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Use for Flamethrowers?


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I'm currently playing CMAK but have spent a while on CMBO as well.

I have a *LOT* of trouble utilizing my flamethrowers. Does anyone have any tips for a noob? (to the CM series and to wargaming in general.) Generally speaking they are cut down way before they can get within range of any potential targets. So far I have tried loading then onto transports and dropping them off nearer targets - but they end up getting gunned down before they can fire off a blast. Also have tried sneaking thru cover whilst using suppression fire from supporting units to get within range, but it seems as soon as they pop up to attack they are killed before they can do any damage at all. I must say that it is slightly easier to use them in CMBO but I have had nothing but abject failure with them in CMAK.

As a footnote I play mainly random quick battles against the AI (thats a cool feature!) and manage to win most at even strength.

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Thanks...My apologies, I should have checked there first.

Just read the "Ft vs Armour" thread.

I would probably not have assumed that FT attacks would be so deadly to armour...kewl =)

Still getting them into position is really where my problem is - but it seems theres no easy way, kind of as I expected.

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In my experience flamethrowers are too slow, vulnerable, and short-ranged to be very effective when attacking under most circumstances. These disadvantages are largely negated when defending since they don't have to move, are dug in in protective terrain, and can hide until the enemy is in range. They are best used in ambushes, and will die quickly once discovered, so just keep in mind that they're expendable. When attacking with flamethrowers, they are most useful for finishing off troops that are pinned down in their defensive positions by small arms fire. The pinned troops can't shoot at the advancing flamethrowers (always use en masse if possible because even one that gets through can do disproportionate damage), but breaking them with small arms fire is expensive in ammo and time. Run a few flamethrowers forward and burn them out. Treat flamethrowers as though they're as good as dead anyway so it doesn't matter if they get tired, brolen or killed if they have a chance to something first.

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My main use for them is burning wheat fields to keep the enemy out, or stop an advance. But you are right they get targeted too easily.

When defending I try to put these fellows near a wheat field that I think the enemy may want to cross but keep them hidden. I have some other troops as spotters, say half squad. If I notice the emeny near the other side I unhide and area fire the field. Fire seems to last too long so it seems to work as area denial sometimes. If they do not get shot that is.

I also try to have 2 together or more. Bit of a gamble if you re buying them in quick battles, but sometimes pays off.

On attack I do not use them well at all, canon fodder.

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They're useful in urban settings. I played an ME in a large town and it nearly won me the fight.

There was one flag and i blasted it with flames and then blew the building apart with demo charges from pioneer squads. Then went charging in under the dust cover. Unfortunantely the fire later expanded and sent my units inside out to die, all of which were wiped out. So dont burn buildings you intend to occupy. They are extremely useful when you can actually use them. Even fanatics break against fire according to the manual. Over open groound though, forget it. They'd never last

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dont use them in the first wave!!!!!!!!!!!

bring them in when your units can engage charge them forward fast and use them sort of a shock unit ive had flamethrowers wipe out 20 men and live and do it again. although ive had them slaughtered and killed none there a risk unit but with a little luck they can destroy an infantry formation but dont forget they are a support unit never use them on there own.

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yes. theres a chance you can use them against highly supressed units. Very difficult though. I once sent a flamethrower sprinting out to fry a lone enmey squad which was all that was within LOS of my flametrhower team, they got one small burst off under numerous HMG and squad fire which took down one of the flamethrower team members and made the lone guy panic and flee. I have no idea how people survived jobs like that

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Thanks to all who took the time to reply. There were some very useful suggestions in here for me to try.

Particularly I have learnt to mainly concentrate on hiding flamethrower squads for use on defensive ambushes against stray armour and recon units, and am appreciating the value I'm getting out of them =) Especially at night or in bad weather. It would have never have occured to me to use them to burn terrain and thereby deny enemy squads channels of attack. Very clever indeed!

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true it is difficult. but flamethrowers are also useful in wooded areas against infantry, using them in conjunction with mmg carriers is also good move, i tend to prefer flamethrower cariers to teams though. they are better protected. but still not much cop on there own.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Ï have a hard time using flame on attack as well, but I really like them on defence. Place them in ambush positions in the back of buildings you expect the enemy to occupy. Once the enemy enters the building its BBQ-time.

Oh, you may want to leave that building afterwards if (or rather WHEN) it catches fire

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No, we all LOVE screenies. The more the better.

We also love any excuse to crack a joke. It keeps things fun around here.

;)

And on a related note, I like to use FT teams just behind a inf squad or two in attack, or even defense. Keep him hidden w. a SHORT covered arc until you need his firepower. I've found the covering squad(s) usually does a decent job of protecting the FT team.

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Originally posted by Balmung:

So nobody likes to see screenshots, am I right ?

No, it's just old legpulling dating back to CMBO mod artists showing pics of their latest modded Panzer on which they have worked many hours, and then someone would just ask whose is that grass mod? :D
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Another use for flamethrowers takes advantage of the fact that CM models all damage to a building equally rather than assigning damage to various parts. If you can get a FT to where he can target just the corner of a building while not being targeted by the building's occupants, he can fire the whole structure by area-attacking just that corner.

Is this gamey? Some say yes, some say no. Considering the magic process by which the TacAI targets a visible FT in seconds flat, I think it's fair enough.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have had success with attacking with flamethrowers in woods or hilly terrain, especially for clearing out trenches and foxholes. Remember you don't have to move the flamethrower into LOS of the target. If you can sneak to where you have LOS to a point near the enemy, but not necessarily LOS to the enemy itself, then you can area target that point near the enemy. Just coming close with a flamethrower is all you need to panic the enemy and send them running out of the trench/foxhole. Also, remember that you don't have to worry about friendly fire kills with flamethrowers. In this game your troops are not affected by your own flamethower bursts. So even if you have a bunch of friendlies in the area, fire away.

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