AT Providing Defensive Fire to Friendly Units

[hs1611]

This small MOD's only objective is to show how to force Anti-Tank units to provide defensive fire, just like Artillery and AAA already do.

Basically, I just created a second, switchable, version of the AT units. This second version belongs to the Artillery class, therefore providing defensive fire to adjacent friendly units.
The reason for two versions of the same unit, in AT and Artillery classes, is to still allow for the units to be upgraded within the AT class.
For some reason, even when switched to Artillery mode the units can still be upgraded to another AT units, but never to a Artillery unit.
I don't know why this is so but, since it's how I want it to be, I'm not complaining.

I won't be making any custom equipment files or anything else. I just wanted to let you guys know that it is possible to get defensive fire from AT units.

If anyone wants to make a custom equipment file I would suggest not to change SP AT units.
In my opinion these units are ofensive units, and don't really need changes.
It's the towed AT units that are so difficult to use properly, defensive fire makes them more useful.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8oAf ... zU1NWVVY1E

[KeldorKatarn]

I totally disagree on SPAT units being offensive. The Marders and StuGs layed ambushes, they were not offensive at all. In an offensive a non turreted vehicle always loses.

[captainjack]

Marders and StuGs layed ambushes

The French 47 mounted on Laffly WT15 (or was it WT45?) truck was used for ambushes. The gun faced backwards, which allowed a couple of shots and a quick change of position. The 2 pounder and 6 pounder portees and the Deacon also had rear-facing guns (although the 2 pounder portee was originally intended to be used for transport only), which suggests a defensive mindset as they wouldn't be great for attacking. Even fro SPAT, the Hetzer was well respected for low profile and ease of camouflage and the Jagdtiger was also viewed as a mainly defensive weapon, though probably it took a bit more work to hide than the Hetzer.

Having said that, AT guns would definitely be much more useful if they could provide defensive fire, but since SPAT is already useful, it would probably be more balanced to allow only towed AT to provide defensive fire. That way you have the more versatile towed AT which is a bit harder to get into position (though no worse than Artillery), or the more mobile SPAT which lacks versatility.

Did you give them range 1 or 2? If so, did this change their attack stats to artillery type (ie better odds of suppression than kills?).

[KeldorKatarn]

I don't see that reasoning with "already useful". SPArty is also already useful. would you take away their support fire?

[hs1611]

Did you give them range 1 or 2? If so, did this change their attack stats to artillery type (ie better odds of suppression than kills?).

I changed nothing. I simply duplicated the AT unit. I saw that the AI switches its units to ART mode.
Apart from that I did no testing. And I won't do any testing either.,
I'm not making a MOD, I just wanted to see if this would work.

I totally disagree on SPAT units being offensive. The Marders and StuGs layed ambushes, they were not offensive at all. In an offensive a non turreted vehicle always loses.

I meant in the game, not in real life.
SPAT can be moved fairly easily to the frontlines. Towed AT can't. I am talking about game units, not real units in a real war.
So, in my opinion, in the game SPAT does not need any changes to be useful. Towed AT would probably be used more if it had a feature like this.
Of course, stats while on ART mode would have to be revised.
It is just my opinion, feel free to disagree.

[KeldorKatarn]

I still think they should give support fire also. That's how they were used and also ingame they're not offensive units. From what I know AT gets a massive initiative bonus when attacked and is inferior to tanks when attacking. As it should be. Also losing this ability would make it insanely painful to upgrade to the good units later.

[Ralle]

I made something similar with the 20 and 37mm AA guns. That way they`re usefull even after I gained air superiority. I wanted to use them for suppressing fire but then found out they also provide defensive fire.

[KeldorKatarn]

Eh? AA guns already give defensive fire..

[Ralle]

Yes sure they do.
I made AA guns switchable to Arty. So they give defensive fire on ground targets.
Like the 8,8 is switchable to AT.