sfcmikej
US Army Retired
Hey all,
I have always played that a leader can direct a MG shooting as DFF at a bore sighted hex. Recently that was, surprisingly to me, questioned. My opponent pointed out that C6.44 (Below) says that the -2 Bore Sighted DR applies only if all elements of the fire group qualify for it and that the leader becomes part of the fire group by directing the fire and thus the -2 Bore Sighting DRM cannot apply since the leader does not qualify for it. The fire group and the leader direction rules (also below) are not definitive as to whether the leader is part of the fire group, and thus unable to provide the leadership DRM, or is just directing the fire group. I would argue that the "they" (in red below) refers to the "more than one weapon/unit" and if it included the leader as part of the fire group it would be "him" or "the leader". In referencing A7.5 I would argue that a leader directing the attack is not necessarily part of the fire group as they are not not adding any fire power to the fire group and thus not joining together to make a combined attack.
I am surprised that I have never had the ability to direct an attack by a MG by leader questioned in many years of playing if I am wrong, and I was unable to find any Q & A that addresses this issue. Any guidance, reference, and interpretation would be greatly appreciated.
Mike
C6.44 A MG/IFE non-ordnance attack [EXC: all forms of Residual FP; A8.2, A9.22] vs a unit in the firing weapon's Bore Sighted Location may deduct two from its IFT DR unless using Spraying Fire or taking a Snap Shot [EXC: vs Infantry, only such an attack conducted as Defensive First Fire (A8.1) qualifies for this -2 DRM]. The -2 Bore Sighting DRM may be used by a FG making such an attack only if all elements of that FG have Bore Sighted that same Location. See also E1.71.
A7.5 FIRE GROUP (FG): Two or more units/weapons joining together to make a combined fire attack are a FG. Two SMC manning the same SW are not a FG as they are considered one combined firing unit. A FG may consist of units from more than one Location only if each participating unit occupies a Location ADJACENT to another participating unit of the same FG. It is possible to have a FG composed of a virtually unlimited string of ADJACENT Locations; provided each Location in the FG contains a unit that is participating in the attack. A leader alone in a Location cannot be a link in a FG (unless he is Heroic or firing a SW) because each Location of a FG must participate in the attack and a leader normally has no attack capability. Units inside a pillbox may not form a FG with units outside the pillbox.
A7.53 FIRE DIRECTION: A single leader cannot direct more than one weapon/unit per phase unless they are part of the same FG. Hence a squad that elects to use its inherent FP in a different attack than that of the MG it is manning does not get the leadership benefit if given to the MG instead. However, a leader can direct the fire of a MG as many times as the MG can fire, even if he also directed other units as part of a FG in the MG's previous attack. Leader direction used during Defensive First Fire can be used again in Subsequent First Fire, FPF, or Final Fire, but again only for one firing unit/SW or FG—and that unit/SW/FG can only include firers he directed during First Fire; if forming a new FG or using a different SW during that Player Turn, the leader cannot direct its fire (even during FPF). Similarly, a leader may not affect more than one To Hit attempt per fire phase (except for a multiple ROF weapon) regardless of the number of SW the firing unit is eligible to fire. See also 9.4, 10.7, and D6.65.
I have always played that a leader can direct a MG shooting as DFF at a bore sighted hex. Recently that was, surprisingly to me, questioned. My opponent pointed out that C6.44 (Below) says that the -2 Bore Sighted DR applies only if all elements of the fire group qualify for it and that the leader becomes part of the fire group by directing the fire and thus the -2 Bore Sighting DRM cannot apply since the leader does not qualify for it. The fire group and the leader direction rules (also below) are not definitive as to whether the leader is part of the fire group, and thus unable to provide the leadership DRM, or is just directing the fire group. I would argue that the "they" (in red below) refers to the "more than one weapon/unit" and if it included the leader as part of the fire group it would be "him" or "the leader". In referencing A7.5 I would argue that a leader directing the attack is not necessarily part of the fire group as they are not not adding any fire power to the fire group and thus not joining together to make a combined attack.
I am surprised that I have never had the ability to direct an attack by a MG by leader questioned in many years of playing if I am wrong, and I was unable to find any Q & A that addresses this issue. Any guidance, reference, and interpretation would be greatly appreciated.
Mike
C6.44 A MG/IFE non-ordnance attack [EXC: all forms of Residual FP; A8.2, A9.22] vs a unit in the firing weapon's Bore Sighted Location may deduct two from its IFT DR unless using Spraying Fire or taking a Snap Shot [EXC: vs Infantry, only such an attack conducted as Defensive First Fire (A8.1) qualifies for this -2 DRM]. The -2 Bore Sighting DRM may be used by a FG making such an attack only if all elements of that FG have Bore Sighted that same Location. See also E1.71.
A7.5 FIRE GROUP (FG): Two or more units/weapons joining together to make a combined fire attack are a FG. Two SMC manning the same SW are not a FG as they are considered one combined firing unit. A FG may consist of units from more than one Location only if each participating unit occupies a Location ADJACENT to another participating unit of the same FG. It is possible to have a FG composed of a virtually unlimited string of ADJACENT Locations; provided each Location in the FG contains a unit that is participating in the attack. A leader alone in a Location cannot be a link in a FG (unless he is Heroic or firing a SW) because each Location of a FG must participate in the attack and a leader normally has no attack capability. Units inside a pillbox may not form a FG with units outside the pillbox.
A7.53 FIRE DIRECTION: A single leader cannot direct more than one weapon/unit per phase unless they are part of the same FG. Hence a squad that elects to use its inherent FP in a different attack than that of the MG it is manning does not get the leadership benefit if given to the MG instead. However, a leader can direct the fire of a MG as many times as the MG can fire, even if he also directed other units as part of a FG in the MG's previous attack. Leader direction used during Defensive First Fire can be used again in Subsequent First Fire, FPF, or Final Fire, but again only for one firing unit/SW or FG—and that unit/SW/FG can only include firers he directed during First Fire; if forming a new FG or using a different SW during that Player Turn, the leader cannot direct its fire (even during FPF). Similarly, a leader may not affect more than one To Hit attempt per fire phase (except for a multiple ROF weapon) regardless of the number of SW the firing unit is eligible to fire. See also 9.4, 10.7, and D6.65.
