The Effective use of Artillery in SP WW2

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Are you sure suppression is based only on the number of rounds, and not also WH size/KILL value?

Pretty sure kill has nothing to do with it or far less insignificant than number of rounds.
WH size plays a part at the point where it jumps to next blast radius.
As in smaller warhead size arty only effects target & adj hexes while larger effects an area 5 hexes across.
Thats why you use the smaller calliber gun for close work its area of effect is smaller if all shots land adjacent to target hex thats a max area of 5x5 vs 7x7 for the bigger calibre.

For close support, you may prefer the 1 hex radius (which includes all med and hvy mortars) but also includes the 4.5inch (115mm) gun. I believe the 4.5inch has greater chance of suppressing troops 1 hex away than the 8cm mortar for example. Or a 12cm mortar will better suppress troops 1 hex away than an 8cm, even though both have a 1 hex radius. So warhead size sort of plays a part without jumping to the next size blast circle.

Pure speculation here but think indirect accuracy is based on the gun class MTR Howitzer Rocket & no decernible diffrence between the first 2 or possibly spread pattern if misses target but I have not noticed.

The game guide does appear to say there is at least an accuracy difference in the type of ordinance (mortar bombs, artillery shells, and rockets). And also suggests a difference in the spread.

My experience is that the 4.5inch (acc 10) is more accurate - with a smaller spread - than even other arty guns, let alone mortars. But to nail down the extent of these differences I would have to run a test.

I would suggest you have a play though as using small guns for close in support works for me & I find Mtrs more than capable of dealing with individual units like ATGs.

I'm not actually saying I don't use mortars for close support, I do :whis: . I was pointing out the logic of using different tubes for different roles.
If I have a choice, I will shift the arty to close support, not the rockets . However, if I have nothing else at hand, or have LOS, mortar bombs are in the forecast. :rolleyes:

As a side note I never buy the big guns with a very low ROF like 3 unless its 0 call time it will only land one shell so very inflexible.

I agree, I would avoid something that big, unless it's for fun...:) But you can get 6inch or 15cm guns with a RoF of 5, which is plenty of shells without using up your pile of ammo in two shoots.

Edit
As a footnote WH size does play a part vs units in cover, larger warheads have a slightly better chance of being effective vs units in cover than smaller ones. Also as buildings turned to rubble now have a chance of it landing on occupants & killing a big calibre gun is more effective in good cover than a small one. Rough buildings dug in bigger helps possibly the likes of woods not really sure.

This is another excellent point, and reinforces the 'golf bag principle'. Better to use the heavy guns against dug in troops, or troops in buildings, and the medium mortars against troops moving in the open.