Essex battle [TANKS]

[Joe Sommer <anvilus9-at-adelphia.net>]

Hetzer #T010 had a good day at the Essex battle field for five reasons.

1) The Hetzer did not malfunction or throw track all day.

2) The grass was only about 6 inches tall on a relatively flat battle field 
which allowed full utilization of the Hetzer's speed advantage.

3) The Hetzer had artillery support in both battles.  The combination of 
artillery enfilade in the center of a flat field and fast flanking attacks 
on the edge of the field kept the Bluebirds dazed and confused.  See 
comments about "invincible" artillery below.

4) I employed a questionable tactic against Will and John by targeting 
their commander cupolas when our tanks engaged nose-to-nose.  This tactic 
allowed me to score at least three hits on Will's SU-100 that broke his 
cupola and at least two on John's PzKw IV.  Unfortunately, this tactic also 
produced several high shots that hit Will and John.  See comments about 
cupola hits below.

5) Any team named "Bluebirds" deserves some whup-ass.

Comments about "invincible" artillery
When field artillery was first introduced, it was declared invincible 
(could not be fired upon) to fully test its effectiveness.  The Navarrone 
gun pre-positioned on an elevated base in the center of a flat field with 
low grass was VERY EFFECTIVE.

There are currently only two ways to combat invincible field artillery - 
starve their ammunition supply by destroying supply vehicles or restrict 
their field of fire by terrain (tall grass, hills, trees, barriers).

For future battles on flat fields with low grass, I respectfully recommend 
that we investigate allowing artillery to be killed by hitting small moving 
targets near them.  When killed, the artillery operator would be required 
to walk back to home base to be reincarnated.

Comments about cupola hits
According to Rule III.4. - "Frontal hits are ignored for all Tanks 
regardless of their defensive rating".  This applies to front track, front 
hull and front turret.  However, frontal hits to cupolas, fuel tanks, spare 
road wheels, etc. do count as hits.  When two tanks engage nose-to-nose and 
one operator tries to shoot the other's commander cupola, it often causes 
high shots that hit the other operator in the groin, stomach or head.

In the interest of safety, I respectfully request that hits to the front 90 
degree arc of commander cupolas are ignored under the frontal hit rule.

Joe


**********************************************
Joe Sommer, Anvilus Machine Works
2378 Nantucket Circle, State College, PA 16803
814.234.4773     anvilus9-at-adelphia.net
http://www.anvilus.com