I really respect the opinions and rules understandings of George & Brian, but in this instance I just can't see where they got a rule that prohibits the creation of a THH upon or after the expenditure of a 4th MF spent by the MMC. I Certainly see it may be true in some circumstances, but their replies seem to indicate a hard and fast all encompassing stipulation.
I agree with Eagle4ty on this one.
Situation:
Take the following example - let's term it "The Tank Has To Go":
A couple of Japanese squads with some DCs and a leader are poised to make a Banzai Charge, because "the tank has to go". Scores of evil Americans all around - and of course the tank itself want to prevent it.
The tricky part is that the cursed tank is well in LOS but 4 MF away.
Rules:
"G1.421 TANK-HUNTER (T-H) HEROES: An armed, Good Order Japanese Infantry squad/HS that in
its MPh is within eight MF of, or at the start of
its APh is ADJACENT to, or during the
enemy MPh is able to conduct a CC Reaction Fire attack vs, or at the start of the CCPh is the DEFENDER in the same Location as, an enemy AFV in its LOS may at that time make one attempt to create a T-H Hero7
[EXC: no attempt is allowed if that MMC is marked with a Prep/Bounding/First/Final Fire or Pin/TI counter]. It does so by making a Final dr (Δ) of ≤ 3; cumulative drm are +1 if a HS, +2 if a Conscript, and -2 if possessing a DC it will give to that Hero (see 1.424). An Original 6 dr pins that MMC unless it is conducting a Banzai Charge.
A T-H Hero creation attempt is a "?"-loss activity (A12.141).
An attempt made in the MMC's MPh costs no MF (and hence qualifies neither it nor any resulting Hero as a target of Defensive First Fire), but if it is to be made after the MMC has expended MF it must await the resolution of all Defensive First Fire prompted by the MMC's immediately preceding MF expenditure. An attempt made in the CCPh must await the determination of any possible Ambush, and the resolution of all (if any) ATTACKER Ambush attacks, in that Location. A stack of MMC may attempt to create T-H Heroes "simultaneously", but must make individual dr; if this is done during a friendly MPh/APh, those MMC who rolled "simultaneously" can then move/advance in that phase only as a stack. When a T-H Hero is created (or voluntarily loses HIP; 1.422), the AFV (or unit/Fortification; 1.424) that allowed his appearance becomes his Designated Target. If ≥ two such targets qualify, the T-H Hero's owner must choose one of them as the Designated Target."
"G1.424 DC HERO: A unit allowed to create a T-H Hero may, if possessing a DC, make such an attempt in its own MPh provided it is within eight MF of and has a LOS to
any enemy unit/Gun and/or to any enemy-Controlled hex that contains a Known Fortification counter; being within eight MF of and having a LOS to an enemy AFV is not required in this case. If the T-H Hero is created (the DC adds a -2 drm to this attempt; 1.421), that DC is automatically Transferred to him and he is then termed a DC Hero. A DC Hero is treated the same as a T-H Hero except as stated otherwise. A DC Hero may not Place/Throw a DC in the normal manner, and may not make a CC attack.
A DC Hero must declare as his Designated Target (and hence during his MPh must Banzai Charge) the enemy
unit/Gun/Fortification that allowed his creation.
When in that Target's Location (or hex, for a pillbox) during or at the end of his MPh, he may detonate his DC at that time (and does not expend a MF as per A23.61 to Place it), provided he has survived all Defensive First Fire allowed against him by his immediately previous MF expenditure. The DC attack is otherwise resolved as if Placed
[EXC: if he is above a Bank or Panji counter, see 8.212 or 9.211 respectively; if he is above a Wire counter, treat DC as Placed for purposes of Wire Clearance (B26.51) and as Thrown for all other purposes]. See also 1.612."
My take:
The Japanese figures that his chances to enter the hex during the MPh with THH are worse if he creates them early on. If they become wounded on the way, they might not even be able to enter the tank's hex. As a couple of dozens of lives do not matter - "the tank has to go" after all - chances to actually get into the tank's hex against the withering US Defensive First Fire might be better if the full squads run for it. They can fail 2 MCs (Stripe & CR) and still be GO and able to create a THH, which is then unwounded and already where he wants to be. Much better than failing 2 MCs as a THH along the way. The morale of the squads accompanied by a leader during the Banzai charge might even be higher compared to the THH/DC Heroes alone.
G1.421 says the attempt to create a THH costs 0 (zero) MF. G1.424 says that a DC-Hero can detonate its DC
during or at the end of his MPh. So even if the number of MF still available to the THH after reduction as per G1.423 is 0 (zero) it is still not at the end of its MPh because it may still detonate the DC. This is basically the same situation as if the DC Hero would have entered the tank's hex on his 8th MF and after that detonating his DC when before that having charged across 7 Open Ground hexes. Nobody would contest, that he could detonate his DC in the latter situation. In both cases, the DC Hero has 0 MF left when he pushed the button at the end of his MPh. In the rules I see nothing that mandates that the THH/DC Hero still needs to have MF remaining when created.
As an added twist, if created with 0 MF left, I believe that no Defensive Fire would be possible against that THH/DC hero, which might be of advantage. After all, G1.424 states that he may "
detonate his DC at that time (and does not expend a MF as per A23.61 to Place it), provided he has
survived all Defensive First Fire allowed against him by his immediately previous MF expenditure." As there has been no previous MF expenditure by the THH/DC-Hero at all (but only by the creating MMC), no shots vs. him. And it would only be the THH/DC-Hero that blows up - not the entire unit which created him.
von Marwitz
