LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

I've made myself an SAS fighting column in the OOB editor, (ok, as far as realism goes, the battles are probably utter nonsense, but they are very cool!), but some (not all) of the SAS patrol units I've made fire their LAW 80s at some (again, not all) infantry units. I haven't messed around with any weapon stats, and they only have AP ammo. Have I stuffed something up while making these units?

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

Nope. I believe the latest version of MBT has a weak HE value given to heat rounds.

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

I did read that, but does it still apply as the ammo for these chaps is in the AP slot not the HEAT slot?

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

what's an AP round on a LAW?

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

LAWs have a 222 AP code. This is a special code that tells the computer to class the round as HEAT.

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

Thanks Listy, that's very helpful. It is a shame though as I'd like things like the LAW to be purely for armour so I don't have to turn them on and off every time I fire at infantry. Is there a good reason for this that I'm not seeing?

Smersh, what do you mean?

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

"Is there a good reason for this that I'm not seeing?

Yes.In the real world HEAT based AT weapons are used against soft targets all the time.

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

Of course it has - please read the release notes, in the release history section of the GG and also mentioned in the release blurb for the patch (see the sticky at the top of the forum posts).

GG -> Release History -> latest version is at the top -> item No. 7.

it is always a good idea to read this section of the GG on insstalling a new version!.

And an "AP" round with a 222 AP code is and always has been treated as a "HEAT" round because the original designers needed HEAT in slots 2-4 but had only provided one HEAT slot assigned to weapon 1 way back in about 1995 (I presume). See the Mobhack help file for more details on the 222 HEAT code.

Cheers
Andy

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

AFAIK the last four HEAT rounds should be reserved for use vs armored targets only. So maybe that's why you see some units fire their law's at infantry and others not.

Narwan

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

my comment was, that an LAW should have HEAT rounds not AP ammo. But it looks like this problem has already been answered.

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

Full marks to Listy and Narwan for truly helpful answers! Thanks very much, your replies explain everything.

I knew the LAW 80 has a HEAT warhead, I was only pointing out that I had put the ammo load out number into the AP box (like every other LAW carrying unit I've seen) as opposed to the HE box. (thanks to Listy for explaining why this works)

As for HEAT being used against soft targets in reality, I was really referring to the game as a simulation, and expressing how annoying it is watching one of your few, expensive AT rockets whizzing off hot on the heels of a retreating crew member! I was wondering if the HE effect really needed to be represented eg. as a lot of the SPMBT battles we play involve large scale war against masses of armour, I don't think it is unreasonable to assume your squaddies are under orders not to waste their AT weapons on soft targets. (thanks narwan for explaining why I don't have to worry about this either.)

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

"HEAT" rounds only exist as a separate slot on the first weapon line of a unit. If HEAT is required for any other weapon they are given a 222 code in the weapons list "AP Penetration" slot and then, when used in a unit that requires they be placed in the second, third or fouth unit weapon slot are placed in the "AP" slot and that 222 code tells the game to use the HEAT stats for that weapon when it is used thereby making that "AP" ammo HEAT when used in the game

This has been this way since SSI first released SP

Don

Re: LAW 80 firing AP at infantry?!?!
 

HEAT warheads are, basically, explosive weapons, tus they usually produce some amount of splinters (though not usually as much as dedicated HE-FRAG weapons).
M72 LAWS were extensively used as close support weapons in Vietnam, often even fired in volleys in preparations for assault.
RPG-7's were extensively used by both sides in Afghanistan - if an enemy was in cover, it was SOP to fire RPG rounds above and behind him, as there was then high probability the splinters would hit him from the rear. Also the self-destruct function was used (self destruction after IIRC 920 meters of flight) both for turning it into sorta shrapnel round and against helicopters.
HEAT MILAN's were used by British due to lack of "real" artillery on Falklands during opening phases of several assaults of dug-in Argentinian positions...