Bone_Vulture

Makes sense if you had to shoot while on horseback.... You need something that'll hit without delicate aiming. The speed of approach is already on the cavalryman's side.

Makes sense if you had to shoot while on horseback.... You need something that'll hit without delicate aiming. The speed of approach is already on the cavalryman's side.

MadDdog, if you're mounting an assault, then that number is logical. If my memory serves me correctly, the bonus you'll get on top of the base points is 25% for probe, 50% for attack and 75% for assault. The computer might round up the total points a bit. I'm not sure whether the handicap bonus / penalty is directly added / substracted from this bonus, or is it calculated on top of it.

Nah, by the time the Normandy landings took place, all quality German equipment had been shipped to the eastern front. Yeah... I just figured it myself that there was some sort of Luger / Mauser connection, although I previously thought it was by a different manufacturer. And no, I definitely didn't mean the broomhandle models. Quite a clunky sidearm that'd make, eh?

Good question. Any historical sidearm afficianados here?

Thanks, that's what I though. DoD needs a secondary firearm for balancing reasons, obviously attempting to arm even a fraction of the on duty infantry with sidearms would've been a waste of resources, when compared to the actual benefit gained.

Now, I'm aware that the Half-Life mod "Day of Defeat" certainly isn't the best source for realistic history reference, but I have to be sure. Dear grogs, I assume the pistols were generally issued only to higher officers. Were these sidearms ever given to front troops to serve as a backup weapon?

Faster.

Uh, Wicky... I don't think HE does any good unless it scores the firing slit penetration I mentioned.

Uh, Wicky... I don't think HE does any good unless it scores the firing slit penetration I mentioned.

Go for lucky firing slit penetrations. Concentrate your high ROF field guns on a single bunker a time, use smoke to blind the others if necessary. Unless you already know, the easiest way to kill a concrete bunker in the current CM engine is firing plenty of shots, no matter what the caliber is. A 20mm flak will probably zero in and destroy a bunker with a slit penetration within a turn.

Go for lucky firing slit penetrations. Concentrate your high ROF field guns on a single bunker a time, use smoke to blind the others if necessary. Unless you already know, the easiest way to kill a concrete bunker in the current CM engine is firing plenty of shots, no matter what the caliber is. A 20mm flak will probably zero in and destroy a bunker with a slit penetration within a turn.

Well, loss of just about any unit lowers global morale. Don't know whether battalion HQ's serve a bigger hit if they go down.

Damn it Sergei, you think like an engineer sometimes. (Ja tarkoitan siis kuin insinööri, ei pioneeri.)

Like what? "Dad, is Santa gonna get me a SPAS-15 for X-mas?" "No, son. He won't." "BUT DAAAAA-AAD!!! I want some fully automatic gas operated shotgun action!!!" "No means NO! Now eat your veggies or it's no dessert for you!"

Like what? "Dad, is Santa gonna get me a SPAS-15 for X-mas?" "No, son. He won't." "BUT DAAAAA-AAD!!! I want some fully automatic gas operated shotgun action!!!" "No means NO! Now eat your veggies or it's no dessert for you!"

Like I said, this problem likely concerns only SMG squads, due to their extreme firepower. Come to think of it, splitting the squad is an excellent tactic, especially when ambushing: you get two little squadlings that you can set in key locations, and tear apart any enemy squads that trigger the ambush. Uhm... Perhaps in the future CM engine, a half squad will get some sort of visible penalty to their firepower and morale.

That is actually quite a good question, Hoolaman. Like in our modern Finnish army, I do not know any other infantry types or units that would be trained to use shotguns, other than the MPs. And to my knowledge, they're meant to handle war time "terrorism / saboteur hazards".

That is actually quite a good question, Hoolaman. Like in our modern Finnish army, I do not know any other infantry types or units that would be trained to use shotguns, other than the MPs. And to my knowledge, they're meant to handle war time "terrorism / saboteur hazards".

Ah, sorry Glider. I forgot that you need to host your screenshots.... Anyway. SMG squads are truly a tricky challenge, since - as we all know - an SMG half squad has the same firepower at close range than a full rifle squad. The only good news is that this means your opponent won't be to provide covering fire the half squads that are in the back. I'd say your only ally in this case is the distance: you need to focus your fire on the SMG squads, and somehow pin the enemy some 60-100 meters away from your troops. Do not try ambushing, SMG's aren't a fun treat in close quarters. Now, with any of luck, your opponent's forces will get pinned to the degree where he might be forced to use the SMG squads to provide ineffective fire over long distances. This'd be the dream scenario for you.

Ok, I will be fair and assume that you're asking why there isn't a weapon like this in real life. Lord Peter already gave several good reasons. Due to the shotgun's questionable range and accuracy, it'd make a truly poor squad support weapon. And an extremely heavy one, as mentioned. Quite impractical.

Ok, I will be fair and assume that you're asking why there isn't a weapon like this in real life. Lord Peter already gave several good reasons. Due to the shotgun's questionable range and accuracy, it'd make a truly poor squad support weapon. And an extremely heavy one, as mentioned. Quite impractical.

My first thought is that fighting a throng of half squads will require a lot more of fire order micromanaging. Again, it all depends on the terrain and equipment available. Perhaps setting the defenses in multiple close layers, so that the remaining half squads can't suppress the furthermost layer of defenders, set deep in woods or something? Screenshots please.

To answer the original question... Spreading a group of tanks obviously helps against the rockets and especially bombs that are dropped at your armor. A vastly deadlier threat against an open topped vehicle are the guns the ground attack planes carry. I think you can gain some modest cover against airborne threats if you park your tanks in shrubs or scattered trees. It will not repel any incoming fire, but it might cause the plane to go for some more visible targets.