Favorite T2K-era APC/IFV

[Raellus]

Sorry guys. I must have caught the poll bug. I don't think we've had this one before. I'm sure most of our PCs, if not our actual selves, have been stuck in one or two of these glorified metal boxes before. Which is your favorite and, of course, why?

[waiting4something]

I went with the LAV-PIVAD. I like speed of the LAV plus the 20mm vulcan cannon. I know it's for air defense, but I like the idea of using it on armor and infantry too. I was always jealous of the LAV-25 crewmen and their scouts. Those bastards had everything inside them too. AT-4'S, M249, M240G, and some units got issued SASR's(M82A1's) too. Yeah, and to top it off like most vehicle personel they got to have a ice chest with cold water in them. I never really considered infantry personel that ride true infantry. Must be nice to ride.

[cavtroop]

I went with the Bradley, mostly because I used to crew one

[leonpoi]

BMP 2 - good to throw some limited fear into the hearts of players. Easy enough to kill but can also kill them, a good old tactical challenge.

[Legbreaker]

My heart says Marder (it just looks soooooo cool) but brain says LAV-25.
Firepower is very important, but so is fuel economy in T2K. Tracks are great for resisting damage but they chew waaaay too much fuel as a rule.

[Nowhere Man 1966]

LAV-25, also easier to fix, in theory, since they are wheeled. You can also use truck tires if need be or jury rig other tires if you have to.

[Mohoender]

The South African's Ratel (with its siblings the Belgian Sibmas) and second the South African Casspir.

Always found that these had a terrific look and the Casspir was 20 years well ahead of everyone else.

[copeab]

Sorry for the thread necromancy. I was looking back through old polls and saw I hadn't voted in it -- and forgot voting bumped the thread.

Anyway, I went with the M113. Not because it's value in combat, but because it's a simple machine (relatively speaking) that kinda floats and has decent fuel economy. Oh, and hold s a lot of people and cargo.

[Panther Al]

CV90 all the way. Granted its rare in the T2K timeline, but its well protected and as a firepower level that can scare older tanks.

[dragoon500ly]

Make mine a Marder, had a chance to run with one on a exchange tour...nice, very nice!

[Abbott Shaull]

Didn't the Marder have a remote mini-turret dual 7.62 MGs behind their main turret?

[Rockwolf66]

I chose the LAV-25 simply because between a forrunner of the M113 and the LAV-25 I got to examine up close in '97 at Camp Pendleton* the LAV-25 just seemed better at the sort of fast paced gun and run sorts of action members of my family seem to enjoy.


*I was visiting rather than stationed although it was much more interesting at the time to visit the Force Recon encampment and find out that tucked back in their armory they had supressed handguns that dated back to my grandfather's WWII service.

[LT. Ox]

as in the lav can/ is very capable in the river lake etc roll.
as to just how much you can fight with it...well it ain't gonna take on the main battle tank but it very well can get you into and out of trouble ...in a hurry.
It just might be able to cross that bit of water the other guy can not.

[Draq]

Is there no poll for tanks, helos, and unarmored/lightly armored transports, or am I just not finding them?

For tanks and helos - you're not finding the fuel for them...

[Olefin]

Originally Posted by Spartan-117

For tanks and helos - you're not finding the fuel for them...

If you can find fuel for an APC or IFV you can find fuel for tanks - the problem is that you have to find a heck of a lot of fuel for tanks compared to most IFV's or APC's - you get the bigger gun of course but that big gun comes with a very hungry fuel tank.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Originally Posted by Olefin

If you can find fuel for an APC or IFV you can find fuel for tanks - the problem is that you have to find a heck of a lot of fuel for tanks compared to most IFV's or APC's - you get the bigger gun of course but that big gun comes with a very hungry fuel tank.

And it's even easier for many modern tanks as they are powered by multi-fuel diesel engines.
But regardless of that, the big issue is exactly as you say - getting the needed amount of fuel to keep that big ol' piece of overwhelming firepower moving.

[ChalkLine]

The problem with the Brad is that while it's great for a war it's not so hot for T2K, Like anything not an MBT it can be popped frontally by an RPG-7V and these are not uncommon in the T2K environment. If this is the case it's a fire support vehicle with a 25mm gun and you may as well have a LAV-25 for that because it's less thirsty and can swim.

Recently I've really gotten into 4x4 APC/IFVs, I think a game where each player had something like a LAV-150 or a BRDM would be cool because you could have a short crew meaning each player had one NPC as a driver. I really should develop this more.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by ChalkLine

The problem with the Brad is that while it's great for a war it's not so hot for T2K, Like anything not an MBT it can be popped frontally by an RPG-7V and these are not uncommon in the T2K environment. If this is the case it's a fire support vehicle with a 25mm gun and you may as well have a LAV-25 for that because it's less thirsty and can swim.

That's a good point. I prefer the LAV-25 as well. One thing that the Bradley has that the LAV-25 doesn't is the twin TOW II launcher. With it, the Bradley is capable of taking out even the newest (in the T2k timelines) Soviet MBTs. IIRC, a Ukrainian Bradley destroyed a Soviet T-80 with a TOW shot.

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[Red Diamond]

I was light infantry and never served with mech so take my opinion for what it's worth. I know many of western IFVs are high quality (Warrior, Marder, etc) but I really don't know enough about them. The M2 has proved itself over and over. Now, most recently in Ukraine. I think the M2 would do even better with experienced and trained crew working in a true combined arms environment- and I say that with all respect to the Ukraine armed forces punching way above their weight.
The BMP-3 seems to be the only IFV that is comparable to the M2 on the WARSAW Pact/ USSR side for the T2K time period, and I can say that with some knowledge.
LAV 25 a close second!