[Charles22]

vic: Thanks for explaining about the 88's differences. AT first I was going to tell you the 36 is better, and that I indeed do buy it, because I use the gun in limited ways. Typically I might place it behind a hill or somewhere where it might have a very limited view. Basically what I am looking for is a crack is visibility to where it will engage enemy armor without ever having to go up against more than 2-3 tanks at a time. It's meant to be a difference maker and not a dominaant piece in my army. At least early on, it's survival from battle to battle is the most important thing, as I want a very good crew by the time of the USSR attacks.

Yes, I do give the 88's their own transport, but it's always with support transport instead of that being in the core.

While I have no difficulty with the guns surviving because I limit the opposition against them and can also pull them out at any time, the other side of your quotient has to be taken into account, and that is the number of AP shells and the cost. I have always bought the 36 ones, but I think I will start going with the 18's from now on. The resons are that it creates something of a difficulty early in the game to be buying a 109pt unit in core, but also due to my limited use doctrine I also don't need 50 shots even should they always survive. I would like to caution one consideration however, and though I don't have the game in front of me now, it seemed to me the 36 had some other advantage such as better optics, but I could be wrong.