Please, help me to choose top 11 military units for Cold War

[August]

Originally Posted by MaxRiga

I need only combat units. Transport planes, Specnaz or European arms can't be counted.

A "unit" is a group of people from about 35 up to thousands. Do you mean a single piece of equipment like a tank such as the M60A2 Patton tank or a Russian T-72?

If so then again that pretty much ensures only the latest models would be considered "best" to have in game terms.

[MaxRiga]

Do you mean a single piece of equipment like a tank such as the M60A2 Patton tank or a Russian T-72?

yes, absolutely.

If so then again that pretty much ensures only the latest models would be considered "best" to have in game terms.

well, in 1950 abram wasn't developed, right? This is the history line, take a look on my AIR example -

USSR: MiG-15 -> Il-28 -> MiG-21 -> Tu-95 -> MiG-23 -> Su-24 -> MI24 -> Su-27 -> MiG-29 -> Tu-160 -> PAK FA

USA: F-86 -> F-104 -> B-52 -> AH1 -> F-4 -> F-111 -> F-16 -> B-2 -> F-15E -> AH64 -> F-22

[August]

Originally Posted by MaxRiga

yes, absolutely.



well, in 1950 abram wasn't developed, right? This is the history line, take a look on my AIR example -

USSR: MiG-15 -> Il-28 -> MiG-21 -> Tu-95 -> MiG-23 -> Su-24 -> MI24 -> Su-27 -> MiG-29 -> Tu-160 -> PAK FA

USA: F-86 -> F-104 -> B-52 -> AH1 -> F-4 -> F-111 -> F-16 -> B-2 -> F-15E -> AH64 -> F-22

Oh I see what you mean.

Well for American tanks I'd go:

M4 Sherman --> M26 Pershing --> M48 Patton --> M60 "Improved Patton" --> M1 Abrams

One other suggestion i'd make is to separate bombers, fighters and attack helos. These are totally different three aircraft classes.

[MaxRiga]

M4 Sherman --> M26 Pershing --> M48 Patton --> M60 "Improved Patton" --> M1 Abrams

yeah, you've got it right! The only think I need to choose 11 best armors in general, not tanks. I'd add to the list - Bradley, Paladin artillery and Patriot AA

Or, may be, you think there are other units should be on the list. The more important ones on your choice?

[August]

Originally Posted by MaxRiga

yeah, you've got it right! The only think I need to choose 11 best armors in general, not tanks. I'd add to the list - Bradley, Paladin artillery and Patriot AA

You really can't compare those vehicles with tanks. They are used for totally different missions.

For example, which is better? An F1 Formula race car or a Willys Jeep? Depends on what the road looks like right? On a muddy dirt trail the F1 is useless, on the open road it rules. See what I mean?

Or, may be, you think there are other units should be on the list. The more important ones on your choice?

That list is all the main battle tanks in the US Army inventory during the years you specify, however if you need 11 tanks in the list you could introduce some variants such as:

M60 --> M60A1 --> M60A3 --> M1 --> M1A1 and so forth.

[TarJak]

why just US tanks? What about the EU? Leopard, Chieftain, Challenger etc? All worthy of note.

[CaptainHaplo]

Air wise I would drop the B2.

If your looking for a total of 11 combat units from that timeframe - use 2 from each "side" (Nato/Warsaw) on both land, air and sea.

That will give you 12 - and then you eliminate the least impactful one of them all

Nato Air - Early period would either be the GR7 or Mirage III.
Late would be the F/A 18 E/F or the F-15 E

Warsaw Air - Early period has to be the Mig21 Fishbed.
Late period would be a tossup - Mig 29/Su-27/Su-35

Nato Land - Early would be either the M60 Patton or the M113.
Late would be the Challenger II (if the timeline was a little longer - the Merkava would take it)

Warsaw Land - Early is the T-64 without question.
Late should be the BRT-80/90 (the T is outside the date range, sadly)

Nato Sea - Early - CVN-65. 'Nuff said
Late - 688 / 688I

Warsaw Sea - Early - Either the Project 627 (November) or the Kirov
Late - Has to be the Akula

Least "impactful" would be the Warsaw Pact late air.... I would drop that to get to 11 total.
I can give specifics on why each one makes the cut. If your looking for 11 from "Each" category, then its another question entirely.

[Oberon]

MaxRiga...well well well, been a while since I've seen that name around. IIRC you did some work on Civ IV units, as well as Operation Flashpoint mods, if I recall correctly.

In regards to ground, I can't disagree with August for his US picks, so I'll put some Russkie stuff out:

Katyusha ---> T-34 ---> T-55 ---> BM-21 ---> T-62 ---> BMP-1 ---> T-64 ---> T-72 ---> BMP-2 ---> T-80 ---> T-90

A mixture of tanks, IFVs and artillery there.

Navy wise:

USSR:
Zulu SSK ---> Riga Frigate ---> November SSN ---> Kashin Destroyer ---> Echo II SSGN ---> Kiev Carrier ---> Alfa SSN ---> Sovremennyy Destroyer ---> Admiral Kuznetov Carrier ---> Akula SSN ---> Oscar II SSGN
USA:
Tench (Guppy upgrade) SSK ---> Forrestral Carrier ---> Gearing Destroyer ---> Skipjack SSN ---> Kitty Hawk Carrier ---> Knox class Frigate ---> Los Angeles SSN ---> Nimitz Carrier ---> Oliver Hazard Perry Frigate ---> Triconderoga AEGIS cruiser ---> Seawolf SSN