Armor Facing Rule

[Huib Versloot]

In a recent scenario discussion, someone mentioned they play with armor facing rules off, to negate the advantage German tanks had against allies. Doesn't turning that option off have just the opposite effect?

I was under the impression that playing with armor facing on, the allied player could negate the frontal axis advantage by getting in close as possible and hitting the German tanks from the rear. With it off, they're murder to destroy from any position.

Am I missing something?

This, from the manual:

The Campaign Series Optional Rule for Armor Facing introduces individual front, side, and rear defense values for each armored unit. These values are based on the standard defense values and hard status, weighted by the actual armor thickness of the vehicles themselves. Hence, they do not represent armor thickness per se, but rather the influence of individual armor thickness in conjunction with the game’s existing values.

Dave

I tested it for WF a lot. I don't think with AF "off" the tanks overall defense strength is the same as that of the frontal armor when "on". (If it is the ASDN patch would be sufficient to deal with all disadvantages of AF).

To me loss numbers are more realistic with AF "off", as well as tank behaviour. Panthers cannot ignore smaller AT guns, and Shermans have a decent chance to get a kill, but will always be at a realistic disadvantage. Moreover you won't get hilarious high number of kills due to the fact that the tanks suddely show their rear when they retreat.
Conclusion:
1. More realistic combat behaviour.
2. Lower loss numbers.
3. Better ratio of Shermans vs Panthers (even if it sounds a little contradictory to point 2, it isn't)

With the so called "ADSN" patch (I believe it is called) that deals with the silly retreats, it could be worthwhile to do some more tests and see if the loss numbers are better (lower).
I have my doubts and still feel that Armor Facing is only for games like Combat Mission, that portray individual vehicles.

I agree with some there is a certain fun factor involved when you manage to sneak around and hit the tanks in the rear armor, but to me it doesn't weigh up to the disadvantages.

Huib