AP value calculation in the equipment db

[cathar1244]

Hello -

Does anyone know how the AP value is calculated for equipment in TOAW III ?

Looking at some of the AP values used, multiplying high-end rates of fire by the HE projectile weight in kilograms comes close to the listed values. There are some exceptions that seem to vary wildly from this "rule", like that of the 25-Pounder Gun.

Thanks for any comments.

Cheers

[Boonierat]

I'm afraid only Norm knows ;) but regarding artillery, I think other factors were taken into account than just projectile size, like higher rate of fire, a 105mm fast firing howitzer for example has a much higher AP value than a 170mm slow-loading gun.

[cathar1244]

I'm afraid only Norm knows ;) but regarding artillery, I think other factors were taken into account than just projectile size, like higher rate of fire, a 105mm fast firing howitzer for example has a much higher AP value than a 170mm slow-loading gun.

Hello Boonierat, yes, judging from remarks that Norm made in an internet reply to criticism of the original TOAW combat system, rate of fire is very much part of the AP value.

I've run some calculations on AP values that indicate this may be the case. Here are a couple of examples.

1. HMG. AP=27. I've made a guess that this equipment represents an M2 HMG, i.e. the '50-Cal'. Janes shows the projectile weight of a ball projectile for that weapon as .04601 Kilograms. If one divides that into 27, or 27 / .04601, the result is about 587. Janes shows the cyclic ROF of the M2 as ranging from 450 to 600 rpm.

2. 37mm AT Gun. AP=14. Again, taking a U.S. piece of equipment, the 37mm Gun M3, the weight of one of the HE projectiles was 0.56 Kilograms, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37_mm_Gun_M3. The result of 14 / .56 is exactly 25. The Wiki page claims this weapon had a maximum ROF of 25. (Seems very fast for hand loaded artillery and not what one would expect to be aimed fire).

3. 75mm Gun. AP=90. Taking the French Mle 1897 as an example, an HE projectile for it weighed 6.2 Kilograms. 90 / 6.2 = 14.5, compares with 15 rpm maximum ROF quotes for this weapon.

There are weapons whose AP rating are at odds with this rule of thumb. The 25-Pounder has AP=165. If one divides 11.4 Kg into 165, the result is about 14.5, but the highest quoted ROF I've seen for this weapon is 8 rpm.

Food for thought if nothing else.

Cheers