Gun Trucks

[StainlessSteelCynic]

There's a couple of reasons you would do something like that.
I believe one of the M113 guntrucks from Vietnam was made because they had a surplus 113 hull (or that the 113 had been damaged in some way but the hull was still intact). So in that situation, it's simply a case of making use of something that was not usable in its normal form.
Maybe the BMD has damaged running gear/engine or tracks etc. etc.

The second reason would be the portee concept. Using the truck to carry the BMD to save wear and tear on the BMD engine, tracks etc. etc. It also uses less fuel to cart the thing around on the back of a truck.

And there's one other idea, maybe it was a tactical choice - the autocannon of the BMD is much higher above ground level than it would normally be. In the back of that truck, it looks as though it's at a good height to fire over walls and gates like you see in the background.

[ChalkLine]

As I think has already been said the gun trucks of Viet Nam had a different mission to the Middle Eastern technicals and the Donbass 'thingys'.

In Viet Nam the firebases needed supplying (72% of the war effort was in the maintenance of the firebases) and the supply columns had a chance of being ambushed at extremely close range. The way the frankly courageous men manning the convoys responded was with overwhelming automatic fire to suppress the enemy, stop the enemy maneuvering and make the convoy the master of its surroundings.

The wandering nature of Twilight 2000 soldiers, they are either ensconced in a canton or on the road, means that the Viet Nam model really suits T2k. When surprised they can lay down massive automatic fire and dominate the ambush at the outset. It's hell on the ammo but who wants to die with a full ammo pouch anyway.

[Dackattack]

Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic

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Maybe the BMD has damaged running gear/engine or tracks etc. etc.



The second reason would be the portee concept. Using the truck to carry the BMD to save wear and tear on the BMD engine, tracks etc. etc. It also uses less fuel to cart the thing around on the back of a truck.



And there's one other idea, maybe it was a tactical choice - the autocannon of the BMD is much higher above ground level than it would normally be. In the back of that truck, it looks as though it's at a good height to fire over walls and gates like you see in the background.

Well hell I'd never thought about that

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[StainlessSteelCynic]

Carrying the BMD around on the back of a truck not only reduces wear and tear on the motor, tracks, etc. etc., it also makes it still useful without needing to have a qualified driver. In terms of Twilight, I imagine this would be a reasonable option for keeping a heavy weapon available when the vehicle normally carrying the weapon is not mobile but still usable.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic

Carrying the BMD around on the back of a truck not only reduces wear and tear on the motor, tracks, etc. etc., it also makes it still useful without needing to have a qualified driver. In terms of Twilight, I imagine this would be a reasonable option for keeping a heavy weapon available when the vehicle normally carrying the weapon is not mobile but still usable.

Good point, but keep in mind that lugging around an AFV hull is going to dramatically increase wear and tear on the truck's various components, so it's a bit of a trade-off.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Originally Posted by Raellus

Good point, but keep in mind that lugging around an AFV hull is going to dramatically increase wear and tear on the truck's various components, so it's a bit of a trade-off.

Absolutely and I think the way to alleviate some of the negative connotations of this is to make it a part of the gameplay - as in, the group discusses their options and decides which option is better for them, running the armoured vehicle as it was intended, or carrying it portee style on a truck (or evern abandoning one vehicle or the other!)
Depending on the model of truck, it's probably far easier to source spare parts for it than it is to get spares for the armoured vehicle. Trucks typically require less maintenance than armoured vehicles and you can sometimes get away with using non-standard components on the truck e.g. using wheels/tyres from a similar vehicle.

[ChalkLine]

It should be noted you'd probably have to use a crane to get the AFV onto the truck. It's about 12 tons+ for a BMD from memory

[Legbreaker]

A crane would be helpful and probably quicker, but not vital. Any combat engineer / assault pioneer can rig up the necessary apparatus using trees, logs, steel beams, rocks, ropes, chains and so on.
Just sitting here writing this post I can think of three ways to do it without using equipment heavier than a chainsaw.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic

Depending on the model of truck, it's probably far easier to source spare parts for it than it is to get spares for the armoured vehicle. Trucks typically require less maintenance than armoured vehicles and you can sometimes get away with using non-standard components on the truck e.g. using wheels/tyres from a similar vehicle.

Very true.