Tips from the Frontline

[RNL Tiger]

Area fire may have unexpected and unseen benefits

POS had mentioned the use of area-fire so now that my Stalin occupied the road and there were three Panzers just out of LOS it seemed the ideal time to have a go. POS noted shortly afterwards: “Incidentally when your Stalin area-fired into the ground at the side of my 3 panzers a couple of turns ago, the blast damaged the gun of one of them. Somebody must have taught you to area-fire. Here is the picture sequence:

1. Stalin takes aim:



2. Panzer unhurt before Stalin fires:



3. Ouch! The blast/shrapnel damages gun (note label “Gun Damaged”)”



What sort of distance can you expect area fire to work? It seemed to me about 10m? “Yeah that sounds about right for a big HE shell, but smaller-cal shells would have to burst nearer. I think anything smaller than about 75mm don't have enough blast effect to make them a worthwhile area-fire proposition against medium or heavy tanks, but they'd chew up light armour. My approach with area-fire against tanks is to have a crack anyway if you've got nothing else to do, but make sure enemy tanks are not creeping up on you while you're distracted area-firing. (Your unit will auto-cancel its area-fire when it sees the enemy tanks but it could cost it vital - and fatal - precious seconds.)

Whilst I was watching the area-fire I noticed that the score readout seemed to be in my favour and yet I know that can't be true! “Never take the score readout as gospel, it can be just as iffy as flag ownership and serves as a rough guide, and we therefore have to assess the score by using our eyes, we're about level on points from tank kills, but as far as I can tell I've got a stronger grip on the flags so I estimate I'm on course for at least a minor win.” I have the same evaluation, I am losing but “it aint over until it’s over!”