Command Observation Post (COP)

[ncc1701e]

Between Artillery Observation Vehicle, I have the choice between:

• PRP-4M
• BTR-80 1V152
• MT-LBU 1V14

Is there any difference between the three? Pros / Cons?

On a side note, why is it not possible to execute the Open Up command on the BTR-80 1V152?

Thanks

[Haiduk]

@ncc1701e

The game use these vehicles very simplified.

The core of COP is 1V14 - vehicle of battery comamnder. 1V14 crew can establish single main observation post or two or three observation posts - main, forward and side. Usually there are main and forward. Main located near battalion HQ. Forward - close to forward positions. Forward obserwation post usually leads control platoon commander and he is a spotter (this is FO team in unit editor). Main observation post usually deployed out of 1V14 - equipmnet allows to use it outside. 1V14 has obsolete equipment, so by experience of Donbas war used mostly as transport, than for FO missions. In real life positin of 1V14 is "zero point" for artillery battery. Relatively it current coordinates, the  firing data are calculated. So, in real life you can't move 1V14 from previous position more than on several dozen meters and open fire immediately - you have to re-calculate own coordinates and this will take as miniumum 6 minutes for very rough result (and probably your firing will have big under/over shots) and about 20 minutes for more precise data. In the game you can change position and open fire simultainously.

PRP-4M - this is the almost the same thing that Forward observation post, but which have own armor and this is vehicle of artillery battalion level. PRP can move on battlefield, determine coordinates of targets, transmit its to 1V14 or on higher levels etc. So, it almost similar by purpose to BRM-1K. PRP-4M has radar and even one of the first Soviet thermal sight 1PN59 (but in the game it probably has radar only). PRP-4M can conduct artillery recon in more improtant sector of artillery battalion or can be attached to one of battalion's battaries as additional recon means

1V152 is new Russian FO vehicle wich should substitute 1V14 and 1V18 (not present in the game - the same as 1V14, but on the base of BTR-60PB for towed artillery) vehicles. But it also can be used with the same purposes like PRP-4.

 

Edited February 17, 2022 by Haiduk

[Simcoe]

6 hours ago, Haiduk said:

@ncc1701e

The game use of these vehicles very simplified.

The core of COP is 1V14 - vehicle of battery comamnder. 1V14 crew can establish single main observation post or two or three observation posts - main, forward and side. Usually there are main and forward. Main located near battalion HQ. Forward - close to forward positions. Forward obserwation post usually leads control platoon commander and he is a spotter (this is FO team in unit editor). Main observation post usually deployed out of 1V14 - equipmnet allows to use it outside. 1V14 has obsolete equipment, so by experience of Donbas war used mostly as transport, than for FO missions. In real life positin of 1V14 is "zero point" for artillery battery. Relatively it current coordinates, the  firing data are calculated. So, in real life you can't move 1V14 from previous position more than on several dozen meters and open fire immediately - you have to re-calculate own coordinates and this will take as miniumum 6 munutes for very rough result (and probaly your firing will have big unde/over shots) and about 20 minutes for more precise data. In the game you can change position and open fire simultainously.

PRP-4M - this is the almost the same thing that Forward observation post, but which have own armor and this is vehicle of artillery battalion level. PRP can move on battlefield, determine coordinates of targets, transmit its to 1V14 or on higher levels etc. So, it almost similar by purpose to BRM-1K. PRP-4M has radar and even one of the first Soviet thermal sight 1PN59 (but in the game it probably has radar only). PRP-4M can conduct artillery recon in more improtant sector of artillery battalion or can be attached to one of battalion's battaries as additional recon means

1V152 is new Russian FO vehicle wich should substitute 1V14 and 1V18 (not present in the game - the same as 1V14, but on the base of BTR-60PB for towed artillery) vehicles. But it also can be used with the same purposes like PRP-4.

 

Damn, always love seeing these in depth posts. 

[ncc1701e]

Thanks for the detailed answer.

[IMHO]

20 hours ago, ncc1701e said:

Is there any difference between the three? Pros / Cons?

US arty observation/recce vehicles improve ToT for arty bombardments if FO is mounted. May be they also improve precision though I haven't tested. Russian/Ukrainian vehicles do not have any effect on ToT so they're no more than a free taxi.

Edited February 17, 2022 by IMHO