Half-tracks or Trucks?

[Horseman]

Hi all,

I'm undecided on this so far so thought I'd see what the forum consensus is.

Do you mount your infantry on Half-tracks or trucks (or make them walk?)

Pros.
- Faster...They're faster on everything except roads I think and even then the "upgraded" Half-tracks are just as fast I think.
- They add to your attack! +4SA is nothing to be ignored and even the +1 HA is better than a kick in the teeth
- If your infantry get caught mounted by the enemy then they have a fighting change of surviving (though don't let them get caught mounted...)

Cons.
- An extra unit slot...yeah might not seem much but it soon adds up. To mount all your infantry you're probably sacrificing a unit.
- Cost. That prestige adds up. Especially when you have to replace your loses (and you almost certainly will)

I'm not talking about Gebirgsjäger or Fallschirmjäger, they both need to not have transports to use their special abilities.

At the moment I'm running my Pioneers in Half-tracks and everything else in trucks....thoughts?

Thanks!

[a432]

Personally I use all trucks because I don't want to waste core slots on half-tracks. However, I didn't know that the half-tracks added SA and HA while not mounted.

I think you are doing it right, pioneers are usually the first to attack an entrenched position so they benefit the most from the extra attack values of a half-track. I would limit it to just 1 or 2 because I still care about wasting core slots on half-tracks.

[SineMora]

As far as the campaign is concerned there's little reason not to use halftracks. Engineers must have transports as they're too slow otherwise, and the benefits of an additional +4 to soft attack are huge for them, well worth the extra prestige and core slot. With the exception of specialized infantry in certain scenarios I don't really see a reason to use other types in the campaign -- 2-4 engineers are enough for any scenario that doesn't mainly revolve around city fighting, and even then a few extra will suffice -- so the question of transports for them becomes moot.

[Rood]

Didn't know about the SA bonus when using half tracks either.
Never used them since I 1 core slot for just transport is too much really, I guess I'll upgrade a few engineers with these.

[Horseman]

To be fair, a large number of people don't know about the attack bonus by the looks of things.

Even The "Mighty" Edmon didn't know until I commented on one his youtube videos.....

Might be some thing that needs to be made more obvious!

[Hexaboo]

Woah, good to know about the bonus!

But even without it, as the war progresses, I'm growing to appreciate the halftrack for pioneers, because of its better cross-country movement capacity. You don't need more than 3-4 infantry (pioneers) in most missions, and that core slot penalty is easily offset by being able to deliver your infantry exactly where and when you need it (god, trucks love getting bogged down in stuff don't they).

The attack bonus makes it all the more delicious.

[gunnergoz]

I'm with OP, engineers in halftracks (HT), infantry in trucks. Regular infantry is useful with its 3 hex marching range. I do use HT with my heavy infantry too since they hold up against armor better. I generally try to run 3 engineers in HT, 3 heavy infantry in HT and 3 regular infantry in trucks. If I need bridging infantry, I pick up two of those with HT and one 37mm light AA unit in HT and drop one of the heavy infantry.

[econ21]

In most earlier PG type games. half-tracks were almost essential in Russia due the mud and snow. (I suspect the same was true about the North African desert). I am thinking especially of Moscow 1941 type scenarios. However, in PzC2, I have got past Stalingrad without using half tracks and not really noticed a problem with my trucks being unable to get to the action. Some of the maps seems more compact and the time limits more generous.

Being able to dismount means the greater vulnerability of trucks is less of a handicap, although half tracks are also very vulnerable to the most threatening units (tanks and tactical bombers).

[Horseman]

In most earlier PG type games. half-tracks were almost essential in Russia due the mud and snow. (I suspect the same was true about the North African desert). I am thinking especially of Moscow 1941 type scenarios. However, in PzC2, I have got past Stalingrad without using half tracks and not really noticed a problem with my trucks being unable to get to the action. Some of the maps seems more compact and the time limits more generous.

Being able to dismount means the greater vulnerability of trucks is less of a handicap, although half tracks are also very vulnerable to the most threatening units (tanks and tactical bombers).

I agree, in PG and PC1 half tracks were essential, in PC2 not so much. But that sweet attack bonus is very handy and quite substantial really.

[Vanha]

As far as the campaign is concerned there's little reason not to use halftracks. Engineers must have transports as they're too slow otherwise, and the benefits of an additional +4 to soft attack are huge for them, well worth the extra prestige and core slot. With the exception of specialized infantry in certain scenarios I don't really see a reason to use other types in the campaign -- 2-4 engineers are enough for any scenario that doesn't mainly revolve around city fighting, and even then a few extra will suffice -- so the question of transports for them becomes moot.

Ha, did not know that... might have to get my engineers some halftracks. Only using two engineer units so the cost doesn't really matter. Also I think I might have too many units, sometimes it's like playing panzer tetris. I have a blob of doom...

[Edmon]

To be fair, a large number of people don't know about the attack bonus by the looks of things.

Even The "Mighty" Edmon didn't know until I commented on one his youtube videos.....

Might be some thing that needs to be made more obvious!

I think the one thing I really agree with in here is that, it really should be made more obvious that the half-track adds to the unmounted combat power of infantry.

Maybe it should be a trait or icon somewhere. It's like the attack from airbase bonus... another thing no-one who hasn't read every inch of the manual knows about...

[Plaid]

For me its engineers and grenadiers in halftracks, normal wehrmacht/volksgrenadier -- on foot.
Never felt foot movement slow enough to purchase trucks.
Horse transport is probably just fine for lighter artillery too (they even move faster than trucks outside of roads), didnt purchase it only for aestetic aspect. Feels wrong to invade America with bunch of heavy tanks, jet fighters and ... horses.

[Kerensky]

I will never, ever use a transport that takes up CORE slots.

I campaigned hard to get CORE slots removed from transports, I'm not a hypocrite going to start using them.

Thankfully, only the most luxurious halftrack has a slot cost, so I'm not totally stuck with foot/horse transports. =)

[ErissN6]

I prefer transport protecting the more, mainly from air attacks, hence I prefer half-tracks.
It's good too when we can attack with the weapons of the transport! and HT have the more.
I'm not bothered by the few loss of core point.

[dalfrede]

It depends on prestige and weather.
If you are low on prestige you can't afford Half-tracks.
If you don't have mud [or snow] you don't need Half-tracks.

Note: Kavs are cheaper that Wehr in Half-Tracks.

US Corps had a lot of mud in Italy, you needed half-tracks. This campaign has much less bad weather, so less need.
For large winter maps you may want half-tracks, but most of the time they aren't necessary.

[Horseman]

It depends on prestige and weather.
If you are low on prestige you can't afford Half-tracks.
If you don't have mud [or snow] you don't need Half-tracks.

Note: Kavs are cheaper that Wehr in Half-Tracks.

US Corps had a lot of mud in Italy, you needed half-tracks. This campaign has much less bad weather, so less need.
For large winter maps you may want half-tracks, but most of the time they aren't necessary.

Half tracks are still quite a bit faster than trucks across country - and they still provide that sweet attack bonus. Its around a 50% improvement to infantry SA so not to be ignored!

[Horseman]

I will never, ever use a transport that takes up CORE slots.

I campaigned hard to get CORE slots removed from transports, I'm not a hypocrite going to start using them.

Thankfully, only the most luxurious halftrack has a slot cost, so I'm not totally stuck with foot/horse transports. =)

I think the slot cost was added due to the attack bonus - I do still think however that maybe just the prestige cost alone is enough. Especially as infantry do tend to take losses and it makes them more expensive to replace too!

[Duedman]

I think the major advantage of halftracks is not the added SA.
It is the possibility to embark in close terrain. That makes a HUGE difference.

Pioniere in close terrain are irremovable objects even without arty cover.
In the open they are dead meat even with arty cover.

I somehow didnt realize that until after Moscow and used lorries since they didnt cost a core slot.
What a mistake!

With embarking in forrests and hills you can advance faster AND with less casualties.

[KesaAnna]

Hopefully in future a mod will allow us to field an army that is two - thirds horse - drawn , and one - third transported in Italian trucks or French commercial buses.

And then I'll turn off time limits , and I'll just not tell anybody that I turned off time limits.

To answer your question though , yeah , pioneers get half-tracks in my army. Everything else ? They get what I can afford .