US firepower vs WP firepower

Matrix Games and Simulations Canada combine and completely remake two classic NATO vs. Warsaw Pact wargames into a new classic. Based on the original wargames “Main Battle Tank: North Germany” and “Main Battle Tank: Central Germany”, Flashpoint Germany is a new grand tactical wargame of modern combat. Every aspect of modern grand tactical warfare is included, from advanced armor, air and helicopters to chemical and tactical nuclear weapons. Step into the most dangerous war.. . that never was.

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Crimguy
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by Crimguy »

ORIGINAL: hank

- someone else asked about more statistics when the game was over ... I too would like to see a list of destroyed vehicles, casualties, etc.
(like M1A1-12 destroyed; M2 Bradley-24 destroyed; T80-1; etc.)

I concur. I'd like to see something like what's built into combat mission - click on a unit's details, and get to see that unit's kill tally. A final spreadsheet of stats would be nice too . . .
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MikeBrough
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by MikeBrough »

ORIGINAL: CoffeeMug
ORIGINAL: Chelco

LOL, I didn't mean missile/shell-dodging tanks. I don't know about the TOW, but the acquisition of a moving target with a 120mm gun is kinda more difficult than the acquisition of non-moving one. Even with the most advanced optics and lead computing devices.
Thank you.
Cheers,

Hi,

to spot a moving target is MUCH easier than spotting a stationary target. So, the two or three seconds you need to acquire the target which moves sideways from your point of view, and to give the ballistic computer the lead is no problem.

Furthermore, a target moving sideways and offering its flank to you is no threat to you, actually.

CoffeeMug, did you really mean that statement? Are you saying that a platoon of M1A2s moving past you and offering their flanks are no threat? Perhaps they're a more easily destroyed threat but those turrets swing round quite well.
A target which moves into your direction is a much bigger threat, but there you dont have to care about dynamic lead if you fire sabot. When firing HEAT just put the reticule a little bit below the target center. The target will drive into the round. [8D]

Cheers,

CM
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by CoffeeMug »

ORIGINAL: MikeBrough



CoffeeMug, did you really mean that statement? Are you saying that a platoon of M1A2s moving past you and offering their flanks are no threat? Perhaps they're a more easily destroyed threat but those turrets swing round quite well.

Yep [:)]

When tank platoons fight within main comat distance (up to 2500m), basically two tanks fight in a duel situation. They just exchange shots. When both tanks are able to kill the adversary with one round (penetration ability of the round!), the tank crew which opens fire first and hits the target, is usually the one which survives.

Now we have a sideways moving target and the observing tank opens fire. The target tank obviously attacks in a different direction and is not scanning in the direction of the firing tank, but in the diretion of movement. Perhaps the tank commander of the target scans the environment standing in the turret, but it's hard to identify another tank 2000m away.

The firing tank fires and after about one second (1600m/sec when sabot) the round hits the target with a probability of 80-90%. Even if the round misses, the target tank has a very small chance to kill the attacking tank (swivel the turret, identify the target, laser the distance and fire one round, the round travels 2000m and has the same probability to hit as above). During that time between being attacked and the round being at the target (about 10 sec) the attacker has another 2 chances to destroy the target.

A sideways moving target poses a threat, but no threat in comparison to a target moving in your direction.

Cheers,

CM
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Erik Rutins
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by Erik Rutins »

ORIGINAL: hank
Sorry about the divergence Erik. I don't run into many SB people.

No problem, feel free to carry on in the General Discussion - I'm sure if you start a topic there, some more folks will pop out of the woodwork. [8D]

Regards,

- Erik
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by Real and Simulated Wars »

ORIGINAL: Crimguy
I think we'll only have an answer as someone becomes truly competent in deploying the WP units and can demonstrate it in-game. The AI isn't up to the task, but did anyone expect otherwise?

Hi Crimguy,
You bring very good points. I quote you because I wanted to mention that last night I ran US-WP scenario 1 ("The Titans"), both players commanded by the AI, and the WP won very easily with very few losses. I later used the scenario editor to change deployment areas, re-ran the game (both sides commanded by the AI) and again the WP won with very few losses.
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by 2ndACR »

IIRC, Iraq was using home grown ammo for their tanks that lacked the power of Russian made ammo. Memory is a little fuzzy, but I seem to remember our Sqdrn S2 mentioning it to us when we got back to Germany. Russian ammo was too expensive for Iraq, so they started up their own production factory and then short changed either the propelant or used inferior goods.

So, trying to use Iraq as an example of Russian killing power is a little skewed from the start.
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by MikeBrough »

ORIGINAL: CoffeeMug
ORIGINAL: MikeBrough



CoffeeMug, did you really mean that statement? Are you saying that a platoon of M1A2s moving past you and offering their flanks are no threat? Perhaps they're a more easily destroyed threat but those turrets swing round quite well.

Yep [:)]

When tank platoons fight within main comat distance (up to 2500m), basically two tanks fight in a duel situation. They just exchange shots. When both tanks are able to kill the adversary with one round (penetration ability of the round!), the tank crew which opens fire first and hits the target, is usually the one which survives.

Now we have a sideways moving target and the observing tank opens fire. The target tank obviously attacks in a different direction and is not scanning in the direction of the firing tank, but in the diretion of movement. Perhaps the tank commander of the target scans the environment standing in the turret, but it's hard to identify another tank 2000m away.

The firing tank fires and after about one second (1600m/sec when sabot) the round hits the target with a probability of 80-90%. Even if the round misses, the target tank has a very small chance to kill the attacking tank (swivel the turret, identify the target, laser the distance and fire one round, the round travels 2000m and has the same probability to hit as above). During that time between being attacked and the round being at the target (about 10 sec) the attacker has another 2 chances to destroy the target.

A sideways moving target poses a threat, but no threat in comparison to a target moving in your direction.

Cheers,

CM

I'm happier with that last sentence, CM. [:)]

To a certain extent, what you're saying holds good if you're defending in a tank that has that 80-90% chance of a hit at 2500m. But, if you're poor Ivan in a T-72 and a platoon of M1A2s or Challengers is heading across your bow, you wouldn't be thinking 'They're no threat'.
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by CoffeeMug »

ORIGINAL: MikeBrough

To a certain extent, what you're saying holds good if you're defending in a tank that has that 80-90% chance of a hit at 2500m. But, if you're poor Ivan in a T-72 and a platoon of M1A2s or Challengers is heading across your bow, you wouldn't be thinking 'They're no threat'.

Well, the APFSDS-T round of the 125mm smoothbore gun of the T-72 has a penetration capabilty of about 600mm of standard tank steel after flying 2000m. IMO, chances are good that the round penetrates the armour.

A M1 tank platoon will loose at least 2 tanks when caught in the flank. In the role of the RED platoon leader I would order a surprising platoon volley on ONE tank and switching targets after the turret of the first flies off.

Being caught in the flank means casualties, no matter in which tank you sit in.

Cheers,

CM
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by Mike_w »

Well, the APFSDS-T round of the 125mm smoothbore gun of the T-72 has a penetration capabilty of about 600mm of standard tank steel after flying 2000m. IMO, chances are good that the round penetrates the armour

MAybe, but what about ceramic/Chobham layered armor? Not saying you wrong, I really don't know[;)]
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by Erik Rutins »

From the flank, with Soviet ammo, a T-80 certainly could penetrate an M1A1. With all modern tanks, there is much more armor up front than on the flanks or rear, usually by a factor of three or four. Chobham armor would offer more protection if the Soviets were firing HEAT, but not against sabot.

With all that can be said about Iraqi tactics and ammo deficiencies, there remain some lessons about NATO vs. WP that can be gained from the Gulf War and those do indicate that NATO had a quality advantage. I think FPG reflects the quality difference accurately, but the main source of pain for the WP side is the advantage of defending. We're looking to balance that a bit more in the first update - Rob has implemented some ideas which are being tested now and should make things a bit easier for the attacker (assuming good tactics, as always).

Regards,

- Erik
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by MikeBrough »

ORIGINAL: CoffeeMug
ORIGINAL: MikeBrough

To a certain extent, what you're saying holds good if you're defending in a tank that has that 80-90% chance of a hit at 2500m. But, if you're poor Ivan in a T-72 and a platoon of M1A2s or Challengers is heading across your bow, you wouldn't be thinking 'They're no threat'.

Well, the APFSDS-T round of the 125mm smoothbore gun of the T-72 has a penetration capabilty of about 600mm of standard tank steel after flying 2000m. IMO, chances are good that the round penetrates the armour.

A M1 tank platoon will loose at least 2 tanks when caught in the flank. In the role of the RED platoon leader I would order a surprising platoon volley on ONE tank and switching targets after the turret of the first flies off.

Being caught in the flank means casualties, no matter in which tank you sit in.

Cheers,

CM

I'd read that their accuracy wasn't great. Even if the Red platoon shoot takes out 1 of the Blue tanks, the other 2 or 3 Blues have slewed round and finished your platoon off.
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by Crimguy »

IIRC, Iraq was using home grown ammo for their tanks that lacked the power of Russian made ammo. Memory is a little fuzzy, but I seem to remember our Sqdrn S2 mentioning it to us when we got back to Germany. Russian ammo was too expensive for Iraq, so they started up their own production factory and then short changed either the propelant or used inferior goods.

So, trying to use Iraq as an example of Russian killing power is a little skewed from the start

Good point. Can't argue with that.
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by Crimguy »

Erik - maybe what's needed in the update are a few scenarios that place NATO at a disadvantage, as opposed to changing the data. Ones where the defenses are not optimal, and NATO must rush it's units into position.

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

From the flank, with Soviet ammo, a T-80 certainly could penetrate an M1A1. With all modern tanks, there is much more armor up front than on the flanks or rear, usually by a factor of three or four. Chobham armor would offer more protection if the Soviets were firing HEAT, but not against sabot.

With all that can be said about Iraqi tactics and ammo deficiencies, there remain some lessons about NATO vs. WP that can be gained from the Gulf War and those do indicate that NATO had a quality advantage. I think FPG reflects the quality difference accurately, but the main source of pain for the WP side is the advantage of defending. We're looking to balance that a bit more in the first update - Rob has implemented some ideas which are being tested now and should make things a bit easier for the attacker (assuming good tactics, as always).

Regards,

- Erik
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by SwampYankee68 »

Or low ammo/supply, depleted platoons, etc.
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by CoffeeMug »

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

From the flank, with Soviet ammo, a T-80 certainly could penetrate an M1A1. With all modern tanks, there is much more armor up front than on the flanks or rear, usually by a factor of three or four. Chobham armor would offer more protection if the Soviets were firing HEAT, but not against sabot.

Concur 100%.
The T-72 and T-80 share the same 125mm smoothbore gun IIRC, so T-72 would do it, too, IMO. Erik is perfectly right about the Chobham armour. The armour was introduced against HEAT tank rounds and HEAT missiles (which the T-72 and T-80 can fire through the gun BTW).
With all that can be said about Iraqi tactics and ammo deficiencies, there remain some lessons about NATO vs. WP that can be gained from the Gulf War and those do indicate that NATO had a quality advantage. I think FPG reflects the quality difference accurately, but the main source of pain for the WP side is the advantage of defending. We're looking to balance that a bit more in the first update - Rob has implemented some ideas which are being tested now and should make things a bit easier for the attacker (assuming good tactics, as always).

I did not play all scenarios, but you have to keep in mind that WP relied heavily on artillery support. WP superiority there was huge! Artillery support when attacking can decrease the defender's advantage.

Another big tool is the ability to recon the area in order to find the perfect spot for the WP. While playing, I realized that I could kill RED recon forces from a great distance. But these troops were elite! IMO the chances of detection should be lower. (But this is only a feeling after a few hours of playing and who am I to make those claims, I know zip about the game's internals.)

When you have found the weak spot, pre-plan and execute the artillery barrage and throw in your forces in two echelons, make the breakthrough and expand it. When forces crumble down to 30%, let it defend and keep the path open for the following echelons. :) That's it. [;)] If the game will let me do it, then perfect!

Cheers,

CM
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by Real and Simulated Wars »

ORIGINAL: Crimguy
Erik - maybe what's needed in the update are a few scenarios that place NATO at a disadvantage, as opposed to changing the data. Ones where the defenses are not optimal, and NATO must rush it's units into position.
Regards,

Hi Crimguy,
In all the scenarios I played NATO is already at a numerical disadvantage. (?).
Cheers,
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by Mike_w »

We're looking to balance that a bit more in the first update - Rob has implemented some ideas which are being tested now and should make things a bit easier for the attacker (assuming good tactics, as always).

Sounds good. I appreciate purchasing a game from a company that monitors the forums and is motivated to improve the product!.[:)] My recommendation (not that you need any) is that artillery be made a little more effective, mainly against mechanized infantry units. This might help an attacking WP unit without altering the vehicle stats. Additionally, the advantage of WP artillery (numbers) is well noted.
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RE: US firepower vs WP firepower

Post by GreenDestiny »

I appreciate purchasing a game from a company that monitors the forums and is motivated to improve the product!.[:)]

I agree....and I'm looking forward to a patch.
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