Improving the UK OOB

[James Fennell]

The Combat Engineer Tractor entered service in 1976 and was not withdrawn until the 2010s. Its a comibnation bulldozer, earth mover and amphibious bridging vehicle capable of 35mph on land and 8 knots in water. The honeycombed aluminium armour gives about the same protection as the CVR(T) Scorpion light tank. The CET is fitted with a rocket propelled anchor and a 100m steel hawser and winch, which it can use to rapidly estabished bridging points. It can also use its swimming characteristics, winch and two powerful waterjets to recover stranded vehicles during fording operations and rapidly build pontoon bridges. The 17.5 ton CET has two drivers back to back, enabling it to manourvre in either direction with agility.

[James Fennell]

The Chieftain AVLB (Armoured Vehicle Lifting Bridge) was used alongside the Centurion AVRE and CET as a bridge carrier for gap crossing and was normally fitted with a mine plough. It entered service in 1972 and has the same weight and protection as a normal Chieftain tank.

[James Fennell]

From 1957 to 1977 the British army operated the English Electric Thunderbird medium range SAM system. Although it bears a paasing resemblance to the RAF's Bloodhound system it was in fact a completley different, samller and more mobile weapon, using solid fuel rockets rather than ramjets. Thunderbird had performance similar to other semi-portable missiles like the US MIM-23 Hawk and fully mobile Soviet 2K11 Krug, although it pre-dates both of these systems. After its mid-life upgrades, which shared several components with the RAF's Bristol Bloodhound, Thunderbird featured a continuous-wave radar semi-active homing system that was highly resistant to radar jamming and deception, and was able to track targets even at very low altitudes.

[James Fennell]

The Chieftain Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle (ARRV) entered service in 1972 and was used to both repair and recover heavy armoured vehicles. Based on the Mk 3 chassis it had a powerful winch, lifting crane and dozer blade snd could make 25 mph.

[James Fennell]

The Centurion Mk II Armoured Recovery Vehicle entered service in 1956 and was finally withdrawn in 1980. Built on a Mk III chassis it had a box like superstructure and was equipped with a powerful winch and dozer blade. It weighted 51 tons and had the same armour as the Centurion Mk. III tank and was capable of 22 mph.

[James Fennell]

The Italian designed L5 105mm pack howitizer was introduced in 1959 to replace the American WW2 vintage 75mm pack howitzers and 25 pounders in the commando and parachute artillery batteries. The weapon was chosen becuase it was very light and capable of being transported undserslung by early helicopters. It was however short ranged and fragile and was replaced by the L118 light gun from 1976 to 1980. A compact weapon, its prime mover was the long wheelbase landrover. The L5 was extensively used in Aden and Borneo in the 1960s, and by ANZAC forces in Vietnam. The picture shows an L5 in use in Radfan in 1964.
Shell weight 14.9 kg (33 lb)[2]
Calibre 105 mm (4.13 in)
Breech Vertical sliding-block
Recoil Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage Split trail
Elevation -7° to +65°
Traverse 56°[1]
Rate of fire 10 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity 416.0 m/s (1,360 ft/s)
Maximum firing range 10,000 m (10,900 yd)[1]

[James Fennell]

The L2 BAT (Battalion Anti Tank) 120mm recoiless gun replaced both the 17lber and 6lber anti-tank guns in the infantry regiments and divisions from 1952-1960. It was very heavy and needed an Austin Champ prime mover. Most were converted to the more mobile MOBAT variant by 1960. The BAT was towed by the Oxford 7.5 ton carrier or the Austin Champ. MOBATs were towed by landrovers.

Shell: 12.8 kg (28 lb 4 oz) HESH
Effective firing range: 1,000 m (1,100 yd)
Maximum firing range: 1,610 m (1,760 yd)

[James Fennell]

The WOMBAT 120mm RCLR was introduced in 1961. It used the same gun as the BAT/MOBAT but fitted to a much lighter magnesium alloy 2 wheel carriage, when enabled the weapon to be man portable and carried by light vehicles 'en portee'. It was ususally carried on a landrover, some were also fitted to FV432 and Saracen APCs. The WOMBAT remained in service in reserve units until 1985, but was largely replaced by the Milan ATGM system in front line units by 1980. The Australian Army used the WOMBAT in Vietnam.

[James Fennell]

As far a colonial and irregular troops went, the Brtish still maintained indigenous forces in Africa and the Middle East through to 1974. Here is a platoon of King's African Rifles during the Mau Mau rebellion in 1955. They are armed with the SMLE Mk 5 'Jungle Carbine', the Sterling SMG and the Bren.

[James Fennell]

This solider is from the Federal Regular Army in Aden in 1964, a brigade of which was completly under British command and armed with SMLE, Sterling SMG, Bren, 2" Mortar, 3" OML Mortars and Vickers MMGs. There was also an anti-tank company with 106mm RCRLs and an Armoured Car Squadron with Ferret Mk 2 armoured cars.

[James Fennell]

These men under training with Sterling SMG are Trucial Oman Scouts. Considered a high quality and loyal unit, after 1958 they got better equipment including FAL SLRs. They maintaiend a distinctive uniform with blue grey shirts, khaki trousers and bediouin headdress.

[James Fennell]

Another view of the Ferret Mk 5.

[James Fennell]

And another picture of the Humber Hornet,

[James Fennell]

Although the Bofors L70 40mm AAA weapon may look superficially similar to its WW2 counterpart the L60, it was a giant leap forward in performance having powered gunlaying and twice the rate of fire and effective altitude. The British army adopted the type in 1957 and continued to use them to 1985 (some were even sent to the Falklands with 5 Brigade). The L70 remains in production to this day. They should demonstate much greater lethality against jets and helicopeters than the earlier L60s. The L70 40 mm design uses a larger 40×365R round firing a slightly lighter 870 g shell at a much higher 1,030 m/s (3,379 fps) muzzle velocity. The rate of fire was increased to 240 rounds per minute (4.0 rounds per second). Additionally, the carriage was modified to be power-laid, the power being supplied by a generator placed on the front of the carriage. The first version was produced in 1947, accepted in 1948 as the "40 mm lvakan m/48", and entered Swedish service in 1951. Additional changes over the years have improved the firing rate first to 300 rpm (5.0 rounds per second), and later to 330 rpm (5.5 rps). L70 bofors were used in Cyprus, Malaya, Borneo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Oman and Aden as well as with the RAF Regiment and BAOR in Germany.

[James Fennell]

The AEC Militant prime mover was adopted in 1946 and used until 1965 - it was the main prime mover for the 5.5" gun from 1947-1962. The Militant was a 6x6 development of the wartime AEC Matador with a more powerful diesel engine. It was also used as a recovery vehicle.

[James Fennell]

The M2 Alligator Amphibious Bridging Rig (German made) was in use from 1966-85. I believe you already have it in the game as part of the Israeli OOB.

[James Fennell]

Here is the Alvis Ferret Mk 1, command and liaison car, which replaced the Daimler Dingo. It had an open top and pintle mounted a Bren or (after 1957) a L4 LMG. It was used from 1951-85. This one is with the Royal Tank Regiment in Cyprus in 1956.

[Big Ivan]

Very nice and detailed presentation on UK equipment James!

Thank you!![:D]

[James Fennell]

Thanks! - I'm trying to highlight iterms on the OOB that could be added! I'm having a go myself, but good for future Vietnam and Cold War iterations too.

[James Fennell]

The Army Air Corps used the Westland Sioux AH-1 (licence built Bell 47) as its main training and light obvservation helicopter from 1965-80. Some were also used by the Royal Marine Commando Squadron - they replaced the Auster AOP 9, SR Skeeter and UH-12 Raven. From 1974 the Sioux was replaced with the arrival of the turbine powered Westland Gazelle. A flight of six Sioux was attached to every armoured recce regiment. The Bell 47 is included in the game but needs to be added to the UK OOB.