Open Vehicle Suppression

[Rangers989]

So I'm a little confused as to why halftracks can't be suppressed/targeted by regular infantry/vehicles with light machine guns. These are vehicles with open tops, and the gunners exposed while firing the top mounted machine gun, but if they're 1M outside the AT range of infantry they're virtually invulnerable.

I propose that vehicles with open tops are changed so that they can be targeted by Light machine gun fire. It should not take a .50 caliber weapon or greater to scare a gunner into putting his head down. This would also bring balance between the Allied and German half tracks where the German half tracks currently can't do anything against the Allied half-tracks with .50's even if they out number them. It would also make moving infantry out of treelines easier. Currently if the enemy has 2 half tracks parked 300M away from a treeline I can't do anything to break through that treeline without calling in artillery or aircraft.

All in all it just seems very illogical to me that if I have 3 groups of infantry with 2x LMG's each they can't suppress/scare away a single half track and are left stuck in the tree lines because he's 50M outside the range of their AT weapon.

 

[Sorime]

When you are manning a top mounted machine gun (especially .50cal) you aren't supressed, you suppress... No one is trying to scare or suppress a .50cal in real life because you are too busy hiding. When you want to shot it down, you use AT weapons.

I agree with what you mean but I don't see anything illogical with how it is now

 

[Kaiserfront]

But if you have more than one unit shooting at the 50cal, then it should do at least something to it.

 

[Rangers989]

When you are manning a top mounted machine gun (especially .50cal) you aren't supressed, you suppress... No one is trying to scare or suppress a .50cal in real life because you are too busy hiding. When you want to shot it down, you use AT weapons

If that argument was valid there would be no need for the US to have switched from open turrets to the CROWS system on it's humvees and other vehicles.

if they're engaging one squad, sure, they should definitely have the advantage especially if they're the ones that shoot first. But if you get 2 LMG's firing at the .50 caliber turret on a half track before the gunner gets his first shot off, you better bet your ass he's gonna put his head down.

 

[Custard88]

A 'gunner killed' damage effect would certainly not be amiss on open-topped vehicles.

Unfortunately I'm pretty sure it's too late in development for this to happen.

 

[Tankhunter__]

A 'gunner killed' damage effect would certainly not be amiss on open-topped vehicles.

Unfortunately I'm pretty sure it's too late in development for this to happen.

The "gunner KO'd" crit already exists in-game. I think a "gunner killed" crit exists as well. Just make it more common for vehicles with exposed gunners
(not all open topped vehicles, as M10s and Marders have protected crew)

 

[Vyllis]

Sound like a good idea to deal with a single open top vehicle or Kubel MG ruining and pinning several infantry squad if you have no tank in the vicinity, able to destroy it.
And its realistic.

I do not think it is too late, as the beta is when you balance things out.

 

[reef75]

From my own experience I've had British MMG carriers completely destroy PzGren units in boccage and buildings. I can understand them suppressing but not causing mass casualties against some of the best covers. Given that they are almost immune unless you have a heavier weapon to hand. Would be nice to see them nerfed a little, especially as they can take on light apc's also.

 

[Rangers989]

The "gunner KO'd" crit already exists in-game. I think a "gunner killed" crit exists as well. Just make it more common for vehicles with exposed gunners
(not all open topped vehicles, as M10s and Marders have protected crew)

I would say that those types of vehicles should still be able to get suppressed and go into "falling back" mode. It should take longer than larger caliber rounds, but it should still happen. While those vehicles did have decent protection for the crew, they're still not tanks with protection on all sides.

From my own experience I've had British MMG carriers completely destroy PzGren units in boccage and buildings. I can understand them suppressing but not causing mass casualties against some of the best covers. Given that they are almost immune unless you have a heavier weapon to hand. Would be nice to see them nerfed a little, especially as they can take on light apc's also.

And this is my exact problem. I continually have multiple groups infantry cut down by 2-3 open top half tracks and it just doesn't make logical sense.

 

[TheMightyCthulhu]

I love seeing groupings of 2-3 M3 HTs. Means more to blow up with my artillery supporting my infantry.

 

[Bhaal]

I love seeing groupings of 2-3 M3 HTs. Means more to blow up with my artillery supporting my infantry.

I have also killed quite a few halftracks with artillery. One of the best ways to drive them back if AT is not handy.

 

[Kaiserfront]

So my dug in Pak 38 just got pinned down and destroyed by a .50cal at over 600m. That shit needs a nerf. Those things are OP as fuck, can fight off more than 2 Inf units at once.

 

[trappinginphilly]

yeah this shits ridic, shoudl be able to supress the fuck outta a half track with 3 brens

 

[EUG_FLX]

They could before but we removed it. It was really annoying to reveal your position when shooting at something you cannot really hurt or suppress.

 

[trappinginphilly]

They could before but we removed it. It was really annoying to reveal your position when shooting at something you cannot really hurt or suppress.

id rather have to micro my units than having half tracks suppressing my infantry without any recourse.

 

[reef75]

Could infantry just gain a better cover modifier ? Infantry in hard cover or bocage was no go for unsupported AFV's agaist infantry in the war. In game this cover feels next to meaningless against certain vehicles and guns that simply fire and remove infantry at will. I recently had a game where a bofors rolled up through bocage and wiped 2 squads in green cover before I could even order a mortar to move up. I can understand suppression being an issue but a suppressed infantry goes deeper into its cover so becomes harder to kill from direct fire.

 

[TheDeadlyShoe]

well, once they get suppressed you could fall back

 

[Vyllis]

They could before but we removed it. It was really annoying to reveal your position when shooting at something you cannot really hurt or suppress.

What about making the machinegun teams suppress/damage open top vehicles?
It would give some more use to those MG34/MG42/Vickers.

Please Eugen :>

 

[TheDeadlyShoe]

I'd love if the infantry heavy MGs could defeat halftracks in general- even if only at closer ranges. After all, it works for the halftracks shooting at each other...

 

[Vyllis]

Yes, that what i suggested. Also, it is easier to micro manage heavy machinegun teams than your whole infantry.

I really hope Eugen is reading us.