Calliope - worth It?

[Panzerpimp]

I'm finishing US Corps 44-45. I'm in doubt now.
I'm looking at the equipment available under "artillery" tab and see there a unit named Calliope.
High soft attack, good mobility and defenses, but short range.
In my core I have 8 155mm M12 GMC. Now I think about converting some of them to Calliope... Should I do It?

What do you think of this unit?

[hurly]

Just as well you can ask is a Panzerwerfer or a Wurfrahmen worth it ?

I think that Unit is the Equivalent to these German Units.

But Soviet, Allied or US Corps has a different Arc of Drama to its Campaigns than the Germans.
The further you go the more you get the Upper Hand in Terms of Numbers (not so much in Quality of Units - Wunderwaffen anyone)

So it's a useful Unit yes and it may not be the Best Fit in a Defensive Role. But as short range Can Opener especially vs entrenched Soft Units it has a Place.

Depends a bit on your playing style though, it might be a different view if you can play like a (calm and calculating) Braccada or on the other side of the Picture a (rush attacking) goose.
For me as a mere mortal Commander (and someone that is a bit paranoid and chaotic in style) it's a usefool tool that can help, but I'm not sure if I would convert one of your experienced SP Arty (which is the KEY Unit in the US Arsenal if you ask me)

But you won't be under the same pressure as the Germans in 44 and 45 so you can field an offensive designed Green Unit especially one that is not supposed to be in the Line of Fire without the Fear to make or break a scenario because of it.

And you won't be under the same Pressure in the Prestige Bank as in German Campaigns.
If a unit fails or even gets destroyed so what, there is plenty of room and money to replace it


Which is sometimes a bit too relaxing going on onwards but personally I don't like the GC East later Years 44 or 45 when you have to fight and kill endless Waves on onrushing Units and it's more of a question to not run out of Ammo than to really do something yourself.

44 or 45 have a flair of hard work rather than playing for fun and with some finesse (at least not the same kind of finesse). And I got bored especially by the East Campaign cause it lacks in diverse Scenarios.
I just prefer the smale scale War scenarios of the earlier years, but that's just me, I'm sure there are players that love the not so uncommon Thrill (Is it a 1 shot kill or just 8 or 9 victims) when a Tiger attacks

[PoorOldSpike]

In my core I have 8 155mm M12 GMC. Now I think about converting some of them to Calliope..

I'd plump for the Calliope for several reasons-
1- The Calliope's Sherman hull makes it a tough cookie because its ground and air defence ratings are 11/11 compared to the 155's 5/6.
2- The Call's soft attack rating is 16 which can turn infantry to mush better than the 155's 13.
(surprisingly the 155 is best of the two against hard targets, rating 10 compared to the Call's 9)
3- Sure the Call's range is only 2 compared to the 155's 3, but the Call's toughness means you can wheel it right into the front line for pointblank work like an assault gun, or to back up frontline units with automatic fire support in hotspots.
4- Speedwise the Call is 5, making it a useful "fire engine" to rush to hotspots, compared to the 155's 4.
5- Finally, the 155 can't shoot back if aircraft attack it, but the Call can.

In short, the Calliope is one tough little mofo that we can go mad with and throw around aggressively, how about it Norman?

[Panzerpimp]

Thank you for replies.

not so uncommon Thrill (Is it a 1 shot kill or just 8 or 9 victims) when a Tiger attacks

Converted 2 of my SP Artillery (less experienced) to Calliope. Tested It at Aachen, got a DV.

Panzerwerfer or a Wurfrahmen

Yes, now I realise It can be used as those.

[cutydt02]

For me the 155 is simply the best spg with imbalance ammo and atk stats. Although it has low defense but its also very cheap to reinforce. One more thing is in us campaign/grand campaign you just face a limited number geman airforce and the problem here is heavy tank, contrast to german campaign