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FIRING
Q: When a Jäger battalion ‘screens’ a friendly regiment what area
is physically protected by the base? Is it double the frontage?
A: Yes.
Q: …or do you simply say that if a Jäger unit is in front of ‘line
units’ then it is assumed to be in extended order covering the whole front?
Do the support units then become immune to fire from the front as the Jäger unit
in extended order takes all the casualties from fire?
A: Yes. In actuality, of course, units behind the front line
units frequently took casualties from “long rounds” -- sometime enough
casualties to trigger morale checks. But in a game designed to minimize
extraneous die rolls and checks, the situation is ignored.
Q: How are ranges measured ranges when firing i.e. from what point
of the firing unit to what point of the target. For instance is it the
closest point on the front edge of the closest battalion to the target, the
centre of the front edge of the closest battalion to the target, or the centre
of the firing line to the closet point of the target.
A: If your firing line is diagonal to the target (and all the shooting
stands are in range), just use the median distance as the “official range”.
Q: Let’s say a stand is 45 degrees on to a target. The furthest
part of the stand is just out of range, although the other 2/3 are barely within
maximum range. Should you allow only the 2 points that are “in range” to
be counted?
A: My philosophy: Let the whole stand shoot, for goodness sake…
that flank company no doubt would’ve been moved up by the battalion commander
or even the company commander… or would’ve been firing even though it was just
a bit beyond the recommended engagement range of its rifles.
Q: When determining if a target is in a unit’s firing arc is this
calculated on a battalion by battalion basis or on a regimental basis.
Below is the kind of situation I’m thinking about here. Regiment ‘123’
is outside of Battalion ‘A’ firing arc but within that of Battalions ‘B’ and
‘C’. When calculating firing points are ‘A’ included or excluded?
A: All things being static, A would not shoot… But, here’s where that
“local commander initiative” stuff comes in. Movement is simultaneous,
as it is in reality. Local commanders (on whom you’re relying to do the
logical thing, while you’re worrying about “grand tactical” matters) are most
likely aware of the approach of enemy forces, and would adjust their commands
to fit the tactical situation. If Regiment ABC was approached by Regt
123, ABC’s commander would be justified in adjusting Battalion A’s position
slightly to enable it to fire in the fire phase - if their was nothing else
compelling him to stay put (like the regiment occupying trenches or already
engaging some other unit to its front).
This adjustment would be considered a “change of face or formation”, which
doesn’t need a chit (Regt ABC would simply realign itself to face the
approaching threat by wheeling around its center of mass). If ABC was
in the position shown at the beginning of the turn, and enemy Regiment 123
approached from over three inches away, by the time it got to the position
shown the ABC boys could be turned and facing it. If Regt 123 started
less than 3 inches away, ABC wouldn’t have had enough time to change its facing.
Q: When is a unit’s line of sight blocked and therefore ineligible
to fire? Here is another situation to illustrate this point. In
this situation can Battalion ‘C’ see and shoot at Regiment ‘123’.
A: Easy one. If C couldn’t adjust its position to engage with all
points, I’d let it shoot with a single point.
Q: Is partial fire used just by the charging unit or does it apply
to the defending unit as well?
A: Just the charging unit and those firing in support of the charge.
Supposedly the target/defender is firing all the while, but the attacker/support
firers are constrained by time and proximity of friendlies (the charging unit)
from firing the whole period.
Q: Can artillery on higher ground over 3” from friend‘ shoot over
friendly troops that are charging? For instance if friends are Charging
from 3” range can artillery on higher ground prep fire the target? I
think the answer is yes as the Infantry are not in 2” of the enemy and as long
as the ¼” clearance is maintained?
A: That’s correct; they could fire in support, at partial effect.
The rule reads: “Artillery cannot engage a target next to which friendly
troops remained within two inched throughout the turn…” But, artillery
can prep the target of a charge because it’s firing at partial effect – i.e.,
it’s checking its fire as the assaulting infantry approach that 2 inch danger
zone in front of the target.
Q: In some rules you talk about the “forward 45° arc” as being the
firing arc of infantry and artillery units, and in others it’s the “forward 90°
arc”. Which is it?
A: Sorry for the confusion! It’s actually the same thing.
The angle of fire from each corner of the unit is 45°, which is why I initially
began referring to the forward arc in those terms – but some people took that
to mean that only the front 45° arc was covered. The correct arc is shown
by Regt ABC in the first example, above.
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