AT Guns and the Transport trait

[Rabidchild]

In the other thread about AT guns it was pointed out that the gun itself has no size or target values. One model in the squad is armed with the AT gun instead of a rifle. So when I was considering buying some model kits today the thought occurred to me that I could drive up my M-20 scout car and have the AT gun squad embark. Bear with me as I think this through:

AT gun must make a ready action before it can move. If embarking or debarking from a transport vehicle, both vehicle and infantry may only make one action. As I see it, the transport ability and the AT gun move rules interact like this: Turn 1:AT gun fires at distant enemy and then readies. Transport uses its first action to move nearby and then readies. Turn 2: the AT gun crew mount up (having prepared their gun for transport last turn with the ready action) as their one action. The transport then uses its wheels/tracks movement to speed away to a new location since it readied last turn. Turn 3: the transport moves again, getting into the perfect location for the AT gun, while the mounted AT gun crew make a ready action in preparation for debarking. Turn 4: The transport can either move out of cover to debark the gun, or wait for them to debark first and move to cover afterwards.

Sure, it takes 3 turns without shooting, but it can be done and in big games (or games with French brocage) it will be welcome. Better yet, start the AT crew embarked in those games and run those guns forward under cover.

Thanks Matt and Agis, now I have to buy two AT guns for every one that I want: one deployed and one trailing. 8) For some reason this makes the part of me that likes to push vehicles around making "vroom sounds" very happy. :mrgreen:

 

[Agis]

Sounds solid to me! Towing guns was done during WW II, or?
:wink:

 

[Laffe]

Sounds very reasonable to me.

It wasn't common practice to use battle taxis for the guns, BUT yes, most guns were towed and the crew did practice to unload and set up the gun quickly in case they came under fire. (There a couple of vids on the net showing germans setting up a 37mm in almost no time at all.) Also, AT guns would follow behind tanks and armoured infantry in an advance and setup to prepare for the inevitable counter attack. So definately a yes!

 

[Pietia]

It wasn't common practice to use battle taxis for the guns

Depends on the army. Definitely not a common practice in the case of Russians (as they were short on those) and Germans (they were also quite short and used horses, trucks, unarmored halftracks and pretty much anything else than armored halftracks for this purpose). US Army, however, used halftracks to tow guns - M2 and M3 halftracks were used for this purpose in armored rifle units.

 

[Laffe]

What I meant that it wasn't common practice to tow the guns DIRECTLY INTO BATTLE.

 

[Ravenwing]

"RC" there isn't a box he can't think outside of

 

[Pietia]

What I meant that it wasn't common practice to tow the guns DIRECTLY INTO BATTLE.

Now, that depends on what you consider "directly into battle". Kursk-battle level or "battle for that second house on the right" level? In the case of the WaW scale of engagements towing light guns "into battle" (up to - say - 6 pounder) is quite ok.

 

[Laffe]

I don't really understand why you are arguing with me, since we think the same thing? Re-read my post, I say YES for towing the guns within the scope of the game.

 

[Pietia]

I don't really understand why you are arguing with me, since we think the same thing? Re-read my post, I say YES for towing the guns within the scope of the game.

Sorry, I've got confused . Or something...