Do the tanks get first fire?

[plloyd1010]

When I started this, I put in a NO vote. Though in the game we played it as a limited first fire.

I reject Shad's and Col. Sonichu's suggestion because the first paragraph of 12.43 clearly expresses the point that units only get 1 shot in assault combat. Their idea gives the defenders 2 shots.

I agree with leonard and Grognard Gunny, and their presumed NO votes largely concurring with the precedent cited by leonard. Aside the that rational is the assumption that there is activity below the game scale, which I assume is to the most reasonable advantage to the actors without any particular fortune. (The crossfire rule is an example of this concept.) In a case such as this, I assume the LT involved is observing the tanks, thus aware of their focus of attention and stage the assault in the most reasonable sequence, given the situation and his observation.

The way we played it was to give the option of first fire against the infantry assaulting from the open, with any result being applied only to them. The issue of leader modifiers was not germane in this situation. I do expect that leader morale modifiers the LT should be applicable, but there wasn't one. In the end his roll was good (1 step and unit demoralized), and my roll only resulted in a morale check (which he passed).