Can a recce (or recce support) unit call for an off-table artillery barrage and, if so, what are the steps involved?
No - short and sweet :)
They can aid an FAO and even aid a CO/HQ where eligible, but cannot command any other troops, that is not their role.
Cheers
Thanks but I didn't mean control the artillery directly, Mark.
I assume (!) they can inform an FAO of the location of enemy positions and the latter can call in a strike.
E.g., Move one - try and locate enemy.
Move 2 - pass info to FAO.
Move 3 - FAO calls in strike (which arrives immediately or on Move 4?).
I also assume that, subject to successful command rolls, this could all happen in one turn?
Also, what does "where eligible" mean?
Chris
Hi - the aid that a Recce unit can give an FAO is:
1) add +1 to the FAO's Command roll (in the usual manner) if it is the nearest Command unit, or the Recce & the FAO are specifically linked (in a Fixed Formation - for example).
2) Spotting Concealed Troops (bottom of Page 32) - so if the Recce successfully spots a concealed enemy, it becomes visible (as if it was in the open & in LoS for all friendly troops. This is (in effect the same as you have outlined below, but it can all happens in the same move).
So the Recce attempts to spot, it passes the dice roll to do so, the targeted enemy is immediately available, not only to the FAO, but all other friendly troops. Think of it like a broadcast to all "enemy tanks spotted in hiding at grid location X" etc. So later in the same turn the FAO can bring down fire on that unit. But the deviation distance is always measured from the FAO, not the Recce, and it is the FAO commanding the guns.
The comment 'where eligible' is because only certain CO's or HQ's (as specified in the army lists) can command off-table artillery. All CO's & HQ's can command on-table artillery as standard, and the Spotting Concealed Troops action applies equally to them (from a Recce).
But to be clear, Recce can never actually command any other troops (not even off-table assets or other Recce) :)
Perfect! 👍