FO's or On Map Guns?

[captainkije]

Agree with those who have said it depends on the situation.

My guess is that a WWII battalion commander would prefer not to have the crews of his heavy weapons exposed to enemy small arms fire. Most crewmen would have probably appreciate this concern. Also, 75's and even 81mm mortars are not easy to move in the time frame of CMBB. With a spotter, the crew can hit anything he can see and there is no time wasted moving that could be used for firing. Hauling up more ammunition to the crew is quicker and less exciting when there are positioned for indirect fire. Trucks could be used.

On the other hand, firing over direct sights is more accurate. If the radio goes out or the wires are cut, you are still in business.

Then, there is always, always the Russians. Have read that they routinely used the cover of darkness to bring up their divisional 76mm and 122mm gun batteries to open sight firing positions. As CMBB reflects, they lacked expertise in indirect fire methods during the early period of the war, not to mention suffering a shortage of radios. Seeing a Russian 122 in a CMBB scenario wouldn't offend my sense of history. Seeing a US 105 would mean the Germans are overrunning the defenses.