Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[Suhiir]

I tend to ignore reserve units and legacy units ... also FOC, and look at probable deployments.

Example: At the start of the first Gulf War the USMC had a handful of M1's but acquired enough (regular and HA) that 50% of their fielded tank force (all of 2 battalions) was M1s. So I consider both the M60 ans M1 to be equally available from 1991 thru 1994.

In 1975-6 I was with an active duty unit that still used M14s as their primary (and only) rifle, yet the OOB doesn't show the M14 as being available as an option at that time.

So yes, there are "inaccuracies", but what's "probable" is what the OOB represents not what's "possible" (generally).

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I can't agree with your logic concerning Reserve Units once called up they are normally attached to Active Units to supplement "manpower" or "equipment" shortages or in the case of the AH-1W earlier this year...

"The last detachment of AH-1Ws to complete a deployment returned earlier this year with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The detachment, temporarily assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 365 (Reinforced), was part of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 (HMLA-167), based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina."
https://seapowermagazine.org/marine-...a-helicopters/

By your reasoning then, since they don't count, I guess we can get rid all the National Guardsman Units in the USA OOB and free up all those slots.

I can speak of the Army at this point...
"The major differences between the Guard and Reserve have to do with the nature of duty–Reserve members operate under the jurisdiction of the DoD and may be called up to serve in times of war, in expeditionary campaigns, for humanitarian relief, and any other mission-essential function.

National Guard troops can be activated by the Governor of your state, and they may also be called up by the President of the United States."

So those Reserve Units regardless of service branch, will get called up first to respond to a National Emergency.
https://militarybenefits.info/active...erve-or-guard/

Legacy Units are the "bridge" until whatever replaces them, replaces them. And that can take a decade or longer to happen. Therefore they get upgraded to sustain their combat readiness as has been clearly demonstrated.

FOC I don't see how this doesn't matter. I tried to find the response from one of our people out here who shortly after I posted the changes for INDIA's tanks (I remember it was the T-90MS.) for the last patch, he was grateful that those tanks and in particular, the T-90MS dates got changed to reflect RL.

I believe those got entered on receipt of the test beds for evaluation of them.

He frustration dealt with the fact that he plays Pakistan vs India and the AI kept picking those and other tanks NOT yet in service.

As I see it from all my years in Board gaming to early PC (Steel Panthers) games to now was to maintain the equipment as close to RL as possible and then leave to the players to fight them as they desire under historical, current news or any option their imagination can come up with.

And besides concerning FOC, this is...
1) What Don expects of me as the "gold standard" and has been his mantra out here in I don't know how many posts over the years.

2) It goes against my own personal integrity to do otherwise. I will not compromise on that for the sake of expediency or any other reason. You do the job right or you don't do it at all. that's from my up bringing, mentors and my work and military career. Otherwise I wasted my time during the 2019/2020 Campaign as FOC was a big part of that work along with many other factors.

3) In our game reviews we have been "touted" by most of those reviewers for our diligence in updating the game and maintaining the accuracy of our "equipment".

4) Most importantly, it's about the players, that response I got had the whole thing worth while. I've NEVER felt it was about us, but ONLY about the players. That's why I do this and hopefully will be able to continue to do so until JAN/FEB 2026 when I can be a player again.

At least later today is my "HUMP DAY" might be a "double" retirement in 2026, that's an awesome thought!?!

It's very late and I'm tired, so Good Night!

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

as with them all but in this case, I was surprised by the 8-year discrepancy

[Suhiir]

More often then not when USMC Reserve units are called up it's JUST the warm bodies, their equipment stays at home, So the vehicles and such used are the same as those used by active duty forces not the odds-n-sods they normally use at home.

I have no clue about the National Guard/US Army. But strongly suspect they're handled very differently to a US Army Reserve unit. And I know in some cases Reserve/NG units exist to provide capabilities that active duty forces lack (example railroad support).

[whdonnelly]

Many of our escort units in Afghanistan were US Army Reserve units activated for 6 months at a time. Some of these guys identified as Guard also, not sure if there is some sort of dual membership option for the ones that want to deploy. They did the training as a unit before leaving the US.
In this case they had their personal equipment but fell in on things like MRAPs or up-armored SUVs that never left theater.

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by whdonnelly

In this case they had their personal equipment but fell in on things like MRAPs or up-armored SUVs that never left theater.

The USMC Reserve operates the same way.
Your personal equipment you bring with you but ALL weapons and vehicles are issued once you arrive wherever you're going. No real point shipping stuff across country then half way around the world. Just pull it out of the depots, that's what they're there for after all.

I suspect (yes this is a guess) those that were National Guard were transferred to the Reserve for the duration of their deployment because it simplified administration (i.e. no need to send their pay back to their home state/unit in order for it to be in turn sent to the regular army unit handling financial matters in the theater of operation where they're deployed).

[Imp]

Its sort of drifted off topic but the fact the US probably has more equipment stored around the world than most countries could field takes a bit of processing.

[Karagin]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

I suspect (yes this is a guess) those that were National Guard were transferred to the Reserve for the duration of their deployment because it simplified administration (i.e. no need to send their pay back to their home state/unit in order for it to be in turn sent to the regular army unit handling financial matters in the theater of operation where they're deployed).

National Guard and Army Reserves don't mix together. They are not transferred to the other. This was tried back in 2003, they mixed units from different branches of the Army and that didn't work out as well as they hoped. Mainly because the BS of one branch is better than the other came into play far too often.

Guard also has a shorter rotation than reserves as far as deployment time goes.

[Karagin]

Originally Posted by whdonnelly

Many of our escort units in Afghanistan were US Army Reserve units activated for 6 months at a time. Some of these guys identified as Guard also, not sure if there is some sort of dual membership option for the ones that want to deploy. They did the training as a unit before leaving the US.
In this case they had their personal equipment but fell in on things like MRAPs or up-armored SUVs that never left theater.

6 months for reserves? Yeah, haven't seen that 9 to 12 months for the Reserves, less for the Guard.

After 2007 units fell in on in-theater equipment, the only things they brought were weapons, gear, and special need items for the mission. Then again unless the fighting is initial day one, units will fall in on equipment already there, unless they need to bring forward new items like Strykers or whatever the new wonder toy of the day is.

National Guard and US Army Reserve units deploy as complete units unless they are split up to fill out other units of the same component and after the mess of the let's mix units in 2003, they don't mingle them together beyond a company working with another company.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Many Squadrons have achieved IOC with the F-35 we currently have them in to soon. And the "Gorilla in the room" is simply that for land based equipment FOC has been always the standard and we've corrected many units from many countries to achieve that standard.

All you have to do is look at the last 2 years of submissions. They were mostly about fixing those same issues.

This has been done in the past as well as was submitted for all other equipment "classes" including this thread.

Every time we rush to get something in due to external or other reasons, we pay a steep price, more so for Don and I would think to an unknown degree Andy.

For one, and to be nice, this "stuff" overclocks my ram!

The clock is running and these type of issues take away from all the equipment that is actually at FOC but ARE NOT in the game because we're chasing these issues.

I mentioned earlier I have such equipment dating back to 2015, I recently found from files kept from a different browser.

ONLY Israel has declared their F-35i at FOC on DEC. 06, 2017 after a year of training and evaluation.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/12/0...y-operational/

Second Squadron comes on line operationally on 10 Aug. 2020.
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/isr...al/2020/08/10/

And Israel does what it has always with any foreign piece of equipment they but after "playing with it" awhile, they improve upon it. In this case it took just 4 years to do so in NOV 2020.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/is...tel-nof-648867
https://theaviationist.com/2020/11/1...just-received/

Remember Israel's Strategic and Tactical situation has never allowed for such things as budget delays, logistical supply issues (ODIN for us as already posted.) but, the most important item of all is their not flying our F-35's and therefore NOT dealing with our issues .

Like INDIA, VIETNAM etc. from one of those above last last patches can only buy the T-90S and NOT the better T-90A or if you wish substitute foreign operated ABRAMS with NO DU armor as a "starter" on that topic.

I hope on this equipment we're not "drifting away from our core values", some won't like what I just wrote, and that's OK with me. But it doesn't change nor should it from how we've operated out here for so many years now.

Well this post has now gotten me in the right frame of mind to fight the "Redman" tomorrow. I feel bad for the person in the suit as our training Lt. likes it when I train the way we're expected to fight. And we got a "new hire" class, should be fun!

Have a good night/morning all!

Regards,
Pat