Imperial Grunt

It's still a WIP but it's coming along. I don't have an ETA but good progress is being made.

I hope VDV vehicles in the module have that camouflage pattern.

Yep, they will plow through, but keep the commands short. Wheeled vehicles risk immobilization when traversing light woods so with longer routes, it appears to me that the AI will default to a less risky route in terms of the chance of getting immobilized. But of the course the AI can't factor in the tactical consequences by doing so.

Looking forward to the AARs!

Those powder rings (the C charges just above the fins) shouldn't be there after the round was fired. They burn up.

Vein's SFX mod is essential and really adds to the game. Don't play without it!

Probably an option such as selecting a M25 or a M4/M320 for a US Army squad.

That is sweet!

Yep. But they have a new survivability/suspension upgrade that is being installed and a new coat of paint! The MPC (Marine Personnel Carrier- essentially an amphibious Stryker) is on track for fielding by 2020. The plan is that funding will be available in the near future to restart a new tracked amphibious vehicle program from the failed EFV program. A future RCT will have one Bn mounted in tracked Amphibious Fighting Vehicles (AFVs), on Bn mounted on MPCs, and one Bn moved by trucks or helos or good ole LPCs (leather personnel carriers...ie; boots).

Kieme: #1) CANC'd. Very serious mistake on the Corp's part to let this program fail in my opinion. #2) See the discussion on the UHAC above. It's an experimental ship to shore connector for heavy equipment or a whole lot of logistics.

It's debatable, like the .45 vs 9mm debate! The M27 IAR is a fantastic weapon system and in the offense, is more lethal and lays down more accurate suppressive fire. It tires the gunner far less in the assault and is much more ergonomic to handle and reload. In range tests, IAR gunners outlasted SAW gunners while shooting more 4-6 round bursts on target to provide suppression for their fireteams while in the assault. It was also tested in Afghanistan with very positive reviews from the troops and commanders. But with that said, shortcomings were recognized. It simply cannot provide sustained MG-like suppression like the M249 SAW can. This is fully acknowledged and is the reason why every company still has 9 M249s as T/E equipment to be employed as the company commander sees fit. That has essentially evolved to 3 M27 IARs and one M249 SAW per squad. It may also be a secret plot by the Corps to quietly move away from the M16/M4 to a rifle that is basically a souped up HK416. If I was Commandant for a day, I'd do this immediately!

The RHIBs and Force Recon and MARSOC will have to await a SOF module. I would really love a SOF module as well, although CM can only depict large scale SOF type missions. UHACs are not armored (if you are willing to consider an AAV as being armored) so it will never be in the assault wave. But once security is established, it certainly will improve and speed up the ship shore movement phase of the landing phase.

Well, that heavy connector thing is beyond the scope of CM just as LCACs and LCUs are. What I would love to see however, is zodiacs for a BLT's boat company!

And funding-wise, it speaks to different priorities. USMC tanks are really for infantry support, not seeking battle with other tanks. A Marine unit will rely on air power (mostly) to fight enemy armor, especially in the offense.

Yut. Just can't wait until a young Lance Corporal gets behind that! Laser beams of Freedom!

Yep. And other weapons.

Yep, AAVs are getting a new upgrade (again), some have already. LAVs got a new upgrade (again) and new TOW turrets. Marine Personnel Carrier won't be fielded until 2020. No JLTV yet either. There is a list of new weapons but the vehicles remain essentially the same since Shock Force. The one type of vehicles that could be added for MEU specific operations would be the Fast Attack Vehicles (FAVs). Marine M1A1s embarked on MEUs will not have ERA. Tanks from MPF shipping could have ERA added if time allowed but in our 3 month scenario, I could see some sent forward without ERA while some are held back to get kitted up. TUSK should also be an option after the first month as well. USMC vehicles will also be sans APS unless the Army lends some for the tanks. I can't see a system made for a Brad being installed on an AAV. Maybe a Stryker system could fit on a LAV without too much modification, I have no idea. At any rate, even if it was possible, that probably won't happen during the first month. I have my notes ready to go for Chris when it's time.

And unless a UAV has spotted an AA unit, I think it is realistic that you don't know. The UAV operator probably don't know either. One second the screen showed some buildings (or whatever the UAV is 'looking' at) and then the screen went blank with static.

Yes, this is a great concept. PBEM games, at least in my experience take longer than a week. If I had the time, I'd love to participate.

Player vs player is the highest form of CM. The game truly becomes a test of tactics and overcoming the friction of facing a thinking opposition. As far as your questions go, it's really up to how you want to play. I prefer company or less sized games for instance. I also prefer meeting engagements. PBEM is the most reliable way to play multi-player however it does take awhile. I hope that one day BFC makes playing via TCP/LAN so easy a grunt can do it because I think that style of head to head play would really take off.

But the twin .50cals can!

I can't speak for how the US Army organizes it's Air Defense units but I can speak to how the USMC does. Each MEF has a Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion in the Marine Air Control Group (MACG) of the Marine Air Wing (MAW). Each LAAD Battalion possesses a Headquarters and Service Battery and 2 Firing Batteries. The Firing Batteries each possess a Battery Headquarters and 3 Firing Platoons. The Firing Platoons each have a Platoon Headquarters and 3 Firing Sections. Each Firing Section has a Section Headquarters Element and 5 two man Firing Teams. A LAAD Battalion can field 90 Stinger Teams. A firing battery, 45 Teams, a Platoon 15 Teams and a Section 5 Teams. A LAAD Bn has 60 Avenger vehicles, which is 30 per firing battery, 10 per platoon, 5 per section. The usual employment of a firing battery is 30 Avenger and 15 man portable Stinger teams but the mix of systems can be changed according to the mission, for example to support a helicopterborne assault, only Stinger teams would be employed. To support a mechanized unit, all of the Avengers would be employed. By doctrine, a LAAD Platoon will normally be deployed to support a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a battery will usually support a Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), and a full LAAD battalion will support a Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). The majority of the LAAD elements will be in direct support of ground combat elements in a scenario like Black Sea, although some will be allocated to covering logistical units, HQs, FARPs, etc... Currently MEUs routinely deploy with only a LAAD Section vice a platoon due to the lack of a significant air threat and a Marine IAD network is usually only established at the MEB level and up. LAAD Units are usually employed in either general support (GS) of the MAGTF, or in direct support (DS) of a particular unit. Employed in the general support role, LAAD units position Stinger Teams to best support the entire MAGTF based on the MAGTF Commander's established air defense priorities. In the direct support (DS) they position Stinger teams to best support the unit they are in DS of, based on the guidance of the supported commander. So hopefully for the USMC module, Avenger vehicles will be running around on CM:BS maps.

That 3 ton camo is fantastic. I wish that was a stock camo option in the game.

Lol... pretty much. The concept is for company sized 'landing teams" landing at different places rather than entire battalion landing team hitting in one area. A company landing team is a super reinforced rifle company with all kinds of attachments and enablers. Look, no acronyms!

Seeing imperial battle frogs (a nickname for the old CH-46 helicopters seen in the clip above) is ironic in a sci-fi film. Those frames probably flew in Vietnam when they were new.