A couple of question about Close Assault (CA)

[Fabterp2003]

Hi all,
Last evening I had the following situation:
A Egyptian infantry platoon close assaulted a IDF M3 half track on which there was an infantry platoon.
We played as followed:
As the infantry platoon moved to close assault, the M3 used Defensive Fire against the assaulting one;
As the Egyptian infantry contacted the M3, the IDF platoon dismounted and the CA developed as usual.
My questions are:
a. Did we play correctly?
B. Once the assaulting unit has contacted the M3 , where does the  dismounting infantry deploy? In place of M3 or on top of it?
C. Should the dismounted infantry deploy in place of M3, where does the M3 move? Behind the contacted infantry or at his side?
D. Once the infantry has been deployed, the M3 can provide support to the Close Assault?

Best regards,
Fabio

[Big Insect]

Comments below in bold (not me shouting  )

Cheers
Mark
NB: you played it correctly

Hi all,
Last evening I had the following situation:
A Egyptian infantry platoon close assaulted a IDF M3 half track on which there was an infantry platoon.
We played as followed:
As the infantry platoon moved to close assault, the M3 used Defensive Fire against the assaulting one;
As the Egyptian infantry contacted the M3, the IDF platoon dismounted and the CA developed as usual.
My questions are:
a. Did we play correctly?

> That depends upon how the Assault was initiated. If it was an Assault via an Initiative Action - then the only unit that can shoot at the attacker (initiate Defensive Fire) is the unit being attacked (so that is the M3). If it is a Commanded Assault, then other supporting units could fire at the unit assaulting, if they are within range, proximity and have LoS to the assaulting unit. Assuming it was just the M3 involved, then yes you played it correctly.

B. Once the assaulting unit has contacted the M3 , where does the  dismounting infantry deploy? In place of M3 or on top of it?

> As the M3 is classified as a Mechanised unit the passengers dismount with 5cm of the M3. In reality the platoon of M3s and their dismounted passengers would occupy roughly the same physical space. That is not practically possible with physical models on the table top, so it is acceptable practice to move the M3 back, placing the dismounted passengers in contact with the assaulting enemy, with the M3s in base-to-base contact with the rear edge of the dismounted passengers base. NB: I always base my transports on the same base frontage as their dismounted passengers.
If the M3 needs to 'push' other units behind it back to make room to fit, that is acceptable and has no detrimental effect upon the units pushed back.

C. Should the dismounted infantry deploy in place of M3, where does the M3 move? Behind the contacted infantry or at his side?
> Yes see above

D. Once the infantry has been deployed, the M3 can provide support to the Close Assault?

> Yes, as long as they have the 'Mechanised' ability - if they were just trucks or 4x4's for example, they could not do that. But as the M3s are half-tracks they behave, in effect like IFVs.

Best regards,
Fabio

[Fabterp2003]

Hi Mark,
Thank you for cristall clear answer.

Fabio