Rules Q: Defense vs Same Hex & Side Attack

[Dr.Cornelius]

Just wanted to make sure we are playing correctly:

Q: Does an attacking soldier in the same hex as a vehicle apply the vehicle's front or rear defense value?

A: (we have been playing that soldiers in the same hex attack as a vehicle attack the rear)

A related question:

Q: Does an attack directly against the side of a vehicle (*orthogonal to the vehicle's facing & along the hex side that separates the 3 front & 3 rear hexes) apply the target vehicle's front or rear defense value?

A: (we have been playing that an attack from the side applys front armor and a rear attack must pass through a rear hex side. Rear attacks against a vehicle's orthogonal side would be very hard on the German tanks.)

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*Orthogonal: at a right angle.

[XAos]

Diagram on P.18 of rules seems to be the clear answer to both your questions.
It shows a bazooka in the same hex hiting a Pzkw-IV in the flank.
And a 6pdr directly along the orthoganal hex-spine also hitting the flank armour.

And your correct, it's bad for the german tanks. Particularly the Jagd-panther.

[Wakrob]

Rear in both cases. Its clear in the rulebook that half hexes count as rear attacks. Two vehicles could be firing at each others rear armor if directly sideway from each other.

Wak

[Dr.Cornelius]

Thanks- I was just reading the text and didn't see the forest for the trees.

Now that I see the side attack diagram- tanks have a huge rear attack envelope.

As to the Jagdpanther and the front firing arc: it is reasonable to define front firing as "out the three front hexes, but not along the hex side between front and rear".

At the same time, it would be reasonable to define rear (for the purposes of armor) as entering from the rear three hexes, but not along the hex side separating front & rear armor), and to have the 90 degree hex side apply front armor.

I'm beginning to think that the R&D team seriously underestimated the disadvantage of low flank armor and did not represent it in the point costs. Changing the 90 degree hex side to apply front armor would make the German tanks a bit more competitive.

The German long ranged attacks are similarly overcosted- especially in light of the small map size. We tried playing with vehicles setting up on the edge hex and it helps a little.

The T34/76 just keeps getting better & better in my eyes...

[XAos]

The T34/76 just keeps getting better & better in my eyes...
Personally I prefer the KV-1. Every time I have played it so far. The first exchange of shots was a mutual damage. Which "Hulking mass" reduced to only a disrupt. :D And the (9/9/7) infantry factors are a nice "edge".
However the T-34 does cost less, e.g. you could use 3*T-34's in a 100pt force. Which you can't quite do with 3*KV-1's(+passengers).
KV-1 may be less effective at 200pts...? because an opponent will have enough firepower to finish off the KV-1 that he can only damage at 100pts.

[ChristopherGroves]

The T34/76 just keeps getting better & better in my eyes...
It's the fancy sloped armor. It draws you in ...

[Demolitiondude]

Must be either your skills or just luck Doc.