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[DRG]

Originally Posted by FASTBOAT TOUGH

USA/DELETE/M1A2C/FORMALLY M1A2 SEP V3/UNIT 537/REDUNDANT TO UNIT 538//
The FCS numbers don't match to UNIT 538. I stopped there.

USA/CHANGE/M1A2 SEP V3-T/UNIT 538/NAME/M1A2C vice M1A2 SEP V3-T/START/JUN 2020 vice OCT 2017/END/DEC 2025 vice DEC 2020//
Everything else appears to be correct.

This is the way the OOB has been set up for weeks for USA 537 .....


.......and 538



538 is the trials version and 537 is the deployment version. If you REALLY feel 538 is inappropriate I can remove it

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Don,
Wasn't aware you used "trial" version tanks in the game.

Alright you've already put the work into this, so I feel that unless you think the "slot" will be needed sooner then later, keep it in.

I'm thinking now, depending on how fast the USA deploys TROPHY, it would make sense to have a M1A2C (SEP 3) (UNIT 538) w/o it onboard.

And let there be no doubts for the "viewing audience" out here, the USA has already determined that this tank will be the first to deploy TROPHY.

New ammo might also "drive" the above in keeping UNIT 538 viable as well.

That'll give the player and AI an option on that tanks deployment in the game.

When it does get to FOC, a simple date change to UNIT 538 and maybe we find a new picture of one kicking up some mud!!!

We have plenty of options here. So again keep it.

I appreciate the feedback.

Time for lunch and back to work.

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

Fine...... there is now a Sep V3 unit without Trophy and a M1A2C-T that does

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Had issues trying to log in again early this morning, sorry for the delay.

Alright just completed a review of my 2019/2020 Submission Campaign Parts 1-3 (Along w/the wash out of Part 3.), to also include all the intervening posts where we hashed out some issues and added a couple of pieces of equipment that came up during the process (i.e. T-64 BULAT M17) and mods based mostly on date and revised equipment (i.e. K2 PIP).

The results were very gratifying for me to see, especially, for South Africa for all the work that was put into researching those tanks and all that came before in the last submissions around 4/5 years before-THANK YOU. I hope some players will take advantage as some of the countries in that area also saw some new tanks in the last patch.

So what did I find, not too much really as indicated above and given Don's workload specifically in the OOB area these were I'm sure just minor oversights and as he posted I ended up giving him 5 pages of printed data just myself.

With that being said I guess this year I need to shoot for at least 6 pages of data!?! Before you get that two or three beers, I'll save you the trip, I'll just "shoot" myself if it gets there.

So there should be no surprises here from well "forever" and the USA/USMC for the MAJOR ABRAMS headache I gave myself starting with M1A1 FEP that opened the door to the rest.

Here's what I got...
INDIA ARJUN MK-1/UNIT 020/END DATE/DEC 2025 VICE DEC 2015//
I believe I posted that they are currently operational in the 43rd Tank Regiment-this strictly by memory earlier this evening.

ARJUN MK-1A/UNIT 021/DELETE/AAG/ADD/RWS w/12.7mm//

ARJUN MK-II/UNIT 022/DELETE AAG/ADD/RWS w/12.7mm//

I think I know why these below might not have gotten changed, first because before it became known as the M1A2C, it was also "officially" called the the ABRAMS SEP V3.

Next was submitted as a COPY of UNIT 517 (M1A2 SEP V2) that represented that Battalion/or Regiment that was sent to Europe in 2018 as an urgent equipment upgrade w/APS as part of a show of force prior to deployment overseas. As far as I can determine TROPHY is still equipped on those tanks. UPDATE: THEY ARE @ 2058.

However it's still not been adopted across the board for the rest of the M1A2 SEP V2 fleet and we're still waiting on FOC for the M1A2C. I can see both sides clearly concerning the APS. That being said I'm putting them here anyway if for no reason to show that "I'm paying attention" out here.

USA:
M1A2 SEP V3/UNIT 538/RENAME TO/M1A2C//

ADD/M1A2 SEP V2/COPY/UNIT 517/ADD/START/JAN 2018/TROPHY APS w/4 SHOTS//

See POST 240 for all of the above

That's it, I'm hitting the rack, GOOD NIGHT/or MORNING!!
(I hit it and feel great!! )

Regards,
Pat

[Suhiir]

The USMC started deactivating it's tank battalions in July 2020 and it's looking like the plan is to have deactivated them all by the end of 2021.

BUT!

Let's not jump the gun on future developments.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I was referring to getting the M1A1 FEP tanks "squared away" but, Don and I had this discussion also when I first started posting on USMC PLAN 2030, so to quote the late great Yogi Berra "It ain't over until it's over" and that's the way we're looking at the USMC MBT situation. Wait and see. Until then, enjoy them in the game.

Also as a side note; within the next month or so, we're likely to know the status of the UK MBT's & APC's. UK MOD is looking to get leaner and more flexible as well and it might cost them their heavy armor and possibly more to a lesser degree as noted above.

COVID is costing the the major economies billions of dollars and something has to give and to some extent that means military budgets.

I will have many posts on equipment where COVID is concerned as I post them.

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

House Rules Apply here, as noted. It is that time of year again.

Don,
After a couple of emails back and forth, Ralph Zwilling from TANK MASTERS has agreed to provide me with answers to my questions concerning the current LEOPARDS in service with the BUNDESWEHR.

My focus is from the LEOPARD 2A5 to the LEOPARD 2A7V.

I also hope to get his thoughts concerning the BOXER T-40 for use in the BUNDESWEHR and concerning the UK's possible acquisition of them vice the AJAX and WARRIOR CSP. KMW has already approached the Government and MOD about procuring the BOXER T-40 which like the French JAGUAR is ready to go vice AJAX and WARRIOR CSP.

I started that Post (Word Doc) concerning the above before work today and will hopefully have it finished before I go back to work Tuesday. I will leave you with this much from my ref, France and Germany adhered to the following...If it ain't broke, don't fix it., the UK should've followed suit.

The issue isn't in the CT-40 Cannon but, in the fact that UK/Lockheed Martin/BAE changed the subsystems vice keeping the one that was designed to support the CT-40 as designed.

They "cocked it up" and it appears they might pay a heavy price for it. So there is no operational AJAX or WARRIOR CSP.

The French might have theirs (JAGUAR) FIELDED possibly by the end of this year or just into 2021 since their Gun Systems actually work.

But before I go, do you have a couple of questions about LEOPARD or other you want me to ask Ralph about?

The man has access, he writes books on their equipment and ours and does a lot of consulting and photographic work to include for JANE's.

Also for you from 19 OCT 2020...
Tank-Masters.de visited 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment "War Eagles“ (USA-Mine) during their training as part of the exercise Dragoon Thunder 20 at the Maneuver Rights Area (MRA) near Hirschau.

Enjoy!
http://tank-masters.de/?cat=4

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

No questions from me. You have it covered

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Don,
IF memory serves, concerning the following example, 120mm/L44 WGO1, the "hi-lighted" portion indicates the ammo type/or upgrade.

Is that correct?

Also if you know, have the LEOPARDS from the 2A5 on, have at least 1 or 2 versions that allow for add on armor "tiles"?

It doesn't look like it concerning the 2A5's from what I saw last night in the OOB.

The German LEOPARD issue has gone beyond the those tanks to include the BOXER. My first email was directed to the BOXER first with a couple beyond that.

Due to the "dismal" amount of MBT's the Germans have, don't be surprised if the LEOPARD 2A5 doesn't get extended.
At the end of 2019, the following battle tank variants and special vehicles were in service: 241 Combat ready tanks not counting the three command variants as hi-lighted below, which I won't submit.

This also leaves out the 2A7V as some of the below will be upgraded to that MBT. Below is from another source (Recently found.) that in numbers and info is on par to Tank Masters.

Leopard 2A5 MBTs: 19
Leopard 2A6 MBTs: 153
Leopard 2A6A1 MBTs: 2
Leopard 2A6MA1 MBTs: 29
Leopard 2A6MA1 MBTs Kommandeursfahrzeug: 1
Leopard 2A6MA2 MBTs: 20
Leopard 2A7 MBTs: 20
Leopard 2A7V MBTs: 104**
Leopard 2 driving training tanks: 21
Bergepanzer 3A0 Büffel ARVs: 17
Bergepanzer 3A0A1 Büffel ARVs: 52
Bergepanzer 3A1 Büffel ARVs: 6
Gepanzertes Brückenlegesystem Leguan: 7*

I'm going to give Ralph a baseline to compare the current LEOPARDS in service in the things that matter to us i.e. TI/GSR and other aspects of the FCS etc. without "overloading" him. I'll be using the following below...

For comparison ABRAMS SEP - LEOPARD 2A6 w/ ATTICA/ABRAMS SEP V2 - LEOPARD 2A6MA2/LEOPARD 2A7 w/PERI R17A3 and finally M1A2C (SEP V3) - LEOPARD 2A7V (Which might be fielded, subject to verification.) the reason should be obvious to some, as these a near "peer" tanks in the world of heavy armor.

That will minimize the work so I'm not having to "reinvent the wheel" on most aspects of these tanks, especially since we ironed out the ABRAM's last year.

I guess my first submission will be about the German OOB as it looks now.

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

Originally Posted by FASTBOAT TOUGH

Don,
I memory serves, concerning the following example, 120mm/L44 WGO1, the "hi-lighted" portion indicates the ammo type/or upgrade.

Is that correct?

Yes the last bit indicates the year in general terms