Motorcycle becomes a universal weapon carrier

Khanzeer

Banned
Motorcycles although have been common in communication roles for a long time did not become a hugely popular as weapon carriers even with the addition of a sidecar

Please suggest any timeline in which motorcycles or similarly modified vehicles can be carriers for HMG, SAM's, mortars, rocket launchers etc and what would these vehicles look like and what can they realistically deploy
 
Last edited:
A sidecar with a MG is about all you could realistically do with motorcycles, though it might just be possible to tow a small trailer with a light mortar.

7403_tavola_LR.jpg
 

JSchafer

Banned
ATGMs could be placed on them. So can MG’s. Sams are a no and mortars would break the axle when fired. They are about as useful as they can be.
 
Fight a few wars in steep mountainous terrain. Goat tracks are too narrow for 4-wheeled jeeps or even side-cars.
OTOH dirt bikes can carry anything that food soldiers can, (mortars, anti-tank rockets, mortars, etc.) but arrive sooner and still have enough (human) energy to fight.
 
Fight a few wars in steep mountainous terrain. Goat tracks are too narrow for 4-wheeled jeeps or even side-cars.
OTOH dirt bikes can carry anything that food soldiers can, (mortars, anti-tank rockets, mortars, etc.) but arrive sooner and still have enough (human) energy to fight.
In terrain like that you're probably better off with mules, they carry more and bikes won't be able to much faster.
 
In terrain like that you're probably better off with mules, they carry more and bikes won't be able to much faster.
While Mules are amongst the group of animals who have low water requirements (3rd best, Camels being #1) and have adiet similar to Goats, where good Pasture is actually bad for them, there is a reason 'Ornery' and 'Mule' go hand in hand.
If you have fuel, spark and air in the tires, it will go where you want.
A Mule, will be tempted into animal abuse early and often, even when all needs are met.
 
Motorcycles although have been common in communication roles for a long time did not become a hugely popular as weapon carriers even with the addition of a sidecar

Please suggest any timeline in which motorcycles or similarly modified vehicles can be carriers for HMG, SAM's, mortars, rocket launchers etc and what would these vehicles look like and what can they realistically deploy
Some questions:
  1. Does this have to be modern (2000+) times, or are earlier times/wars ok?
  2. Does the motor cycle have to be able to use these weapons on the move?
If the pre-modern are allowed, I would think some interesting ideas might be to have a flame thrower unit, with one or two side cars either carrying a vehicle mounted unit, or a man pack unit with an operator. Other unusual ideas might be for some sort of automatic grenade launcher, and again with the option to have a vehicle mount or man portable variations.

For modern times, could we possibly see radio controlled drone(s) being controlled by recon units motorcycle troops? Such a thing might give a very nice advantage to FO/artillery.
 
Top