US HMG without binoculars - intentional?

[Bulletpoint]

I play a lot of US Mech Infantry quick battles, with the computer selecting the force I have to work with.

Often, the computer buys me a couple of M1917A1 HMGs, but very often, they won't have any binoculars, making them much less useful at the long ranges where they are supposed to be used.

Is this working as designed? Did the US army not usually issue binoculars to their long-range HMG teams? I find that difficult to believe.

The smaller tripod mounted medium machineguns quite often seem to get binoculars, despite having only 1000 metre range.

[RockinHarry]

I too noticed that only the A squads from the US Mech HMG sections have an additional guy with Binocs. My guess is that it was a doctrine thing that the 2 section HMGs were usually operated in pairs and it was just one guy responsible to observe and guide both. Maybe the one guy with binocs is also the section leader? The US HMG from scpecialist teams, don´t have Binocs I think. Or not all of the 3 types. Maybe the single HMG are supposed in direct support role, parcelled out to the infantry and supporting them at short to medium range eye sight only. 

Even the german HMG teams, who always have a binocs for the leader, won´t directly engage targets beyond 1200-1300m (and little more with TRP). Think the 2000m max range is reserved for area fire only. Maybe the same for other nations HMG units.

[Bulletpoint]

Even the german HMG teams, who always have a binocs for the leader, won´t directly engage targets beyond 1200-1300m (and little more with TRP). Think the 2000m max range is reserved for area fire only. Maybe the same for other nations HMG units.

Even at 150-200 metres, binoculars start to help with spotting, in my experience.. not having them is a big decrease in their usefulness. Area fire at 2000 metres is virtually useless, as the dispersion is too great.

[RockinHarry]

Even at 150-200 metres, binoculars start to help with spotting, in my experience.. not having them is a big decrease in their usefulness. Area fire at 2000 metres is virtually useless, as the dispersion is too great.

Yup, he who has binocs, has an advantage and longer range spotting/engagements are benefitted.

From a past test play experience I know binocs also, or mostly help speed of spotting. I.e a german HMG team with 2 binocs would not spot nor engage further out, but it does so much quicker.

From the same test play, I figured that if there´s a big enemy target density, long range area fire does a better job than direct targeting fires. At long ranges (above 1000-1200m), there´s lots of the HMG bursts overshooting the target and ROF is slow and friendly unit response (tracking and engaging enemy targets) is too. Area firing 2-3 AS in front of an enemy at long ranges, gets more bullets into the target (area) and depth dispersal can be reduced. Also fire is kept up and can furtherly damage the enemy, when otherwise it has dropped out of sight for direct fire, when it goes prone or cowering. As said, this I figured to be an effective HMG employment tactic at ranges above 1000-1200m, particularly at moving enemies in the open. The more you get out of a HMG´s range advantage (by area fire), the less opportunities the enemy has to spot you and shoot back, unless it comes to near.

Here the mentioned HMG squad or section structure comes handy, where one unit serves as the spotter and the HMG´s do the combined and concentrated shooting job. That was a basic employment doctrine, not just for germans, to concentrate several HMGs (upto Plt and Coy strength) unto a single target, may it be just an area at long range, or a visible target.

I think much of the given OOBs in CMX2 reflect simply that, when it comes to HMG and other heavy weapons within larger forces (Bn). The CW independent HMG battailon is another good example.

HMGs falling outside this doctrinal structure and when attached singledly to infantry forces, serve more of a direct support role, where engagement ranges are more tied to the infantry forces engagement capabilities (short to medium range).

[Paulus]

Kudo's to BFC, I just did my own testing, HMG at 2000 mtr firing range. Impressed by the way ballistics are modelled!