Aviation Assets.

[Cpl. Kalkwarf]

Actually I always thought that much like at the beginning of WW2 where our military was very limited, that we would ramp up production once war began. Even after the nukes hit, there would be plenty of places that were not hit that could and would be turned into wartime production. I would think that we would at least be in short by at least 98 making counter insurgency type aircraft. Maybe even by 99 producing at least WW2 level of technology in tanks and APC's of even post WW2 armor and weapons.

Yea nuked American cities would be horrible, but one thing that was never taken into account is the American response much like to the twin tower or pearl harbor attack response. Auto factories would be turned into producing military trucks and tanks, small industry would be turning out other military equipment like mortars, fire arms, radios, uniforms, etc.

Just a thought and perhaps an interesting alternate time line anyway.

[headquarters]

Originally Posted by Cpl. Kalkwarf

Actually I always thought that much like at the beginning of WW2 where our military was very limited, that we would ramp up production once war began. Even after the nukes hit, there would be plenty of places that were not hit that could and would be turned into wartime production. I would think that we would at least be in short by at least 98 making counter insurgency type aircraft. Maybe even by 99 producing at least WW2 level of technology in tanks and APC's of even post WW2 armor and weapons.

Yea nuked American cities would be horrible, but one thing that was never taken into account is the American response much like to the twin tower or pearl harbor attack response. Auto factories would be turned into producing military trucks and tanks, small industry would be turning out other military equipment like mortars, fire arms, radios, uniforms, etc.

Just a thought and perhaps an interesting alternate time line anyway.

I believe that this would take place as well .Maybe such programs would have to be initiated by commandeering local resources by the local military cmdr.

[HorseSoldier]

The main choke points would be the level of complexity involved in manufacturing big ticket items like jets, tanks, etc. An auto plant could be pretty easily switched over to making Humvees (even up armored ones) instead of passenger cars, but making more M1 tanks would require a massive retooling and redesign effort to just get the facilities suitable for it, even before encountering any additional complications getting components, etc.

I do think the powers that be would un-mothball all the military production facilities available (if memory serves me correctly there were a couple plants for tank production and some ammunition producing arsenals kept in standby mode for just such an eventuality).

I don't know if there was much Cold War era ability to surge aircraft production, but I'd guess there'd be round the clock shifts pulling stuff out of the boneyard in Arizona to replace combat losses.

Once the nukes fly and the massive reduction in fuel distribution takes the food distro networks and most everything else with it, I don't think you'd see much above the local level -- even when government control is retained in a fairly broad area, the odds of having everything you need in one cantonment/area is pretty slim (remembering how defense contractors prudently spread production out among as many politically significant states as possible to keep Congressional delegations fighting for their programs and such). Anything much beyond the level of what you can accomplish with a well equipped machine shop is probably unlikely, but that still means that governments could be cranking out things like mortars, SMGs, rifles, uparmor kits for military and civilian vehicles, etc., pretty easily.

[jester]

I would suggest that even lighter artillery would be able to be produced for some time. And as was stated, the same could be said for airfraft of WWII era and just after, just not jet technology.

Such aircraft such as the old Flying Box Car and even C-130s would be certainly doable if you left off the frills of hi tech electronics and computers.

Again a large airframe of the C-130 class would take some time to build but could be done in a remote desert hangar what was large enough. The other airfraft, easier because they are smaller and of course lower on the technology scale. And that would make them well within the realm of ability in the T2K world.

I would also think a return to WWII style weaponry <recoil operated machineguns, much simplier than the gas piston systems> so I would say that we would see a return of the Browning and Maxim or Vickers class machineguns as they are simplier to make using just steel that is machined and a few stampings vice steel, steel and other alloys, stamping, welding and machineing and assorted polymers and plastics.

So, something along the lines of the Mini 14 could come into service as a primary issue rifle to suppliment small arms.

As I said, light artillery could also be produced on smaller numbers in the 105 and 75mm howitzer class is WWII technology that again would be quite capable in a small manufacturing shop.

And as was said, if parts manufacture was farmed out, as well as subcomponents done at another location/facility then the final assembly could be done and you could probably turn out a completed unit a week if materials and transportation remained uninterupted.

[HorseSoldier]

Originally Posted by jester

So, something along the lines of the Mini 14 could come into service as a primary issue rifle to suppliment small arms.

As I said, light artillery could also be produced on smaller numbers in the 105 and 75mm howitzer class is WWII technology that again would be quite capable in a small manufacturing shop.

My guess would be something like a Mini-14 would be too labor and machining intensive compared to, say, an AK. For any post-nuke completely new design, I'd guess that even if people weren't just making straightforward AK clones, they'd draw more on that style of design (as well as the StG-44 and CETME/G3) -- but I suppose it depends on available machinery and other resources.

Artillery in other than existing calibers runs into a secondary choke point on the ammunition supply. I suspect that given the choice between building a small number of reproductions of WW1 vintage 75mm field guns and ammo for them and a much larger number of medium and heavy mortars with comparatively plentiful ammo, the latter path wins for just about all applications in a scavenger economy.

[pmulcahy11b]

One thing is that the government's stock of core weapons (M16, M4, M9, M203, AT4, etc) would be readily available as plans that could be distributed in an emergency to whoever had the facilities or workshops to build them (as the Nazis did in the late stages of World War 2). Add to this robust and relatively easy-to-build weapons like revolvers, the AK-47/AKM, the M3 Grease gun, the Sten, and suchlike. Think of the amazing work the Nazis were able to accomplish in 1944-45 despite the fact that Germany was largely a ruin.

Here's another thing I always thought would be true post-TDM: things like M16s with wooden stocks, pistol grips, and handguards. Later, you might even see the light alloy construction of the receiver replaced with steel stampings.

[jester]

So something more akin to a AR-18 which is more stamped with a internal assembly similiar to an AK. I do not see the US switching to AKs but rather sticking to something American simply for the purpose of using as one of their main weapons a home designed and manufactured weapon.

Also, rather than a M3 Greasegun, I would think the MAC series of submachineguns would be much easier to produce and use less materials too.

As for pistols, for a little bit more you can make a MAC 10 or MAC 11, it would simplify the aresenal if you could keep the number of additional weapons to a minimuim for ease of logistics, training, repair and resupply, as well as similiar manufacturing considerations.

However, if pistols were wanted. I could see them being personaly purchased by individuals in the military much like was the case for many armies through the centuries where officers were required to provide their own sidearms.