AA guns in ground attack

[OldFocker]

I cannot figure why most low calibre AA guns cannot be switched to a ground attack role. It was the same in PC1. I altered the old equipment data file so they had some effect on hard and soft targets but this unfortunately meant they potentially had a ground range of 2-3 hexes (i.e. same range as for air defence).

In PC2 I see the same minus factors in the equipment data for AA guns against ground targets, meaning they are useless against them, yet many flakvierlings were used in a ground role and could effectively shred softskin vehicles, and they weren't kind to infantry either. I wonder what fix I can use in the data table that at the same time prevents a long range ground attack capability!

[SineMora]

Game balance most likely. These guns are cheap and core efficient and come with Rapid Fire -- if they could target ground targets they'd likely tear infantry and soft targets to pieces. If you want them to perform well against soft ground targets you'll have to increase their cost.

Edit: I see you're referring to the AT mode. That should still be a thing on smaller guns, with the caveat that I haven't tested every unit. Their performance is going to be abysmal, however.

[dalfrede]

???
All AA in PzC2 is switchable to AT.
With a few cases to Tank.
After switching they have a range=0.

If you want to give them higher range you can make them artillery.
Just add ArtySupport SuppressingFire MineKiller traits.

[OldFocker]

All AA in PzC2 is switchable to AT.
With a few cases to Tank.
After switching they have a range=0.

Really? I tried switching two of my Russian AA units to ground attack but the Switch button did not do a thing, and there was no ground attack indicator showing on enemy units. They would target only aircraft.

[dalfrede]

SovietAA.jpg (184.1 KiB) Viewed 1833 times

[OldFocker]

The data say one thing, but opting to employ low calibre AA guns for ground attack (Switch) just does not function. May be a bug. They only fire in a ground role if attacked so cannot be used offensively, which has bugged me since the original PC!

Hence my original query - how to change this without giving these AA long distance (2-3 hex) ground attack capability.

[Matyna]

The data say one thing, but opting to employ low calibre AA guns for ground attack (Switch) just does not function. May be a bug. They only fire in a ground role if attacked so cannot be used offensively, which has bugged me since the original PC!

Hence my original query - how to change this without giving these AA long distance (2-3 hex) ground attack capability.

I didn't have problem to switch any AA, all of them have that function when i play.

[Horseman]

The data say one thing, but opting to employ low calibre AA guns for ground attack (Switch) just does not function. May be a bug. They only fire in a ground role if attacked so cannot be used offensively, which has bugged me since the original PC!

Hence my original query - how to change this without giving these AA long distance (2-3 hex) ground attack capability.

Certainly no problem with switching for me....

One thing - if you use them to shoot at aircraft they then cant switch on the same turn. maybe that's what you're seeing?

[Nalikill]

#1 - if they switch to AT they work like any other AT: they only support adjacent hexes. You won't see any kind of range indicator on their attack in AT mode.
#2 - Switching to AT requires both the "move" and "attack" actions be unspent, but you can still move and attack after switching.
#3 - They still get only modest results at best in open terrain. In close terrain you'd rather use pioneers/infantry anyway. Actual offensive attacks with AT guns seem of zero value to me at least for right now.
#4 - I did (seem) notice a bug before Patch 1 where they would swap back to AA if you used their "vehicles" to move them, but if it existed it was patched out..

[gunnergoz]

I find the AA on ground target mode works well and is great on most targets that are depleted enough, hard or soft. You send them up against a target that has not been softened up by arty or air first, and they get battered. This game is mostly about preparing your target for the kill shot and arty/air/stugs are best for that by depleting entrenchment and increasing suppression. Stugs are cool since they are both support arty and attack units, depleting the target's entrenchment and increasing the target's suppression. But be careful choosing to use your AA units as ground AT defense or attack units - I would not do that if the enemy still has a lot of viable air power and your AA's primary role is to blunt the enemy air attacks on your ground units.