Dimstick

Is there any way built into the program right now to setup restricted movement terrain to create choke points? I have only seen the two diffent terrain elevations, so things like mountain passes and marshes and other areas ideal for infantry movement but poor for anything else really cannot be simulated right now. It seems unrealistic to allow vehicles movment through all terrain (yes, I have seen the post on forests and cities!) especially hilly, mountain, or wide/deep rivers. Such terrain offers inherent advantages to the defender who only has to defend limited choke points. Such key terrain has resulted in many important battles throughout history over passes, fords, and roads.

*Warning: This message contain simi-technical information that may bore all but the diehards out there!!! Hey! I’m a Redleg out here at Ft. Sill, OK. In response to your question on ICM and DPICM, the question I have for you is this: How much do you want to know? I mean, I could break out the TFT (firing tables), but they will be useless unless you have a AFATADs or BCS to run the simulation on, or a howitzer with the pro-jo's to play with! But, since most people don't have access to these "training aids" here goes: “Improved conventional munitions are base-ejection projectiles that consist of a mechanical time fuse and a body assembly containing a number of sub munitions. There are two types of ICM rounds, antipersonnel (AP) and dual-purpose (DP).” Number of sub munitions /projectile: ICM 105-mm Howitzer—18 M46 155-mm Howitzer---60 M46 203-mm Howitzer---104 M46 (Note: As of 1998, the 203-mm howitzer no longer exists in any active duty line unit). DPICM 155-mm Howitzer---88 (64 M42 DP bomblets and 24 M46 ICM grenades) 203-mm Howitzer---108 (No numbers available for mix of ICM/DP submunitions). The AP round is most effective against unwarned, exposed personeel [Dimstick: But what isn’t???] When the fuse functions, a black powder expelling charge forces the grenades out through the base of the projectile. Small vanes on the grenade flip upward, arming the grenade and stabilizing it in flight. When the striker plate (on the base of the grenade) contacts the ground, the grenade hurls upward 4–6 feet then detonates. The DP round is most effective against lightly armored vehicles and other material. However, it is also effective against personnel. After the grenade is ejected, a ribbon streamer arms and stabilized it. Upon impact, a shaped charge that can pierce light armor is detonated. Also, fragments which are effective against personnel are expelled. Anytime ICM or DPICM rounds are fired, between 2 and 3 percent of the sub munitions fail to detonate. About 50 percent of thee duds will be armed and may become a hazard to friendly personnel and equipment. The ICM or DPICM should not be fired into forests, mountainous areas (slope greater than 60%); or rocky, uneven terrain. This type of terrain may increase the dud rate the reduce the effectiveness of the round. Also, effectiveness is decreased by marshy terrain or a target area covered with deep snow or water.” The M42 can penetrate at least 4" of rolled homongenous steel. The M46 can penetrate at least 2.5". [Dimstick: I could give you the exact amounts and percentage of penetration vs. various modern and traditional armor types, and real nice video of its effects on T-64's and T-70's from a certain war we were in, but then I might have to kill you ] I hope this answers all your questions. Oh, and one other thing, the DPICM found in pro-jo's is effectivly the same as that found in MLRS rocket pods, with the exception that the rockets carry a LOT more of them (264 I think....I might need to look it up). I wish I could post some pictures of the submuntions, but you can do a yahoo search for the below FMs and see them yourself. The information in quotes is from FM 6-30 "Observed Fired", 16 July 1991. The non quoted information is paraphrased from 6-40 "FA Manual Cannon Gunnery" 23 April 1996 [Of which I helped write].