Military FAQ thread

Re: any info about 5.8mm type 88B GPMG

Well enlight of this, would it not work both ways, i mean what if they capture some ammo supplies, then it would be useless for the Chinese.

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it seems that doctrine only fit as defensive nature.
imagine big nation from far away invade china... the different ammo means invaders need to wait for ammo shipment instead of using local ammo.

After Iraq and Afghan lesson US start thinking using enemy ammo in battle, even they planned the some new AR will compatible with AK mags (for SF). PLA planner forget ancient war rule :war is about adaptive.

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yes the invader doctrine says it is better to use enemy's ammo

Re: any info about 5.8mm type 88B GPMG

THe US Dropped that requirement sometime back, Although FN scar was slated too have convertibility too Russian rounds, but They never implemented it.
Using local ammo only works if you have a limited supply chain and then you are likely using local arms.
In your Hypothetical the enemy would switch too the Qbz95 or Qbz03 until they have stockpiled enough of there own, Until the enemy cuts off the Ammo Production and stockpiles are depleted. A main Goal of most modern forces too eliminate the Enemy's (Local's) ability too resist. Once those are gone Then both sides would likely switch too the more available rounds.
In the Case of SF the Idea was too use local ammo because Green berets were by there doctrine operating with indigenous or allied local forces. Well other units Wanted too use the AK round because of availability and low logistics and signature profile well allowing all the pros of the AR and Sopmod.

Re: any info about 5.8mm type 88B GPMG

So much for 5.8mm not being suitable for sniper rifles since the PLA/PAP sniper team just came top in an international sniping competition using 5.8mm rounds.

PLA planners have always been defensive and never really planned for long-range conquests of other countries so using captured enemy ammo was never really very relevant to their strategic thinking.

If an invading force was to using captured Chinese ammo, they would need captured Chinese guns first, and that just adds to the complexity and makes it that much harder that the enemy would be able to effectively use Chinese arms against Chinese soldiers.

The other side of the coin is that if someone captured a Type 95 or 03 rifle, that rifle will only be useful to them as long as the ammo holds out, which is not likely to be long if he just took that off some dead Chinese soldier.

Special forces prefer to use local weapons because they tend to operate for prolonged periods behind enemy lines, and would not want to be carrying huge amounts of ammo because chances are they will be on foot and that would slow them down or force them to ditch other kit.

From an operational stand point, using local ammo would also help to mask the presence of the special forces. No-one is going to be all that bothered if they came across a heap of their own shell casings. But if they found a load of NATO 5.56 shell cases deep behind the front lines, they are going to know that there were NATO troops operating in the area and go looking for them.

Noob question, on an aircraft carrier do you try to launch into the wind or with the wind? Or are there other factors influencing takeoff direction?

Obcession said:

Noob question, on an aircraft carrier do you try to launch into the wind or with the wind? Or are there other factors influencing takeoff direction?

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Typically, an aircraft carrier turns into the wind to launch aircraft. It may also accelerate to aid the launch process. Fully loaded combat aircraft often need both natural wind and the wind created over the flight deck by the fast moving aircraft carrier.

Re: any info about 5.8mm type 88B GPMG

perhaps criticism on this site resumes it all: weight similar to 7.62 gmpg (PKM) with cartridge combat-effectiveness only slightly superior to .223

I was wondering what is the difference between the damages produced by the warhead used in Standard Missile 2 (115kg blast fragmentation) and exocet (165kg). I guess it must be a big difference, otherwise everyone would be using SM-2 as anti-ship missiles with speeds up to mach3 and being able to carry dozens per ship.

I would appreciate very much if someone could answer this question.

Re: any info about 5.8mm type 88B GPMG

Modern firearms is a crappy site when it comes to Chinese weapons as the site owner clearly had a massive axe to grind.

Personally, I would stay off that site altogether as I often get security alerts off my anti-virus when I do go on it.

cirvine11 said:

Typically, an aircraft carrier turns into the wind to launch aircraft. It may also accelerate to aid the launch process. Fully loaded combat aircraft often need both natural wind and the wind created over the flight deck by the fast moving aircraft carrier.

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Thanks Cirvine!

Fingolfin said:

I was wondering what is the difference between the damages produced by the warhead used in Standard Missile 2 (115kg blast fragmentation) and exocet (165kg). I guess it must be a big difference, otherwise everyone would be using SM-2 as anti-ship missiles with speeds up to mach3 and being able to carry dozens per ship. ...

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SM-2s are semi actively guided. Their target has to be illuminated be the attacking ship's radar beam, so that the missile seeker can see it. So the target must be above the radar horizon. That limits the range to 15-20km.
Exocets reach ranges well over 100km by following programed waypoints at first and than looking dor the target with their own, onboard radar.
So lots of improved flexibility with a dedicated AShM like Exocet.