Deploying Artillery

[benjones1211]

When deploying artillery, you get to the point of wanting to put them down, space is limited, so you decide to place them with an already deployed Infantry unit, can you replace 2 files of the infantry unit with your artillery, moving those files back in a supporting role (if there is space of course). As the infantry for all purposes have their front line where you originally placed them.

A prime example would be a unit of LI deployed at 15", could you put the artillery where two files of the LI where, moving those two files back into a supporting role.

Ben

[ravenflight]

When deploying artillery, you get to the point of wanting to put them down, space is limited, so you decide to place them with an already deployed Infantry unit, can you replace 2 files of the infantry unit with your artillery, moving those files back in a supporting role (if there is space of course). As the infantry for all purposes have their front line where you originally placed them.

A prime example would be a unit of LI deployed at 15", could you put the artillery where two files of the LI where, moving those two files back into a supporting role.

Ben

I think this would be correct, but seems a waste of troops to me... LI may (probably will) evade if charged, but the choice is yours. I find that I put them in front of battle troops I intend to use to protect the guns. They will be 5" in front, but NOTHING can get to them before the protecting force does. Even LH will have to stop OUTSIDE of 6" on their first triple move, meaning that they by definition CANNOT be within move distance of the guns in their second turn, so you have two turns to move your battle troops 5". Unless they are in slowing terrain you're safe. Only problem that I can see is if the guns move >1" forward (only possible with light guns) and even then only if the battle troops can't double move for some reason.

[timmy1]

Ben

By my reading of the rules no, you cannot. There is nothing that allows any change to any previously deployed batch.

(If the infantry you wanted to move were in the same batch, that is allowed as there is not fixed order within a batch.)

[ravenflight]

Ben

By my reading of the rules no, you cannot. There is nothing that allows any change to any previously deployed batch.

(If the infantry you wanted to move were in the same batch, that is allowed as there is not fixed order within a batch.)

But you HAVEN'T changed a batch... or to put it another way, if I wanted to place a BG of troops durectly in front of and touching another batch, there would be no problem with that (assuming within normal deployment distances.

In Ben's case he is doing exactly that but the RULES dictate how the troops are deployed in this instance. Indeed, if the LI were placed 40mm BACK from that 15" line and the artillery placed in front (assuming 15mm) then it would be incorrect to assume the LI are guarding the guns, as the rules dictate that the LI is SUPPOSED to be with their front rank level with the front of the guns.

I would (if pulled on me in a game) probably think 'no, wait a second' and then think it through and realise he was right.

To put it into another perspective, what about dismounting cavalry in FoG:AM - the troops in this instance dont have the second rank with a gap behind the first, they shuffle forwar to fill the gap - sure there is a rule to that effect in place, but it is clear that when complying with the rules you can move troops after the batch is deployed and before a movement phase.

[timmy1]

To achieve what Ben wants he would have to deploy the LI (or detached shot as a Forlorn hope) 1 artillery base depth back from the 15MU line. If I were an umpire I would rule it that way and if my opponent tried it the way Ben suggests I would query it. I understand what you are both saying but I do not believe that it is supported by the deployment RAW.

[quackstheking]

My answer would be twofold based upon p126 1st bullet which covers that only foot BATTLE troops can provide rear support (and thereby occupy the same space). Therefore on this basis:-

* If the troops being displaced are Foot Battle Troops (i.e. the Artillery are deploying less than 10" in), then you could put the Artillery in place of the foot and deploy them behind on the basis that effectively they both occupy the same space and placing them behind is merely a game mechanism.

* If the troops were anything else (including LI), then as they cannot provide rear support they would need to follow the rules for interpenetration whereby such troops cannot be in the same space and would have to be behind or in front of them!!.

QED!

Don

[ravenflight]

My answer would be twofold based upon p126 1st bullet which covers that only foot BATTLE troops can provide rear support (and thereby occupy the same space). Therefore on this basis:-

* If the troops being displaced are Foot Battle Troops (i.e. the Artillery are deploying less than 10" in), then you could put the Artillery in place of the foot and deploy them behind on the basis that effectively they both occupy the same space and placing them behind is merely a game mechanism.

* If the troops were anything else (including LI), then as they cannot provide rear support they would need to follow the rules for interpenetration whereby such troops cannot be in the same space and would have to be behind or in front of them!!.

QED!

Don

Ahh, yes - ok, in that case I agree with Mr. Quack... it's not the movement of troops after deployment that is the problem, it is that the LI can't offer rear support.

Thanks for a well reasoned argument.