db_zero

What I really want to know is how well it can cook a steak. Urban legend has it that the turbo turbine engine used by the M1 has the added benefit of generating so much heat that enterprising tankers would grill steaks on the engine, boil a pot of coffee, fry eggs or heat up MRE's. Amrata does look cool. 2 man crew and all those guns. Wow. I hope the software is up to the task. The US had all sorts of issuse with the SGT.York. Wouldn't be too cool if the automated system decided that friendly aircraft are hostile-or a hacker introduced rouge code into the system.

Just saw this: http://www.businessinsider.com/these-impressive-images-of-the-us-a-10-thunderbolts-in-kuwait-say-a-lot-about-their-missions-against-isis-2015-3 I found it interesting that in the spirit of green environmentially conscious policies, no depleted uranium rounds will be loaded or used.

I'm always amused by these sort of topics and threads. Great entertainment value. Take a look at what you got and learn to love what you have, cause in my experience it won't change dramatically quickly. Kinda like telling a wife or girlfriend she should lose 25 pounds and go to the gym so she can be as hot looking as the babe you see at work or walking down the street. There may be perfectly valid reasons in your mind as to why it would be a good idea and they may be valid, but don't expect to get the result you want.

Combat Missions graphics are ok, but not great. I'd love to see better graphics, not only for Combat Mission, but other games I play like Command Modern Naval Ops and the War in the east and West series. I'm not holding my breath for a variety or reasons and learned to live with what I have. As for computing power usage, most programs are not taking advantage of the multiple cores and graphics computing power in PC's. The profits are probably not there. The PC as a platform isn't what it used to be in the late 80's and the 90's-the sales is not growing exponentially. It was mentioned in another thread, one of the devs dreams of a defense contract. If true that could could solve the 50 million needed for graphical improvements. 50 millions is petty cash for the DoD. They spend more for hammers and toilet seats.

Agree with all of the above. You could abuse an AK in ways you could never get away with doing to an AR. You could also issue an AK to illiterate peasants with little instructions and it will work after years of abuse. I think that with just a few modifications the old AK-47 could still keep up with the latest stuff out there- 1. Replace the dust cover with a more modern one with a rail mounting system. 2. Use a rear diopeter sight 3. Replace the wooden furniture with lighter wieght materials. 4. Redesign the magazine release. Make it like the AR where you can release the mag quickly. 5. Add attachment points for modern sling systems.

I don't think the AR platform will never completely shake the image of being unreliable. I have the same sort of mentality-I always thought the AR was a cranky platform, yet personally after thousands of rounds fired through a Colt, S&W MP15 and Daniel Defense, I've never enrountered a single failure I often run them hard and hot. I have seen 2 others who did have issues. One was using Russian steel case ammo with was probably the issue. The other had a spring that was slightly bent. Alot of people customize or build their ARs and that might cause issues that would need to be resolved. Personally all the out of the box AR's I've used have been flawless. I took my Daniel Defense straight out of the box, didn't clean it and fired off hundreds of rounds in rapid fire and its was flawless and very accurate. As much as I have the impression in my mind the AR is not as reliable as the AK and that is true, I've never encountered an issue either. Maybe I need to bury it in the mud or pour talcum powder in it...

I have a Saiga 7.62x39 and Serbian AK47. As mentioned they are not really made for hanging a bunch of stuff on. I have a BP02 for scopes and optics, but its not the optimum solution. I replaced the dust cover on my Saiga with a Texas Weapons dogleg cover that has a rail to mount optics. I also bought the rail mounted peep sight which I really like. Ill probably buy or build an AK that uses the smaller 5.45 caliber bullets. I like the 7.62x39. Haven't shot the Serbian AK yet. I have shot the Saiga quite a bit and its a fine rifle especially once I added the dogleg as it really facilitates optics and the peep sight setup really is an improvement on the short radius sight setup from the factory. I think of my Saiga as an M1 Carbine on steroids. Optics aside I find the magazine release of any AK series I've handled to be clunky when compared to an AR. You can use a tactical sling and easily drop and replace a magazine with an AR. The AK not so much.

There was also talk at one time of building a ballistic missile defense system in Poland. When the Russians complained the American response was the Russians are welcomed to join in. That left me scratching my head. Perhaps the thinking was after the fall of the Soviet Union was western capitalism would take hold in Russia and soon they would be just like any other Western style republic or democracy.

I was never crazy about the expansion of NATO after the fall of the Soviet Union. Improved relations yes, but creating military alliances and expansion east no. I figured that would create a reaction from Russia. There is IMO a neoconservative element in the west that believes in exporting democracy. For a while they had the reigns of power or had a sympathetic ear in high places. I think that some countries like Poland are discovering that there is a limit to just how far the west will honor commitments when push comes to shove. You may get a commitment from one American administration, yet something else when another one gets elected.

I'm no expert on the matter, but from a laymans perspective I can't see the Russians/Putin ever granting the Ukraine independence. I don't see the US or West directly getting involved with air or boots on the ground and Putin knows this. I have doubts that arming the Ukranians with sophisticated weapons will make a difference in the end. It may make it more bloody for the Soviets, but they would just amp up the pressure. Still it looks like some of the urban areas would be very difficult to take from determined defenders.

I replaced by old ATI 5850 with a GTX 760 quite happy with the results.

Watched a PBS documentary on the conflict in the Ukraine that was on Netflix. Never really understood the whold thing, but now that I know a little more all I can say is what a mess. Things have changed quite a bit since the documentary was made. I'd really like to see some more stuff that explains whats going on.

If I'm not mistaken the Marines don't have Strikers. They use something called the LAV which is a completely different. I think its a Canadian design.

I don't want to get too political, but lets just say the word disengaged and not really interested in foreign affairs.

A gas or oil pipeline blowing up would probably help Russia. It could easily cause a spike in prices. The recent move from the low $40 to the $50 in spot oil prices was due to the fact that the rig count went down and major oil companies are cutting CAPEX spending. The expectation is production will be cut and the supply overhang will decrease. Having a few oil well or pipelines blow up and supply decrease is a good way to see the price of oil shoot up.

We can argue as to whether we are in an economic war with Russia or not, but its being called that by many, just do a search and certainly in the eyes of the Russians we are waging one. All I have to say is if we do decide to escalate, expect a response. What that will be is anyones guess. I think some sort of deal with the West is a possibility. We'll just have to wait and see.

I also don't think we have strong leadershipop that is feared or respected by our advesaries.That being said I think you need to pick your fights carefully and you can't just go around and save everyone. Russia has a past that was very violent and costly. They don't have the Pacific and Atlantic oceans to act as a buffer. NATO creeping up to their borders does not give many Russians the warm and fuzzy regardless of all the reassurances. The past proposal to put a BMD defense in Poland probably didn't make thing better either.

Does sound crazy, but stranger marriages of convenience have been known to happen. As I mentioned in last thread Putin could just as well arm the Syrians and have them do the dirty work or he could easily send in operatives to do the dirty work. We are in a defacto economic war with Russia. Russia is an oil state and the recent collapse of oil and natural gas prices is hurting Russia. Desperate people do desperate things.

Its not a question of trying to affect the outcome of the conflict in Syria. Its about sending a message to the west about displeasure about arming the Ukranians and getting involved in what he and many nationalistic leaders and ordinary Russians may feel is an internal affair that the West should stay out of. Putin could just as well arm the Syrians or send covert operatives to Syria to do the dirty work. Some have mentioned that Putin may not be the most stable person on the planet. His behaivor and some of the press and photos he's released in the past are somewhat odd in many ways. He is not someone to be taken lightly though. Put yourself in his shoes. You have reports that Ukranians using sophisticated American weapons are suddenly destroying tanks and shooting down aircraft. hardliners are demanding an appropriate response. Shooting down a US aircraft operating in Syria or Iraq and the quietly in diplomatic terms implying that more of the same is in the future if you don't stop supplying the Ukranians.

There is no love between Russia and ISIS, however if Russian tanks start blowing up due to Javelins supplied by the West and Russian aircraft start falling out of the sky due to sophisticated SAMs supplied by the West, Putin will be pressured to respond and I don't think sending bomber to probe the west or showing the flag with some warships will be enough. Sending a few sophisticated SAMs to ISIS and would send a clear message to the West.

Started playing this as the Blue side. What I'm seeing is an artillery barrage-I presume its the Russians that targeted an empty spot next to some buildings. Its been falling every turn so far. Seems like a waste and not sure what the purpose of it is and if its WAD.

Germanys Merkel who has one of the few working relationships with Putin is trying to disuade the US from sending arms and potentially ratching up the tension. In her estimation Putin is not the sort of person who is intimidated and you don't really know what may come of it. What would be the reaction if in retaliation ISIS suddenly acquired sophisticated man portable SAM's to shoot at US and coalition aircraft operating in the Middle East?

Interesting responses. I have some more questions, but they are outside the scope of the thread. Thanks for sharing some of your experiences.

If you played any of the previous CM titles you've probably seen it. A tank crew bails out then goes Wyap Earp on you. I've always hated that and refrained from using bailed out crew as scouts, free infantry and moved them to the rear, but after seeing it done so many times to me, just decided it was easier to join along. I would think that as highly trained specialists they would be expected to stay out of a firefight is possible in real life, but maybe that's not the case. Are bailed out crew still a real nuisance in Black Sea? Are they still crack shots with pistols I would think that with just about everyone wearing body armor pistols are pretty ineffective. I have seen a few instances where Russian APC crew bailed and they had AK carbines. Points wise are crew more valuable than other infantry?

Interesting topic and perhaps doctrine/procedure influenced? I'm also playing Cammand Modern Naval Operations and a lot of the naval vessels have MANPADs systems on them presumably fire by sailors or Marines. Some of these vessels are patrol craft or smaller so I would presume a fairly well armored APC would be able to withstand the launch of a MANPAD. IIRC the BMP back in the day came with a SA-7. The US may have had a different doctrine and procedure when it came to the Redeye and Stinger. I think they rolled around in jeeps and later Humvees.