Raglan's Modern Conflicts (Hollywood Style)

[Marine0846]

Great painting, Gareth.
I wonder why no TOW type weapon?

[Rick]

Great painting, Gareth.
I wonder why no TOW type weapon?

It was originally intended to be equipped with the Spike LR missile launcher but, at the time, they couldn't get it to work so produced the vehicle without it, presumably hoping to refit once Spike was fully operational. No idea whether it's been fitted to later vehicles or just decided not to bother in the end - the Spike system does appear to be fitted to other AFV's though.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Great painting, Gareth.
I wonder why no TOW type weapon?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_(missile)#Vehicle_integration_3

[Rick]

The Puma IFV program has been a problem child throughout its development with the failure to integrate the Spike LR missile system being just one of the many problems it's faced. I don't think the problem was with the Spike system as it's been fitted successfully to other vehicles but it was a cause for concern (and delays) with the Puma. The latest problem is that they're having difficulties with the software systems for the upgraded Spike II - the Puma continues to live up to its problem child reputation.

[Lord Raglan]

I’m just glad my Merc runs smoothly.

[Lord Raglan]

Cold War Gets Hotter 1999 - North Korean Infantry Detachment in Russian service. Supplied with Chinese weapons.

[Lord Raglan]

BREAKING NEWS: North Korean Infantry Infiltrate Latvian Village
Ziedkalni, Latvia — 25 September 1999

In a stunning and unprecedented development, a small unit of North Korean infantry has reportedly infiltrated the remote Latvian village of Ziedkalni, sparking international alarm and confusion across NATO and the European Union.

Local residents first noticed unusual activity late Wednesday evening, when a group of uniformed men speaking an unfamiliar language were seen moving through the forested outskirts of the village. By dawn, the group had reportedly occupied the abandoned Soviet-era radio tower overlooking the Daugava River, raising a flag bearing the emblem of the Korean People's Army.

Latvian border guards, initially believing the men to be part of a NATO training exercise, delayed response until intercepted radio chatter revealed references to Pyongyang and coded phrases linked to North Korean military doctrine. A rapid deployment of Latvian special forces has since surrounded the area, while NATO command scrambles to verify the origin and intent of the incursion.

“This is not a drill,” said Colonel Ilze Jansone, spokesperson for Latvia’s Ministry of Defence. “We are treating this as a hostile infiltration by a foreign power. The presence of North Korean troops on Latvian soil is a direct violation of international law and a threat to regional stability.”

Some speculate the troops may have arrived via clandestine transport through Russia or Belarus, while others suggest a rogue operation unaffiliated with Pyongyang’s central command.

Meanwhile, Ziedkalni’s 312 residents have been evacuated to nearby towns, and the village has been declared a restricted zone. Eyewitnesses describe the infiltrators as “disciplined but disoriented,” with one local farmer claiming they asked for directions to “the nearest American base.”

International reaction has been swift. The UN Security Council has called an emergency session, and NATO forces in the Baltics have been placed on high alert. South Korea has issued a statement denying any knowledge of the operation, while Russia has remained conspicuously silent.

As the situation unfolds, questions abound: Is this a rogue detachment, a deliberate provocation, or the opening move in a new kind of hybrid warfare? For now, Ziedkalni remains the epicenter of a mystery that could reshape the geopolitical landscape of Europe.