Jump to content

Why are rooftops more vulnerable to small arms?


Guest Guest

Recommended Posts

I think one reason could be "silhouetting" (I don't know what is the proper word in English). When you are inside a building which doesn't have lights on, it is hard to see where you are. When you are on the rooftop, it is much easier to see where you are and for that reason it is easier to hit you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree here, roofs and balconies have become very dangerous places.

I don't send my men there unless I'm pretty sure they won't be engaged in a true firefight.

Even enemy units caught in the open will still eat into a unit engaging them from a balcony/rooftop.

Not sure it's a bad thing, though. Has added another layer to my tactics.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know if this is what's actually going on in the game, but one thing to keep in mind is that a simple one-course brick or cinderblock parapet probably isn't thick enough to completely stop even 5.56mm fire. And they're definitely not thick enough to stop full rifle caliber or higher -- you need thick reinforced concrete to do that.

So, while the roof "wall" would certainly offer concealment, it might not offer much actual cover.

A while back, someone posted a YouTube video of firearms test against typical construction types. It's pretty instructive to see just how far through building even a 5.56mm round will go.

Cheers,

YD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

If the roof has a wall the walled material should be the same modeling as the building. It doesn't seem to be the case currently. That would account for penetration, but it seems that it may be more about exposure. Your showing exposure the same as in a trench vs. a window.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know about in Syria, but in many buildings here in the US, the low parapet wall that often surrounds the roof of a building is *not* necessarily as strong or as thick as the structural wall below it.

For example, the building in which I live, which is a 5-story tenement, the exterior walls are double-course masonry brick, with plaster and wood backing. But the roof parapet is just single-course masonry brick with a lead cap.

Given what's been posted here recently about shatter gap etc. with small arms rounds (& esp. 5.56), I'm not sure exactly what a single course brick wall like what's on my building roof would stop, but I think it's pretty obvious it would stop considerably less (or get shot to bits much faster) than the double course wall that starts below the roof level.

Of course, buildings vary alot. A friend of mine lives a more modern high-rise. His a apartment has a balcony with a low poured concrete wall around it -- more than enough to stop most small arms fire.

So maybe what we really need is some more building type options, to represent different strengths of construction. I find it hard to believe all buildings in Syria are of identical construction.

Regards,

YD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In general in Lebanon (probably syria's the same) construction is concrete + hollow blocks.

A low roof parapet would be the continuation of the outside wall, therefore reinforced concrete. Of course you'll get the odd cinder block parapet but in general it's part of the outside concrete wall.

IMHO the roof guys should be much safer than they are now. This goes for the balconies as well, which are always reinforced concrete.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It just occured to me that this may be a concealment, rather than a cover issue.

From what I've read, when fighting from inside buildings, trained infantry stays as far away from the windows as possible.

That is, you fight from deep inside the room, and fire out through the windows from there. This gives you a measure of concealment (makes it harder to spot you or your muzzle flash) and makes you less vulnerable to secondary projectiles from a penetration of the wall.

But you can't do this if you're sitting on a rooftop; your're out in the daylight for everyone to see, and you have to expose yourself at least a little bit over the parapet in order to spot or shoot.

So this issue may have nothing to do with the relative cover values of roof vs. bulding interior, but rather the fact that infantry fighting on the roof may be easier to spot and put under aimed fire.

But I would also be curious to hear BFC's take.

Regards,

YD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i find it unpleasent that it renders such hotel type buildings with balconies all around and in every floor, like in "Strength&Faith", rather useless. you have a massive house but your man allways pool up on the balconies no matter what you do.

the differences between beeing inside a house and on a balcony/roof could really be more subtile.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In theory there is nothing different between the rooftop wall and the wall below it. However, there is a lot less wall and that means a a better chance of hitting anybody crouched behind it. If they are exposed, the reason should be obvious (silhouetting). If the guy is prone it's because the shooter has a much better idea where the target is and he knows shooting over the wall will produce 0% positive results, therefore aiming at the lower part of the wall is more likely to do something.

Rooftops aren't the ideal improvised combat position if the enemy can bring significant firepower to bear on the position.

Steve

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Steve,

There's plenty of Iraq combat footage showing U.S. troops lined up behind rooftop parapets with the entire squad's blazing away at the enemy. Given our overall high casualty sensitivity, if these parapets offer so little protection, why is it practically SOP for our troops to fight as they do from these "exposed" rooftop positions? If they're as vulnerable as is modeled in the game,

why haven't firm instructions been issued from on high to prohibit such practices?

Regards,

John Kettler

Link to comment
Share on other sites

John,

If I had to make a guess I would say it is because the increased visibility when you are looking for a few guys is worth more than the added protection. Probably helps that once spotted the firepower of the US squad will completely suppress the superior unequal opposition.

Secondary guess. Soldiers on rooftops make better pictures. Thus when someone does manage to get a picture of soldiers on rooftops that one is going to be shown.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm a bit confused by this Steve. Let me circle back and make sure I understand.

The game engine mechanics / maths do not consider the angles.

Meaning this; Fire coming from a lower level will likely have to go through two sections of wall. Also, since going though the sections will be at an angle it will result in more wall material to penetrate in any case. In the real physical world that would be correct.

But, if I understand you, since the paraphet wall is only 1/3 or 1/2 the height of a normal wall that is what is considered not the multiple planes of material and not that they are at angles, do I have that correct?

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...