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Phlogis -> About France Data Sheet (7/13/2019 5:51:45 PM)
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As I see Armored Brigade developpers are interested in compiling data from Cold War's France, I figured I'd chip in and provide some insight:
First and foremost, I see there are some Gendarmerie units in the sheet. As the Gendarmerie was a paramilitary force tasked with peacekeeping on french soil, such units would not be tasked with deployement in Europe in case of a war. Unless the developpers wants to model a possible incursion on french soil, which seems outside the scope of this game, Gendarmerie units shouldn't be in.
MILAN vehicles
I see VAB MILAN in the list, which is basically a VAB transporting two MILAN teams. The vehicle has a MILAN mount at the rear to allow firing the missile without dismounting. However, three others MILAN vehicles were used:
- The P4 Jeep with a MILAN in the back.
- The VBL MILAN, which went into service at the same time as the VBL in recon formations.
- The AMX-10P with a MILAN mount at the rear. This vehicle fills the role of VAB MILAN in armored infantry formations, which used the AMX-10P IFV. Ideally, both VAB and AMX MILAN would be modelled as a MILAN firing vehicle with an additional MILAN team inside that can dismount. Regular infantry was not carried inside those vehicles.
French Infantry
No LMG in French Army service until after the Cold War, when Minimi came by. Everyone was high on the AA-52 GPMG. Thus, no LMG team should exist.
However, the extensive experience of France in counter-insurgency made them realize the need for sharpshooters embedded in platoons pretty early: Every platoon HQ element had a pair of snipers attached. An interesting quirk from the weird enough french TO&E.
In the AT department : aside from AC 58 rifle grenades, the french infantry relied on two weapons to destroy armored vehicles:
- The LRAC 73 (73mm, not the year !) and LRAC 89 which appeared in 1979. LRAC teams were platoon assets tasked with providing AT support. M79 Osa, already in the game for Yugoslavia, was a licence production of the LRAC 89, albeit in 90mm instead of 89mm.
- The APILAS, which I believe is already in the game for Finland. APILAS was adopted in 1983 and equipped mechanized infantry formations, each vehicle carrying 3 launchers. APILAS was kept to defeat the heaviest armors the WP could muster in Europe.
That means both LRAC and APILAS teams are possible for France.
French Anti-Air
AMX-13 DCA went into service in 1969, 90 units were recieved and organized as Army level anti-air assets. On a lower organizational level, 53T2 mounts with a M621 20mm gun were fixed on Renault TRM 2000 truckbeds, which is currently listed in the datasheet. Those were available starting 1981 and widely used in every formation.
And that's really it for SPAAGs. In the missile department, AMX Roland were the main and only system in service until Mistral arrived in 1989. The Mistral is not a MANPADS in the true sense, as it requires a whole team to transport and carry. The heavy tripod mounting the optics and the missile can be folded and carried by one man, while others take care of the guidance box and the ammo. However, and missing from the list, a truck mounted version named PAMELA existed, and became complementary of the truckbed 20mm units in low level air defence.
The Crotale being part of the Air Force base defence systems, it would not have seen action on the mechanized battlefield of Europe. If that unit must remain, let it be known the Crotale missile saw various upgrades in its lifetime. That decision remains in the hands of the developpers still.
AMX VTT, VCI and VAB T20/13
The AMX VTT is the name given to the AMX-13 APC armed with an MMG or HMG. The AMX VCI was equipped with a 20mm canon in a TOUCAN I turret. That same turret was stripped off all the AMX VCI in 1985 and bolted on some VABs, giving birth to the VAB T20/13. Thus, all AMX VCI became VTT in 1985, and were given to reserve units stationned in France as everyone switched to VAB and AMX-10P in the frontline formations.
The VAB T20/13 role was to actually escort the AMX Roland units, providing them with security. They were thus considered as SPAAGs, and not carrying much infantry.
What does that mean ? Basically, all AMX VCI were off by 1985, birthing the VAB T20/13. Both units should be mutually exclusive period wise. Also, AMX VTT were really obsolete at this point and unless you desire to model reserve forces, they shouldn't be in after VAB and 10P replaced them.
And that should be it for now, as a quick recap and giving people something to chew on. If any desire to know more arises, I will answer any question posted here when possible.
Cheers,
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