PoorOldSpike
02-26-2010, 04:47
RADIOLESS TANKS
Russian tanks are notorious for having no radios early in the war, resulting in long command delays, but these tests show how to keep delays to a minimum.
PIC 1- June 41, veteran radioless T-34's, HQ tank commander has no special attributes.
It's the start of the Order Phase and all the tanks are ALREADY unbuttoned (remember that) before I've even laid a finger on them.
I issue a 'Move' order and the delay is 14 secs for them all, that's good.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/CMSF/RuA.gif
PIC 2- Same again, but this time the tanks begin the Order Phase BUTTONED. I issue 'Move' orders, and although the command tank has just a 14 secs delay like before, the other 4 tanks have a huge 31 secs delay. That's because without radios they all need to be unbuttoned (including the HQ tank) to see the boss giving orders by waving his arms and pointing and shouting.
Remember, it's no use unbuttoning them when the Order Phase begins because the long delay won't change. they must ALREADY be unbuttoned when the Orders Phase begins.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/CMSF/RuB.gif
PIC 3- You can get round the delay problem by buying radioless tanks independently one by one, rather than in platoons.
Independents cost a bit more (157 pts for vet T-34's, compared to 123 pts for platoon tanks), but independents are NEVER out of command, even if buttoned, as below.
Here a line of radioless independent vets begin the Order Phase buttoned and I issue move orders. See, it's always 14 secs regardless of whether they're buttoned or unbuttoned..:)
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/CMSF/RuC.gif
Summary- If you've got a platoon of radioless tanks you have to keep them unbuttoned as much as possible (and risk sniper fire etc) to keep order delays to a minimum. Otherwise, button them and accept the long delays.
But if you've got independents, you needn't worry about buttoning or unbuttoning them because the delay stays shorter and the same whether butt or unbutt.They cost more but it's your call.
As stated, all the above tests were with veteran tanks; here are those figures along with some other qualities for comparison-
Platoons-
Elite- 7 secs unbuttd, 14 secs buttd.
Vet- 14 secs unbuttd, 31 secs buttd
Consc- 45 secs unbuttd, 65 secs buttd
Indeps (regardless of whether buttd/unbuttd)-
El - 7
Vet- 14
Consc- 45
NOTE- delay times might be further delayed if a crew is 'shaken' etc in combat.
(Incidentally I also ran a Jun 41 test with a platoon of veteran PzIIIH's with radios, and their delay was always just 5 secs, buttd and unbuttd)
Russian tanks are notorious for having no radios early in the war, resulting in long command delays, but these tests show how to keep delays to a minimum.
PIC 1- June 41, veteran radioless T-34's, HQ tank commander has no special attributes.
It's the start of the Order Phase and all the tanks are ALREADY unbuttoned (remember that) before I've even laid a finger on them.
I issue a 'Move' order and the delay is 14 secs for them all, that's good.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/CMSF/RuA.gif
PIC 2- Same again, but this time the tanks begin the Order Phase BUTTONED. I issue 'Move' orders, and although the command tank has just a 14 secs delay like before, the other 4 tanks have a huge 31 secs delay. That's because without radios they all need to be unbuttoned (including the HQ tank) to see the boss giving orders by waving his arms and pointing and shouting.
Remember, it's no use unbuttoning them when the Order Phase begins because the long delay won't change. they must ALREADY be unbuttoned when the Orders Phase begins.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/CMSF/RuB.gif
PIC 3- You can get round the delay problem by buying radioless tanks independently one by one, rather than in platoons.
Independents cost a bit more (157 pts for vet T-34's, compared to 123 pts for platoon tanks), but independents are NEVER out of command, even if buttoned, as below.
Here a line of radioless independent vets begin the Order Phase buttoned and I issue move orders. See, it's always 14 secs regardless of whether they're buttoned or unbuttoned..:)
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/CMSF/RuC.gif
Summary- If you've got a platoon of radioless tanks you have to keep them unbuttoned as much as possible (and risk sniper fire etc) to keep order delays to a minimum. Otherwise, button them and accept the long delays.
But if you've got independents, you needn't worry about buttoning or unbuttoning them because the delay stays shorter and the same whether butt or unbutt.They cost more but it's your call.
As stated, all the above tests were with veteran tanks; here are those figures along with some other qualities for comparison-
Platoons-
Elite- 7 secs unbuttd, 14 secs buttd.
Vet- 14 secs unbuttd, 31 secs buttd
Consc- 45 secs unbuttd, 65 secs buttd
Indeps (regardless of whether buttd/unbuttd)-
El - 7
Vet- 14
Consc- 45
NOTE- delay times might be further delayed if a crew is 'shaken' etc in combat.
(Incidentally I also ran a Jun 41 test with a platoon of veteran PzIIIH's with radios, and their delay was always just 5 secs, buttd and unbuttd)