Slitherine

Many wonder how to better use the mechanized infantry, if not useless...
And I stumbled on this from end january interview:

understanding how to do search and destroy missions with mechanized units,

Didn't you mess something in the design of the unit? or it's some difficult to understand how to use?
For now, I've just learn to use the mecha inf as guard of bases, being too taxi to reach just suburb villages to be visited and here near ambushing infantry to be supplied.

You onto an interesting debat here, before we beefed up the armor and lowered the price , the M113 was a clear choice, don't think the M113 is valuable enough as it stands , but I still use it to run supplies to infantry in close proximity to the FB, otherwise I buy the M48, have made a note to revisit it , suggestions ?

Maybe give it a combat boost if infantry are riding in it?

conger wrote:Maybe give it a combat boost if infantry are riding in it?

Good idea (just 5 strenght more?), with sight on the adjacent only 3 rear hexes.. (or all but the front one?) (instead of at now behing blind IIRC).
But usually (trained) mounted infantry get out from vehicle if there is combat.. :/

We have to balance the armor and the M113, by giving it some function the armor doesn't , I was thinking along the lines of giving it a one hex detection radius when infantry in the back?

Vietnam65 wrote:We have to balance the armor and the M113, by giving it some function the armor doesn't , I was thinking along the lines of giving it a one hex detection radius when infantry in the back?

Good enough for me. I do know that infantrymen in Vietnam often actually chose to ride on top of the AP rather than inside it. Reason was, they feared mines much mroe than diect ennemy fire.

I tend to buy 1 mech later on in my games, use it to move infantry near bases. I have a tendendy to buidl a forard base near or on the NVA invasion route and there the M113 can be useufull if tehre are villages near such a base - I do not want to move my infantry on foot for 3 turns "there-and-back-again" style if I know NVA infantry can attack them on their turn.

Vietnam65 wrote:We have to balance the armor and the M113, by giving it some function the armor doesn't , I was thinking along the lines of giving it a one hex detection radius when infantry in the back?

This should work, it would make sense considering all those extra eyes on the vehicle.

"search and destroy missions with mechanized unit"
Sight for the Search. What for the Destroy? Maybe add the experience combat points of the regular Infantry (only; reco and viets levy don't add for mounted combat) to the mecha? (so it has twice experience when full: own and inftry)

By giving the Mech a detection range, will make patrolling the roads and doing Mech sweeps so much more relevant to the player, also like adding the firepower idea, will look at the balancing act ...

Thanks for the input

more things to think on and develop i see, looks like good is only going to get better

ERISS wrote:"search and destroy missions with mechanized unit"
What for the Destroy? Maybe add the experience combat points of the regular US Infantry (only) to the mecha? so it has twice experience when full: own and infantry

But the combat should only give experience to the Mecha: To learn, the US basic Infantry must fight by his own?

Not yet convinced of the added firepower, the M113 is already pretty able on it's own, don't want to create a super-weapon, just having the detection range around the M113 is a huge benefit due to the area it can cover, in fact, that might be too strong already, will run some tests, might have to up the PP price or restrict in some way as the game could devolve into Mech units sweeping the map

Vietnam65 wrote:Not yet convinced of the added firepower, the M113 is already pretty able on it's own, don't want to create a super-weapon, just having the detection range around the M113 is a huge benefit due to the area it can cover, in fact, that might be too strong already, will run some tests, might have to up the PP price or restrict in some way as the game could devolve into Mech units sweeping the map

Add the 1 range detection, up price to 1500.

Pretty much

Oh, sorry, there was already a topic about the Armored Personal Carrier:
viewtopic.php?f=329&t=62719
I could have added to it.

Vietnam65 wrote:Not yet convinced of the added firepower, the M113 is already pretty able on it's own, don't want to create a super-weapon, just having the detection range around the M113 is a huge benefit due to the area it can cover, in fact, that might be too strong already, will run some tests, might have to up the PP price or restrict in some way as the game could devolve into Mech units sweeping the map

what if it lose detection in forest obstacle tiles (forests, rocks) and can only cross rivers where they had roads built across

I really like the suggestion of losing the detection radius in jungle, thanks !

To make the M113 valuable, and a little different without changing their strength or combat balance allow them to carry 2 payloads. So artillery load out and supplies, or a mounted infantry platoon and supplies. Don't know if this is too complicated in the engine.

To me ground convoys can carry a ton more supplies than helicopters, plus troops, and in can represent both ACAVS and all types of logistic ground transport.

Makes sense, also have the Chinook have two payloads, on the list...

I think the M113 are pretty well balanced. When you have a several villages on a road an M113 and infantry unit or 2 can keep them all pacified. Load the infantry travel down a safe stretch of road, unload infantry have it sweep for mines. Next turn enter village, get picked up the M113 move to the next village you can easily move 8 hexes a turn this way. Not as versatile as chopper but a lot cheaper, I always buy 1 M113,and generally a 2nd one to carry supplies to a FOB.