Realistic Equivalents
Realistic equivalents from military and other sources, to add impact to your fanfiction.
Weapons
- Rifle - HK G36 was discussed but it could really be any modern battle rifle - H&K G3, FN FAL, M14...
- Pistol - SOCOM use .45 ACP, aka HK MK23. Very similar to the game pistol in magazine capacity and power (compared to the game rifle, anyway).
- Auto Cannon - The new 25mm XM307 OCSW could rapidly fire AP and HE grenades. No rotary barrel though it does have automatic fire. Manville 25mm is an obscure make of 18-shot revolver gun.
- Heavy Cannon - MGL-MK1, revolver 6-shot 40mm grenade launcher, with HE, AP, and In grenades. & (Perhaps upgraded versions could fire high-velocity grenades like the MK19 automatic grenade cannon.) See also Russia's RG-6 (6G30).
- Rocket Launcher - Predator Antitank Missile has been suggested. The M136 AT-4 is a disposable one-shot. The reloadable 84mm Carl Gustav (MAAWS) launcher is perhaps a closer equivalent.
- Laser weapons - no modern equivalent. General Electric?
Equipment & Explosives
- Medi-Kit - Stimulants and painkillers aside, Chitosan battlefield bandages clot severe bleeding wounds instantly. (Secret ingredients: ground shrimp shells and vinegar. From Slashdot.) Also QuikClot - In real life the Air Force gives its pilots amphetamines in order to keep them awake, I'm sure that this would use something similar
- Electro-flare - Invented because burning flares would set fires. Used as emergency road markers or Electric Light Grenade
- Grenade - Standard M67 fragmentation grenade. Note the nearest thing to our timer is "cook-off" time. Electronic fuses are possible and reliable.
- Proximity Grenade - no equivalent. Claymore tripwires and ultrasonic sensors are possible. "SLAM Mine" appeared in Splinter Cell as the Wall Mine.
- High Explosive - M183, 20lb C4 satchel charges.
- Stun Bomb - Advanced version of Pepperballs
Vehicles & Armament
- Tank/Cannon - M242 Chain Gun, 25mm, "Bushmaster" (modified for single shot) mounted on "Talon" robot chassis.
Or something larger, like an electric mini bulldozer.
- Tank/Rocket Launcher - M202 "Flash" Quad Launcher, 66mm. (2 per turret @ 4 shots each) Originally developed to disperse incendiaries but fits M-72 LAW rounds, apparently.
- Interceptor fighter - USAF Lockheed F-22 Raptor scheduled for release 2004 will replace the F-15. F-35 Lightning II hit production 2006.
- Skyranger transport - DO-31 VSTOL Transporter, Anotov AN-72 (Cadmus) or Osprey CV-22 have the right size and range.
The german Do-31 concept was intended as a combat zone transporter carrying up to 36 fully equipped troops over a mission radius of about 900 km. It had the ability of taking off and landing vertically with the help of wing mounted engine pods and was able to land on unprepared surfaces. Two flying prototypes were built in Germany during the 1960s.
"Payload considerations have also been a sore point with the CV-22. Planners will have to take into consideration its reduced cabin volume and lift capacity. Not only does it carry fewer troops (18 vs 27), it is also incapable of transporting any of the armored, wheeled vehicles currently used by SOF teams. Procurement of a new vehicle is still pending..." CV-22 Tiltrotor Osprey compared to Pavelow helicopter in Special Forces deployments, 1 June 1998. Could that new vehicle be HWP-sized?
Unit size, speed, game turn length, etc.
See Danial's interesting page on various game measurements compared to real life. (If anyone wants to dive into this deeper, make a new page, copy his stuff over, and have a link at the top of the new page giving kudos back to Danial's page... due to the fact it's his page, it's not really a place for public revision.)
Elerium-115
There are some interesting armchair conjectures on the power contained in Elerium, both on the Elerium-115 page, and on its Discussion page.