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Gerard35

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About Gerard35

  • Birthday 02/21/1964

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    United Kingdom
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    Aircraft / missiles / tanks / weapons / history.

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  1. I think that it's too long to fit into a standard M-203. Regards, Gerard
  2. The UK Apache's fire AGM-114 Hellfires, which do look almost identical to Brimstones. Brimstone ( but not Hellfires ) have been fired from RAF Tornado GR4's. Brimstone is planned to be fired from Typhoons in the next couple of years. Brimstone has been test-fitted, and possibly fired, from MQ-9 Reapers. The original Brimstone seeker was MMW radar, and the latest version combines that with semi-active later. Regards, Gerard
  3. Difficult to believe this about a country who lead the world in small arms for decades, and the company which got called in to fix the UK's SA-80 rifles. Regards, Gerard
  4. Reminds me of the USS Carl Vincent, and Fort Stuart, on the US DoD www a few years back. Regards, Gerard
  5. As info... reported in the last week.... for the UK's Royal Navy: ( naturally, there has been a delay in the programme. ) "upgraded version of the Spearfish heavyweight torpedo in a £270 million deal" "The midlife update includes a new insensitive munitions warhead, a more capable fiber optic data link between the launch vessel and the weapon, as well as a change to the fuel system to improve safety." "which can be used against underwater and surface targets" Regards, Gerard
  6. From what I read on-line someplace earlier today, they've done quite a bit of testing. In the hover, and 100 ? kt, with the rotors at 60 degrees. Ordinary 2.75" / 70mm rockets from a 7-rd pod, some of the APKWS laser guided rockets, and a couple of those Griffin mini missiles. Had to replace the undernost sensor turret with one that had a laser included too. All seems like a good idae to me so far. Regards, Gerard
  7. Would there much use for a flying crane version of the CH-53E or -53K ? no main fuselage to cut weight, and increase payload ? Regards, Gerard
  8. Big difference between the A400M and C-130J, is not so much the size of the plane, or the increased cargo weight, but the increased cross-section of the cargo bay. Means that larger equipment can be carried, that was too wide / high for a C-130K/J/J-30. Regards, Gerard
  9. The I, II, III, IV etc are more like Generation numbers. I being used back over Vietnam, II a bit later, III over Iraq. IV being a RAF specific version. Currently, some of the III Generation also have JDAM features, to get the best of both types. For the weights, it's nominally: Paveway: GBU-12 = 500 lb, 16 = 1000, 24 = 2000. JDAM: GBU-38 = 500 lb, 31 = 1000, 32 = 2000. There is also the GBU-54 500 lb which is a JDAM with a laser seeker in the nose to give it the best of both types of guidance. Paveway IV only comes in 500 lb for the RAF. Some like the GBU-12 have had versions in more than one generation. As to the performance of the Generation III BLU-109 2000 lb penetrator, compared to the IV 500 lb, it's much too early to know. On paper, I'd say that having 1500 lb less weight / explosive, is a downside. There might be some improved explosive, and they might use some of the ideas of the SDB family. I suspect that they're still very much in the paper stage of the project. The RAF will probably keep some 2000 lb Paveways II and III around, just in case. Like you, I think that some targets may need more than a 500 lb warhead. Although, could just drop more than one, with today's accurate guidance. The technique was taught to F-111F crews in the old days. Use a sucession of hits to drill through to a bunker. Regards, Gerard
  10. Gerard35

    M109A7

    And how do you get this improved longer barrel M-109 to the warzone ? Might have to carry fewer per C-17 / C-5, and could affect sealift too. Regards, Gerard
  11. The F-16CG/CJ may be able to use the GBU-39 SDB, at least in some units. I've seen open day / airshow pics of a "AV" F-16CG with the rack, and a stateside "SW" ? also. Can't remember if the racks were actually loaded onto the F-16's or were just on a load trolley. In both cases the pics were taken in the last couple of months. For "AV" it got to mean that the GBU-39 is an option for their F-16's. Not as certain for the stateside, as I can't remember what else was in the pics/ show that might have used them. Regards, Gerard
  12. Those weapons are Alarm anti-radar missiles, similar to the US AGM-88 HARM. I've read that they may have since been withdrawn from UK service due to age. Were used in 1991 / 2003 over Iraq from Tornado GR1/4. Regards, Gerard
  13. Ok, here's my attempt at a Battalion Task Force. Bn TF HQ Co HQ Pltn - 8 x CV90-HQ, 4 x CV9040. Recon Pltn - 12 x LandRovers, with LRRP. Selection of mounted weapons - 0.5" HMG, 40mm GL, ATGWs. C3IEW Pltn - 8 x CV90-EW, 4 x CV9040. ( May be possible to combine the CV90-HQ and CV90-EW into one ? ) UAV Pltn - 4 x RQ-7 Shadow or similar, on 8x8 trucks. A Co - 3 x 4 = 12 x Leopard 2. Specific A5 or A6 vsn isn't that important. Co HQ is 2 x Leopard 2, 2 x CV90-HQ. B Co - 3 x 4 = 12 x CV9040. Co HQ is 2 x CV9040, 2 x CV90-HQ. C Co - 3 x 4 = 12 x CV9040. Co HQ is 2 x CV9040, 2 x CV90-HQ. D Co - 2 x 6 = 12 x CV90 - 6 carry a 120mm mortar, 6 carry NLOS ( XM-501 / Spike LR / similar ) missiles. Co HQ is 2 x CV9040, 2 x CV90-HQ. ( 12 or 15 / 16 per vehicle ? ) ( Following 2 attachments are only needed for a major combat operation ) Artillery Battery - 8 x AS90 155mm SPG with 52 cal barrel. 4 x TPQ-36/37 on 8x8 trucks, OR 8 x M-777 155m, on 6x6 or 8x8 heavy trucks - if going for a light option. Air Def Battery - 8 x 2S6 / SA-19 but using SA-22 missiles ( or a NATO recreation of it ) on Leopard 2 chassis. 4 x Sentinel AD radars. OR 4 on Leopard 2, 4 on 8x8 heavy trucks. 35mm cannon + AIM-132 / AIM-9X, or AIM-120 ? ( Like a modern vsn of the Gepard ? new radar, guns, ammo, missiles. ) E Co - Combat Eng Co - 4 x Leopard 2 CEV, 4 x Leopard 2 ARV - these are able to recover / support the CV90 family. 4 x CV9040 for Eng Recon Pltn. 4 x M3 mobile bridge / ferry. 2 x CV90 NBC recon. F Co - Logistics / Support / Medical / other stuff. Whatever can be moved on 8x8 trucks, using DROPs for faster logistics. CV90-based armoured ambulances. Not sure exactly how much would be required. EITHER the individual combat companies have their own logistics Pltns, OR F Co ends up as 2 Companies in effect, to carry out enough resupply / support. CV90-HQ are similar to the US M2 Bradley command post version ( different number ? ) CV9040 attached to the HQ elements are for local security, so that the mech inf platoons don't need to be split off for it. Options for the AFVs - slat armour cages, extra reactive armour blocks, Trophy-style self-defence systems, RWS turrets. What gets fitted depends on the mission / available transport to the operations area. CV9040's can have twin packs / single tubes, fixed to their turret sides - BGM-71 TOW, perhaps a FGM-148 Javelin on the turret roof. Optional depending on if you expect to have to face a long range heavy armour threat. If it's only light AFVs, then just use the 40mm cannon, and then man-portable Javelins / M-72's. Potential for AGM-114 Hellfire instead of TOW if against an armour heavy OPFOR. Ammo / small arms are NATO standard - cheaper, easier to get hold of, can be re-supplied from allied forces easily enough. Would be crazy to have to leave your force parked there, waiting for a C-17A to fly in pallets of unique ammo. Following are a general pool of infantry weapons for my Battalion Task Force: ( What gets taken along depends on the mission. Can leave the ATGWs & SAMs at home for a disaster recovery / rescue / relief op. ) 9mm pistols - any type is ok, just need to use standard 9mm ammo. Probably something from H+K or Beretta. 9mm SMGs - MP5 or a later version. More use for the LRRP Platoon than for the regular mech inf. 5.56mm assault rifles - M-16 / M-4 family, or one of the newer H+K. 5.56mm LMG / SAW - M-249 or something from H+K. ( Probably be cheaper / easier logistics if most guns are from H+K ) 7.62mm GMPG - Not sure what the current standard is for these, most likely from H+K. 7.62mm or similar sniper rifle - not sure if these are required if we got the 0.5" ones. 0.5" HMG - Browning M2 - might as well use what we KNOW works just fine. Vehicle mounted, and on tripods. 0.5" sniper rifles - Barret M-82/107. Not sure if H+K do one yet or not. 40mm GL - M-203, or the H+K vsn if can't use the M-203. 40mm GL - Mk-19, or more likely the H+K vsn, ( assuming that there is one ) Vehicle mounted, and on tripods. 60mm mortars - small enough to carry one in a vehicle and some rounds easily. Useful for when the 120mm are busy elsewhere. 66mm M-72 LAW - whatever the latest version is. M-72A6 A7? FGM-148 Javelin ATGW. FIM-92 Stinger or Starstreak maportable SAMs. - The FGM-148 and SAMs can be spread around, don't need to be one per CV9040. usual grenades / explosives / flares / mines, etc. All troops have body armour / NVG / comms / GPS etc. All small arms may have nightsights / laser / suppressors / 40mm GL's, as appropriate. As troops are all vehicle transported, extra gear can be stored in the vehicles. Any $ saved from not having the latest fancy guns can be spent on soldiers individual equipment / training / extra logistics / spare parts / ammo. Training is NATO standard, as if about to deploy to Afghanistan, or for a NATO ex in Europe. Balance of heavy / light threats. I'll assume that any helo / avn assets are from elsewhere. Regards, Gerard
  14. It's not the metal for the hull, or the engines, that's the problem. It's all the electronics, a lot of which have parts that have to be imported. The days of making a P-51 Mustang in a week or less, or a Liberty ship in 2 or 3 months, or a M-4 Sherman in a week, are now several decades in the distant past. The increase in production of missiles / JDAMs for Iraq and Afghanistan was fine, but those were already being made. Just needed to add more shifts, once you've trained the workers, and the suppliers further down the chain have caught up. In relative terms, those weapons, or a new MRAP 6x6 or 4x4 are about as simple as our modern military technology gets these days. Things could be done a lot faster when it was just adding some metal / wood, and a VERY small amount of electronics, and an engine or 2 together. But, that IS all in the past. Getting back to WW2 style mass-production will not happen. The war will be over before they even find the plans, let alone make the machines to make more machine-tools to fill up the factories that are still scrubland. Regards, Gerard
  15. Partly that, and we've got lots of spares / ammo / training procedures. Plus, it does work, and we're experienced with it. Not like the USN hasn't had the Mk.54 ? 5" gun for ages too, with just a longer barrel, and updated turret shape, I think, in recent years. If we changed it, then we got to change all at once, so not practical. There is no real reason to spend $ that we've not got, on a new gun. It can be better spent on other systems / weapons. Saying that, the Type 26 may be offered with alternatives. Regards, Gerard
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