How to fight a pillbox?

WuWei

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What the title says. I will have my first scenario with pillboxes soon. I have DCs and mortars on my side, that's it, and I have no idea what I should do about them.
 

MajorDomo

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Smoke pillbox hex, isolate it, destroy it in CC. If no smoke, isolate it and approach outside covered arc for CC.

DC works also, but I usually save them for better targets.

Rich
 

jrv

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This depends greatly on how they fit in the scenario. Sometimes you ignore them, sometimes you need to get past them, sometimes you have to suppress them (break their contents), and sometimes you have to take/eliminate them. Mortars can help you get past them (SMOKE) but generally won't help (directly) with suppression or taking them. DCs will suppress or take/eliminate them, but usually won't help if you want to get past one. The easiest way to eliminate pillbox positions is with CC. The defender has to support his pillbox to prevent this; otherwise with its limited CA it can be quite easy to get into the hex with the pillbox.

JR
 

hongkongwargamer

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Well .. one of my opponents love just sitting there taking pot shots at pillboxes with the mortar .. with the high rate of fire you might get a few SANs but you might also get a critical hit or two in which case the + mods reverse themselves with double the MTR (non area) firepower!
 

Jacometti

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Well .. one of my opponents love just sitting there taking pot shots at pillboxes with the mortar .. with the high rate of fire you might get a few SANs but you might also get a critical hit or two in which case the + mods reverse themselves with double the MTR (non area) firepower!
not if firing from the NCA (B30.113): the NCA TEM is considered zero for CH resolution)
 

jrv

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Well .. one of my opponents love just sitting there taking pot shots at pillboxes with the mortar .. with the high rate of fire you might get a few SANs but you might also get a critical hit or two in which case the + mods reverse themselves with double the MTR (non area) firepower!
The mods on the NCA TEM for a CH is treated as zero, not reversed [B30.113]. The NCA TEM is always used by Indirect Fire, which includes MTRs. The MTR FP is still doubled for a CH.

JR
 

Jeff Waldon

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The mods on the NCA TEM for a CH is treated as zero, not reversed [B30.113]. The NCA TEM is always used by Indirect Fire, which includes MTRs. The MTR FP is still doubled for a CH.

JR
My opponent just turned me onto this in a recent game.
 
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von Marwitz

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My opponent just turned me onto this in a recent game.
Hehe, gotta love those ASL moments:

A (delighted with relief):
"Hah! I have just beaten you to smithereens. Nothing left of that one, pal."

B (with that half begnin, half relenting smile):
"Hold on a sec. It might have just escaped you that as per rule [destruction of all your joy] you are in error. So in fact I am unharmed. Besides, I think you triggered my Sniper just there."

von Marwitz
 

Jacometti

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Hehe, gotta love those ASL moments:

A (delighted with relief):
"Hah! I have just beaten you to smithereens. Nothing left of that one, pal."

B (with that half begnin, half relenting smile):
"Hold on a sec. It might have just escaped you that as per rule [destruction of all your joy] you are in error. So in fact I am unharmed. Besides, I think you triggered my Sniper just there."

von Marwitz
The idea that you could destroy infantry inside a pillbox by firing a 50mm MTR at it from outside its covered arc is honestly quite ridiculous. Unless there was a pile of HE ammunition stacked next to it.
 

Robin Reeve

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I like to pump AP rounds against a pillbox.
No TEM so easy hit, but with a HE equivalent of 1 or 2 FP.
But 1 or 2 FP flat can do some harm.
 
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jrv

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The idea that you could destroy infantry inside a pillbox by firing a 50mm MTR at it from outside its covered arc is honestly quite ridiculous. Unless there was a pile of HE ammunition stacked next to it.
Could be they all stepped out for a smoke. It's not for no reason that they say smoking is bad for your health.

JR
 
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Jacometti

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Could be they all stepped out for a smoke. It's not for no reason that they say smoking is bad for your health.

JR
Did most pillboxes have No Smoking signs inside? That is vital and new information!
 

jrv

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Did most pillboxes have No Smoking signs inside? That is vital and new information!
Right next to the "fasten seatbelts" sign. Also, tampering with the smoke detector in the lavatory is a federal crime.

JR
 

Robin Reeve

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Would manning some artillery pieces require prohibition of smoking?
 

Proff3RTR

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What the title says. I will have my first scenario with pillboxes soon. I have DCs and mortars on my side, that's it, and I have no idea what I should do about them.
Smoke the Hex and then place a DC in it, to quote Lt Rasczak of Rasczaks' roughnecks fame 'If you find a bug hole. Nuke it!'
Lieutenant_Jean_Rasczak.jpg
 
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