Vinnie
See Dummies in the index
Thought I'd do this one in the general page. Most going in the DEsigner Section.
15b PT-34 M41, PT-34 M43, PT-KV1 M41 & PT-KV1 M42:
After great difficulties caused by minefields in the Winter War against Finland, the Soviet Red Army assigned P.M. Mugalev at the Dormashina Factory in Nikolaev to design a mine-clearing vehicle. Prototypes were tested based on the T-28 medium tank in 1940. Development was interrupted by the start of World War II, but resumed in 1942. T-60 and KV tank chassis underwent trials, but only the T-34 was deemed to have a sufficiently robust transmission and clutch.
Experimental detachments of PT-34 mine roller tanks were formed in May 1942, and saw action at Voronezh in August. The first Independent Engineer Tank Regiment with eighteen mine rollers was fielded in October 1943. At least five regiments were formed during the war.
The PT-34's huge roller fork was semi-permanently mounted on a T-34 or T-34-85 tank. The rollers were usually removed for travel, and only installed for mine clearing operations. Adaptations for later tanks consisted of two lighter arms. The Mugalev system was adopted by U.S. and Israeli forces in the 1980s.
† MOVEMENT: The PT-34 may change its VCA only one hexside in a particular hex, and only immediately after entering that hex; i.e., when it expends MP to enter a new hex it may then expend another MP to change its VCA one hexside, but thereafter as long as it remains in that hex it cannot again change its VCA—nor can it change its VCA in a hex wherein it has just expended a Start MP. The PT-34 may not enter a building or woods, or rubble [EXC: via a TB], and my not ford a stream or river, conduct an OVR, or use VBM. Moreover, it may not move to a different elevation unless on a road. A PT-34 may cross a wall/hedge hexside; see "BOG:" below. A PT-34 may not cross a Bocage hexside, even via a Breach; nor may it create a Breach itself.
† BOG: A PT-34 crossing a wall/hedge hexside (not Bocage) in either forward or reverse mode must make a Bog DR; if it bogs it remains in the hex it was attempting to leave. It must also make a Bog DR when it enters a Trench hex. A bogged PT-34 can attempt to free itself as per D8.3 only if another fully-tracked AFV of ≥ 25 tons is in the PT-34's Location to help push it. Both AFV must have coinciding VCA, and the pushing AFV is subject to all the rules given in D8.3 for an assisting AFV (i.e., one that grants a -1 drm to the colored die of the Bog Removal DR); however, this -1 drm does not apply to the PT-34's unbogging attempt. Conversely, a PT-34 may not be used to grant such a -1 drm to another vehicle's unbogging attempt.
† CLEARANCE: A PT-34 clears mines like a flail tank (B28.7-.72), with the following exceptions: Each time a PT-34 enters a new hex, the player owning mines in that hex must announce their presence (but not type or strength). The PT-34's owner then makes his Mine Clearance DR, but there is a +2 DRM to that DR unless when entering that hex the PT-34 paid twice the normal MP cost and did not use the CE road movement cost. A Final Mine Clearance DR of 11 or ≥ 12 is treated as per B28.72 or B28.71 respectively. A PT-34 need not to be, or remain, in Motion in order to attempt Mine Clearance, even in the last hex it enters during the MPh. If the PT-34 reveals the presence of mines while CE it must immediately become BU (even if not normally allowed to do so).
† TO HIT: Due to the obstruction caused by the mine rollers, all attacks [EXC: mines, CC, Indirect Fire, those to/from at least a full-level higher elevation, and those whose LOS to/from the PT-34 coincides with the center hexspine of its VCA] vs/by a PT-34 within its VCA receive a +1 TH (or Effects for non-ordnance) DRM—as signified by "+1 for HH" on the counter unless the hit would have struck the turret.
See also Russian Vehicle Notes Note M.
15b PT-34 M41, PT-34 M43, PT-KV1 M41 & PT-KV1 M42:
After great difficulties caused by minefields in the Winter War against Finland, the Soviet Red Army assigned P.M. Mugalev at the Dormashina Factory in Nikolaev to design a mine-clearing vehicle. Prototypes were tested based on the T-28 medium tank in 1940. Development was interrupted by the start of World War II, but resumed in 1942. T-60 and KV tank chassis underwent trials, but only the T-34 was deemed to have a sufficiently robust transmission and clutch.
Experimental detachments of PT-34 mine roller tanks were formed in May 1942, and saw action at Voronezh in August. The first Independent Engineer Tank Regiment with eighteen mine rollers was fielded in October 1943. At least five regiments were formed during the war.
The PT-34's huge roller fork was semi-permanently mounted on a T-34 or T-34-85 tank. The rollers were usually removed for travel, and only installed for mine clearing operations. Adaptations for later tanks consisted of two lighter arms. The Mugalev system was adopted by U.S. and Israeli forces in the 1980s.
† MOVEMENT: The PT-34 may change its VCA only one hexside in a particular hex, and only immediately after entering that hex; i.e., when it expends MP to enter a new hex it may then expend another MP to change its VCA one hexside, but thereafter as long as it remains in that hex it cannot again change its VCA—nor can it change its VCA in a hex wherein it has just expended a Start MP. The PT-34 may not enter a building or woods, or rubble [EXC: via a TB], and my not ford a stream or river, conduct an OVR, or use VBM. Moreover, it may not move to a different elevation unless on a road. A PT-34 may cross a wall/hedge hexside; see "BOG:" below. A PT-34 may not cross a Bocage hexside, even via a Breach; nor may it create a Breach itself.
† BOG: A PT-34 crossing a wall/hedge hexside (not Bocage) in either forward or reverse mode must make a Bog DR; if it bogs it remains in the hex it was attempting to leave. It must also make a Bog DR when it enters a Trench hex. A bogged PT-34 can attempt to free itself as per D8.3 only if another fully-tracked AFV of ≥ 25 tons is in the PT-34's Location to help push it. Both AFV must have coinciding VCA, and the pushing AFV is subject to all the rules given in D8.3 for an assisting AFV (i.e., one that grants a -1 drm to the colored die of the Bog Removal DR); however, this -1 drm does not apply to the PT-34's unbogging attempt. Conversely, a PT-34 may not be used to grant such a -1 drm to another vehicle's unbogging attempt.
† CLEARANCE: A PT-34 clears mines like a flail tank (B28.7-.72), with the following exceptions: Each time a PT-34 enters a new hex, the player owning mines in that hex must announce their presence (but not type or strength). The PT-34's owner then makes his Mine Clearance DR, but there is a +2 DRM to that DR unless when entering that hex the PT-34 paid twice the normal MP cost and did not use the CE road movement cost. A Final Mine Clearance DR of 11 or ≥ 12 is treated as per B28.72 or B28.71 respectively. A PT-34 need not to be, or remain, in Motion in order to attempt Mine Clearance, even in the last hex it enters during the MPh. If the PT-34 reveals the presence of mines while CE it must immediately become BU (even if not normally allowed to do so).
† TO HIT: Due to the obstruction caused by the mine rollers, all attacks [EXC: mines, CC, Indirect Fire, those to/from at least a full-level higher elevation, and those whose LOS to/from the PT-34 coincides with the center hexspine of its VCA] vs/by a PT-34 within its VCA receive a +1 TH (or Effects for non-ordnance) DRM—as signified by "+1 for HH" on the counter unless the hit would have struck the turret.
See also Russian Vehicle Notes Note M.