ASSAULT 1995 Updates for Assault. Weapon systems and vehicles that were in production or near production in 1990- 1999. The upgrades to the FIRE CHARTS are in each country section in the main menu. UNITED STATES M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams. The M1A1 entered service in the mid-1980s. The M1 was rearmed with the Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore cannon and additional armor was added. The M1A2 Abrams equipped with the Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun and the Commander’s Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV). The M1A2 fires APDU, MPAT, MPHE, and Canister. The MPAT and MPHE rounds allow the M1A2 to engage helicopters with the main gun. The M1A2 incorporated depleted uranium into the armor. The CITV gives the commander and gunner to search for targets independently and with a new fire control system, increases the M1A2‘s ability to get off the all-important first round. As a note, during Desert Storm, the 9 Abrams destroyed in battle were all by other Abrams. Seven in friendly fire incidents and two disabled vehicles that had to be abandoned. Interestingly, only the APDU rounds penetrated on flank shots. M2A2 and M2A3 Bradley. Yes I know that the ‘A3 did not enter service until 2000 but the technology was there and if the Soviet Union had not imploded in 1990 there is a good possibility that the ‘A3 upgrades would have pushed through. Most of the ‘A3 improvements were electronic upgrades, including the addition of a CITV system. The M2A2 had added improved armor and Kevlar spall liners to the interior to protect crew and dismounts and spaced laminate armor to the rear and side skirts. Gone are the firing ports, (and as side note I always found them impractical though the M231 was really neat for clearing trenches) and the silly useless flotation skirt. The Bradley never was particularly amphibious and while (again on a personal note) units trained in erecting the swim vane, they conducted very limited swim exercises, there were several incidences where BFVs were lost in swimming exercises. Bradleys did achieve 25mm kills on Iraqi T-72s at 500 meters during Desert Storm. M6 Linebacker. This is probably what the Sgt York should have been. The Linebacker replaced the two TOW launcher for a four Stinger launcher and kept the 25mm Bushmaster. The chassis and turret were kept from M2A2s. For some strange reason, in the 2000s, the Army decided that they did not need close air defense because the U.S. Air Force could achieve total air superiority in any environment and converted all Linebackers back to M2 Bradleys. Personally I would rather have a Linebacker in the area just in case. M1097 Avenger. The Humvee mounted Avenger SAM begin entering service with the U. S. Army in 1990. A significant improvement over the MIM 72 Chapperal (phased out by 1998), the Avenger uses the FIM 92 Stinger like the M6 Linebacker. The Avenger begin replacing the M163 Vulcan in U. S. service and unlike the M6, it continues in production. The Avengers and the Linebackers were the Vulcans and Chapperals of the 1990s. M-7 B-FIST and M981 FIST-V. The M-7 B-FIST replaced the M981 FIST in US service in the 2000s. It replaced the TOW launcher with targeting location equipment. The M-7 integrates the Bradley ISU with G/VLLD. The M-7 also uses a hybrid GPS/inertial/dead reckoning navigation system for improved accuracy. The OP dismounts for the B-FIST carry sophisticated equipment for use away from the M-7. The M113 based FIST-V is an all visual aspects identical to the M-901 ITV. In place of the TOW launcher the FIST-V has a sophisticated G/VLLD (Ground/Vehicular Laser Locater Designator) and GPS system for pinpointing target locations. FIST-V crews are in direct contact with Fire Direction Centers (FDC) and significantly speed up the process of call for fire. A FIST-V would be assigned to each maneuver company and the parent Brigade COLTs (Combat Observation and Lasing Teams) would use them also. M109A6. The M109 155mm SPH entered production in 1962 and is in service with virtually every western and NATO country. Numerous upgrades have kept the M109 modern. The American version, M109A6 Paladin, is a devastating weapon and can dominate the battlefield with a variety of munitions. M110. The M110 203mm SPH entered service about the same time as the M109, in 1962. In its current version, the M110A2, it provides NATO with a long range gun with decent firepower. In most NATO units it was being phased out by the MLRS by the mid-90s. There is virtually no protection for the crew and the M110 would suffer from counter-battery or direct fire. M270 MLRS. The M270 Multiple Rocket Launch System began entering service in 1983. It was a joint venture by the U. S., U. K., FRG and France. It has since been adopted by most NATO countries like the M109 was. The automotive components are based on the M2 Bradley. The MLRS has a 42km range and can fire a variety of un-guided munitions (In 2006 guided munitions were introduced but that's another story). The Dual Purpose ICM rocket is probably the single most devastating artillery munition in the NATO inventory. M-128, M58 MICLIC and M104 AVLB. The M-128 minelayer is towed behind the M2A2 Engineer Squad Vehicle (ESV also used to tow the M-58 MICLIC). The M104 AVLB Wolverine Heavy AVLB was actually developed in the mid-1990s but did not enter service until 2003. I think that without the collapse of the Soviet Union the M104, like the M2A2, would have entered service in the mid to late 90s. The M104 provided U.S. engineers with a vehicle capable of handling the Abrams weight and speed. AH64D Apache Longbow. Developed in the early to mid-90s, the Longbow gave the Apache the ability to engage enemy armor without having to leave cover thanks to the mast mounted Longbow radar. Awesome. Not all AH64Ds carry the Longbow, but all can carry the Hellfire 2. CH47, CH53 and MH60. I decided to give NATO some heavy lift capability in the CH47 and CH53. I thought the MH60 with some added stealth capability would add an interesting touch to any Ranger or Special Forces scenarios. F-16 and A-10. In deciding to develop a close air support alternative for Assault, I chose the A-10 and the F-16 as the most likely CAS aircraft that would be available to a Forward Air Controller. I tried to apply the KISS principle in developing these rules and I did not want CAS to overwhelm the game. FRANCE AMX-56 Leclerc. The French AMX56 was a late entry into the modern AFV field only entering service in 1992. A considerable improvement over the AMX 30, the Leclerc utilizes a GIAT 120mm smoothbore capable of firing the same ammunition as the M1A2 and the Leopard 2. The Leclerc, unlike the Abrams and Leopard 2, uses a 22 round auto-loader capable of 12 shots per minute. The Leclerc also has CITV capability. The Leclerc’s armor is of French design; they rejected the British Chobham armor as being “too specialized”. AMX30B2. The AMX30 was developed in the mid-1950s and served well into the 1990s, being replaced by the AMX- 56. The AMX30 was fast for a medium tank of its era and had a 105mm main gun with a 20mm coaxial. The AMX30B2 was an upgraded version with a laser rangefinder and LLLTV (Low Light Level TeleVision). Most AMX30s were upgraded to B2 standards. AMX-10P. First introduced in 1973, the French AMX 10P is an all-purpose IFV. Normally armed with a GIAT 20mm cannon effective out to 1500 meters, the AMX 10P can also be adapted to carry Milan/Hot ATGMs, towing vehicle for the 120mm mortar and a 105mm or 90mm gun for fire support. VAB. The VAB is a French all-purpose wheeled APC. Developed in 4x4 and 6x6 versions, the 4x4 was most widespread in the French Army. It was used in anti-tank roles, with a Milan MCT turret or a Mephisto HOT ATGM. It is also used as an engineering vehicle and for towing mortars. ERC 90. This wheeled recon vehicle (called an armored car) was developed in the mid-70s. It was adopted by the French Army in 1984. The original turret was manually operated and did not have thermal sights. VBL. Developed as a scout car for the light recon/ATGM carrier role, the VBL entered French Army service in 1990. The VBL came in two versions, ATGM version with a Milan launcher and a basic scout version with 12.7mm mg. AVLB and AEV. The French AEV (armored earth-moving vehicle) an AVLB (armored vehicle launcher, bridge) both use the AMX30 chassis as a base vehicle. In 1992, the AVLB was actually only in service with Saudi Arabia; the French actually used an AMX13 based vehicle. Tracked Roland. Euro-missile Roland was actually by both the French and German Armies. The French mounted this very effective SAM on an AMX30 chassis. It can operate in either optical or radar mode and has an effective range of between 500-6300m (2-25 hexes) GCT 155mm SPH. Developed in France in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the GCT 155mm howitzer has an auto-loader capable of firing 8 rounds per minute. The GCT can fire HE, smoke, and FASCAM AT mines SA341, SA330, Tigre. The three French Helicopters I have chosen to model are the SA341 Gazelle, SA330 Puma and the TIGRE.