Artillery Target Acqusition

[Superscribe]

Hi

In CWC units that have IR or TI capabilities are  shown in the unit stats.  None of the FAOs or FACs are shown to have this ability.

By the mid 1980s surely observers of some nations had IR, TI, other types of image intensifiers or night vision devices that would allow them to see at night, see through smoke or improve their target acquisition? Shouldnt these be shown in nation stats where they had this ability?

Thoughts?

Chris

[Big Insect]

By all mean add them where you think appropriate Chris, @ 5pts for IR and 10pts for TI (& the same goes for Sniper Teams).

The challenge, as always with a lot of this type of technical data, is that often it depends upon a number of different factors:

a). the formation that the FAO/FAC was attached to or part of (often 2nd/3rd line or reserve/territorial units were not provided with the most advanced technology) and Guard formations might have TI whilst other formations had IR or nothing at all. The army lists are not designed to replicate specific formations at this detail. That is where the purchased Micromark lists come in.
b). if they were vehicle mounted, what type of vehicle is being used to depict the FAO/FAC and whether that vehicle was equipped with IR or TI (this is often overlooked, as whilst the observer might have the tech, if the vehicle he's in doesn't his battlefield mobility & vulnerability are both adversely effected.
c). if there is specific information and issue data available to identify which units had it & which didn't
d). the technical 'competency' of the force concerned - so a lot of the Arab & African nations were given quite advanced Soviet tech, only to neglect to maintain it or pass on the training to use it properly etc. so it is often easier to replicate them without that tech.

NB: IR/TI covers a vast array of differing technologies, and it might be argued that some of the more advanced night-vision tech used in the Gulf War by the allies should (almost) in effect make night fighting as if it was daylight, but that's another matter. For 'standard' Cold War IR & TI are "good enough".

Cheers
Mark

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

If its any help British Army had Starlight Scopes for the infantry, range about 300m and NOD (Night Observation DEvice) range 2-3000m with FOO's both II in the early 70's as well as ZB298 GSR for most Btn lebvel units and observers.