Matrix Games Forums

can anyone enlighten / instruct me in the correct use of 50mm (or 60mm for that matter) mortars?? They just never seem to do anything. Are they simply supression devices?

I'd reply: yes.
Rarely I've seen mortars by this size inflicting casualties.
But also a good amount of suppression can make the difference, a lot of difference sometimes.
Then they are precise: 90% of their rounds fall in the targeted hex.
The 60mm (USA) one, then, has a MUCH BIGGER range than the 50mm: 40 hexes vs 11(or 13, not sure).
Then if you play usa/usmc and you couple the 60mm mortars with a F.O., well you get a 0.1 delay time: just seen, just hit.
Not bad, you know.

Originally posted by hellcat
can anyone enlighten / instruct me in the correct use of 50mm (or 60mm for that matter) mortars?? They just never seem to do anything. Are they simply supression devices?

They are good for holding the coffee cups of your commanders while they run the battle.

They are great for supressing NME troops. You can't beat them for close indirect fire support. Anything bigger and the "drift factor" will supress your own troops.

And as Resisti so nicely pointed out, the US really benefeits from them. See them and blast them in the same turn.

thanks for your wisdom gents! now who fired my coffee into that enemy mg nest?

Originally posted by hellcat
thanks for your wisdom gents! now who fired my coffee into that enemy mg nest?

Well, if hot enough it can be a source of..suppression anyhow. LOL

Originally posted by hellcat
thanks for your wisdom gents! now who fired my coffee into that enemy mg nest?

Hmmm, maybe this is how flamethrowers came into existance. Let's throw cups of hot liquid at the enemy. Better yet, let's throw burning streams of really hot and sticky fuel at the enemy.

I just finished a battle against the Soviets as the Germans in a defend situation. The Soviets had bunched up several squads and AFV's in one hex in front of a mine hex. Called down a 50mm bombardment on the hex. Every round went into the hex and not only laid down a lot of suppression but also picked off several personnel. Good against clusterf***s!:D

i take it they were all in the open? (drinking coffee probably lol)

Originally posted by Capt Chris


Hmmm, maybe this is how flamethrowers came into existance. Let's throw cups of hot liquid at the enemy. Better yet, let's throw burning streams of really hot and sticky fuel at the enemy.

That was so funny I had to quote it to refresh this post!! LOL

:p

I recommend the US 60mm Jeep.

The advantages of the mortar have already been mentioned. On a Jeep is is incredibly mobile, so you can easily move it into a firing position, blast away, move off and then reload. Just be carefull that it is never,ever shot at! It also carries rather many smoke shells, which can be fired directly in a row from a concealed sideways position, giving a nice, long wall of smoke justw here you want it.

And it is ridiculously cheap, too...:rolleyes:

Stuart Millis provided me with a tiny scenario that demonstrates the value of a 50mm mortar...an infantry platoon with mortar attacking entrenched german platoon with MG's...without the mortar the MG's massacre the infantry, with germans crumble.

The 50mm mortar is perhaps the most powerful attacking tactical weapon in the game, as is the MG in defense...the trick is knowing how to use it. It has almost no delay, and as others have said it is incredibly accurate, with almost every round hitting the target hex...enemy units in the target hex are certain to be totally suppressed, enabling an infantry attack to go in,

I used to find it impossible to get one to fire...there is a trick to it...the 50mm/60mm/2inch mortar must have its bombardment assigned by its ?0 unit, that is the HQ of its platoon, which must be in contact with the mortar unit...for accuracy, the HQ also needs to spot/see the target hex.

Best thing to learn the technique is to set up a little battle with a company of german/russian infantry each side with mortars, and then play both sides.

They make awesome party bongs, man!

(Just kiddding!)

Eric Maietta