New Cold War 2020 mod release! (RC 0.4)

[RecruitMonty]

I don't want to insult your intelligence, but did you leave the "[image]" part out of the address?

[maicol]

I liked this mod, I think it has really great potential. All those new icons, pics and soviet OOB changes are really nice! =)
I've noticed one little bug - T-62 icon is really messed up.

And a few balancing thoughts about soviets, will formulate them later.

[PlasmaKrab]

Quick update:

Latest DL link looks dead more or less, here's a RapidShare one for now.

Working on RC.0.5 for now, focusing on "peripheral theaters", hopefully I'll manage to get some campaigns in.

[AresMars]

Do you have a unit list PlasmaKrab ?

[Spike11]

First, a question: I've been mobhacking quite a bit, but I've only used existing icons. What I haven't figured out yet (and this is probably just my hacking (in-)experience showing...), is how to include some of the new icons out there. For instance, I would really like to steal some of your Cold War 2020 icons for my private MOBhack - for instance the T-95 icon. Can someone help me out here..?

I also have a tiny question/suggestion: Isn't it true that the Russians seem to be going for a 152 mm, not a 135, when experimenting with new tank armament? Is this something to consider for a new version?

Thanks in advance,
Spike

[Spike11]

Just another question/comment... You have fitted the Tu-160 with a decent load of 1000 lb bombs. Pounds? Russian bombs are metrical, are they not? There are 250 kgs, 500 kgs, 1000 kgs and even 1500 kg laser guided munitions.

Also, the Tu-160 is the largest bomber in the world and it carries - at least according to the sources I've read - a heavier bomb load than anything else on the planet. 32 1000 lb bombs equals roughly 15 000 kgs, quite a bit, but still less than what the Tu-22M carries. Is this a mistake, or is it really the case?

[PlasmaKrab]

Hi Spike, and thanks for the interest.

Regarding icon importing and exporting, better refer to these two threads where things have been dicussed and explained at length:

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...b=5&o=&fpart=1
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...b=5&o=&fpart=1

Russian 1000lb bombs corrected to FAB-500. I let that one slip as it is standard-default weapon linked to Greater Purposes like ammo explosions.

Now regarding bomb loadouts, that's an interesting point. As you mention, the Tu-160 apparently has the largest theoretical payload of all strat bombers in service. Now bear in mind that 1) there are other factors limiting the number of bombs carried IRL like bomb bay room and 2) there may be game-linked balance issues that mean bomb loadouts have been regarded as too large at some earlier point.
If you look closely, you'll notice that the Vietnam-era US B-52s have been given about 2/3 of the bombs they are able to carry, according to Greg Goebel's account.
Thing is, I can't find data on bomb bay layout in the Tu-160 (or earlier Tupolev bombers btw), so I don't know how many of which bombs you can fit in. Given the high-speed/low-observable profile of the aircraft, I'd tend to shun the underwing bomb racks for the standard variant.

Re. the T-95 and its gun, I know about the 152mm gun, but I have kept the 135mm as first intel suggested waaay back, on account of it being more compatible with previous Soviet tank design, mainly in tank size, ammo storage room and autoloader design. In other words, in a T-80-like hull like that of the early low-profile T-95, you could hardly stow 25 152mm rounds, and even then, they would be so short that you'd lose most of what you gained on APDS penetration. IMHO a much more radical tank design would be needed to accommodate a 152, and by the time I have such designs available, I have already switched to high-efficiency ETC 85mm.

[Marcello]

"Thing is, I can't find data on bomb bay layout in the Tu-160 (or earlier Tupolev bombers btw), so I don't know how many of which bombs you can fit in."

I do not have much time at the moment, so you will have to wait for further details and sources. But as far as I remember the only weapons that can be carried in the standard version are Kh-55/Kh-15. No conventional bombs or stuff like that. The modernization which is being carried out should enable enable various conventional bombs to be fitted.
But the non modernized planes are specialized missile carriers with no free fall bombs capabilities.

[Spike11]

Hi!

Thanks for the reply, I'll look into the icon issue later today, if I get the time.

Regarding the Tu-160 issue, for my own hack, I have simply taken the Tu-22M layout from the original version and added a few bombs - 8 1000 kg bombs per slot instead of 6. I haven't filled it to the suggested max capacity from some sources, but I still thought it made sense that the largest Russian bomber carried the largest load.

The 152 mm thingy is quite interesting, because afaik, this is where the Russians are be heading sometime in the future, and the sources I've seen, seem to suggest an ammo storage of about 40 for the T-95 (and even for the upgraded T-80...). It sounds weird, so the obvious conclusion must be considering/developing a larger ammo storage. This again suggests a larger design or less armour, which is not the case... For my hack, I've made the T-95 slightly larger (size 5) and given it approx 40 rounds. Probably all wrong, but it is a functioning compromise (I've also given upgraded NATO tanks a 140 mm gun with a similar layout).

I've also noticed that some of your later Russian ATGMs have not been designated as DC or TA. Is this an oversight, or is it deliberate?

Great hack anyway, keep up the good work!

[PlasmaKrab]

Thanks for the info, Marcello. That the original version of the Tu-160 cannot carry anything else than nuke cruise missiles make sense, as that was the case with most cold-war era strat bombers.
That the modernization allowing it to carry conventional ordnance happens only these days at a slow pace (I guess) is one of the things the Cold War mod is precisely meant to correct. From this day my bomber Blackjacks happen only from 1995 onwards.

Re. 152mm, we shall see if the Russians are heading anywhere like this in the real world. AFAIK no country has actually got anything beyond the 120/125 standard in service, despite numerous design efforts (Leopard-2KWS3, Leclerc, K2, Merkava-Mk4...) so the need isn't that appalling, and real-life Russians have enough work catching up on APFSDS technology and maybe transitioning to one-piece ammo (qv Black Eagle) before doing anything silly.
Talking about ammo loadout, I realize I have been a bit on the generous size with my T-95s.
AFAIK the original projects for the 140mm gun called for a two-piece round taking the room of 1.5 120mm round, meaning around 30 rounds for converted Western tanks. That's without including lengthened storage that would be obvious on autoloading tanks and should raise the ammo count to ~36.

You'll have to tell me more about these ATGMs, Spike, because I don't see where the issue is.

Keeping up the good work, R.C.0.5 due next week...