Italian armour in BKC rules

[Sunray]

I considered putting this thread in the 'rules' section, but its an observation- not a query.  Over Easter I played a very enjoyable 1940s desert game with my son.  Italians v British.
I drew the Italians, and discovered to my delight that the much maligned  M 11/39 was rated equal to  the early Cruisers ( A9s, A10s, A13s) in terms of CA, Hits and Save.
 Only speed and the better AT (2/50 to 1/40) of the  2 pdr gave the British any advantage.  

I found my M11/39 encounter with the Matilda reminiscent of my Shermans meeting Tigers!  

In discussion afterwards we concluded that if the M 11/39 had been made available to the Nats in the SCW, one might have enjoyed some interesting tank battles against T-26s with its low CA.

Unless one as a few captured T-26s, tank battles in the SCW are pretty one sided affairs. The  Panzer Is and L3/35s don't last long.

[Leman]

Damn! Was hoping for something on Cesare Borgia's battle gear. One man's meat, eh.

[Steve J]

Unless one as a few captured T-26s, tank battles in the SCW are pretty one sided affairs. The  Panzer Is and L3/35s don't last long.

Yep, you're right, hence the Nationlists offering 'rewards' for captured T-26s IIRC. Mind you there were very few tank on tank battles, but when I play I do like to have tanks on both sides . I'd recommend the Zaloga Osprey book on SCW tanks; very interesting and informative as you'd expect from Zaloga.

[toxicpixie]

BKC isn't massively granular on any given stat but once you factor in everything gun and speed wise it's a pretty big jump. Especially with the M11/39 being Restricted arc, that's a killer in often surprising ways!

On a side note on AVBCW we allow MG teams and MG armed tanks to have a 1/10 anti tank attack to reflect the experience of AP ammo versus pre-WW2 tanks from the SCW. It's not a lot but it's surprisingly good at making even "super tanks" of the period cautious

[Sunray]

Interesting rule. On Sunday, one tank kill was by a Boys (1/20 AT) anti tank rifle.  One attraction of this early period is that tanks are so vulnerable.  It comes as a bit of a shock if one has travelled back in time from gaming in 1944 and post war.  

[toxicpixie]

Not convinced it's great for even early actual war, but I did like the idea of a "0" attack stat for things like MkVi's so at half range or on flanks they can still pop an Italian tankette or two!

Works nicely for a conflict that assumes everything is even more rubbish than reality though

Well done that Boyes team

I find ATRs can often pop that last hit on, or scrape that desperate pin

[Sunray]

Well done that Boyes team

A mention in dispatches at least.  

I have to say I will be a darn sight more cautious in future when overrun Infantry positions.  I was a tad over confident as this was the era prior to PIATs and Bazookas, and had forgotten how slim the armour was.

No helped by my opponent's cry of " I got me a tank!"

[toxicpixie]

A gracious victor, was he...

Yeah, early war armour with it's mostly 3 hits, 6 save is surprisingly vulnerable. Then you run into a Tilly or T-34 and it's a whole different ball game...