Mortar HTs are crap. Discuss/analyse.

[pawter]

I've been away from the CM community for a long while and hence would appreciate anyone directing me to a profitable discussion of the pros and cons of these things.

My quick appreciation runs thus: mortars are for neutralising AT guns. Mortar HTs gain mobilility and ammo load, but are unacceptably vulnerable to direct fire guns because they cannot use an officer as a spotter.

[Kingfish]

mortars are for neutralising AT guns

Among many other things

Mortar HTs gain mobilility and ammo load, but are unacceptably vulnerable to direct fire guns because they cannot use an officer as a spotter.

Correct, and I agree with you. This has been fixed in CMBB and CMAK, but is still (and always will be) a limitation in CMBO. However, there are many other targets that a mortar HT can deal with.

As with tanks and other armored vehicles, it is best to neutralize the enemy's AT assets first before rolling them up.

[throwdjohn]

I like mortar HTs. Especially effective is getting LOS within a few feet of the ATG, but not to the ATG.

[hoolaman]

Like all HT's they are vulnerable. But they are really awesome support weapons in an infantry heavy battle.

If you ever get the opportunity to rain down mortars on MG positions with one you will be a convert for sure.

[Major Belles]

Mortar HT = ?

[Soddball]

Mortar Halftrack. A halftrack with an 81mm/82mm mortar mounted inside.

[David I]

Pawter,

But you can use an officer to direct indirect fire. On offense or defense set up and officer with a good line of sight. Park those Motar HT's as close as you can to the officer but out of direct line of sight. Behind a building or in a gully, behind trees, etc. They carry a butt load of ammo compared to the leg mortars.

If on the other hand you have to move them out, they are pretty much useless unless you are real carefull with your line of sight as Throwdjohn suggests.

DavidI

[Michael Emrys]

Originally posted by David I:

But you can use an officer to direct indirect fire.

Not for vehicular mortars in CMBO. That feature wasn't added until CMBB.

Michael

[tar]

One useful thing you can do with mortar HT which ignores their mobility but takes advantage of their higher ammo load is to use TRPs. Admittedly this only works well on defense, but as long as you don't move the mortar HT, you can target TRPs that are anywhere on the map.

[Skolman]

Play the "No rest for the weary" scenarios against a human opponent and you will come to respect the mortar HT´s as an effective weapon !