Lee_Vincent

I found the transition from CMx1 to CMx2 to be relatively straightforward, and have almost never needed to consult the manuals except to better understand the artillery and C&C system. As with CMx1, the UI displays the available options for each unit. I didn't play Panzerblitz but played the hell out of Panzerleader . I was about 12 I think, plus a lot of other AH and SPI wargames of various eras such as 3rd Reich, Up Front, Luftwaffe, Arab Israeli Wars, The Russian Front, Guns of August, Jutland, The Next War, NATO, City Fight - and Squad Leader of course! Before that it had been miniatures since the age of about 8 using Wargames Research Group rules, Angriff etc. Of course once I found CMBO it was a revelation! The whole series still is

Next version to have 152mm gun, apparently. http://rt.com/news/258473-armata-t14-powerful-shell/

April Fools Day or not? http://www.popsci.com/look-russias-new-tank-infographic

Lets see in May

Note that it also uses metamaterials to bend light around it so it becomes invisible. Hell those things could be anywhere in the May Day parade

Russia has a history of breaking the mold in armor tech. They should not be underestimated.

Iran has something much better, details to follow one day.

Agreed sure.

Yes but are they deployed on AFVs?

Yes of course the information is probably optimistic. "After five years of development, the Uralvagonzavod Research and Production Corporation has finalized manufacture of the first batch of Armata tanks and heavy personnel carriers. They have been included in Russia’s 2015 defense order, TASS said. Reportedly, 20 units have already been manufactured and issued to troops for hands-on training. The exact characteristics and appearance of the platform remain classified, though this might soon change as the new vehicles are on the verge of taking part in the Victory Day Parade on Red Square, May 9 this year." Their goal of 2300 units does sound like a fantasy. " Can you put that antenna inside a compartment surrounded by composite armor an expect it to detect anything other than...well...composite armor? " I don't know. It is probably a conformal array spread over the tank with overlapping FOV's, but yeah seems it would be highly vulnerable. Still, it would avoid alerting the target when it paints it with it's laser range finder. Better in all weathers too I expect?

According to this anyway (includes video): http://rt.com/news/234363-armata-tracked-armored-platform/ 125mm main gun (claimed to develop more muzzle energy than the German Leopard-2 Rheinmetall 120 mm gun), a multi-barrel APS-capable .50 MG and a 30mm cannon vs light targets and helos. May potentially be fitted with a 152mm gun. The vehicle is fully computerized and only needs two servicemen to operate it. Each can also deploy the tank’s weapon systems. The tank’s targeting is reportedly done with an active-phased array antenna and a large variety of other sensors. Apparently. If so, seems it should certainly be in CMBS.

Yeah, I see how the inner 'Defeat Penetration' circle was added as almost as an afterthought.

Some interesting stuff from DARPA on tank design: http://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2014/08/20.htm#.VHtdkDGUdEM

Probably not that long... http://www.rewalk.com/

I was in Vientiane, Laos last week and, having gone downstairs for dinner at my hotel, was invited to sit with 12 very friendly and rather drunk gents 35-45. It turned out they were Russian military, specifically in air defense, SAM's etc. Despite my asking, they would not tell me if their S300/400 systems could kill stealth targets, but they did disclose the classified information that a common nickname for Poroshenko is 'Big Condom'.