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I'm wondering what engineer tanks are good for. Especially the Italian ones that have only one 8mm MG and very little armor. Can they do anything other tanks cannot? (Other than dying very fast.):D Thanks!

Eric Maietta

Btw, the picture of the Italian engineer tank shows it carrying a colapsable bridge. Does this have any function in SP:WaW, or is it pretty much just 'for pretty'? :rolleyes:

Eric Maietta

Hmmm.....im afraid its only for beauty.I have never found that engi tanks could lay bridges to help other forces across.In my experience engi tanks have flamethrowers,they clear mines and they are easy to destroy.

I'm going to have nightmares for weeks because of V2's Japanese Engineer tanks! Those things Op Fire like crazy and have dual burners. If they can get into a low vis situation, they are a real pain in the ***.

But then again I'm using Italians against them, so....:rolleyes:

Originally posted by AbsntMndedProf
I'm wondering what engineer tanks are good for. Especially the Italian ones that have only one 8mm MG and very little armor. Can they do anything other tanks cannot? (Other than dying very fast.):D Thanks!

Eric Maietta

Engineer tanks function as engineers in removing Mines, Wire and AT obtacles. They remove these at about the same rate as a foot engineer.

Flame-throwing Engineer tanks (eg. JA SS Engr Tank) can also remove mines at a higher rate by 'Z' firing their flamethrowers into a mine hex. Then they can remove mines 3 to 4 times faster than a foot enginer. They also leave a burning hex. This could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your perspective and needs at the time.

An Engineering tank or a foot Engineer occupying a mine hex can reduce the chance of blowing up on a mine when another unit passes through the same hex. It doesn't provide 100% security, but your chances of survival are increased substantially.

Thanks Cap! Your explanation cleared that up for me very nicely.

Eric Maietta

Another important function of engineer tanks is that they reduce bocage hexes to rough hexes. This means your wheeled vehicles can now pass through that hex. A very important function if you are playing in the Normandy bocage country.

Originally posted by rbrunsman
Another important function of engineer tanks is that they reduce bocage hexes to rough hexes. This means your wheeled vehicles can now pass through that hex. A very important function if you are playing in the Normandy bocage country.

I don't play in the bocage often. Do they do this by 'Z' firing into a bocage hex?

Capt Pixel: Just drive them into the Bocage and it will open (usually) but remember the Germs could be just on the other side of said bocage, you make hole, they make hole in you. If you consider that a good tradeof then..........

Leading with your engineer tanks is not a good thing obviously.

Originally posted by chief
Capt Pixel: Just drive them into the Bocage and it will open (usually) but remember the Germs could be just on the other side of said bocage, you make hole, they make hole in you. If you consider that a good tradeof then..........

Ah, I see. Kind of a simulation of the Cullin Hedgerow Device. Too bad you can't get them on fully armored/armed tanks.

Chief posted:

the Germs could be just on the other side of said bocage, you make hole, they make hole in you.

Sounds like a 'hole' lot of trouble to me! Hehehe!

Eric Maietta

Well I'm glad that's the hole story. Too hole or not to hole that is the story. Hol(e)y cow did I say that ? Now seriously we all know the Engineering tanks were sent to France to enable them to replant their vineyards after the German visitation.

Originally posted by chief
Capt Pixel: Just drive them into the Bocage and it will open (usually) but remember the Germs could be just on the other side of said bocage, you make hole, they make hole in you. If you consider that a good tradeof then..........

Ooh here's another thought: Can Infantry Engineers blow holes in bocage?

Of course, if you are worried about Germans on the other side of that hedgerow, just use a Churchill AVRE. They're one Eng. Tank, at least, that's not too easy to kill... and that 290mm mortar well...

Rask.

Originally posted by Capt. Pixel
Ooh here's another thought: Can Infantry Engineers blow holes in bocage?

Engineers do blow holes in certain terrain. They reduce it to rough which is a very nice thing to be able to do. I did this with great success on the beaches at Normandy with my US Engineers. IIRC, you just z-fire at the hex. Satchel charges are better than flame throwers because no one likes running through a wall of fire and it really sucks if you end your turn in that flaming hex.