DerKommissar

I read that MkB-42, Machine Carbine '42, was intended to replace the '98 and had a limited production run. Yet, when it entered mass production, it became a Machine Pistol. The logistics situation mid-war not allowing for the replacement of all '98s and their ubiquitous Mauser ammo. This is the first time I am hearing them replacing the MGs. This being said, the Germans often had unrealistic expectations -- especially regarding weapons. From what I understand, the "Sturm" name was propaganda. Much like the word "grenadier", it was applied late-war to instill unfounded confidence in a fleeting fancy. The MP-44 was a revolutionary, and well received, design. However, the production history shows that it was treated as a specialist SMG, rather than a service rifle. This is the best production data I could find on German small arms, if anyone has better ones I would be very grateful: ( https://ww2-weapons.com/german-arms-production/ ) It seems that the production of traditional rifles greatly increased in 1943 and continued to increase in 1944, as the war demanded. The full-caliber bolt action shows no signs of going away. The "Stg" entered production in July 1943, and had the total wartime production of 426k. The production for the MP-40 from '42 to the end of the war was around 750k. As total SMG production number rose, the MP-40's remained the same. There is an increase in the ratio of SMG to rifle production. This was the same among most countries, as more expedient SMGs entered service. This was especially relevant on the Eastern Front. MP-44s being issued to Schutze must have been a rarity -- especially when considering the ubiquitous Mauser cartridge weapons. Considering it was ready to enter mass production in '42, it was never fated to become their service rifle.

MOUT is tough. Thanks for posting! I'd be interested in more tactics for using IFVs, artillery and MBTs in MOUT.

Most countries had malfunctioning prototypes as semi auto rifles for most of the war. SVT was the original battle rifle, with its detachable mag (complete with its own nearly useless automatic variant). In Europe, at that time, it was certainly the best semi-auto. The Garand, even without detachable mag, was a better rifle. Maybe "excellent" was a slight over-exaggeration on my behalf. Are there many semi-autos that do suffice as a dedicated sniper rifle? Even today, bolt actions are usually used by snipers. Semi-autos do appear often as designated marksmen's rifles. As for the MP 44, I always saw it as an NCO weapon. I believe the original idea was to give NCOs, and very specialized shock troops, a more versatile MP. It wasn't really designed to the tolerances of a rifle, and was therefore easier to manufacture. I think this was well presented in FB.

The G41 is an interesting piece of firearm history. Very thematic for German design and production of the era. I'm getting flashbacks at my rant about problems with early war German tank design. It was designed with the requirements that it had to be semi-auto but work like a bolt action. Why? Germans wanted firepower of a semi-auto and the reliability of a bolt action. One of the requirements was no gas piston system, which explains the gas trap (named Bang after the Dutch inventor) at the muzzle. The other was a back-up bolt action mechanism. Last one was that it needed to load like a '98. They got Walther and Mauser to design them: Mauser G41 Walther G41 Mauser followed the requirements, Walther cheated. Too bad for Mauser, the requirements were bollocks. Both were produced, almost 7k for for Mauser variant and around 100k for Walther. Both of the rifles were loathed on the Eastern Front. They were inaccurate, didn't cycle properly, were easy to damage and expensive to produce. A good chunk of them got returned, I'm guessing even more of them got tossed. Walther solved the biggest issue, being spawned by unrealistic requirements, and scrapped the Bang system for the SVT-40 gas-piston. This became the G43. Too little, too late. As the war neared its conclusion, production was eventually shifted to Volksturm bolt action rifles. I'm not surprised to see the Mosin still being used. The Enfield is still being used, and was used for a long time post-war as a marksmen's rifle. If it was good enough for Simo Hayha, it's good enough for Donbass. SVT-40 had a funny history too. Very much akin to those Hollywood underdog stories. It was first designed and produced as the replacement for the Mosin. It was very much on track for that, until Barbarossa. A LOT of them were produced (1.5 mil or something like that). They were excellent semi-autos introduced into an army that needed simple bolt action rifles. They were very much coveted by the Germans, the Fins and later, the Soviets. Germans actually issued their own field manuals for these things. Not only am I not surprised that they are as common with the Soviets in RT, I am surprised that I don't see Germans using them. The Soviets were purposefully SMG heavy during Bagration, the cheap PPS-43 being an engine for that. Those things took a few hours to produce, and hundreds of thousands of them were being pumped out monthly. Hardly exotic. Great SMG too.

I'm curious if it was ever stated in the lore if Turkey partook in the events of SF. Hopefully we'll get DLC for them -- with NATO, most of their kit's already modeled.

More dakka? I guess I can dig it.

CM: Deus Vult confirmed!

I like a lot of things about Steam: sales, no taxes, and a lot of convenience features (mods, multiplayer, updates). It's a good platform. It's got a lot of problems and a lot of complaints at it are legitimate, not toxic phobia. It does have a quality control problem (endless RPG maker games, minecraft clones, etc). Valve can be sketchy at times (cough, paid mods). Actual cons that purposefully sell demos. Back on topic: is there a Steam group? That'd be convenient.

It's good to see the stryker family expanding. I want USMC with their LAVs and AAVs in BS, though. No marines/naval infantry in Black SEA? 1! 2! 3! 4! I love Marine Corps! VMF or VDV could also be a good counter.

How do I say "Let's Fighting Love"?

Like... Bad Rats... xD I'm a heavy Steam user. But damn... most of the indie games on there are shovelware.

Arma version control is a nightmare -- especially for compats.

I get firepower. Yet, doesn't that mean the squad has to lug around 7.62x54R boxes with them? Is it worth for VDV guys, especially when ammo is an issue? I guess when you have vehicles that carry the ammo near-by it's not an issue. Yeah, everyone I talked to says NBC drills are nightmares. Praying that it'll never not be a drill. Are those cameras mounted on the wings + tail -- or some sort of EW thing?

I had no idea that it was that bad. Very well written article. Now I see why Turkey is doing all they can to stall an assault on Idlib.

Is it possible you're putting your mortar teams in very opportune "NO MORTARS HERE, I SWEAR!" positions? Sometimes too good heavy weapons positions are too good to be true. The scenario designer making them as potential pit falls for the LOS connoisseur.

LOL. Coming from BS, I took 0 dead, and like 5 wounded -- and I pat myself on the back and smile. Then I realize that those 5 wounded severely depleted the combat effectiveness of a platoon, and have to use someone else to clear villages. A damaged Chally 2 is a big deal, when in BS it would be an expected toll.

What's wrong with tacticool fanny packs? xD A question, while we're on the subject: why do these guys got goggles on their foreheads? I don't mind them in-game, because I always see RL RF infantry with these things on their foreheads. All the time. In Syria, in Ukraine -- everywhere. What's their purpose? I know that helis pick up a lot of dust and it's generally a good idea to keep things out of your eyes (when driving, etc.). But, why does nobody wear them and yet are issued to absolutely everyone? Why are they always on the forehead, and not in the fannypack? Is it a fashion choice? Is the RF falling victim to our tacticool NATO fashion? (Also, I really don't get the concept behind the PKP...)

I came from BS and into SF, treating the environment as a near-pear clash. Much less intense, I was taking it easy. Chillin' like a villian. Until a Lada with an IED drew into a Challenger II -- I never knew you could stuff so much nitroglycerin into such a small car... People, who haven't played, like to say that SF and BS are the same thing. I'd say they're almost opposite.

I remember reading a memoir of a British soldier in WW1. He noted the difference of sound, and therefore trajectory, of both MG and rifle fire on trenches. Germans would allow their bullets to drop "with a smack" into an obscured trench, when they did not have a good firing solution. The soldier considered to be much less dangerous than fire coming from flatter trajectories, as those did have a firing solution (snipers, he thought) and kept the infantry pinned. Either way, using direct fire weapons for indirect effect seems to be a common tactic, especially in desperate circumstances.

Many video game companies go against their word, and not include features promised. BFC goes against their word and includes features that were not promised, but highly requested by players. T-72 and mortar fans rejoice!

Why replace RPK with a belt-fed 7.62x54R? When RPK could use AK-mags and parts? I thought they were making RPK-16 the new squad automatic weapon? I guess it doesn't hurt, especially when you got plenty of 72 hulls lying around. Good chassis for support vehicles. Are those Sprut airborne tank destroyers in the middle, past the PLA trucks? Type-86s, eh?

I thought the 72 chassis was an overkill for an MLRS. A T-90 chassis for MLRS? Wouldn't it serve better as a gun tank? So the PKP replacing the PKM, and not the RPK? I was not aware that the IAR was significantly more accurate than the M4. I just remember that it had a better mean time between failures. Makes it more appropriate for rapid fire. Oh, most certainly. They really put on their Sunday's best for this occasion. I wasn't even aware of the 8x8 -- let alone all the various modules available. It all looks fresh off the production line. Only thing that looked remotely cold war were the JH-7s. One of the last fighter-bomber breeds, it's still a perfectly serviceable plane. Sadly no sight of BMP-3Ms, T-80BVM or even T-90s. I did catch a glimpse of a T-72B3 obr. 2016. But way more T-72BVs, which I haven't seen in a while. BMP-2s are still kicking it seems. Also saw a troop or two of Shilkas. All these relics look clean, functional and ready to rock, it looks to me. Which makes this look less like a glorified dress rehearsal and an actual military training exercise.

You are correct, that was exactly what I was talking about. ERA on my TOS? What's going on? Welcome to the forums! I think I saw Wiki mention the 155 version which blew my mind. 122mm seems more practical. The 08 also looks more armoured than the 82... do you know what level of protection it has? One thing I felt omitted from CM:BS was the VDV (as well as the USMC). BMD series is very unique in its concept and I always like playing with them. I noticed the VDV squads bounding with the PKP. Most NATO countries roll with the FN Minimi (or a variant) as the squad AR and FN MAG (or a variant) as the GPMG. As of late, many countries are trying to supplement/replace the AR concept, and by extension the Minimi, with modified service rifles intended for rapid fire. Brits call it LSW, Yanks call it IAR. The trend is that mag-fed is better than belt for a squad, and interchangeable parts are good. The Soviets actually introduced this concept 20 years before the LSW or IAR with the RPK. So, they had the RPK as the squad AR and PKM as the GPMG for a long time. Now, the PKP is seen in the hands of squads around the world. What's the concept behind the PKP? Is it a squad AR? Is it a GPMG? Is it meant to replace either the RPK or PKM? How can it? PKM is a better GPMG with changeable barrel and ubiquitous mountings on vehicles. RPK makes sense as a squad AR for the same reason as LSW or IAR. Is it just to complement? What can it do that the RPK and PKM can't?

Holy moly. I tried looking for screenshots of this thing and I couldn't find anything. Mostly more recent games that are called Drop Zone. I think I remember seeing it on the old Battlefront site (along with other games). Do you know where I may find screenshots?

CM: Korea, 'nam, Iran/Iraq, Napoleon would be fun. Could you imagine a sci-fi CM? A CM: W40k or a CM: Star Wars? Mixing stuff from WW2 titles with future/modern titles? Imperial guard WW2 advances on drone-heavy Tau positions? Scouting with AT-STs? It'd be really easy to make a CM: Star Trek. Just pick up any CM game and convince yourself that a squad is actually Starfleet guys in disguise -- which will account for about 30% of all the series.