Quote:
Originally Posted by Olefin
One other idea might be that they buy more VCR-TT from France and that is the canon APC instead of the VAB. I.e. they had already bought 48 of various versions in reality by the mid-80's and that vehicle was a pure export only vehicle. Meaning that in a V1 world they wouldnt have to rely on vehicles that might not have been surplused as they were in the real world.
And the VCR-TT is definitely a good match for them for an APC - i.e. they would already have spare parts, manuals, etc. and familiarity with the vehicle
and there is a version of it that could definitely help the Mexicans with US armor - i.e. there was a tank-destroyer version of the VCR/TT, designated the VCR/TH, fitted with an antitank missile turret for launching the HOT wire guided ATGM (antitank guided missile).
The VCR/TH mounts four HOT missiles on the turret ready to fire with ten reloads inside the vehicle.
The other interesting fact is that there was a less expensive version of the VCR/TH with the MCT copula that fired the MILAN. No one ever ordered it but it sounds tailor made for Mexico
So have Mexico order 100-150 plus of the standard version plus a couple of dozen tank-destroyer versions in say 1992-1993 timing to add to the 48 they had already and bingo - you have the canon APC (but with it being the VCR-TT instead of the VAB) for the mech and cav units and they can use the other APC's they already had spread out thru their infantry brigades
so a good possibility or not really?
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Mexico getting these vehicles is a possibility but the problem that I see if the type of anti-tank missile that the Mexicans would be using.
The Milan missile has an armour penetration (HEAT) of 350mm.
The HOT-1 missile has an armour penetration (HEAT) of 850mm
The HOT-2 missile has an armour penetration (HEAT) 900-1,250mm
The frontal armour protection of a baseline M1 is estimated at 350-470mm against armour piercing kinetic energy rounds fired from a tank gun, and between 650-700mm against chemical rounds such as HEAT ammunition or anti-tank missiles
The frontal armour protection of the M1A1 is estimates at 600-900mm against armour piercing kinetic energy rounds fired from a tank gun, and between 1,320-1620mm against chemical rounds such as HEAT ammunition or anti-tank missiles. The 120mm M256 gun on the M1A1 can penetrate the armour of any Soviet or Chinese made tank of this period (1990's) with APFSDS-T, APFSDS-DU and HEAT rounds.
The Milan will not penetrate the frontal armour of a baseline M1 tank. The HOT-1 will penetrate the frontal armour of a baseline M1 tank but it will not penetrate the armour of a M1A1, and even the HOT-2 will not penetrate the frontal armour of a M1A1.