Tanks and close assault

Started by michaelk, 20 January 2022, 11:07:58 AM

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michaelk

Hello all,

I am curious about the rule prohibiting tanks from close assaulting unless the non-afv unit is in clear terrain, or the tanks have infantry riding in the tank?

My question is why this is a rule instead of allowing tanks to close assault as they deem appropriate while giving an assaulting tank unit a penalty during the assault, or providing the defender an advantage?

No criticism here, simple curiosity.

Thanks

Big Insect

As generally Tanks in WWII didn't do it.

It was deemed as madness (at the time) to go into assault with MBTs in close terrain against enemy (especially enemy infantry) despite what Hollywood might have us think. Even today, look at Syria or Chechnya, AFV's & especially MBTs in Urban terrain have serious issues with well dug-in infantry. They work best if they support their own assaulting infantry.
It also would require a mass of complex 'exception' mechanism to allow it to work as happened historically.

It's a bit like saying that it is technically possible to use Blowpipe SAM to shoot up Soft vehicles on the ground. Yes it is possible, but it was not doctrine and a complete waste of a really expensive missile. So rules mechanism are in place to stop it being used by players as it is not a historical tactic.

Hope that makes sense
Thanks
Mark
'He could have lived a risk-free, moneyed life, but he preferred to whittle away his fortune on warfare.' Xenophon, The Anabasis

This communication has been written by a dyslexic person. If you have any trouble with the meaning of any of the sentences or words, please do not be afraid to ask for clarification. Remember that dyslexics are often high-level conceptualisers who provide "out of the box" thinking.

michaelk

Thanks for your response and yes it does make sense.

Always appreciated.

Big Insect

MBTs can, of course, support their own Infantry in an assault in difficult terrain - just as Infantry can support their MBTs in assault in the open.

Cheers
Mark
'He could have lived a risk-free, moneyed life, but he preferred to whittle away his fortune on warfare.' Xenophon, The Anabasis

This communication has been written by a dyslexic person. If you have any trouble with the meaning of any of the sentences or words, please do not be afraid to ask for clarification. Remember that dyslexics are often high-level conceptualisers who provide "out of the box" thinking.