Re: [DS2] net software Q

Tony Christney wrote:

>Oerjan:
> 
>Well, I guess that I am also implicitly assuming that all of the
>special weapon ammo is distributed throughout the vehicle, troops,
>etc. Sure, it takes up extra space but the extra amount, once spread
>between the troops in a squad, is insignificant.

No, it's not. Believe me - I build such special weapon ammo for a
living, and keeping the size of the handling package/launch tube down
to something which actually fits in an IFV together with an infantry
squad is often a serious problem. I can't vouch for artillery spotting
equipment since we don't build it in-house, but there's a very good
reason why 2-man LAD (hand-held SAMs) and GMS infantry elements should
take up *at least* as much space as a 4-man rifle team.

To take a modern example: 

The M2A2 Bradley IFV carries 6 or 8 (can't remember which at the
moment) grunts and 5 TOW missiles, in addition to its crew.

The M2A3 Bradley CFV carries 2 grunts and 12 missiles in the same space
where the M2A2 carried the full squad and 5 missiles. 

IOW, 7 extra missile *reloads* - GMS/Hs, but without the launcher -
takes up about as much internal space as 4 or 6 men. 

Light ATGMs (GMS/L in DS2 terms) are somewhat smaller and lighter than
heavy ones, certainly, but the difference in volume for the launch
tube/handling package (which is what's important for logistics) is
surprisingly small. Future developments will probably reduce the
missile sizes, but even if the volume goes down by 50% (which means
that the missile may be at most 25-35% the volume of today's missiles)
the specialist ammo *still* takes up as much space as two men.

>Remember, specialist elements don't carry rifles and their squad
>mates will usually be more than happy to carry a little extra weight
in >exchange for the added firepower.

It's a nice thought, but I'm afraid you need to rethink it. A rifle -
particularly a bullpup - is simply nowhere near the size of an ATGM or
SAM, even if you include a few hundred extra rifle rounds.

Sure, the riflemen in the rifle element can carry the extra missile
reloads once they're *outside* their vehicle; the problem is to fit
both men and missiles *inside* it. And to do so in a fashion which
allows the men to dismount fast - with *all* of the specialist
equipment; something which would be quite impossible if you "distribute
the ammo throughout the vehicle".

>IIRC, you don't have to use extra capacity for specialist elements
>in SG2, so why would you in DS2?

You're the one who invoked "realism" in your previous post. In this
particular respect DS2 is a couple hundred percent more realistic than
SG2, so why do you use the SG2 mechanic?

Regards,

Oerjan Ohlson
oerjan.ohlson@telia.com

"Life is like a sewer.
  What you get out of it, depends on what you put into it."
- Hen3ry