jrv
Forum Guru
This is a how-to, not a question.
In "Centurions Reverse!" the BCFK have four Centurion IIIs. If you read the vehicle notes you will find they are gyro-stabilized always, despite not having a "G" printed on the counter. Gyro-stabilizers help the main gun, and they also help the CMG. The gyro-stabilizers reduce the TH DRM for moving for the MA and allow the MA to gain & retain acquisition for bounding (first) & Motion fire. Once a target is acquired, it can be fired on by the CMG without halving for bounding (first) or Motion fire. During its MPh a gyro-stabilized CMG is still halved for non-stopped fire.
If a Centurion comes across an unconcealed, unacquired CPVA squad in open ground (there's an awful lot of open ground in "Centurions Reverse!") during its MPh it can move adjacent & stop. It can now fire its MA (perhaps using AP, because the Centurions have limited HE). It will probably need a six to hit (+2 case B, +1 case C, +1 BU). Whether it hits or not, the target is now acquired. The Centurion fires it four FP CMG at eight FP (point blank range, not halved for bounding first fire) flat. The Centurion then starts up again because it does not want to be stopped during the Chinese turn (the Chinese don't take PAATCs, and they have Assault Engineers in this scenario).
The obvious alternative is to perform an OVR, but this isn't quite as good a choice as it might seem. A Centurion performs an OVR at ten FP, which isn't much different than the eight FP for just firing the MG. It would receive the -1 DRM for Open Ground, but the BFF approach makes two attacks, MA & CMG. The MP cost is only two MP (stop & start) for BFF while its four MP for OVR. The Centurions only have twelve MP, so savings like that make a big difference. Lastly using OVR gives the CVPA unit a possible CC-RF attack (or thrown DC) because any attack may just step-reduce (or not affect) the defender. A BFF attack does not give a CC-RF opportunity, and any thrown DC will be through the front VCA. Note that using gyro-stabilized BFF is perhaps even better if the Chinese are in the light woods because the Centurion also avoids a Bog Check.
If the BCFK player uses his Centurions in groups, other Centurions can repeat this, and after a bit of battering the CVPA squad will no longer be a threat. The Centurions in "Centurions Reverse!" are going to be a dangerous threat to CPVA troops when they use BFF gyro-stabilized fire during their MPh.
JR
In "Centurions Reverse!" the BCFK have four Centurion IIIs. If you read the vehicle notes you will find they are gyro-stabilized always, despite not having a "G" printed on the counter. Gyro-stabilizers help the main gun, and they also help the CMG. The gyro-stabilizers reduce the TH DRM for moving for the MA and allow the MA to gain & retain acquisition for bounding (first) & Motion fire. Once a target is acquired, it can be fired on by the CMG without halving for bounding (first) or Motion fire. During its MPh a gyro-stabilized CMG is still halved for non-stopped fire.
If a Centurion comes across an unconcealed, unacquired CPVA squad in open ground (there's an awful lot of open ground in "Centurions Reverse!") during its MPh it can move adjacent & stop. It can now fire its MA (perhaps using AP, because the Centurions have limited HE). It will probably need a six to hit (+2 case B, +1 case C, +1 BU). Whether it hits or not, the target is now acquired. The Centurion fires it four FP CMG at eight FP (point blank range, not halved for bounding first fire) flat. The Centurion then starts up again because it does not want to be stopped during the Chinese turn (the Chinese don't take PAATCs, and they have Assault Engineers in this scenario).
The obvious alternative is to perform an OVR, but this isn't quite as good a choice as it might seem. A Centurion performs an OVR at ten FP, which isn't much different than the eight FP for just firing the MG. It would receive the -1 DRM for Open Ground, but the BFF approach makes two attacks, MA & CMG. The MP cost is only two MP (stop & start) for BFF while its four MP for OVR. The Centurions only have twelve MP, so savings like that make a big difference. Lastly using OVR gives the CVPA unit a possible CC-RF attack (or thrown DC) because any attack may just step-reduce (or not affect) the defender. A BFF attack does not give a CC-RF opportunity, and any thrown DC will be through the front VCA. Note that using gyro-stabilized BFF is perhaps even better if the Chinese are in the light woods because the Centurion also avoids a Bog Check.
If the BCFK player uses his Centurions in groups, other Centurions can repeat this, and after a bit of battering the CVPA squad will no longer be a threat. The Centurions in "Centurions Reverse!" are going to be a dangerous threat to CPVA troops when they use BFF gyro-stabilized fire during their MPh.
JR
