Los

Someone might have already said this, but always get down at the eye level of your troops. What looks wide open at 100' up might have little folds and undulations at eye level to take advantage of. Los

I suppose I'll kick in here and say I've been in an Ac130 when it was on a fire mission. This was during training somewhere around the mid-nineties. It was an Ac130 A model, the last one in service (It was like 25-30 years old). Half our team rode on the bird as observers, the other half were on the ground directing fire, since I had done the latter before I opted to ride on the bird. Likewise a few of their guys hung out on the ground w/ the rest of our team. We played w/ their toys, they played with ours. (Not that I got to touch anything in the AC!) IIRC it was a reserve bird out of Hurlburt, but the crew had been in ODS. It was armed w/ a 105, a 40 and two 20mms. There were 14 crew normally.. Up front you had the flight crew and in the middle of the AC was a little connex shaped box that had all the fire control officers as well as the fire control consoles (BTW these guys were screwed if the crew ever had to bail out). Then there was a number of fire control guys (gunners) a number of whom mainly just used snow shovels to shovel brass into 55 gallon drums when the thing was firing. Then there were three guys IIRC dedicated to SAM/ADA observation. Two sat up front near the engines on either side where there was a window. They just hung out there observing out and below with a little button they could mash that dispensed countermeasures if something came up. The other guy stood on the ramp, which was opened and he was attached by a monkey harness, again with a little button he could mash to dispense counter measures and warn the crew. I don't know if they always flew around like that, but it was how they ensured as close to 360 degrees eyes-on as they could get. I spent sometime in the fire control center or whatever it was called, and watched the targeting guys, I could see my buddies on the ground lasing tgts, they all had glint tape on their helmets, not too dissimilar to what you see in the COD4 AC130 missions if you have that game. They were in constant comms with the guys on the ground IDing tgts ensuring no friendlies got blown up. Anyways up front, the pilot had a HUD out his side window. All the work on the targeting booth resulted in a tgt designator box around the ground tgt and also a reticule for the weapon. The pilot banked the AC at a certain angle and when the two indicators were lined up, he had a trigger on his yoke he depressed to fire the weapons. While they flew around blowing stuff up they made lots of joking references to star trek, and other what not, a combat crew on a milk run training mission, but for myself I was highly impressed and awed. This bird was the last of it's kind w/ the new highly computerized H model (again IIRC?) having been phased on, but his crew was highly derisive of the new model and loved their old reliable. It was a very memorable experience for me... Los

There were three agents there not two...

After this I'd imagine there's not a few citizens in Gaza asking themselves exactly what purpose is HAMAS serving as it sure isn't looking out for Gazans...

This is a good shot of why airburst smoke spreads over a greater area. In a city environment a ground burst would be more likely to contain the smoke in a smaller area, the airburst spreads it over a larger area hence greater smoke dispersion. Just dont be unlucky enough to be under these things when they go off. Any one of these WP impregnated sponges, if it hits you, is likely to burn a hole right through you.

They are using the Smoke to isolate targets and mask approaches, just like smoke is supposed to be used, You can see vids and other pics around with a little searching to see for yourself the effect the smoke has once it gets fully developed. If they wanted to start fires on purpose there's better ordnance for that.

They're using 155mm M825A1 smoke projectiles. you can learn up on them here. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/m825.htm The shell explodes in the air and you get a wider dispersion of smoke that way. Artillery 101... Los

If only someone would make an IDF mod we could figure all this out in the sim chamber, hint hint.... Los

yes, you can take a knife or a screwdriver, pry open the mine's cover and remove the C4. It's basically a plastic cover and inside are the BBs as one solid unit (the shrapnel) backed by a flat playdough-like pad of C4. You're not supposed to do this, as the mine comes totally assembled and ready to go, but it is possible to do fairly easily. Los

You can see plenty of footage of then 25mm chewing up the stone buildings in various cities there. It's good for that. Los

Cassh, Thanks for the great lecture on Special Forces and picture taking, I find your vast knowledge to be quite informative! Los

"Taking them is one thing - letting the get into the public domain uncensored so you can be identified is dumb for any operator." I'll throw you a clue, you can't go around and shoot every guy with a camera, particularly when your in the middle of a big city with thousands of people, journalists other soldiers etc. Likewise there's nothing to actually ID either one as SF. It would be a silly excercise to even determine the circumstances of how or why those pictures are taken. Subscribe to the military channels there are thousands of hours of documentaries many of them of special operations forces from many countries in action or in training. Los

Sf guys take pictures just like everyone else. Something to show your kid someday so he doesn't think you were shovelling **** in louisiana... Los

The second guy could be SF, either NG or regular Army, (prolly not though). Still remember SF guys have older average age in 30s and E8s older than that sometimes) as he's at least an E8 or maybe an E9 (can't tell from the photo if there's anything in the middle there which could make him a CSM or 1SG) which means he's a team sgt or CSM. Some SF guys have taken to carrying M14s if they're arms room has some laying about or otherwise acquired some in particular if they're operating out in open areas. However if that's a CSM patch then it could be any battalion Sergeant major who's wrangled himself an M14. He would be old enough and wise enough no doubt to have pulled in some connection from somewhere to snag one. The first guy I doubt is SF since he would not carry spare mag to his sidearm as he's got it rigged, nor use that crappy regular issue pouch. However that guy prolly has his spare M14 mags stored on his vest. Also an SF guy would not have his unit patch on his left shoulder, that thing's for garrison. Los

Just to augment Thermopylae's good info.. If the GPS (Gunners Primary Sight) goes down there's the GAS (Gunners auxillary sight) Tank crews train to use both and switch between them since tanks have had various systems go down in combat since the first tank rumbled over the top in WW1. If the LRF goes down the GAS has range finding capabilities. If the Ballistic computer goes down there's ways around that too. Tanks like the Leo and M1 have normal, emergency and manual fire control systems. i.e. here's the GAS: http://www.eo.kollmorgen.com/product_spec27.html The mark of a good tank is not just how well it works when everthing is functioning properly but how well it works when it's half shot up. Crew drills stress fighting the tank in all its conditions. Los

"I'd rather see true "MG" gun teams, very heavy and no jump capabilities, with at least a 20mm weapon system. Perhaps just 3 guys, to solve the "who's carrying the gun" problem." Instead of no jump (which will make movement too ponderous) how about no-fire unless deployed (B key) simulating carrying the weapon dissasembled? Los

On a related note I highly recommnd this book: TANK RIDER: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1853675547/sr=8-1/qid=1153965953/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-3047848-7807937?ie=UTF8 A very enjoyable read.... Los

Is there an all inclusive Normandy Mod or just a collection of some Bmp mods? I searched Cmmods for Normandy but saw just some indivdiual mods. Los

Well I'm glad that at least 2 can play off of one license that solves the Dad and Son LAN play thing for me! Los

One question: 1. I have created an online account but for whatever reason it's saying my user ID and password are invalid. How can I reset my password? etc. I tried to just create a different online account but then I get a message saying my license is already bound to my other userID password. Thanks. Los.. [ June 03, 2006, 07:56 AM: Message edited by: Los ]

If you want a way to simulate a real advantage then limit the Syrian commander to FPS or 2d map view only.

"Los, the fact that the calibres are 20mm, 76mm, 120mm, respectively, kind of invite a comparison to past and contemporary weapons, don't you agree?" No I wouldn't agree at all. The only thing for sure that a 20mm from WW2 and the far future could have in common at all is that they're 20mm in diameter. One could be a 2' long long tungsten spear humming along at 3500 fps and the other could be a 2oz hunk of lead trundling in at 1200 fps. All depends on what BTS is modelling. I mean fifty caliber musket ball and a fifty caliber AP round from an M2HB are both about the same width. Los

Why assume a WW2 20mm has the same characteristics of a future-20mm weapon? Los

There are guys that are flying around transports picking up unsuspecting vehilces taking off and flinging them. This might have happened to you. I'd suggest contacting the local authorities.

I gotta say you guys have the patience of saints.... Los :cool: