Matrix Games Forums

Of the mortar.

You give me a choice of battery of off-board 155mm howitzers and a battery of on-board 81mm mortars, and in 99% of the cases, I'll take the mortars. Why?

- They react faster to calls for fire, being on-board.
- They're MUCH more accurate; the first round will usually scatter, but even without spotter LOS, the following rounds will nearly always be on target.
- They pack a lot of damage. The smallest mortars (50 and 60mm) are a bit too light, and best used for laying smoke screens, but above that...

A battery of 81mm mortars (4 tubes) fired into the same 50-yard hex can utterly neutralize any infantry squad, no matter how well equipped and experienced. Even though you might not kill more than 3 enemy soldiers, the remainder will at the minimum be Pinned, and more likely be Retreating.

The level of disruption that a simple battery of 81mm mortars can give you are well worth the 128 points. If you invest in an ammo carrier to go with them, they can keep going and going and going...[:D]

Moving into larger sizes (US 4.2 inch, German and Soviet 120mm etc.) simply gives you more bang for your buck, keeping the accuracy.

Always bring mortars. There's a reason why infantrymen on all sides during WWII loathed enemy mortars and loved their own. Fast, accurate indirect firepower, combined with a forward observer can keep you alive and heading to victory.

But I need to supress all of the AIs mortars set up 20 hexes behind the front lines.

Or I'm set up in a position with great lines of sight. Then I love the 155s, or if I'm defending, the 8-inch howitzer. Supression and kills.

Yikes, I play with C&C on. I love my Marines 81mm mortar platoon, but I can't afford to waste four points calling in all four tubes. So call in a shoot of the 155s and mop up with infantry. It a'int that hard to pull off.

Terminus, you are preaching to the choir. [:D] I DO like the 60mm mortars, too, as they have significant killing power when used at ranges of six hexes or less.

I see you discovered the wisdom of parking an ammo truck next to the 81s. To paraphrase an old Civil War comment: "You can load 'em with ammo on Sunday and fire 'em all week long." [;)]

I like to use a mix of mortars and tubes as both have their uses in certain situations. Just started from "Utah to the Rhine" and the big tubes were invaluable in helping me advance into town. I ran into some bad engineers and MG's in Mere Eglise (?). Things got ugly and disorganised (not to mention bloody) and i nearly blew it when i couldnt gain accurate recon on their positions. 105's were called in to blanket the area while i regrouped for a second advance and they saved the day. The mortars (mostly company 60mm) were very useful in giving my shermans the jump on some nasty panthers and Spec Ops that surprised my rear echelon guys [X(] . Great for hitting specific positions that are spotted and yes. they were very accurate. Cool opening scenario and well balanced with 8.4
On to Carentan [:D]

I use field artillery and mortars for entirely different business. Field Artillery damages enemy defensive positions or wipes out their infantry assaults. Mortars I use to pin down enemy fire. After mortars have done their job I move some smg's to clear the way.

I started this thread inspired by my current project of fighting a Long Campaign as the US Marines. The first battle of that campaign is almost over, and hasn't gone very well for me (a combination of my own shortcomings as a commander and the lack of experience of my Marines). The one thing I credit most with keeping me in the fight has been my mortars (and keeping my FO alive!); being able to lay accurate fire on the enemy EVERY turn makes a big difference, and with an ammo carrier supporting my mortars...[:)]

Or I'm set up in a position with great lines of sight. Then I love the 155s, or if I'm defending, the 8-inch howitzer. Supression and kills.

Me too. The problem is, great lines of sight don't exist in the jungles of Guadalcanal.

Yes, Guadalcanal is a bit different than Europe. Heavy artillery could hit friends and that's not much rejoicing. Japannese do not also supress easily. It's a tough going indeed. But if can plug holes in the defensive lines and march the troopers in as a long thread and reach for the victory hexes, you may force the enemy to counterattack you. Enemy is sometimes too stupid to leave its good defensive positions.

I am also a big fan of mortars, but usually, the bigger, the better. I prefer the 4.2s or the 120mm depending on which side I am playing for one reason only--range. Functionally, the 81s perform about the same, nation to nation, but on occasion their range doesn't reach from one side of the map to the other. I don't have that problem with the larger caliber mortars. If I do not have transportation to move my mortars and the battleground shifts--I can lose my artillery support.