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#1
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I think one would see a lot of turretless tank chassis being repurposed as APCs in the T2kU.
First off, the original tracked APCs of WW2, like the Canadian "Kangaroo" Sherman [field] conversion, were based on turretless tanks. So the historical precedent is there. Second, they currently exist in the real world and, from most reports, are quite effective- in some cases, more so even than purpose-built APCs! https://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/c...hzarit_APC.php Europe would be lousy with T-55 (and other "T" models) hulls during the Twilight War. Why not put them to use, other than as spare parts? Third, the process of converting MBTs to APCs would be manageable pretty much throughout the Twilight War. As mentioned, the Sherman "Kangaroo" was a field conversion, so factories need not even enter the equation. Turrets are problematic. As global supply chains break down in the wake of the TDM, more complex components, like optics, stabilizers, traverse systems, etc. would become unavailable (both because production of new components would cease, and repair of damaged or worn components would become impossible). So, if a turret get's damaged, it could be discarded, and the chassis converted to an ersatz APC. Slap on a few pintle mounts and a bit of a gunwale and boom, there you go! -
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Author of Twilight 2000 adventure modules, Rook's Gambit and The Poisoned Chalice, the campaign sourcebook, Korean Peninsula, the gear-book, Baltic Boats, and the co-author of Tara Romaneasca, a campaign sourcebook for Romania, all available for purchase on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...--Rooks-Gambit https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...ula-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...nia-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...liate_id=61048 https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/...-waters-module |
#2
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Late in the Twilight war, I think main gun ammo will be so rare that anywhere a welder can mount a pintle mount, they will mount a pintle mount. I mean, realistically, on a NATO MBT, you might see one primary mount with a NATO .50 or 7.62 NATO weapon system and an adhoc 'field welded expedient mount ' over a loader hatch and on APCs, air guard positions. In many cases, late in the war, those will have PACT GPMG mount.
https://i.imgflip.com/5zng9l.jpg Last edited by Spartan-117; 12-31-2021 at 04:22 PM. |
#3
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I can see this happening in our world now without the consideration of fuel, lubrication and maintenance.
In a T2K world, it would be wasteful to do so, as all of the above would be in short supply or non-existent. Time is better spent on something that will get you more food, ammo, fuel or manpower. I think the few tanks that do exist, will be used as tanks until they are burned out or have the fatal mobility failure. in either case, they would be stripped of any surviving components, to be cached away for another day. I can see the chassis being used as impromptu assault guns, with cobbled together armor and any available heavy weapon mounted haphazardly on the chassis (think pz I converted to the siG33),with even sandbags and concrete as the casemate. Cool idea, but not viable for a unit living hand to mouth or even hand in mouth! |
#4
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Maybe that's why I drive a 16-year-old minivan. It has really, really low miles (less than 44,000), it's mechanically sound (except the the air conditioner), and I can put all my dogs in it at once.
I'm probably going to trade it in soon though. Not this year, because of the supply chain and silicon chip problems. Possibly next year or the year afterwards. It'll be a good car for a starving college student who needs cheap, reliable transportation. (Except for the aforementioned air conditioner; this will be the fourth time I've had to get it fixed.)
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I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons...First We Take Manhattan, Jennifer Warnes Entirely too much T2K stuff here: www.pmulcahy.com |
#5
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__________________
Author of Twilight 2000 adventure modules, Rook's Gambit and The Poisoned Chalice, the campaign sourcebook, Korean Peninsula, the gear-book, Baltic Boats, and the co-author of Tara Romaneasca, a campaign sourcebook for Romania, all available for purchase on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...--Rooks-Gambit https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...ula-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...nia-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...liate_id=61048 https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/...-waters-module Last edited by Raellus; 01-02-2022 at 04:56 PM. |
#6
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I saw a picture of a jury-rigged BMP-2 turret to a Land Rover. I don't know how much of any of it worked. But that picture made me think, "If you try hard enough, you can do anything with anything..."
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I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons...First We Take Manhattan, Jennifer Warnes Entirely too much T2K stuff here: www.pmulcahy.com |
#7
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I've got a half-full list of light turrets, their weights and dimensions for making frankenvehicles
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#8
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The logic is that the weapons are useful but the vehicles are mechanically expensive/difficult to keep operating outside of units with the logistic train to do so. This is a logic that pays well when it comes to T2K. I'm tucking away a horse-drawn Sagger platform for a rainy day encounter. |
#9
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I've been saying this for a while now: Once modern first-tier mechanized forces go away, combat becomes less mobile. Then older weapon systems or those not mounted on adequate, stable platforms become relevant (again). An AFV turret on a truck is complete nonsensical in mechanized or any other high intensity conflict. However, for operations in enclosed areas, a truck with an armored cabin just needs to sit on a street intersection and can guard that with pretty heavy weaponry available.
Of course, you still need to protect its flanks and once the enemy manages to position even the lightest armor-defeating weapon in line of sight, such a truck will have to move out or risk getting destroyed. Losses with improvised forces will always be higher, as protection is far harder to achieve than penetration power since the inception of HEAT-projectile launchers. However, replacements are also much easier to come by. We see from the recent Middle Eastern and North African conflicts, how volatile these warzones can become and how long they can keep burning. Ultimately, what one needs is the proliferation of resources, both human and weapons, nothing more.
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Liber et infractus |
#10
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That's why MBT to APC conversions makes sense, as long as turrets are in short supply. Turretless MBT APCs have a couple of advantages over purpose-built APCs and IFVs. Their low profile makes them more difficult to spot and hit. Protection from the effects of AT weapons is pretty good. The troops are protected by front hits by think armor and the driver's position. They're protected from flank shots by the wheels, tracks, side skirts. And they're protected from rear shots by the engine. Furthermore, by the time these conversions would be taking to the field, modern ATGMs would be in short supply, and there would be fewer hostile MBTs around as well. Of course, turretless MBTs also have some major disadvantages. Lack of top cover makes the dismounts extremely vulnerable to airburst shells. Having to dismount/remount by climbing up over the hull makes the dismounts vulnerable to direct fire and shrapnel. Lastly, turretless APCs have less firepower than most purpose-built APCs and all IFVs.
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Author of Twilight 2000 adventure modules, Rook's Gambit and The Poisoned Chalice, the campaign sourcebook, Korean Peninsula, the gear-book, Baltic Boats, and the co-author of Tara Romaneasca, a campaign sourcebook for Romania, all available for purchase on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...--Rooks-Gambit https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...ula-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...nia-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...liate_id=61048 https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/...-waters-module |
#11
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A study found that in non-desert warfare 70% of strikes hit the turret meaning you'll likely get a large amount of salvageable chassis out there.
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#12
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Was done to a Comet: "The Headless Coachman"
https://forum.warthunder.com/index.p...less-coachman/ First post has details and a scale plan. (Needs a gunshield?) |
#13
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Nice find, Brit.
Definitely another option for tank chassis without turrets after the TDM is the SP AT role. Just slap a TOW or Milan or whatever on there and BOOM, there you go. -
__________________
Author of Twilight 2000 adventure modules, Rook's Gambit and The Poisoned Chalice, the campaign sourcebook, Korean Peninsula, the gear-book, Baltic Boats, and the co-author of Tara Romaneasca, a campaign sourcebook for Romania, all available for purchase on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...--Rooks-Gambit https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...ula-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...nia-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...liate_id=61048 https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/...-waters-module |
#14
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Even without a turret a tank chassis is going to be pretty heavy. How many miles will tank treads last even with the lighter load? Is the fuel usage worth the extra armor? |
#15
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It boils down to what it's going to be used for. If it's convoy escort or troop transport on decent roads, then trucks are the smart pick. But if the need is for a vehicle that can transport troops, under direct fire, off-road, then a tank chassis APC conversion is the better choice. -
__________________
Author of Twilight 2000 adventure modules, Rook's Gambit and The Poisoned Chalice, the campaign sourcebook, Korean Peninsula, the gear-book, Baltic Boats, and the co-author of Tara Romaneasca, a campaign sourcebook for Romania, all available for purchase on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...--Rooks-Gambit https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...ula-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...nia-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...liate_id=61048 https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/...-waters-module |
#16
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(From: https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/briti...the-seventies/ ) |
#17
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#18
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The resources required to keep tracked AFVs running will put a strain on any group post-TDM. Their benefits will be greatly outweighed by their cost. |
#19
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I concur, in a post-collapse and post-war setting, gun-trucks will be the mainstay of armored forces. Quite likely, mass-produced first generation APCs on truck-basis will be highly sought after, such as the BTR-40 and BTR-152. The latter having been produced in the USSR until 1962 and probably as long in China (as Type 56). The basis for late production BTR-152 was the ubiquitous ZIL-157 6x6 truck, historically produced until 1994. So spare parts and replacement will be easily available and common as much as these words still apply in T2K.
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Liber et infractus |
#20
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Also, your points are true of all tracked AFVs. We know from the T2k vehicle guides that various tracked MBTs, IFVs, and other AFVs are still operational/operating in 2000, so chances are good there'd be a few ad-hoc tracked APCs out there as well. -
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Author of Twilight 2000 adventure modules, Rook's Gambit and The Poisoned Chalice, the campaign sourcebook, Korean Peninsula, the gear-book, Baltic Boats, and the co-author of Tara Romaneasca, a campaign sourcebook for Romania, all available for purchase on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...--Rooks-Gambit https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...ula-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...nia-Sourcebook https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...liate_id=61048 https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/...-waters-module |
#21
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Is there any version of the game that actually accounts for varying maintenance requirements (between specific vehicle types, or just generally tracks vs wheels, etc)? I can't recall having seen it but it's sort of an important concern!
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#22
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Individual vehicles also have a Wear Value of 1-10, which both increases the number of hours of Maint required and increases Breakdown chances. Failure to do the proper amount of Maint (which includes PMCS, fixing problems, and replacing parts as needed) will increase the Wear Value, until the vehicle reaches a Wear Value of 10, after which so many things are broken that the vehicle would require a major overhaul just to get it moving again. Better to use the vehicle for spare parts, whether you use them or sell them.
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I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons...First We Take Manhattan, Jennifer Warnes Entirely too much T2K stuff here: www.pmulcahy.com |
#23
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Where would you rate the wear value of a recovered vehicle coming out of depot overhaul after repair?
I’m thinking of the bit from “Team Yankee” when 2LT Avery is issued a recovered and repaired M1. New to them, except the burn marks and bloodstains… Last edited by Homer; 01-19-2022 at 08:01 PM. |
#24
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#25
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3rd-Echelon Maintenance is a Division-level asset, which means it is in the extreme rear of the Division's AOR, and well-protected.
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I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons...First We Take Manhattan, Jennifer Warnes Entirely too much T2K stuff here: www.pmulcahy.com Last edited by pmulcahy11b; 01-20-2022 at 09:01 AM. Reason: Grammar error |
#26
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#27
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I wonder how often you’d get turret “a” mated to hull “b” as 3d shop tries to regenerate combat power. Corps and higher units may maintain semi permanent cannibalization yards of deadlined vehicles just to enable the stripping and salvage of spares to assemble new runners. If 21st TAACOM still has capacity post 97 they could very easily become the lead for a USAREUR regeneration and rebuild program using their surviving facilities to repair as much salvage as possible within their capabilities. Last edited by Homer; 01-20-2022 at 09:58 PM. |
#28
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I think all strategic maintenance and regeneration facilities would have been to be rebuild after the nuclear exchange in 1997. But in limited capacities, this would be possible in continental Europe and/or the US.
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Liber et infractus |
#29
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Agreed. Even though Anniston and Red River weren’t expressly targeted, EMP, civil disturbance, and shortages would probably cause them to grind to a halt. I’d imagine European based facilities are either destroyed or suffer similar fates. Still, there would have to be some residual capability to keep the war going. Even small things like reconditioning power packs, remanufacturing components, and calibration would be needed to maintain the ability to fight the battles of 1998 and later.
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#30
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The Smithsonsian Channel repeated again a programme on Gun Trucks last night. I think this is a small part of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkc_9JwczaM
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