Flak, tank riders, and ammo trucks

[zulutwonine]

Thank you battle front, combat mission Normandy is a great game, and a worthy successor to the original games.

However, a couple of questions,

1. Flak, why no flak vehicles or flak guns?

2. Why can’t soldiers ride on tanks?

3. Why do mortars have ammo trucks, but infantry guns don’t?

My apologies if these points have be raised before.

[YankeeDog]

Short answers, to the best of my recollection:

#1: Primarily because other units were considered higher priority. As a secondary issue, IIRC the code does not exist for ground units to fire on aircraft yet, so AA units in-game would not be useful against attacking aircraft. I do think there is a possibility that we may see at least some FlaK-type guns and/or vehicles by the time all modules for CMBN are released, though.

#2: Again, primary issue why tank riding is not included right now is available time & resources -- other game features were considered higher priority, and since riding tanks in close proximity to enemy positions (as opposed to as a method of transport through relatively safe areas) was deemed uncommon in Normandy, this feature was shelved until later.

#3 -- Not sure on this one. IIRC, the mortar halftracks come with an ammo supply that can be used by their associated mortars, but to the best of my knowledge you will not see 60mm or 81mm mortar shells as "acquirable" ammo in transport vehicles.

[zulutwonine]

Thank you YankeeDog.

#1 and #2, understood. (I used the 20 and 37 cannon in fire support role, and my panthers as taxi's for my grenadiers for the first move or two, in the original games, both pretty useful!)

#3, In the panzer grenadier infantry company, 81's have an ammo truck with an additional supply of 81 ammo. However, In the heavy weapons company, the 75mm infantry guns have a truck, but with no further ammo?

[Michael Emrys]

#2: Again, primary issue why tank riding is not included right now is available time & resources -- other game features were considered higher priority, and since riding tanks in close proximity to enemy positions (as opposed to as a method of transport through relatively safe areas) was deemed uncommon in Normandy, this feature was shelved until later.

As part of the problem, it would have required the design and testing of several new animations, plus figuring out how to depict them receiving fire from various angles, which would have presented them with complex problems not found in other areas of the game.

Michael

[hoolaman]

#3, In the panzer grenadier infantry company, 81's have an ammo truck with an additional supply of 81 ammo. However, In the heavy weapons company, the 75mm infantry guns have a truck, but with no further ammo?

AIUI the german half-track mortar teams are supposed to be firing mounted from their vehicle but don't. The extra ammo supply is unique to this model of vehicle to reflect this.

If the game had other ammo in "trucks" I think it appears in ALL trucks which may have unintended side effects where there is a massive abundance of ammo for specialist weapons.

[akd]

AIUI the german half-track mortar teams are supposed to be firing mounted from their vehicle but don't. The extra ammo supply is unique to this model of vehicle to reflect this.

If the game had other ammo in "trucks" I think it appears in ALL trucks which may have unintended side effects where there is a massive abundance of ammo for specialist weapons.

The Opels in the Motorized PG medium mortar section are regular trucks loaded with additional mortar ammo, so it is possible to vary the ammo load out of a single type of vehicle. Has been so since CMSF.

[womble]

The Opels in the Motorized PG medium mortar section are regular trucks loaded with additional mortar ammo, so it is possible to vary the ammo load out of a single type of vehicle. Has been so since CMSF.

Aha! Thank you. Saved me forming up a parade for every truck I could find in any german formation to see which ones had mortar ammo in 'em. Motorised PGs. Gotcha.