Aircraft/Armor Surplus Storage

[StainlessSteelCynic]

While I have no desire to block a debate that's providing interesting information, I am constantly looking at it from the viewpoint that GDW intended the game to be about a group of WW3 veterans surviving and maybe rebuilding in the aftermath of a global war, with the PCs adventuring in a manner similar to how PCs adventure in AD&D.

It wasn't specifically about any group fielding large numbers of vehicles to continue prosecuting the war and although it can be argued that certain NPC groups will try to get all the vehicles they can, half the fun of the game would be missions for the PCs to get the necessary spares and POL to get a handful of vehicles operating. These missions would be significant not just to the NPCs or PCs but also to the Players simply because those needed resources are now so scarce that their PCs would be taking a significant role in the game story - which is kinda the point of RPGs

As I say, the debate is throwing out a lot of interesting and useful information but for me ultimately, it is a purely intellectual exercise because I personally don't see T2k as a game of raising masses of armoured vehicles to keep WW3 going. I've always thought of the combat vehicles as rare and kept for "special occasions".
Protecting your enclave is obviously important but the resources dedicated to keeping those armoured vehicles in combat could be better used to keep the population alive and growing food.

[jester]

Peacekeeper Armored cars;

One was forsale at DRMO recently for about 5k.

My boss and partner both worked with them. At any given time 1/3 of the vehicles would be down. Durring movements, another 1/3 of the vehicles would break down.

I doubt any Peacekeepers would survive to be used as replacements.

Further, no vision, poor braking, poor power to weight ratio, poor steering, all of which are the recipe for disaster in short order. And much worse in "field" conditions.

Further, they had primitive crew conditions. Heat exhaustion of those inside was a given. In cold conditions they worse more clothes which made it almost impossible to move inside the vehicle or get out with any speed.

As for using civilian armored cars, gotta agree. A death trap if used on anything beyond a modern maintained road. Off road, or as a combat platform a death trap. I could see them as a gun platform if a turret is mounted and they are left to keep roads clear, run on sturdy flat areas like a runway or cleared roads.

[dragoon500ly]

Straight out of the improvised munitions handbook, an effective antitank weapon can be made from two sticks of C4, a fuse, and a Coke-Cola bottle, simply mold the explosive around the upper part of the bottle, insert fuse assembly and place on the vehicle, good enough to penetrate up to 3 inches of armor.

Basic rules for antitank is to get the crew to button up, thus reducing their visibility, then get in close and use your antitank weapons against the rear of the vehicle.

Ideally, you want to damage the suspension, either by breaking the track or damaging the running gear, once the vehicle is immobilized, you can then then hamper their vision, disable weapons or blow the hatches off. You can also access the engine compartment and plant charges against the fuel cells.

There used to be a class taught at the Armor Officers Course, where it was demonstrated just how easy it was to get up close and personal with a tank. You could disable the running gear with as simple a method as jamming a log into the road wheels (i still cringe at the arse-chewing I got for that stunt). Blankets or spray paint is great for disabling periscopes/vision blocks, blocking the barrels with cleaning rods, rocks,etc. even something as crude as using a sledge hammer to damage the muzzle of a machine gun, or stuff a termite or WP grenade into the muzzle of the cannon. At that point, with the crew helpless, they can surrender or wait for the hatches to be breached.

[dragoon500ly]

Wheeled vehicles are even easier to disable, especially if you can get them off road. Even all-wheeled drive has issues with vertical obstacles, anything that gets one or more wheels into the air...or blocking them with something too heavy to for them to push will immobilize them enough for a close assault.

So what can the crew do to protect themselves? By placing Claymores in improvised mounting on the hull, the crew buys themselves especially time. Running with one or more wingman allows another vehicle to "scratch your back" when those irritating infantry types try to ruin your day. And, of course, staying out of terrain ideal for close assaults, until after friendly infantry has cleared it.