Infantry-only Tactics and Help?

[Imp]

M2s put up on a ridge or hillside are great supression tools, they have a huge advantage in range over the .30 cal weapons, and better bang for the buck then 60mm mortars.

Not strictly true, long range small mortars like the USAs are great, very high rate of fire & hence suppresion plus you can use them with your troops nearby as they dont kill things often. If you want suppresion great tools, if you want to kill something buy a big gun or rockets. They are great for clearing out woods villages etc where your troops are in proximity.

[Mobryan]

Originally Posted by Imp

Not strictly true, long range small mortars like the USAs are great, very high rate of fire & hence suppresion plus you can use them with your troops nearby as they dont kill things often. If you want suppresion great tools, if you want to kill something buy a big gun or rockets. They are great for clearing out woods villages etc where your troops are in proximity.

Gonna have to disagree with you, Imp

As far as artillery being superior for supression, I agree, and generally use Russian tactics on the attack. Shell them until the rubble bounces, then send in the troops .
However, the discusion here is revolving around infantry companies and the light support weapons available to them. Given that M2's come with more ammo, IMO provide as much supression as the 60mm, and actually KILL things they get aimed at, which provides even more supression, I find them superior to the 60mm.

Matt

[Zinegata]

Originally Posted by Mobryan

Gonna have to disagree with you, Imp

As far as artillery being superior for supression, I agree, and generally use Russian tactics on the attack. Shell them until the rubble bounces, then send in the troops .
However, the discusion here is revolving around infantry companies and the light support weapons available to them. Given that M2's come with more ammo, IMO provide as much supression as the 60mm, and actually KILL things they get aimed at, which provides even more supression, I find them superior to the 60mm.

Matt

Mortars do get the ability to lay smoke from long range though, and I think that in itself is a pretty substantial asset because it can silence a gun position without needing to suppress it. Plus, if you have IR-equipped infantry, smoke becomes utterly deadly.

On the flip side, mortars are generally slower on the move unless you have trucks for transport, and by my experience they get spotted more easily than an M2.

[Mobryan]

Originally Posted by Zinegata

Plus, if you have IR-equipped infantry, smoke becomes utterly deadly.

Good point on the smoke, though it's surprising how far you can get with terrain masking and judicious use of scout teams popping smoke to cover the main advance.

I completly forgot about the IR issue, I'm a WW2 guy who took a wrong turn


Matt

[Imp]

However, the discusion here is revolving around infantry companies and the light support weapons available to them.

Do light mortars not fit into this category?

Given that M2's come with more ammo, IMO provide as much supression as the 60mm, and actually KILL things they get aimed at, which provides even more supression, I find them superior to the 60mm.

Both have there merits the M2 most likely doing better if you have a LOS so are targeting the unit. The mortar though is more effective as stated firing to help advances through woods etc when you are Z firing the machine gun. If taking advantage of the range it will be somewhat inacurate.
Both are best used against clumps of infantry not lone units.

And the comment that started the whole thing

and better bang for the buck then 60mm mortars.

A single 60mm MTR costs 2/3rds what an M2 does, the twin unit costs the same & has 120 ammo total so really suppose you should compare the supression from the twin unit for cost compatibility.

In reality I would still if pos use the M2 for direct fire the mortar for support in dense terrain. The MTR is more flexible as has smoke can be plotted & I think gets track hits much more frequently, in a pinch I do direct fire it at vehicles with limited success.
Try playing as the Canadians you can buy Mech infantry with one HMG & one Light MTR a platoon to get the benefits of both. Or if you want some real support firepower buy an Inf Co DW with a total of 5 LtMTRs & if you wish up to 6 HMGs!!
The MTRs come with limited ammo so they can move quicker to keep up but you get a lot of them.