| From: | "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Achilles |
| Date: | Fri, 6 Feb 1998 19:07:08 +0000 |
>>>>>[Not a fundamental flaw, it's the usual problem that any armour you
can move in has joints and weak spots. Put on that suit of plate of
yours,and I'll find half-a-dozen ways to skewer you in a grapple
anyway...
Thinking work... too much publicity to be effective, or placed on a high
pedestal and then given a push, so I've got further to fall. Both get me
out of the picture, as far as the Farmer's concerned. What's the easy
answer? Get out of the picture, so neither gambit works. Lose-lose
scenario...
We're already working to cut our exposure, at least to the media. One
thing that really helps is that Achilles are now uncaged: so now we're
just two faceless black-clad figures among many. Down in the Barrens we
can still cut loose as necessary, it's not prime press turf, but still
consider your suggestion noted.
I wouldn't say I hate the gear, it's useful, it's even necessary. But
you know I'm somewhat reactionary... this stuff is fine as far as it
goes. But what happens when the issue widens, and more people are
wearing it, carrying the weapons, expecting firepower and protection to
solve their problems?
A survey often done, and always with the same results, was reconnaisance
effectiveness. Most recently it was Banshee LAVs against Coyote scout
helos, simulated engagements, similar threats, usual fair comparison.
Guess what? The Coyotes were much more effective at locating and
reporting the enemy, and no less survivable. Why? Their crews knew they
were vulnerable, knew they were outgunned, and worked accordingly. They
made sure they saw without seeing, and when they used weapons it was to
cover a retreat or take out an enemy on their best escape route. The
thunderbucket crews knew they were riding flying tanks with mongo
firepower, and when they saw a threat they engaged rather than evading.
Problem is, their recon reports suffered, and they tended to get killed
a lot.
When you're out there in personal armour, with only a MP-5PDW or a brace
of Predators or something that's equally outgunned by the bad guys, you
can still kill the Gomers, but you _know_ you can't make a mistake, you
can't screw up, you can't afford to be sloppy: you haven't got anything
to insulate you from your errors so you damn well take care to make as
few as necessary. Maybe I'm just an adrenaline junkie, but hey, it
usually works for me <g>
Ever see the 1960s study that concluded that you were nearly 25% _more_
likely to be wounded in body armour and helmet than out of it? (due to
fatigue, heat stress, weight, et cetera). Something to ponder, the raid
gear's great for February but I wouldn't want to wear it in August. And,
before you wonder, the sting in the figures is that you were half as
likely to die in body armour, you traded more relatively minor wounds
for fewer serious ones.
I'm burbling, aren't I? I think we should definitely get together for a
couple of beers in the O-club. You said you wanted a word in private,
that would be a good time for it.
Tracker, no problem, let me know the parameters and I can program my
headware to do what you describe; don't often need all ten channels.
It's got the advantage that I can monitor when it's being pinged, helps
let us know if it's been compromised, and it can interface with my
biomonitor automatically.
See you in a few hours, hopefully.]<<<<<
-- 1Lt J R W Lynch <19:06:43/02-06-59>
Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency
