Whoops. I seem to have innadvertantly touched a nerve. I meant no offence to my RL Canadian friends.

It's not that I want the PC to look "American", it's that he's a recon/sniper type and I thought the homemade cammo might be helpful. The result of the process I described would yield a unique two-tone cammo pattern very different from that of the standard U.S. woodland pattern BDUs of the era (or any other nations' standard issue pattern, for that matter).

I'm quite happy to be playing a Canadian. Tony gave us the option of playing a Yank and I passed.

The DPM-ish cammo smock is fine by me. It's quite sharp, actually.

And Andy is proud to wear his red beret too.

; )

Hi Rae,
I wouldn't say anyone took any offense whatsoever, but its true what Tony said. Being next door to one of the largest and well equipped military... Canadian soldiers like to distance themselves from them a bit. All part of the friendly rivalry amongst allies and such.

The Canadian combats are actually very good at concealment. They may be simple olive drab but blend in very well into anything you'd want camos in - especially at night. When the new camo/cadpat stuff came in, it took alot of convincing for some soldier's to accept it without complaining.

And not trying to be pedantic or anything (just adding some authenticity) - Airborne colors are maroon... MP berets are red. Its not as trivial as it may seem. Again, sorry if this sounds pedantic.

The headwear we worn in the infantry in Australia is a tan beret although it's rarely worn. Usually (99% of the time) it's the slouch hat for ceremonial duty and general wear around the barracks (two are issued - grade one for the parade ground and a grade two which is half a size larger for general wear).
When in the field it's either a helmet (almost unknown back when I was in) or the floppy cam hat.

I however barely ever wore the beret OR slouch hat. I was posted for most of my time to a Scottish regiment - A Coy, 41RNSWR - sister unit to the British Black Watch. You have no idea just how damn hot a woollen kilt can be in 40^oC heat!
It did have one important redeeming feature though - was great for attracting the ladies! :P

Geiger counter ditched saving a huge $500!  ;)
Hmmm, thought I'd included the wheeled tools....
Added now for a cost of.... $500!  :P
Love it when I don't have to recalculate anything.
We should keep the excavating tool though. I've lost count years ago how many times a good pick and shovel have come in very handy.

Damn

I think we'll take both with say, 1/2 a doz ILLUM rounds and maybe 10 FFV-551 HEAT? Is there any great difference between the standard M203 and the A1?

There's space for 8 passengers plus three crew? We've only got 6 or 7 total? The vehicle already has a fairly substantial amount of internal storage space in which most of the gear can be stored and most of what's in the list is actually quite small. The raft probably should go outside, but it would be extremely vulnerable to small arms fire and quickly ruined. If space allows, I would prefer it's stored within the vehicle.
The items listed as being carried on the trailer (Still, fuel, bladders, motorcycles and a jerycan) almost use up all it's capacity (2,946.4kg of 3,000kg)

As an interesting note, the M113 as used by Australia, while supposed to only carry two crew plus a section of infantry (usually 9), is capable of carrying more internally. I know because I've been one of the 14 sardines crammed in the back with full gear and packs.

How much do they weigh and cost? Can't find them on any list.

Rae,

No worries, no offense taken! Sorry if I came across like that was the case. I'm American too. (Dual citizen.)

I was just pointing out a facet of Canadian character, that is, Canada is rare in that it has a culture that's best described not as "being something" but "not being something". This is not always a good thing, and can make Canadians both condescending and envious towards their neighbor to the south, but always trying to assert our "identity", (however ill-defined that may be.)

The local militia are "Scots" from the CSR, so they wear "Glengarries" or "Balmorals" in addition to berets.






Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:36, Tue 01 Jan 2008.

Brandon,

Not at all. I generally call the colour "maroon/red" because although we can see it's maroon, it's popularly called "red". That being said, the colour's technical name supposedly is "Turkey Red", or so rumour has it!


Tony

I don't think so, it's licence-built. It can fit larger rounds, attach a pistol gip and can be attached to the C8, whereas the M203 can't.



It's a matter of opinion of course!

You can physically cram everything in there, no doubt. Your "combat efficiency" will suffer due to the bulk of the equipment.

In other words, forget using the rear doors in a hurry (unless it's piled to one side), If you have bulky stuff on the rear deck (like shitloads of barbed wire) forget using those doors too.

There will be trade-offs due to bulk.



Neither can I. We'll say that the less-durable wetsuits are "Scarce". There is one available for $750. Weight belt and fins are another $250.

Availability:

According to the rules, you are allowed to choose any "western" gear listed that's not scarce. Under the circumstances, if there is something that I think may be harder to get than that but still available (either not really used that much in the area or someone else has some kind of claim to it), I'll roll as if you are looking in a "City" for those goods.

So, the local UDTs are possessive of the few remaining wetsuits, but you are still allowed to see if they will part with one (they will). Likewise the surgical gear is coveted by local medical personnel (so it's not automatic you'd get a kit, even thought it's not technically "Rare"). The RAW was never common locally, and those that have the few left are loathe to give them up, so you're SOL.


Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:58, Tue 01 Jan 2008.

I think we should limit ourselves to what we carry. Taking up every bit of space available just because its there might hurt us later.

Lets call it the PI version then shall we?

Barbed wire (of which there's only two "rolls" concertina and half a reel of strait) and other items will definately be loaded outside. Going over the list I can't see anything very bulky except maybe the generator (50kg - smallest available) and the 200kg of domestic food (which will disappear at an alarming rate).
The radio mast (collapsible), tools kits, and possibly some ammo will go in the admin box at the rear of the vehicle.
You are aware that the vehicle has a drop ramp at the rear and not the two doors of previous model LAVs? There is a small door built into the ramp though for use when the engine isn't running (and supplying power to lift the ramp again).

Typo? Should read Rare right?

We have absolutely bucketloads of space by my reckoning. The vehicle has a load rating of 2.68 tonnes, and much of this capacity is behind and under seats, etc. The list above only uses up only about 25% of that internal capacity. Nearly three tonnes is located aboard the trailer and another 300+kg is external.

Add to that we're running very much undermanned by about 5 people....

Remember also that we will be making space as we go - consuming food, fuel and (hopefully not too quickly) ammo.

That's correct, your PCs would probably call it the "M203".



I am indeed aware there is a ramp with an inset door.

At any rate, the problem (such as it is) is that the gear is irregular and doesn't stack up neatly. Thereofore it's going to take up floor space (leaving the space "above" it wasted, and with some exceptions not be neatly packed away under seats in and bins.

I've seen inside the LAV (both Kodiak and Coyote) and I think it would be a tight fit when there's 3 crew plus 7 passengers (the book and Paul's site is incorrect, but for the purpose of gaming we'll say 8 passengers can cram in there for a short period of time). Bear in mind people occupy space in different ways than stored or stacked gear, so it's not a simple matter of cubic feet displacement.

The gear can't be stacked against either side of on both with an aisle in between; the LAv is narrower than the M113 and with no way to secure everything it will become one jumbled mess If you go on anything but smooth pavement, or take a hard turn. You can stack it in up against the ramp and secure it, but that rules out using those exits (ramp or door).

I'm not going to go through the list. Obviously, there are items that have to be inside and can't be stored on the trailer (sound and transmitter amplifiers, a refrigerator, a freezer, a generator) but having those in accessable places will cut down on the available space. Packing more itmes in will restrict your space further.

The rolls of barbed wire can go on the back deck, but it will probably block the deck hatches and/or the turret traverse. Or hang it off the sides, but risk it falling off.



Correct, Rare gear is off the table, Scarce is negotiable.

You certainly have tons of space and cargo capacity. However, the more you choose to use up, the more inconvenient it will be.

No argument, once you find a place for a FOB and unload/consume supplies it will get a lot better.

There will be trade offs, and there it is!  ;)


Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:45, Tue 01 Jan 2008.

Might just chuck the concertina on the trailer and move a jerrycan inside if it's going to be difficult...

What's the insertion method? Motorised landing craft? Could we load up that with most low value stores and come back for it in a few days? Barbed wire is a good example - almost useless to anybody else but almost vitally important to our own security if we're in one place for a while.

The interior of the vehicle should have some tiedown points. Throw over a cargo net or similar and that should stop those stores unable to be stowed in bins etc secure.

How many NPCs are we getting? What will their skillset be?

Andrew,

Ahhh... so far, insertion will be by a fishing trawler with a motorized dinghy/lifeboat. So unless you can come up with something better, you'll need to find a dock to tie up to.

I think it would be possible to tie everything down, how much space is left is another matter.

Short of getting our own LAV and physically loading all the gear into it, it's clear it will simply be a matter of opinion as to what the drawbacks will be.

Topographical map of UBC:

http://tinyurl.com/yrqulk

Map of the area centred on Georgia Strait (Straight of Georgia):

http://tinyurl.com/ywm26u

(HQ is in Duncan on the Island at the SW corner of the map, at the mouth of the Cowichan Valley. Your starting point is the Navy "base" at Ladysmith NE along the coast. UBC is the westernmost tip of Vancouver.

http://tinyurl.com/2d6sa2

If you look at the topo map, UBC is on "high ground". There are cliffs all along the shore that drop down almost to the water. There are narrow beaches here and there.


NPCs:

Combat medic and Signaller.


Tony
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:10, Tue 01 Jan 2008.

How about the Mill bay ferry? http://www.bcferries.com/about...rofile-mill_bay.html
With an engine that consumes only 194 litres (approx) of diesel per four hour period, and a load capacity of 16 vehicles, how could HQ not requistion it for transport between the islands? Converted to alcohol, it would consume roughly 582 litres ethanol or 679 litres of methanol. Sure it's old (built in 1956) but that simply means it's not got all the vulnerable electronics destroyed in other vessels by EMP. Normal transportation of personnel and supplies could be done by sail, but vehicles and other bulky goods?

I admit the locals might get a bit upset loosing their ferry to the military (they got quite irate when BC Ferries looked like closing the service in 2001?), but does a small population of 3,500 (Mill Bay, pre war) have the resources, or even the need, to keep it running?

Some research still needs to be done to find a landing site closer to the university than Tsawwassen, (a recreation boat ramp would suffice for a vessel of this size) but even if that doesn't turn out possible, it's still a better option than manhandling a 16+ tonne LAV in and out of a very overloaded fishing boat!

It was requisitioned for the military and used in the battle to halt the Soviets.

Tragically, it is now guarded by undead dragons and Space Nazis.

No wait, they're actually rebuilding it for the main operation later in the summer.


Tony

Yeah, sure....
I can actually believe the dragons and space nazi story, but plans for a new offensive? Not that's got to be completely fictious!  ;)

Well, research done. I think we're left with only two viable locations to land at - the ferry terminal at Tsawwassen which jutts out into the sea several kilometres due to shallows, and somwhere actually in the middle of Vancouver itself. Personally I like big open spaces around me during vulnerable loading/unloading of vehicles.

Has anyone got anything further they'd like to add/delete from the list posted previously? Is there something vital that's been missed? Is everyone happy not having luxury items like hammocks or stretchers to sleep on, tents rather than tarps or inside the LAV, a proper cooker rather than an open fire?

Just a wild thought, what would we get if we decided to "sell" the LAV?

Andrew,

It's not your personal asset, it belongs to the Vancouver Island Command. You could "trade up" if opportunity arose, but it's a dicey proposition!


Tony

It's just a thought. It might be nice to have a vehicle that can actually swim!

Literally, the LAV is the best the DRI has to offer, and only one of a handful at HQ. There are others on the "front lines" to the North.

That being said, it's not quite like the old days, you may get a golden opportunity, and HQ might allow a trade under the right circumstances.


Tony

I'm going to need exact figures for how much each of you are chipping into the group equipment. I've just been informed that we won't be getting access to the 15K Javier was going to be bringing along.
Also, does everyone have a radio?

I have 4000. Are we buying more stuff?

Actually, I've had to cut the list back dramatically since we don't have that extra 15k.
Is that 4000 neat or is there an extra couple of dollars we can through into fuel/food?

21,000 for me. Thats about as exact as can be. I have a radio. Is the player out of the game or is his value just not available because he is a Soviet?

What else has to get sorted out before we start?
This message was last edited by the player at 06:58, Thu 03 Jan 2008.

4,075 $ worth.

Edit - I also have a small tactical radio.

Tony, as driver will I have a crew helmet... you know, the kind with intercom/regular channels.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:12, Thu 03 Jan 2008.

I think I can answer that for you.
The LAV-III comes (usually) with two radio sets and an intercom system. Don't know about an actual helmet, but there's certainly a headset for all three crew plus at least two passengers (if it's a similar setup to an M113) which enables use of both radio and intercom.

Thanks for the extra $75. You've just bought us another 9 litres of fuel... :P
This message was last edited by the player at 07:18, Thu 03 Jan 2008.