Antitank gun units

[Volcano Man]

The obvious solution is to allow them to move one hex deployed and then away in T mode, but this has never found favour with HPS, it was argued (i think by Glenn, but i may be mistaken in that) that a large AT gun could not be manhandled 1 km and so to allow it to move deployed would be unhistorical.

Right, but I think that most agree that any one hex move possibility would not represent man handling per se, simply the act of tactically advancing or withdrawing them (still limbered up, but not in columns along roads).

On the one hand someone might envision a line of AT/HAA guns that are falling back one hex at a time to delay the enemy, but that line of AT guns would need to be stacked with infantry for a ZOC, or else hostile mechanized forces could simple bypass and isolate them. AT/HAA guns falling back one hex with stacked infantry company would be the optimal approach to a defensive tactic, giving ground and still maintaining anti-armor protection, and lets face it - the defender is almost always at a disadvantage in these games in respects to defending against an armored force.

If AT guns are allowed to displace without entering T-mode, then other types of towed ordnance should be allowed to as well...

I would agree but I think that the AT/HAA guns are the main culprit here. What I mean is, it is completely logical approach to say that 'if AT/HAA guns are allowed to move one hex, then all towed guns should be able to move one hex as well'. However, I don't think that is necessary (or even desirable) given that no other towed gun type unit is required to be adjacent to the enemy as its primary method of inflicting casualties. What I mean is, artillery and heavy artillery usually pulls out well before the enemy is adjacent and, if anything, not granting them a one hex move would encourage realistic behavior of pulling out artillery at the slightest threat to them. This is especially true given that artillery units still have a ZOC. AT/HAA guns have no real choice, they must remain in place until the enemy closes or else they are of no use whatsoever in the defensive role.

Good discussion! :)