Jump to content

Ammo for Tanks?


Recommended Posts

I could just lack some context here...but the StuG only has around 25-28 rounds of HE for its main gun. It's not designed for prolonged combat and not very good at suppressive fire since it lacks a coaxial machine gun. The MG34 on the roof is really just for self-defense since the gunner has to expose himself to fire it. The Ausf D used to have more ammo....but no one liked that version since the short gun it had couldn't defeat tanks easily. The Ausf G came around because the infantry desperately needed more anti-tank capacity but the StuG suffered a commensurate loss in its usefulness as an Assault-Gun because of this due to the larger size of the StuK L/48's shells and the need to stock more AP rounds. This was a particularly acute problem in the Wehrmacht too because supply lines were so stretched most tanks probably couldn't expect ammunition for days or maybe even weeks at a time. Would a resupply mechanic for tanks in the game be nice? Sure. Is it absolutely critical for us to have? I don't think so. 

Edited by SimpleSimon
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Resupplying tanks

In order to do this, the designer would have to manipulate the scenario. Since the game allows intra-platoon ammo leveling, keeping one (or more) of the platoon vehicles behind (or out of battle) is the key. Now, I'm not sure if a designer can specify which vehicle of a platoon can enter separately than the others. Say a full-strength platoon has 5 vehicles. The designer could put 4 on-map and have the 5th appear as a reinforcement at the 90 minute mark. It'd be up to the player to pull his platoon back to that vehicle and perform ammo-leveling.

The other approach would be to just feed in a reinforcing platoon at the appropriate point in the battle.

Neither approach is perfect. It would be far more interesting to have an ammo truck appear for resupply and to bring your vehicles back to it.

Long battles, and campaigns with no/limited resupply, bring up a host of issues that affect tactics. No more shooting HE at suspected locations, for example. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, c3k said:

Resupplying tanks

In order to do this, the designer would have to manipulate the scenario. Since the game allows intra-platoon ammo leveling, keeping one (or more) of the platoon vehicles behind (or out of battle) is the key. Now, I'm not sure if a designer can specify which vehicle of a platoon can enter separately than the others. Say a full-strength platoon has 5 vehicles. The designer could put 4 on-map and have the 5th appear as a reinforcement at the 90 minute mark. It'd be up to the player to pull his platoon back to that vehicle and perform ammo-leveling.

The other approach would be to just feed in a reinforcing platoon at the appropriate point in the battle.

Neither approach is perfect. It would be far more interesting to have an ammo truck appear for resupply and to bring your vehicles back to it.

Long battles, and campaigns with no/limited resupply, bring up a host of issues that affect tactics. No more shooting HE at suspected locations, for example. 

You're aware vehicles can't ammo level, right?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It would be helpful if a player was able to select the ammo load-out in the SET-UP phase.  We've all experienced scenarios where it was obvious the primary function would be HE support, but the load-out is mostly AT.  In RL one would think (assume?) that a more appropriate ammo load-out would be SOP.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/17/2020 at 10:37 PM, Erwin said:

It would be helpful if a player was able to select the ammo load-out in the SET-UP phase.  We've all experienced scenarios where it was obvious the primary function would be HE support, but the load-out is mostly AT.  In RL one would think (assume?) that a more appropriate ammo load-out would be SOP.

Be a bummer if you guessed wrong though wouldn't it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Combatintman said:

Be a bummer if you guessed wrong though wouldn't it?

Did you know that during the set up phase one can examine the map and read the briefing?  That way one can get a good idea of what sort of mission one is facing.  Usually, it's pretty obvious what sort of ammo load out will be needed.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

On 1/23/2020 at 5:38 PM, Attilaforfun said:

We used to joke that MI had a wheel they'd spin everyday. 'Be on the lookout for a yellow Subaru containing Muhamad Muhamad Ali.' Name and cars were always different. 

Toyota Corolla you mean ...

http://community.battlefront.com/topic/126763-winter-mod-for-afghanistan/?do=findComment&comment=1811595

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Loading ammo for a AFV, while not an all-day affair is not something you want to do while in action.

For example:
 

Quote

The Leopard 1 stores most of it's ammunition in the hull, and is very vulnerable during the transfer of rounds from the secondary storage into the ready racks, as the turret must be rotated to the flank and the vehicle cannot observe or fight. The smaller ammunition allows higher rates of fire than the 120mm armed tanks, and the brass cases afford some protection to the ammunition which the combustible cased 120/125mm rounds lack. Within SB this allows a loaded round to be replaced without being expended first, allowing more suitable ammunition selection when facing multiple target types.

That's just moving ammo already on the AFV to the ready rack. Taking on ammo involves a lot of time with your hatches open doing everything but effectively fighting your AFV.

Having said that, there are some situations like on-map mortars on the defending side of an assault where I can see a 200% ammo count at scenario start making sense, to simulate having a prepared position.

Edited by DougPhresh
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...