Infantry based anti tank for USMC and EFTF?

[Turtle]

As per the title, will there be any infantry based anti tank models/units for the USMC and EFTF armies?

Since it's moved to open war in the BFE world, infantry units are more likely to face enemy armor. It just seems strange that these armies wouldn't have such units available.

That and, without such units, I can't take an infantry heavy force with either army, instead I have to take a tank. Shadows are nice, and cheap, I guess. Useful for a primarily infantry force, but I just like having the option of someone with a shoulder fired missile launcher.

 

[Mr Evil]

its about balance as well though remeber its a wargame depicting some reality not reality being duplicated in a war game.

also the USMC are gettin anti tank stuff in other forms so their infantry are used to kill infantry, with air power designed to kill armour from the air.

as it is the usmc have the best anti armour unit in the game, the shadows.

 

[Turtle]

Well, duh. I'm usually first to say that BFE is a game, not a simulation.

But I still like the idea of a shoulder mounted missile launcher. Even if the M1A2 is nasty, and the shadow is pretty effective.

 

[Mr Evil]

maybe but its not somthing that is used in such forces that are used to so much air control.

if you wish for shoulder mounted missile launchers go PLA if every body had them then there would just be complaints about why the pla ifv hasnt got the same armour and gun as a warrior and so on, each force needs to be distinctivly different.

look at the tusk its so ant infantry its scarry, while pla armour is very anti tank or light armour, but isnt as multi role, multi role is left to the infantry, while the usmc go into buildings clearing out infantry who are trying to remove your armour.

just look at the big picture, the usmc has loads of anti armour so why give infantry designed to remove infantry from cover such weapons, they weighed down enough from their armour, any more kit and there be snails.

just my opinion, not saying im right but i think they have hit the right ballance from the games ive played. every unit has a use, think of them as tools, dont use a can opener to open a door and dont use a key to open the can.

 

[emperorpenguin]

dont use a can opener to open a door and dont use a key to open the can.

Unless it's one of those spam or corned beef tins Mr Evil, they have keys to open them! :lol:

 

[Hiromoon]

Seperate doo-dads that you can add in later.

 

[Turtle]

Yeah, I was hoping to see something like costly infantry unit attachments that you can add into a standard squad. Something like a USMC or EFTF specials/support box that includes things like an AT soldier, or other things like on table mortars. The unit could attach to a standard squad and operate just like another fireteam.

It needs to cost more, of course point-wise, but not only can it help fill role gaps in army construction (at a cost), it can also help eat up some extra points.

Hiromoon's little comment makes me think that such a thing is already planned, since he has access to the playtest rules.

 

[Proteus454]

USMC Stinger Teams are in the works, if I'm not muchly mistaken. As to the EFTF, I believe the German Heer Infantry will come equipped with AT weaponry, as may France's Armee De Terre, perhaps.

 

[Paladin]

As per the title, will there be any infantry based anti tank models/units for the USMC and EFTF armies?

Signs and Portents #37:
"As well as the basic infantry squad, expect the
ranks of the USMC to swell with command and
Force Recon squads, as well as sniper and Stinger
teams."

If you read one of he playtesters battlereports (Shotgun-toting Chipmunk's I believe) there is mention of a German Heer team armed with Panzerfausts (aka bazookas)

anything else mentioned by someone from Mongoose is listed on Evocommand under the appropriate faction here:
http://www.evocommand.com/the_game/the_game.php

 

[DM]

Its one of those "game departs from reality" things, prompted by play balance, marketing etc. Real USMC and British infantry squads do have their own shoulder launched AT weapons; for example the Warrior IFV has internal stowage for 8 LAWs for example (and a Warrior section comprises 7 soldiers rather than 8). For your own games I guess there's nothing stopping you "tweaking" with the section orbats to get them closer to the real thing.

 

[Turtle]

Thanks for the tip DM. I'll stick to the rules as is. I guess I'm just whining for shoulder missiles even though there's some cheap and effective units in these armies to fill those roles anyway.

Er, actually, what AT ability does the EFTF have besides the challenger 2? Admittedly the challenger 2 cannot be one shot killed while in cover, at least not with any current tank gun. So, it's a vehicle that can be relied on if parked in cover. The warrior has 2xd10 cannon, but that won't punch through tank armor even though it might force some armor rolls.

 

[Reborn]

I agree, sort of. Modern warfare is all about flexibility, and if EFTF and USMC squads were truly flexible, they would have some sort of anti-tank weapon.

_However_ - I also think that warfare is about flexibility in choice. Therefore you only have to look at the two armies to see that soon there will be a plethora of anti-tank units to choose from - the Shadow is a perfect example. You get 6 for the price of an Abrahms, and each has a weapon nearly as powerful as the M1A2's main gun.

So if you want to give an infantry squad anti-tank capability, attach it to a Shadow, and you have a fast moving troop carrier with a large gun on top! I know I'm stating the obvious here, but isn't that sort of like buying an anti-tank option for your squad?

 

[MongooseMatt]

Hi guys,

The short answer is yes, they will eventually get them.

The longer answer is that, while in real life, every army has very similar equipment, we wanted to give the armies some 'distance' between one another to begin with. So, our concern is that every army has an ability to counter the others - you can see this with air units, where the USMC and EFTF get helicopters first, but the PLA and MEA are equipped with AAA units capable of dealing with them.

To get back to the original question, the EFTF will be getting panzerfausts in their German Heer squads (released in wave 6, after the Leopard 2 - now THAT is a good anti-armour unit ), while the USMC will be relying on Shadows, Super Cobras and Preadtors for a little while longer. Basically, if you are a USMC player, you'll wait for man portable anti-armour units, but you'll be getting lots of sexy things in the meantime!

 

[darklord4]

I think the USMC currently(and possibly in 10 years) has a weapons platoon attached to each Company. This is where the mortars, anti tank, and HMGs are. These teams are then delegated where they are needed.

So, not having AT capabilities in the USMC squads IS realistic. If weapon teams that can be delegated to squads come out later, that would be realistic as well.

Maybe someone with more "authority" could speak better to the actual USMC Company/Platoon organization? This info is based on a web search...

 

[shmitty]

Good to know Matt. How far out do you have the various waves planned? Any chance of dropping some more hints of what we can expect?

 

[Hiromoon]

Course, you could ask the Marines in the squad what that strange tube on their back is....

 

[Mr Evil]

Course, you could ask the Marines in the squad what that strange tube on their back is....

pringles

definatly pringles

 

[Col_stone]

Extra batteries is my guess

 

[Proteus454]

To get back to the original question, the EFTF will be getting panzerfausts in their German Heer squads (released in wave 6, after the Leopard 2 - now THAT is a good anti-armour unit )

Ah. Does this then mean that the Heer will be appended to the EFTF before the Armee de Terre, then?

 

[Jhary]

So, not having AT capabilities in the USMC squads IS realistic.

Strange i thought this Landwarior Stuff shoud make an Infantrie Soldier in the posibillty to knock out armoured forces. With what shoud the ETF and USC Infantrie stop then the Armoured forces of PLA and EA? they come out before the German heeres truppe.