

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by ArmySGT.

I have been told the only chromium mine in the U.S. is in Riddle, Oregon.... though that is seldom run due to cheaper methods to mine in other countries.
*edit* Nevermind...that is a Nickel mine.

What is "Stellite"(?), the material that replaced chrome in M16/AR15 barrels?

[Matt W]

Don't be hung up on chromite and chrome-plating. Is the KFS really going to care that the barrels of their guns "only" last for 3000 rounds as opposed to 8000?

On the contrary, the manufacturers may be pleased. They can sell more guns!

It may also be a helpful security feature. Deserters won't have access to the armoury specialists in the Fort

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by Matt W

Don't be hung up on chromite and chrome-plating. Is the KFS really going to care that the barrels of their guns "only" last for 3000 rounds as opposed to 8000?

On the contrary, the manufacturers may be pleased. They can sell more guns!

It may also be a helpful security feature. Deserters won't have access to the armoury specialists in the Fort

The rebuild contract fills the gap between orders would Also the barrels are probably harder steel and last a little longer. There are 6-8 makers of AR15/M16 receivers in the country compared to Mini-14 makers, I would have had the R5 acquire tooling from the nearest one. That number includes the big guys and their subcontractors.

[Project_Sardonicus]

If most of it's likely foes are going to be armed with low powered muskets (those poor quality steel barrels) and bows and arrows. Wouldn't the KFS invest in some primitive body armour more so than automatic fire power.

In Fallback it mentions how the KFS if need be armour up their vehicles with sandbags. Seems adequate to hold out against slow moving musket balls.

A decent steel pot helmet and a flack jacket made from; a thin layer of steel plates or chainmail links sandwiched between thickly woven cloth or hardened leather. Would most likely keep out those same musket balls and arrows.

It's a feature that would simultaneously make the KFS terrifying to locals, like Roman legionares or Spanish Conquistadors who were both seemingly invulnerable to more primitive arms.

Whilst also giving the project an advantage as that armour would struggle to keep out even 9mm bullets and just slow them down, giving the team a chance to win through their first few encounters.

[ArmySGT.]

Originally Posted by Project_Sardonicus

If most of it's likely foes are going to be armed with low powered muskets (those poor quality steel barrels) and bows and arrows. Wouldn't the KFS invest in some primitive body armour more so than automatic fire power.

In Fallback it mentions how the KFS if need be armour up their vehicles with sandbags. Seems adequate to hold out against slow moving musket balls.

A decent steel pot helmet and a flack jacket made from; a thin layer of steel plates or chainmail links sandwiched between thickly woven cloth or hardened leather. Would most likely keep out those same musket balls and arrows.

It's a feature that would simultaneously make the KFS terrifying to locals, like Roman legionares or Spanish Conquistadors who were both seemingly invulnerable to more primitive arms.

Whilst also giving the project an advantage as that armour would struggle to keep out even 9mm bullets and just slow them down, giving the team a chance to win through their first few encounters.

In "Bullets & Bluegrass" Officers and Senior NCO may purchase a type of body armor....It is sold though and to expensive for the common soldier.

[Matt W]

I suspect that the KFS troops would terrify a unit of musketeers. Not only do they have an incredible rate of fire, they have rifle grenades (including a very nasty WP model with a burst radius of 40 meters)

7-man squad
CETME light machinegun with 600 rounds (another 300 are carried by the squad)
4 assault rifles and hand grenades (5 X 40 round magazines)
2 "grenadiers" with assault rifles and 8 rifle grenades each (3 x 40 round magazines)

Under fire, the musketeers might get off 1 shot every minute.

[Project_Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by Matt W

I suspect that the KFS troops would terrify a unit of musketeers. Not only do they have an incredible rate of fire, they have rifle grenades (including a very nasty WP model with a burst radius of 40 meters)

7-man squad
CETME light machinegun with 600 rounds (another 300 are carried by the squad)
4 assault rifles and hand grenades (5 X 40 round magazines)
2 "grenadiers" with assault rifles and 8 rifle grenades each (3 x 40 round magazines)

Under fire, the musketeers might get off 1 shot every minute.

This is perhaps where I think the KFS wouldn't operate like that. Let's assume for several hundred miles in every direction of their borders the KFS has nothing but colonies, controlled villages and so on. The last thing they're going to want to do is send in the heavy artillery every time a few yokels decide to have a little peasants revolt. You're killing people you need working your fields, not to mention tearing up said fields with heavy vehicles and the survivors will run off.

The US army doesn't bring out the A10s and artillery for a football riot, that's what the police or national guard are for.

Of course the KFS will have lots of heavy units, who train hard and have copious amounts of ammo and arty. Who are rolled out to squash any serious resistance or the very occaisonal band of marauders who raid villages.

But most of the time they'd be more like an unfriendly police force, cracking skulls and dragging people off for a very short trial. I think they'd be most likely to have a lot of primitive tear gas, shot guns with bird shot and battons in their armouries.

It simultaneously I would think makes them more menacing and sinister, whilst still not wiping out the party on their first encounter.

Also whatever weapons you give to poorly paid soldiers have a nasty tendency of being lost e.g. sold onto the rebels or just merchants, or used for some half assed mutiny. Over arming your frontline troops can be a far greater menace than underarming them, a single mini14 with 200 rounds could on the blackmarket probably pay for a comfortable retirement far away from the KFS.

[.45cultist]

Originally Posted by Matt W

I suspect that the KFS troops would terrify a unit of musketeers. Not only do they have an incredible rate of fire, they have rifle grenades (including a very nasty WP model with a burst radius of 40 meters)

7-man squad
CETME light machinegun with 600 rounds (another 300 are carried by the squad)
4 assault rifles and hand grenades (5 X 40 round magazines)
2 "grenadiers" with assault rifles and 8 rifle grenades each (3 x 40 round magazines)

Under fire, the musketeers might get off 1 shot every minute.

Look up the tactics of the locals in "Starnaman" for another response, probably even more effective against the KFS soldiers.