That sounds feasible. The other thing you want to consider is distance. In 1/35 you are talking a big base for this to be realistic. Vehicles are usually spaced at least 50 meters apart whether following in column or side by side on line. When grunts dismount, the tracks are usually drawn up on line, at least roughly, taking into account terrain, obstacles, etc. So in 1/35 scale you are looking at a base in the 4 foot wide range. 1 meter being roughly 40 inches in actuality and representing 35 scale meters. Increase that to 50 Meter dispersion and you see where I’m going with this…
Yeah, Ive been thinking about the size of this base, I may have to do some down scaling and redrawing this, I could also do this as a movement to contact, but there in a column going down the highwaym and havent hit the point to where they want to spread out and get on line with each other. Or tank in front moving up to where the APC is on the side of the road, but another APC is following behind the tank on the road but getting ready to veer off the road and take up a position on its flank, maybe the M113 with infantry loaded on it, then get the academy M113a2 with the M47 dragon on it on the side of the road in a bounding position/ as a type of recon.
Have a look at some of these links for the doctrine of how things are supposed to go. These are taken from the FMs that apply and appear to be from that time
http://www.nuui.com/Sections/Military/Field_Manuals/FM71-1/711ch3af.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/7-7/Apph.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/7-7/Ch2.htm
talk abut old memories looking at these things… [^o)]
[quote user=“stikpusher”]
I never heard of the Sheridan inGuard or Reserve service. Not to say it could not happen, but I dont’s know of it. Those served in Cav units and the 82nd only. 82nd kept theirs until the early 90s while the Cav got rid of them in the late 70s. They then were all sent to NTC at Ft Irwin for use in all the vismods to simulate a Soviet Motor Rifle Regiment.
Stik, the local NG unit (I think it was the 116th Cav) in Idaho had Sheridans into the '80’s for sure. I almost hit one on the road during a foggy night when they were coming back from the training area 30 miles away. The Sheridan didn’t stop for a stop sign when I had the right of way.
Ya learn something new every day. Most interesting.
Let me add something that I learned early on in doing traffic enforcement as a cop- the lug nut rule. The vehicle with the most lug nuts wins/has the right of way. Tracked AFVs definitely have more lug nuts [;)]
Im guessing your either LAPD or with the sheriffs. Yeah I need to start reading up on doctrine, trying to branch armor when I commission. But I’ll take a look at the FMs when im finished studying tonight, I’m just trying to look for creative ways to minimize space but in a realistic manner.
I’m Sheriff’s. I still have discretion and the ability to make a decision without a field supervisor. [;)] I would not trade with LAPD for twice my pay.
Now as to your situation, the one factor that dictates every military op, regardless of doctrine is terrain. A natural choke point will force units to constrict- within reason. So something going up such as a ridge spur that would provide cover for one 113 to dismount its’ squad and a hull down position for the M48…
I don’t know if you’ve ever been out west but the landscape can be quite severe out this way.
Best of luck to you whichever branch you choose TL. Believe in the Army, and believe in your troops. Be the best soldier you can, no matter what your assignment. All jobs are critical to winning at one point or another.
Im actually from out west, I’m from the Lakewood/Long beach area ani d both parents are LA county sheriffs. I just go to the Citadel, but I’m really praying that I branch armor, My father was an M60 tanker in the mid/late 70s.
I’m trying to think how I can go about this, if they were coming out of a pass, then it would also cause for restriction, they could be on the road and the first M113 could be rolling in front and bounding until the M48 gets to them, or visa versa, and then the other M113 could be coming out of the pass to get on the side of the road as fast as it can and dismount.
What might help would be a highway overpass. It’s a break in terrain, has some top cover–but, more importantly, gives a geart reason to foreshorten the diorama. Interstate bridge clearance is 16’-4" which is 6 1/8" at 1/32, not a terrible vertical height for 1/35. Figure that the bridge beams are 36" tall, so that’s 9/8", then you want about 12" for the road bed, another 3/8". Sum that 6 1/8 + 9/8 + 3/8 = 7 5/8", still easy at 1/35, enough to say put a bmp or the like atop the bridge. Jut remember that a 2 lane plus 2 shoulder bridge is 48-50’ wide, about 18" to scale Just a thought.
That wouldnt be a bad idea, I like that, and will probably come back to that idea if I dont use it on this Dio, I also have a few others I’d like to do with this what if scenario, maybe soviet airborne dug in outside a town with RPGS and wire guided missles. Also have a plan to build a Russian convoy in chechneya with Russian troops riding ontop of their equipment in Grozni.
But to get back on topic, I do like the idea, A small interstate over pass and the units are making there way out from underneath it, with the M48 in lead and the M113’s heading in different dirrections to dismount, or an M113 on line covering the column while the other M113 pulls to the other side and the M48a5 is coming up to get push forward while the apcs dismount and prepare to move forward.
Finally received my first M113, its the Tamiya one but it will do, I am going to order an M68 barrel this week online, should be here in two weeks give or take.
Finally, I am awaiting for the Academy M113a2 to be back in stock or find a good deal on one on ebay. Any preference on which one to get, should I get the desert storm version or the regular M113a2 version from academy?
This is the version you want, kit #1354. The shield to the right of the .50 cal is for the Dragon launcher.
Thank you, Now I need to find this one for a good price online or on ebay, any suggestions on where to buy it from or who would have it ?
Would the eduards photoetch set have the M47 dragon included in it, or at least give me the attachment for it to be used on an M113a2?
Here’s the set I had in mind
It looks like the set only has the front shield for the M47 mount in it. You would still need the other parts to include an M47 Dragon launcher to mount onto it.
If you can’t find the Academy M113A2 kit, you could get the newer Academy M113A3 kit and not use any of the parts from the new A3 sprue. It has all the previous sprues with the parts to build the A2 with M47 Dragon in the kit. Just be sure to not use the parts for the A3 (sprues a & b).
Thank you, I originally wanted this kit, and this seems to be easier to find then then the other one.
Send me a Private Message with your email address and I’ll send you a .pdf of the M113A2 instructions so you can see what needs to be left off and how to build up the Dragon launcher mount.
I found a mounted crew I want to use on my M113a2, what do you guys think of these figures?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180808652461?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Those figures are too modern for the early '80s since they are wearing IBA body armor that started being used in about 2002.
The Academy M113A2 and A3 kits come with a couple good crew figures (driver and TC) for the M113.
The old Tamiya US Modern Army Infantry figures (35133) are good for early '80s soldiers.
Any of the Dragon Desert Storm figures would be perfect for early to mid-80s as well. The only things that may be a bit too modern on the Dragon figures are the weapons. Most of them have M16A2s, which were not fielded until about '89. The rest of their gear was pretty much the same as in the early '80s.
You want to look for figures wearing PASGT body armor…
“Y” Load-Bearing Equipment (LBE) suspenders, one-quart canteens, ALICE ammo pouches, first aid pouch, etc…
Below are soldiers in Operation Urgent Fury, Grenada, Oct '83 that are what you should look for.
And my favorite…since I am an artilleryman. The King Of Battle!!
Yeah, I noticed they werent eactly 80’s figures but close enough, I like the dragon kits you showed me and I also noticed that the academy and tamiya track commander figures are pretty good. I’m still going through and trying to find a few resin figures for this dio, but only the verlinden ones have really stuck out to me, Any other early 80s figures you could think of that would be in a seated position or could look as if their ready to dismount a track.