As the BLUFOR lacked a machinegun with magnifying optics to counter the Pecheneg I converted the Armed Assault BIS sample model into a Minimi Para with an ACOG scope. It is a simple model conversion, so it lacks the fancy animations of the Arma II M249.
readme:Use at your own risk, these files are not an official addon.
This addon contains both weapons and units using these new weapons. The weapons added are Minimi Para light machine guns with iron sights and ACOG optics, each model available with the bipod deployed and folded in.
These units can be found in the editor on side BLUFOR, faction USMC, vehicle class Men and Men (FR).
Installation:
-------------
Place the rcir_lmg.pbo and rcir_lmg.pbo.rcir.bisign files into the Addons folder of a mod folder of your choice. Although it will work with the default Addons folder, it is good practice to separate custom content from default content. Place the rcir.bikey file in the Keys folder.
Disclaimer:
-----------
The software is distributed without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The software is not an official addon or tool. Use of the software (in whole or in part) is entirely at your own risk.
Nice conversion.
However, to be more accurate, with the optics on, the barrel grip should be folded downwards, and the arm of the grip should be shortened by half.
Practice varies, since in some situations the need to be able to carry the weapon differently is paramount. Some prefer to fold in the carrying handle, others do not. There is little sense in terming one method more accurate than the other. The form of the weapons has varied over the past decades, there are many variations in details such as gas regulators, barrels, rails, rear sight apertures, grips, furniture and other components. For all suggestions for alterations I refer to the self service change request form.
It's not a question of practice, it's a question of training. Properly trained soldiers know that for best combat awareness, the handle (which is not only a carrying handle but rather a handle to grip the barrel while it's burning hot, to change with the spare barrel provided with each weapon) must be setin it's downright position.
Now, it's true that i've often seen some poor soldiers firing with the handle in their line of sight, resulting in like 30% of your field of view that's obstructed by the handle. That's where situationnal awareness is often a conception that some basic soldiers will never understand.
I talked about the length of the handle too because it's obviously too long. You sized it as the oldest models, which were static, and couldn't be folded along the barrel. It's been like 15 years that this handle has not been produced anymore.
Now, ok, you're maybe mad at me because i'm criticizing, but I think that if you want to improve something, do it accurately, or accept the critics and act accordingly to the suggestions.
Once again, practice varies and I do not see how a change in the model would constitute an improvement. The Minimi has been adopted in one guise or another by many dozens of nations, which do not all follow the same procedures. Therefore what may be instructed in the Belgian armed forces is surely valid for them, but not necessarily the position adopted by others.
Once againk it's not a question of practice, it's a question of training. It's a lack of proper training or because the soldiers doesn't apply what he was taught. As a comparison, it's not advised to shoot long bursts with the minimi. Some soldiers will do it, but it's not the way the MG is meant to be used.
And, of course, modeling the weapon correctly improves the original model. Anyway, if you prefer to leave the errors on the model, it's up to you :)
There is in short abundant evidence for the Minimi being carried with the grip raised. Indeed it is also the very way in which this weapon is depicted in the U.S. M249 field manual and shown in pictures of U.S. military fire arms training. The supposed decrease in awareness caused by a raised grip is apparently deemed negligible in service. Contrary to your assumptions and unsupported claims, the weapon must therefore be considered to be modelled correctly in its current form and not in need of alteration.
Ares, you're incorrect in your assumption that all forces are "untrained" if they carry the minimi with the grip raised, as shown in countless footage and photos. Perhaps that is how your country is trained, it is obviously not how the entire world operates.
Photos taken by journalists are not a valid source. Most of these photos are taken when the units are pausing or at the shooting range, where you focus on your target and don't care about anything else in your surroundings.
Some of the pictures you show depict the older model, which was not foldable, but has been improved since and if you look at the SFSG unit (still posing for the picture), you'll notice some of the machinegunners have the handle down as is best suited.
@aaust2k9: I didn't say that the soldiers are untrained, i just mean that they either are poorly trained or either don't listen to their instructors.Dot.
i think you will find that most armies do infact train their soldiers to fold it down, (while going through basic training and so on) however what they do once in the field is often very different to what they have been shown in basic. and his arguement makes perfect sense, you DO have better situational awarness with the handle folded down, theres no argueing that.
My apologies, you called them "poorly trained" not "untrained".
It also wasn't a matter of situational awareness, Ares was arguing about the accuracy of the model being inaccurate, then bringing training into his argument.
I'm simply saying that he has no right to turn around and call a soldier carrying his/her weapon how they deem suitable given their situation makes them poorly trained.
Photographs are by all means a valid source: they depict actual practice rather than theory. Pictures from the Dutch MOD are in fact taken by serving soldiers with a job as combat camera men and RC South is an active theater. There is no significant difference with troops in contact: check out both 45150551.jpg and 45150612.jpg on UK MoD site or some Dutch combat footage. Having weapons both with grips folded down and in the upright position on the same photograph supports my position, ie that practice varies, and invalidates your claim that the grip is universally folded down.
