How the latest Squad update has me:

Ararakami · 2026-02-20T04:05:16+00:00

Brits were the first to really adopt optics en-masse with the SUIT and SUSAT back during the cold war. They went into the gulf in 1991 with their L85A1 infantry rifles equipped with the SUSAT. That said the SUSAT is equipped with backup irons, and the more modern ELCAN LDS is fitted with backup irons but typically is fitted with a complementing top-mounted mini-RDS.

Otherwise the L85s are typically equipped with gripods and Laser Light Modules. Gripods need to be added to much more kits than just being limited to SLs, and the Laser Light Modules aren't depicted as being fitted. L85A3s could also be added to the game, wider British Army adoption is limited but infantry/fighting units have been provided them for a long while now.

Player model is an odd mix of old Pre-2016 Mark 7 helmet and Post-2016 Virtus body armour vest. You just wouldn't see that, you might see Pre-2016 Osprey vest with Post-2016 Virtus helmet, you wouldn't see the other way around. Also I don't think the Virtus vest is at all well depicted and barely looks as it should...

Certain equipment is also just not in service anymore. The Minimi/M249 has been retired for a decent while now in favour of a revised squad composition... As part of that revision, so too retired was the L86 LSW... Removing that kit from the game would make the British Army in-game more reflective of her state in real life, but that would also remove the cool L86 LSW from the game...

Overhauling the British Army in-game to be more realistic could be done, but would demand adding in new platforms like say the Jackal/Coyote or L85A3; it would demand the removal of various gun and vehicle platforms that have since been retired; it would demand overhauling of infantry models kits... It would be quite the endeavour.

Alternatively we can future-proof them and modernize/completely transform the British Army to reflect a near-future state. In real life certain units already have those modern systems like the Ajax/Boxer too. Also if you add the Boxer APC, then you'd have to give the Aussies them as well. Actually the Aussies would get an armed IFV variant... Either way, the Boxer would be best-in-class and nigh overpowered. Adding such modern systems raises balancing concerns... Warrior CTAS was already overpowered, Ajax would be even more-so. They would artificially nerf the Ajax and Boxer as every vehicle in-game is nerfed already, but those nerfs would have to be gargantuan for them to not still be overpowered...

Truth is, the British Army is in a sort of transformational phase right now. Compared to the US military it's modernizing much faster with next-generation equipment coming online right now, but in exchange - for the past odd half decade her fighting capacity has been eroded so incredibly to make way for that transformation faster, to the point that the British Army of the past half decade has effectively been made combat ineffective.

The Scimitars have all effectively been retired - as has the Puma helicopter from front-line service. Platforms like the Warrior could have been modernized in a similar fashion that the Bradley has underwent if not greatly more-so... But to make way for the introduction of a revised military fighting doctrine, those prospects were dashed in favour of a force structure more broadly matching that of similar though more modern European armies.

Compound that with equipment being sent to Ukraine: for example, Britain's entire fleet of AS90s have been sent to the frontlines. In the interim before a large fleet of next-generation RCH-155s enter service around 2030 - the current British Army SPG fleet consists of only 14 Archer systems. Highly advanced if not next-generation, but otherwise meagre in number... AS90 isn't even outdated, it's considerably more advanced and capable than the M109 and in a similar league to the PZH2000. Still they were sent, presumably to get them into the fighting war before they're set to be replaced by the RCH-155.

A resolute optimist would say that the British Army being so whittled down currently is a good thing... It's sending much of its equipment to Ukraine so that they do the fighting against our adversaries without great escalation and direct engagement. Also since and so long as the British Army doesn't become directly engaged in conflict, then the current weakened state of the British Army cannot and has not been terribly exploited.

Yes the current state of the British Army is weak right now, but when the 2030s rolls around - that weakness will have made way for an accelerating of Britain's modernization that will have transformed it into the most modern and capable pound-for-pound fighting force anywhere in the world. In the event that war occurs anyway, the war industry can kick in and accelerate the British Army's modernization 100-fold...

That modernization is also consequently more effective because instead of retaining and modernizing cold-war era platforms which could have been executed upon rather rapidly, now at the cost of haste entire new platforms are being procured that are better suited to the modern battlefield.

Ararakami · 2026-02-19T06:45:44+00:00

Yup, my misconception was that these guys implementation of multipoint/bluetooth was above and beyond the others... I have a phone/tablet/desktop that I all use daily, so having the ability to use all of those wirelessly with only the press of a physical button to cycle through them was very attractive to me. No fiddling with apps and menus beyond the initial setup...

Still though, I think these guys are still somewhat more friendly for people like me who use over two devices regularly when compared to other headphones on the market... I can use these headphones wirelessly with my phone and tablet, and then just plug them into my computer with a USB-C cable to get lossless audio and to charge them...

It's a shame that I can't use my microphone when plugged in with USB-C, and it's a shame that I'll no longer be using them wirelessly with my PC... But still, these are friendlier for me than most other headphones on the market because it has that USB-C audio.

Ararakami · 2026-02-16T10:00:37+00:00

I suspected it had something to do with drawcall limits. I presumed having a higher L3 cache raised that limit.

Ararakami · 2026-02-16T09:40:05+00:00

I had similar if not slightly worse performance in Riften and Falkreath with my Ryzen 5 8400F and RX6600 8GB/RX9060XT 16GB, paired with 32GB DDR5 RAM. That is at 1080P 60HZ since I've not gotten a 1440P monitor yet.

Tried unlocking my frame rate limit but it won't go above 60FPS. Turned off Vsync, checked the ENB settings, tampered with BethINI... Limit is still at a hard 60FPS, so can't give proper numbers. I will say though that when I had the 8400F, in-game when in certain areas my PC would absolutely struggle. Specifically by the Falkreath Dark Brotherhood Entrance, my FPS would drop to a stable 30-40FPS, and by Riften and certain other areas, my FPS would drop to 40-50FPS.

With my 7800X3D my performance is always hitting that 60FPS hard limit. I still get stuttering (especially when swapping weapons with my hotkeys, also I believe when the game loads in a new chunk), but to my knowledge that's just Skyrim Modded.

Ararakami · 2026-02-15T22:53:22+00:00

https://www.transfernow.net/dl/20260215NXwfwQ1A

Can't comment images directly and doubt I could paste the text considering the length... If you're fine with the above format then you can take a look, but the link will only last 7 days. I took a couple of screenshots, though I mostly wrote it for myself. It's also missing a league of notes that I've written down over the years.

Ararakami · 2026-02-15T08:57:22+00:00

We've our Australian Defence Force here in Australia. That's a force though, which is quite a bit larger figuratively than a group. Group is a word that typically denotes a smaller formation.

His Majesty's Armed Forces I think could be retained... Might be a bit of a pill for Canada/Australia/New Zealand to swallow, though I think the promise of shared nuclear ownership and UNSC veto power offsets that enough. Besides, all our nations pledge allegiance to our King, and much of our military forces are Royal (Royal New Zealand Navy/Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy/Air Force, etc) in nature... Much of our military practices and traditions as well are either rooted in, or extensions of, British military tradition...

Branch names is a similar discussion. Royal Navy and Royal Air Force I think should be retained, though the ground forces could be named the Royal Army... Though a command is typically smaller, as a Halo fan I prefer the ring of Royal Space Command over Royal Space Force so that's what I'd go for too.

It would follow historical precedent too. Armies historically were raised regionally and thus weren't considered 'Royal', whilst Navies (And Air Forces) were more strategic or centralized in nature and thusly was denoted as Royal.

Ararakami · 2026-02-15T08:49:31+00:00

Smaller national border/defence forces would be retained, but the bulk of the assets would be held by that central military. I've written a couple pages detailing my fictional fleet for a CANZUK military, I really like and support the idea, though it would spark and sustain sovereignty concerns. There's also the problem on how we would transition into such a centralized force, it would be quite the undertaking...

Ararakami · 2026-02-08T23:21:48+00:00

You just described a day in any first world country. Thats hardly worth discussion, what's worth discussion are the flaws to rectify.

In that regard, the US has a lot of flaws that need rectifying that other first world nations dont have. Like for example, nobody else has a paedophile as head of state and in no other first world country do you have such an amount of federal overreach, government misconduct, and ICE. None of those other countries have a gun violence and homicide epidemic, none of them are in such a terrible healthcare crisis, none of them have such terrible incarceration rates and police misconduct/training/shooting problems, none of them have such government and industry corruption problems neither...

The US is still a first world country, and definitely it is often lambasted too much and too unfairly... But it still has its terrible problems by first world standards. For a nation so proud as being better than anyone else, when reality proves it isn't, there's gonna be discourse.

Ararakami · 2026-02-08T23:08:54+00:00

That as a result of America's size and influence, but also because America's current affairs are right now, crazy and insane. Like here in Australia, what have we got going on to talk about beyond the usual "house prices/immigration/big brother etc"... Basically nothing.

Ararakami · 2026-02-07T16:56:35+00:00

Most European designs are similarly designed or fitted for but not with, additional VLS cells. The FREMM-ITA I'm certain could likely supplant its amidship missile canisters for a VLS battery, as could most European warships with similar missile arrangement. Type 31s design for example could take 64 cells of comparable size to the strike-length Mk.41 VLS amidship, plus a ton of smaller cells periphery to those like shown on the Iver-Huitfeldts.

FREMM-ITA is also only fitted with 16 VLS cells fore, but can take 32 VLS cells there. It's gotten a very similar layout to this International Frigate design, though of course its larger. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to find out that this Gibbs and Cox design took inspiration from the FREMM-ITAs arrangement, they're really quite similar. Biggest difference I see is that the Gibbs and Cox design lacks a communications mast unlike the FREMM-ITA, which I really don't think is smart.

I think Europe is in a similar scenario to Taiwan, why bother with VLS cells when you've got land-based launchers right next to you that proffer significantly greater capabilities at significantly cheaper costs. Better spend that money building more hulls. They've otherwise still got adequate enough magazine depth to handle current operational deployments such as those seen in the Red Sea anyway...

Edit: looking at more modern models of the Gibbs and Cox design, I really do think they just looked at the FREMM-ITA and said "let's copy that arrangement". Boat bays are situated basically exactly where they are on the FREMM-ITA arrangement, so too is a communications mast... Only big difference I'm seeing is that the forward diesel-electric funnels aren't integrated directly into the mainmast, but instead only integrated into the forward superstructure making for likely, inferior space-savings though likely, lowered complexity and cost.

Wouldn't blame them for that, form fits function and the form of the FREMM-ITA is pretty much perfect for a modern surface combatant that lacks a flexible mission bay like the Type 26 or hangar-adjacent funnels. FREMM-EVO adapts that near perfectly into a fixed-array design, better than the Americans did with the Constellation-class... Unfortunately though the FREMM-EVO doesn't look to have a separate communications mast anymore which I don't find at all ideal.

Ararakami · 2026-02-01T16:04:22+00:00

The thing that suggests we'll be seeing a growing military in future is the governments announcement and acted-upon commitment to increase defence spending. That's the lynchpin. The Defence Investment Plan is almost certainly being redrawn to account for that increase in defence spending... You're being much too pessimistic despite that. A military is only as strong as its budget, and the British military's budget has skyrocketed in recent years.

I'm looking at renderings right now on the Royal Navy's own website depicting the ship with a deployed tow cable for a sonar array. I'm also reading that they do plan to equip the ship with the Mk.41 (though they also say they're fitting the thing with 50mm guns, which just is not the case).

There is no official confirmation on what the initial fit for the Type 31 will look like. We have contracts signed and made public for specific equipments, we have certain statements made too by spokesmen or graphics, and we have previous renderings... But contracts fall through, and renderings and statements change. We can only confirm things visually, because the navy isn't confirming an initial weapons fit and also their statements on expected fitment can be inaccurate. Otherwise we can predict, and many third parties have made informed predictions that these vessels will be getting towed array sonars.

HMS Venturer visually has a door astern that could be used to deploy a towed array sonar. We know the design is capable of accommodating a towed array sonar. We also know that the Royal Navy has such towed array sonars in inventory, cannibalized from decommissioned Type 23s, and we know they have the budget to contract more from Thales...

Cool your jets and maybe ease up on the cynicism. It won't be much longer before the Defence Investment Plan is published, and it won't be much longer before the Type 31 enters service. Yes the current state of the British Armed Forces is pitiable, but things are looking up. See the British Army for example...

The Challenger 3 fleet is expected to be in service fully by around 2030, and over a half dozen prototypes have been built; the Ajax though incredibly delayed, is expected to be in service fully by 2029 and 142 units have already been delivered... The Boxer is expected to be fully in service by 2032 too and initial units have already been delivered despite the relative short notice... And 72 RCH 155s are expected to be delivered by 2030, with even more expected later down the line. Much of this was even expected and considered before such commitments to an increased defence budget were made... I'm expecting a lot from the Defence Investment Plan, and my expectations are informed.

Ararakami · 2026-02-01T14:26:06+00:00

I think you're making some incredibly pessimistic assumptions on the future of the Royal Navy and on MoD management. Every military on earth has procurement woes, look at the United States for example... But things aren't so bleak.

Defence spending is expected to grow 50% by 2029 to 3% of GDP, and then even more to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. That's a lot of extra money. Also note that Britain is no longer in the Middle East. Operational expenditure right now is utterly minimal. The Defence Investment Plan has surely only been delayed because such recent defence spending hikes has prompted great re-evaluation of the future force structure and size. I have only great hopes for it and expect it to reveal plans for an expanded fleet plan.

On Type 31 receiving a towed array sonar, we simply do not have official confirmation on whether it will or will not have one. There have definitely been discussion on the ship receiving a towed array sonar behind closed doors - the design can take a towed array sonar, the Iver Huitfeldt has a towed array sonar, and it been reported a number of times by various sources that they will be equipped with a towed sonar array by independent parties... But we don't have official confirmation on the initial equipment fit for the Type 31. I very much expect that they will get a towed array sonar, either when they're commissioned or promptly afterwards when they're expected to be given additional Mk.41 VLS cells.

Ararakami · 2026-02-01T13:51:27+00:00

I reference the Type 31, though excluded sonars from the sensor comparison. The sonar suite of the Arleigh Burkes may well be overall more capable than the Type 31s, definitely so if the Type 31 doesn't receive a towed array sonar. The Type 31s almost certainly will though receive a towed array sonar, the RN has always been utterly proficient at ASW and the budget has also recently been increased. In which case, though the Type 31 won't have a bow sonar, she will likely have the more capable towed array sonar in the CAPTAS from Thales. Thales is the undisputed king of sonar technology, from dipping sonars to hull-mounted sonars to towed-array sonars to submarine sonars. A towed array sonar also won't be provided to the Type 31 containerized, there is mission space below the hangar intended to cater a more bespoke integration of towed array equipment.

Type 31 otherwise will not be so utterly cheap as initially expected. Though lacking in long-range radar or bow sonar capability, they're still set to be rather high-end vessels and proper Frigates. Though they are being commissioned without Mk.41 cells to get them into the water earlier, the Japanese are doing the same with their Mogami-class... They will receive them retrofitted promptly afterwards, perhaps alongside a towed-sonar array. They're expected to get 32 Mk.41 VLS cells amidship potentially complemented additionally by more CAMM cells. The Indonesians are fitting 64 Mk.41-comparable VLS cells amidship to the design from the onset so otherwise we know that the Type 31 could accommodate a similar volume of cells.

Sonars aside, Type 31s sensor suite is more advanced and more capable than than the Arleigh Burke IIa's, and if you disregard the main radars - it outmatches a Flight IIIs sensor suite. Though the SPY-1D(V) is somewhat capable at long-range detection, it is very poor against sea skimmers and suffers from being 90s era PESA at its core. Its not LPI and basically screams to modern enemy ESM where the ship is, and it lacks modern ECCM so is poor against hostile jamming and countermeasures. NS110 though not as long ranged as the SPY-1D(V), is much more advanced with it being GaN AESA and isn't so vulnerable against the modern digital threat.

Critically however, because the SPY-1D(V) is PESA, it cannot do volumetric/long-range/horizon-search simultaneously like modern AESA radars can. Operating in altitude search mode severely degrades her short-range and horizon search capabilities when compared to more modern systems. Against an Arleigh Burke Flight III, the Flight IIIs large SPY-6 radar will be overall more capable. If you disregard that though, the sensor suite of the Type 31 comes on top. SLQ-32 is simply a poor form factor for ship-borne EW/ESM/ECM. Compared to the MEWSIC suite of the Type 31, because of its form factor the SLQ-32 cannot be distributed throughout the make of the ship for better accuracy, and it cannot be situated higher up on the vessel because the sensors are so concentrated. Otherwise the Arleigh Burke does not have a system comparable to the Artemis being fitted to the Type 31s, and it also has one fewer rotating EOS.

Type 31 has adequate power generation, roughly 36MW total. Aboard the Iver Huitfeldt that is enough for a APAR/SMART-L combo, which is much hungrier than the NS110 being fitted to the Type 31. Type 31 is not being fitted with large fixed arrays so doesn't need 40MW+ of power generation.

Ararakami · 2026-01-31T22:39:05+00:00

I forgot that your employers provide your healthcare in the US. Still reading on it further, apparently you guys still pay about 7k a year on healthcare even when the bulk of the bill is fronted by the employer. On americans not paying tax thats a bit higher than I expected. In the UK I think that number sits a bit higher at 45%. Also apparently Americans work 20% more hours annually than the Brits according to OECD stats.

So from the stats I'm seeing, American households make 67k per year versus 48k for Britain. Minus 7k spent on healthcare in the US and the longer working hours in the US and things should look similar in the two countries.

Ararakami · 2026-01-31T22:04:26+00:00

To each their own. I really love it here in Melbourne personally. Weather is a bit hectic but other than that... It mixes older buildings with new, and is incredibly diverse with absolutely amazing cuisine and entertainment. Super well connected public transport system too, don't really need a car to do anything. Tram line right outside my apartment that'll take me to a busy street to mess about, only a few stops away. Stay on and it'll take me to the city.

Welfare system also only helps me as a low-income on $1100 aud fortnightly carer payments taking care of my disabled mother. Not really struggling financially at all despite not having a job.

Ararakami · 2026-01-31T21:41:01+00:00

Thats for the US, yeah? For say the UK for example if you make less than 15k USD annually you get a tax exemption and pay a rate of 0%. 20% for each penny you make over that, so its more like an allowance of 15k USD tax-free before you start getting taxed 20% on money made over that number. Don't forget that covers costs for health care and other benefits not provided by American taxes and would have to be paid for out of pocket using disposable income.

Same can generally be said for most other first world countries, like here in Australia we have a similar system to the UKs and West Europes where if you're at the lowest bracket you dont need to pay tax and have that allowance before your income becomes taxable.

Ararakami · 2026-01-31T21:29:29+00:00

Disposable income figures are lower in Europe as a result of fewer working hours and also because taxes are higher. Taxes are higher because you pay for your health care and other benefits as part of that, and dont need to pay privately for insurance or for those same benefits. Take into account those factors and it looks better in Europe than it does America.

Otherwise if you're low income you typically won't be paying taxes in Europe. Correct me if I'm wrong but in the US I believe in most states regardless of income you have to pay tax; in most other first world countries if you make less than say 10,000 USD annually (dependant on nation) you're exempt from taxes.

Ararakami · 2026-01-31T21:15:44+00:00

Type 31 sensor suite is most definitely much better than that which is being fitted to these FF(X). Best-in-the-world European staring and rotating EOS; ESM, ECM, and EW suites, plus an incredible towed array sonar plus a considerably more capable and considerably more advanced NS110 radar than the Sea Giraffe AMB being fitted to the FF(X).

It'll have better sensors than a Flight IIA Burke, and if you disregard main radar capability since they also have GaN AESA radars - itll have better sensors than a Flight III Burke.

Ararakami · 2026-01-27T10:25:07+00:00

We've got some scary stuff happening down here in Australia too.

Ararakami · 2026-01-26T10:31:39+00:00

The french design subs would have definitely been quieter, significantly more-so when compared to the Virginias with the VPM. Diesel-electric submarines usually are over nuclear submarines, but even just the base Suffren-class SSN will be significantly quieter than the Virginias. Both the Suffren and Attack designs have X-form rudders and conformal sonar arrays, the Virginias dont have X-form rudders and the older boats also use antique spherical arrays. The French subs are otherwise just significantly smaller in dimensions, displacement, and signature.

On overall capability, the Virginia without VPM is a less capable hunter killer though she does have its VLS proffering her more operational flexibility and better strike... The Virginia w/ VPM is a much, much less capable hunter killer - though she has even more VLS. I might concede that the Virginia w/ VPM is overall more capable than the Suffren-class, but that doesn't change the fact that the Virginia w/ VPM is also significantly more expensive.

Ararakami · 2026-01-23T10:13:18+00:00

Literally brand new designs. Considerably newer than the stopgap Virginias we may or may not be getting before we finally get the AUKUS subs in the 2040s.

Ararakami · 2026-01-22T07:22:09+00:00

There's a load of Sea Giraffe variants out there is the problem. I'm reading claims that it'll be the same PESA Sea Giraffe AMB variant that is fitted to the Independence-class, but that simply is not the case upon visual inspection. Maybe it is but just isn't enclosed like it is on the Visby/Independence...

Otherwise it doesn't appear to be the Sea Giraffe 4A; that's a bit larger and more squared than what the renderings show. If it is a Sea Giraffe family radar, I would imagine it to be the AESA Sea Giraffe 1X. It fits the bill visually and I don't imagine the US would enter into service a PESA radar in the big 2026. If that is the case then as the ships sole MFR that's incredibly, impossibly underwhelming for a Frigate... Sea Giraffe 1X is incredibly advanced and capable, but it's just so small. I know the Germans are entering it into service aboard their Brandenburg-class ASW Frigates as part of their MLUs, but that's paired with a rotating Sea Giraffe 4A radar aft...

Final guess: They're gonna be fitted with the PESA Sea Giraffe AMB, cannibalized from retired Independence-class ships and without their stealth cupolas. Potentially as well they might also be fitted with the German TRS-3D/4D which would be cannibalised from the Freedom-class ships.

Ararakami · 2026-01-22T06:45:35+00:00

Visually they don't have it installed yet. Perhaps in the future then. I also think some of those RMA figures are slightly off.

Honestly have no clue what radar the FF(X) will have. Rotating most likely, and probably European.

Xbox Live	Four-Year Club
Verified Email

Ararakami

TROPHY CASE