Low cost of german arty

[jadpanther]

Hi Jadpanther

I think you are partially right about the values.

When we compare regular artillery/mortars there’s really no difference:

German
7.5cm How. AMMO: 32 HE, 8 HEAT, costs 23 pts (at 70 experience)
Soviet
76.2mm How. AMMO: 40 HE, costs 22 pts (at 70 experience) (unit 352)

German
10.5cm How. AMMO: 24 HE, 6 HEAT, costs 25 pts (at 70 experience)
Soviet
107mm How. AMMO: 30 HE, 5 HEAT, costs 27 pts (at 70 experience) (unit 452)

German
8cm Mortar AMMO: 2x40 (80) HE, costs 25 pts (at 70 experience)
Soviet
82mm Mortar AMMO: 3x40 (120) HE, costs 32 pts (at 70 experience) (unit 434)

German
12cm Mortar AMMO: 2x30 (60) HE, costs 41 pts (at 70 experience)
Soviet
120mm Mortar AMMO: 2x30 (60) HE, costs 40 pts (at 70 experience) (unit 436)

I don’t think the Soviets have any SP-mortars for us to compare. The German halftrack with 8cm mortar has 90 HE and only costs 28 pts (at 70 exp), which is a good deal except for the fact that it only has one tube.
You can buy a Soviet regular mortar unit with 3 tubes and 120 HE rounds for only 4 more pts, and not only do you get an extra 30 rounds of ammo but the 3 tubes allow you to stonk a target 3 times as hard as the halftrack can.

The Germans do have cheaper Self-propelled Artillery. The Soviet KV-II (SP-arty) is expensive, I think because of its heavy armour.

Wespe 10.5cm: 30 HE 2 HEAT costs 31 pts (at 70 exp)
Hummel 15cm: 16 HE 2 HEAT costs 33 pts (at 70 exp)

One solution – if you want to suppress German arty - would be to buy a 82mm mortar unit with 3 tubes and 120 rounds for the same price as his Wespe/Hummel with only 30/16 rounds. Or if you want to KO German arty, buy a 120mm mortar with 2 tubes and 60 ammo for 40 pts.

You could try purchasing Soviet SP-rockets. The BM-8 rockets have the same kill value as the 10.5cm and the BM-13 as the 15cm. The rockets have about the same ammo, are obviously less accurate, but you get 2 ‘tubes’ instead of one. You can get trucks or armoured carriers.
Personally, I would avoid the trucks as too vulnerable, unless you don’t mind the inconvenience of keeping them on the move. The Hummel and Wespe do not have top armour, but the Soviet BM-8-24 (armoured carrier) has top armour, which is important in an artillery dual.

BM-8 Katy (truck) 36 HE cost 23 pts (at 70 exp)
BM-13 Katy (truck) 16 HE cost 23 pts (at 70 exp)
BM-8-24 (armoured carrier) 24 HE cost 31 pts (at 70 exp)

Hi Cross,

wow....thanks for breaking that down so fast.

Many good points.

When you look at the point values of the weapons they are very close in value. Which I guess the game designers wanted it to be. But when you give even arty values to the german he can load up on Hummels and wespes which are extrmely cheap and give a big bang for the buck. If the russian player tries to buy SP arty he only has the priest to use in the later years and it cost 49 points. I would kill for KVII's in the later year scenarios. They could take a lick and keep on ticking. My Towed arty just does not stand up. And as for rockets, they are so inacurate and their reload rate so low that unless you have many batteries that you can stagger fire it is hard to keep continus fire on the hun. I guess I am just venting frustrations.

I was trying to find an answer without making all kinds of house rules to limit the german arty. Even points is hard for the soviets in the later war years. With all the nice size 0 units all the other nations have and the awesome tanks it just makes it difficult. Somtimes you feel like you have one hand tied behind your back. I don't like to limit my opponents, but I dont see balance in the game if I don't.

Thanks to all for your responses

Jad