Moving towed Anti-Tank Guns forward!

[JayTownsend]

One thing I have difficulty with, not only in Panzer Grenadier but all company level, platoon level, squad level and so on games, is how to use or bring up a towed anti-tank gun against a defensive position, especially ones that have anti-tank guns of their own. About the only way is to suppress the defender first and unload your transport but sometimes it's just not possible without some luck.

[joe_oppenheimer]

I generally avoid moving loaded transports anywhere they can be targeted by the enemy. That typically means unloading out of site or at a range where you feel safe (just watch out for an artillery strike).

This works well for troops who can then maneuver on foot to contact with the enemy. For towed guns that need to site the enemy that doesn't work so well. I will sometimes unload my own artillery behind a ridge for cover, but that means forsaking the bonus for spotting the enemy (and doesn't help with things like AT guns).

[JayTownsend]

For infantry and long range artillery & mortars no problem, unload them before the danger but short range anti-tank guns, it’s much tougher. You could always unload them and have infantry push them one hex at a time, but that is painful and slow. Or risk it and hope the enemy has better targets to shoot at.

The reason I bring this up, is I am playing a scenario called: Defense of San Manuel where the Americans have three battlegroups but one has a truck towed 37mm ATG, which needs to get close to be in range and the Japanese have a hornets nest of weapons and tanks that can take it out. It should be interesting.

[cjsiam]

Things that can move 1 while unlimbered, and those that are pushable---get pushed.
Trucks moving with loads in range of forward observers (leaders) are a non-starter at this point...too many
times mortars or long range DF have killed my trucks....just don't allow it any more and I unload my trucks
even at the cost of it taking longer to move them....too vulnerable to small arms and stray artillery....

When you can set up, and possibly dig in---heck, it's a gimme...
We play double-blind (Peter's extension) and the hidden AT gun re-asserts some of it's power to impose caution

[Miguelibal]

One thing I have difficulty with, not only in Panzer Grenadier but all company level, platoon level, squad level and so on games, is how to use or bring up a towed anti-tank gun against a defensive position, especially ones that have anti-tank guns of their own. About the only way is to suppress the defender first and unload your transport but sometimes it's just not possible without some luck.

Laying down a smokescreen does wonders for pushing towed artillery forward in daylight. Sometimes you can even start digging-in the guns before your opponent tosses OBA or MORTAR rounds in your direction.

i use smoke when I can in daylight, or wait for reduced visibility to move guns with a transport unit.

[Col. Sonichu]

I don’t think I’ve ever been able to get an AT gun deployed AND be able to shoot in anger while in the offensive.

[Tambu]

And . .  let's never forget that all towed AT guns and sneaky little STGs or Jagdpanzers are inherently EVIL and MUST be destroyed as soon as they are seen by friendly units.

Tanks rule in combined arms operations in WWII, and would still if it were not for those confounded, cheap godforsaken, drones show up in the next century!

[Sonora]

I don’t think I’ve ever been able to get an AT gun deployed AND be able to shoot in anger while in the offensive.

Playing the T-rex as often as you do, I can well imagine his glee at clobbering trucks or wagons towing AT guns. From past shared plays, I know that there are few things that he likes more than destroying AT weapon systems.

If you play him online like I do, he will almost always drop everything to get a shot at and ATG, no matter what. This tendency creates a chance to distract him from his other preferred targets, like Soviet Kommissar units, SS leaders, or mortar platoons.

[treadasaurusrex]

I don’t think I’ve ever been able to get an AT gun deployed AND be able to shoot in anger while in the offensive.

Playing the T-rex as often as you do, I can well imagine his glee at clobbering trucks towing AT guns. From past shared plays, I know that there are few things that he likes more than destroying AT weapon systems.

If you play him online like I do, he will almost always drop everything to get a shot at and ATG, no matter what. This tendency creates a chance to distract him from his other preferred targets, like Soviet Kommissar units, SS leaders, or mortar platoons.

LOL
Yes, AT guns are of the devil!

[sagunto]

AS a weapon class, they are the true definition of, "infernal machines."