Re: [GZG] [OFFICIAL] Question: was Re: [SG3]: What if?

[Phillip Atcliffe <atcliffe@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Samuel Penn wrote:
> Assuming a major war (which doesn't result in total annihilation of both sides within 30 minutes), you'll have time and incentive to build
> the factories to build the UAVs. 
Incentive, perhaps, but time? I dunno. If there's one thing that 
post-Vietnam combat has shown, it's that you go to war with what you 
have available at that time, both in terms of go-forces and replacement 
equipment. You (or an ally) can ship in already-manufactured stuff to 
replace losses, but there's no time to build new tanks, aircraft, AFVs 
-- even missiles. It takes too long to make, even using a factory that's 
producing the item(s) in question at the start of the war. There have 
been a few inspired improvisations (like the GBU-28 "bunker-buster" 
bombs) and conversions (Vulcans converted to the tanker and SEAD roles), 
and even quick introductions of equipment nominally in the test and 
evaluation stage, but modern war is too fast and too intense to allow 
equipment, particularly aircraft, to be made from scratch.

The fighting would have to bog down for some reason to give one or both 
sides enough time to start or accelerate production runs. It could well 
happen, but you can't depend on it. When the balloon goes up these days, 
what you and/or your friends have in the way of equipment, in service or 
in reserve, is all there is. Out on other worlds... well, maybe. How 
much room can you trade for time while you ramp up production, amd will 
there be enough of anything left by the time it gets going to make the 
effort worthwhile?

Phil




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