[Suggestion/Discussion] M113 APC variant for MEC

[Expendable Grunt]

Well, the Talha APC thread sort of tanked, so I would like to re-present a point I brought up in the thread regarding APCs for the MEC.

Currently, the MEC gets a nice variety of battlefield vehicles, with the T-90 as their MBT (2 crewmen), the BMP-3 as some sort of heavy troop transport (2 crewmen), the BTR-90 as an IFV (2 crewmen), the BRDM-2 as a light gun carrier and transport (2 crewmen), and the Vodnik as the light vehicle transport (no crewman requirements). There are others, but they are not important in this explanation, and I'm sure you are all familiar with them.

The Vodnik in real life should actually (apparently) be a heavier class than the BRDM-2, but EA has decided that middle easterners couldn't possibly use a protective vehicle as a transport and granted them the "Vodnik" they currently have.

I would like to propose that one of the M113 APC variants be added to the game, supplementing the MEC forces cache of vehicles, and possibly replacing the BTR-90 completely (they already have a heavy transport, and apparently few BTR-90's actually hit the market). This vehicle would have the .50 it normally has in the transport role, but with the advantage of only requiring a single crewman kit to operate. It is currently a bit of a pain to organize transports from another squad, and while a BMP-3 + 4 infantrymen squad is effective, having a fifth man (and a faster transport!) is handy. Only the driver would be required to have the crewman kit (would have to be the same squad as a majority of the people in the vehicle I guess), and anyone can operate the .50 without problems.

You could also, with a few modifications to the base model, introduce it as a command vehicle (commander in a static version of it commands the battle, looks better than the UAV thing), a support version (2 seats, same requirements, but has no troop transport ability, instead vending out 2-3 supply crates for building, more interesting than the truck) which can defend itself with the 50cal. The same model with a few changes can also have a TOW or recoilless rifle mount to be a different sort of anti-tank unit.

The simple, geometric design of the APC should make it easy to model (I'm sure even I could figure out how to), and it would make the MEC a bit different from the other traditional factions (especially in the form of the command vehicle and or support vehicle), as well as being justifiable as it is the worlds most common APC.

So what does the community and development team think?

[Rudd]

yeah, why not eh?

but the new vodnik thats being made will do tbh

[Jaymz]

Very funny timing EG.

Over the past week we've been discussing, with our military advisers, several candidates for this exact role for the MEC. The M113 is among them due to its huge popularity in the middle-east.

[Tartantyco]

-As far as I know the Norwegian Faction guys are making a M113. And possibly someone else as well.

[Jaymz]

Vodnik is an amphibious counterpart of the HMMWV, a general purpose vehicle for the russians and their allies to use in the same sort of situation where a HMMWV would be used, AFAIK.

The thing is, the Vodnik is actually classed as an APC. The Ruskis don't really look at things in terms of counter-parts because their military is based on a completely different doctrine. To quote Nosferatu, "MT-LB's and BTR's" are the mode of transport.

It's just like the fact they send tanks on Recce patrols and integrate snipers into infantry squads. All these elements are what gives our "westernized" brains the stereotype of "Russian Overkill" .

Now, back to the thread, I agree with replacing the BTR-90 as it is unrealistic for the MEC to operate it (what with the only country using them being russia). A lightly armed APC should compliment the heavily armed IFV of the MEC forces very well IMO.

This will come to pass my friend, you have my word.

[Tirak]

Don't we integrate Marksman into Infantry squads, which are pretty much medium range snipers?
On Topic:

I support this idea, a flexible vehicle with multiple modes of use depending on variant, you've got my support.... For however much that's worth

Though maybe make the CO variant mobile?

[supahpingi]

good idea
Reskin the EAD m113 maybe?

[Maxfragg]

Don't we integrate Marksman into Infantry squads, which are pretty much medium range snipers?

not really, the russian military doctrin does not know the differentation between snipers and marksmen, but their snipers are mostly only equiped with the semi automatic Dragunov and Squad embedded, so they do not really have snipers in the western sense

[G.Drew]

I like it.

[77SiCaRiO77]

btr-80!!!



lots of them are produced in middle east countrys

[Jaymz]

77SiCaRiO77;816955']btr-80!!!



lots of them are produced in middle east countrys

BTR-80 is another one of the top Candidates.

[SuperTimo]

i think btr-80 fits the bill better than the M-113 as it seems unusual to have a faction that mainly uses russian equipment suddenly having a US designed APC regardless of how widespread it is.

[Mongolian_dude]

I think this is a superb idea.
It would mean that the Stryker has an equivilant, instead of seing it cower against vehicles like the BRT-90.

Perhaps with rarer use of the BRT-90, people would see it as an oppertunity to make an Axis Amphibious assault map, where the MEC or PLA are to be the agressors.

...mongol...

[Jaymz]

i think btr-80 fits the bill better than the M-113 as it seems unusual to have a faction that mainly uses russian equipment suddenly having a US designed APC

We've always been re-defining the equipment used by the MEC to be a mixture of what would be available to them in real life. The plan is to remove any russian equipment from them that isn't available from Russia as an export (BTR-90 being obvious). Also, who said we're only picking one

regardless of how widespread it is.

I don't know mate.....it's pretty damn widespread!

Egpt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and more....

[DeltaFart]

Out of those I thought Iran wouldn't be part of them because of an issue with religion. And Saudi Arabia, i don't think they would want to go against us, considering we have helped them so much they wouldn't want to lose the maintenance of their Abrams, and I thought turkey wasn't a part of the mec? Agh I need to find the PR list of countries in the mec again!

[Pariel]

I actually LOVE this idea.

Replacing the BTR-90 with some would be awesome, and the M113 (as well as others) is a good choice.

Also, quick connection:

M113 command vehicle could be used in a hunt the commander/convoy map.

[Expendable Grunt]

Spawnable BRDM-2's sound neat.

My main reason for suggesting the M113 is the number of roles it can fill. It can be an APC, a tank hunter, a command vehicle, and a supply truck, using very similar (but obviously modified in some way) models. Not to mention it looks cool.

[Robbi]

Nice Idea Cheo m8, all valid points... 4 *'s for you