Military Ground Vehicles of Your Nation [NO MECHS] Mk.IV

[Rich and Corporations]

I like that. Speed has always been a factor I've liked in battle. But so is range.

What would be the maximum HP I could put in while keeping the minimum operational range past 300 miles?

What I cited was a rough guess. Since the the original AMX 13 had a range of 250 miles, I suppose with modern electronic control fuel consumption, maybe 250 hp?
Also, turbines have nearly the same specific fuel consumption as diesels at relatively high speeds, but really, at practical speeds and typical duty cycles, you'd rather have a diesel or a petrol engine.

[Questers]

To achieve the same level of responsiveness with a centrally-controlled system becomes more difficult as units are added. In a corps-level action, a corps command could practicably plan operations for its brigades, which will number at most perhaps a few dozen, and more likely between 10-20 units. An army-level staff will find this difficult however as it now commands closer to 50-60 brigades, and an army group several times this. Thus, in a larger formation the heavier command burden must either fall on the lower-ranking officers left to their own devices, or on a single command staff at the top issuing orders for everyone. This is why these higher-level commands are administrative at best

OK.

Firstly, the problem is that the Battle of France introduced a number of new, novel things that the French were completely unprepared for. They also had very poor strategic depth and were simply just not prepared for what the Germans were going to do. Guderian frankly outran himself and if the French had been in any position to counter-attack things may have been different. A French mechanised counterattack at the right time may have destroyed Guderian's spearhead and caused immense damage to the German formations across its front. Instead the French had nothing to counterattack with. This is a failure of strategic planning, their reserve was badly placd, and of organisation, because the French had a very poor doctrine - and not of centralisation.

(Though you have a point wrt intelligent young officers becoming intelligent staff officers.)

I am of course not saying that there should be no initiative, at any level. But a command structure exists for a reason. IMO it seems to me that a modern war between two roughly equal sides would not develop into stalemate. It would instead be over very quickly, because frankly the destructive offensive power has vastly oustripped defensive power, and because munitions would be expended at such a tremendous rate and there would be huge blocks in resupply, no matter how well organised your rear-area services are. On top of this, communication systems have rapidly expanded and are likely to keep expanding due to Moore's law. Given a large and competent enough staff the information presented to one field officer can reach any other officer with very little lag.

On the other hand there is an information "overload" and there's only so much one person can comprehend. So of course there must be delegation. But the question becomes one of who needs to know what, and I guess that is a form of initiative, but I suspect not the initiative we are talking about.

With regards responsiveness, the main issue is that when one wants to make a change to the plan, it's not simply a matter of them deciding that they must turn their regiment down one road to another bridge. That is what the field officer is thinking about. Unfortunately it means all the assets behind him must know about his move and understand his intentions. As an example, the route of supply to his regiment might have to change – in doing so, it may overlap another route of supply to another formation and cause a bottleneck.

So yes, it's true that the more centralised your system, the less directly responsive it will be, and the heavier burden placed on general officers. On the other hand, this burden is being placed on the people who best understand the operational situation. This is more important, I think, than giving a very high amount of tactical freedom to commanders who understand the tactical situation.

In my view, a modern, mechanised, symmetrical ceteris paribus war will be won by the side which:
1. Can keep fighting for the longest, i.e. has the best organised rear-area services, and tightly and intelligently controlled distribution of air and artillery assets.
2. Can best exploit the operational situation, rather than the tactical situation.
3. Discipline – the vast destruction of modern warfare will no doubt be shocking to everyone.

I guess I will close by paraphrasing Guderian - smash with a closed (centralised) fist, don't tickle with a spread (decentralised) hand.

[San-Silvacian]

San hifv better than ur hifv

Is that... two high velocity guns?

yes

i did that

/sarcasm

[Risen Britannia]

Come on guys, you are making me look silly by posting the Mk 5 rather early .

(hint post more)

[Hamittia]

amidoinitrite

[Samozaryadnyastan]

On that note, I eagerly anticipate the continuation of this discussion on doctrine.

[Ea90]

On that note, I eagerly anticipate the continuation of this discussion on doctrine.

As am I.

[Samozaryadnyastan]

(Image)
(Image)
amidoinitrite

Very nice.
What time period?

[Hamittia]

Very nice.
What time period?

60s - mid 70s

also need suggestions for some sort of amphibious light tank thing for use in very unfriendly azn populated jungles
like a pt76 except not communist

[Risen Britannia]

I spent all of today at tankfest, so expect some 'new' designs

[Samozaryadnyastan]

I spent all of today at tankfest, so expect some 'new' designs

Tankfest? u wot mert

I may have to kill you with jealous rage.

[The Akasha Colony]

On that note, I eagerly anticipate the continuation of this discussion on doctrine.

It'll be later today at best unless someone else wants to join. They are of course welcome to. Won't be home with enough time to really sit down and write something until this evening. A second day of mall-ninja'ing airsoft calls.

[Risen Britannia]

I spent all of today at tankfest, so expect some 'new' designs

Tankfest? u wot mert

I may have to kill you with jealous rage.

give me a few mins and i will get some better photos.

I also added to my ammo collection with the addition of a M1 Carbine mag and 5 .30 Carbine rounds to go with it and a 35mm Oerlikon shell (feking huge)

(also also: "mert" ?)

[Samozaryadnyastan]

It's one of so far two words that I thought I'd come up with, but the internet disagrees.

Stylised form of "mate" that seems about right for the northern drudgery of where I love.
Sent Archery club into hysterics.

[San-Silvacian]

Dayton Air Show dwi

[Immoren]

Nsg debating merits of human vs auto-loader on mbt

[New Tsavon]

Nsg debating merits of human vs auto-loader on mbt

Link?

I could use a good laugh.

[Immoren]

Nsg debating merits of human vs auto-loader on mbt

Link?

I could use a good laugh.

here

[Immoren]

Nsg debating merits of human vs auto-loader on mbt

Link?

I could use a good laugh.

here

[The Akasha Colony]

Link?

I could use a good laugh.

here

It's actually painful to read.

[New Tsavon]

here

It's actually painful to read.

Yeah, it is.

Have an excerpt.

Iraq's T-34 tanks used in the Iraq war used auto loaders which were very slow. Compared to the America's M1 Abrams crew served only took 4 seconds to load and fire a heat missile

[Crookfur]

Dayton Air Show dwi

Has no tiger tanks thus your arguement is invalid

[Samozaryadnyastan]

It's actually painful to read.

Yeah, it is.

Have an excerpt.

Iraq's T-34 tanks used in the Iraq war used auto loaders which were very slow. Compared to the America's M1 Abrams crew served only took 4 seconds to load and fire a heat missile

..."often carries HEAT... APFSDS..."
"You forgot the sabot round."

[Crookfur]

Tankfest? u wot mert

I may have to kill you with jealous rage.

give me a few mins and i will get some better photos.

I also added to my ammo collection with the addition of a M1 Carbine mag and 5 .30 Carbine rounds to go with it and a 35mm Oerlikon shell (feking huge)

(also also: "mert" ?)

I seriously considered the 35mm round when i was at bovington years agao but wnet with the 30x170mm roudn instead thinkign i migth get another chance when I visted Yeovilton a couple of days later. Saddly the Yoevilton gift shop was a lot less militaria focused.

[Valkalan]

Scimitar IFV - The Empire's preferred infantry fighting vehicle which also serves as an APC.

Imperial Industries Model 964 MBT - The standard Main Battle Tank of the Reijmakt.

Narzul Munitions 457 MBT - Presently being phased out of service. Many are kept in reserve.