Smoke Question

[Rake]

I couldn't find this in the manual with an "Advanced Search" in Acrobat with "smoke" as the keyword - what is the elevation value of smoke in the game? Does this change at all with the type of smoke or with the delivery system, i.e., mortar vs. howitzer vs. discharger, etc.?

I ask because of the following situation:



Brothers in Arms scenario, time is 2038, it is Dusk and Illumination is 85%
Tanks at top left are T-55's, so they do not have thermals.

I was surprised by the T-55's for a couple of reasons:
1) From the current location, the Tanks were able to target and kill a Marder (lower right) from the current location.
I can only assume that the elevation of the smoke was not sufficient to obscure LOS from the higher elevation
2) That the AI had the wherewithal to move the tank company onto the higher elevation
The GDR Command Cycle is approximately halfway through a 29 minute cycle. At the end of the previous NATO cycle,
I targeted smoke onto the hexes that are now smoked. AT the time, A GDR tank unit was located in the hex directly to
the north of the APC's/IFV's/Infantry - this was the only unit visible on this flank when I plotted my turn. Per
Intelligence, the WP cycle was 2 minutes from ending (23 minute NATO cycle vs. 25 minute WP cycle).

I just replayed the turn to see if the PzGrenadiers had fired; they did fire two ATGM's at the T-55's in the first minute of
the turn. At that time of this fire, the T-55's were located in the hex that now contains the infantry. So, it is possible that the AI plotted the move during it's cycle.

Not having been able to access the T-55 for a LOS check, I selected a PzGr unit and checked LOS from the hex where the tank unit is located (after conclusion of the turn, so conditions could have been slightly different. The resultant check showed 14 visibility into that hex, so I suppose it was possible for the T-55's to see and target the PzGr's without aid of sensors.

I guess I was mostly surprised that the intervening smoke wasn't high enough to block one elevation difference. Then again, I look around the map and I can see that there are hilltops, not far away and on the same game elevation that show a difference in elevation of nearly 60 meters (Kulmberg at 455m and Eichberg at 396).

Thanks again for a game that continues to surprise me.

Rake Out

[WildCatNL]

Smoke screens are ground-hugging, 20m / 60ft high. From/to elevated positions, you might see over a smoke screen. The game performs a 3D line-of-sight check.

This is what allows the T-55 here to easily engage the Marders. The T-55's are sitting 80m above the 20m high smoke screen, and also the Marder is placed higher than the smoke screen. (In Southern Storm, elevation steps are 50m, and you can see absolute height per hex from the Terrain overlay).

On level terrain, smoke screens are more effective between the enemy and friendly position than on the enemy position, as the enemy (when attacking) can pick the edge positions in the hex, and doesn't suffer from the full effects of the smoke screen.

Here, because of elevation, and in hindisght, placing protective smoke on the Marders might have been better.

Smoke screens are not affected by the delivery method (mortar / howitzer).

William

[Rake]

screen.

Here, because of elevation, and in hindisght, placing protective smoke on the Marders might have been better.

William

Thanks William... note to self added