Armor Facing Rule

[5 Leichte Div]

Whoa .... this AF debate is just as touchy ... again ... as the EA stuff was !

I like the EA ... got used to it ... like it just fine now.

AF ... ON or OFF . My dislikes are retreats in ON , as well as what I think are faulty def values ( Sherman also had sloped armor ... the base value should have increased just like Panther's did ) Note the Panther = 13 , the Sherman 8 or 9 , and this is a fairly good representation of comparative quality defensively. Gunnery seems omnipotent , but this occurs when numbers are up , namely 5-6 SP platoons . Smaller platoons have a tougher effort to do some damage.

AF OFF (default values ) long range gunnery is better for the Allies in some cases , as the Sherman can do something at ranges farther than what was practical. Not so likeable .... yet this was also somewhat the case with AF ON as well . The retreat bug further exasperated things.

So ... in sum .. for AF ON ... faulty def values for some units, mostly late war Allied tanks , and the retreat rear-face turnaround - no good !

With AF OFF .... you have better comparison ... but long range shooting is maybe too effective , tho I get the need to have that thrill gamewise.
AF OFF seems to encourage more aggressive forward maneuver as the enemy is safer with retreats , could recover if you do not keep up the pressure. It might seem " safer " in close but close quarters is deadly stuff either way anyhow , and the somewhat better all-around DEF VALUE with AF OFF .... is a deadly illusion .... AF OFF ..or ON.

The ASDN was very good for the EF2. AF ON was employed , but you still got the frontal benefit in retreat. This restored the need to move aggressively, get in close and around. But .... it still used those faulty DEF values for front, side, rear aspects. [/font][/size]

You know what, tho ..... the original EF ... had a nice solution. Remember guys ( ? ) ..... using AF ON option ... gunnery was modified.
Front (x.8) ... Side (x1.3) ... Rear (x1.5) of the rated range firepower. The nice thing about this ..... the default comparison values remained intact , you got your positional aspects , and retreats let a unit be safer like they were hoping to do , as it should be so. And ...it worked pretty well.

Nobody griped much about then .... until the craze for numbers took over. Hey .... me thinks the old way .... is better.

Just another old salt ... mouthin' off. I need a drink ....

Tom S.
5 Leichte Div