Mortar teams not following direct fire orders

[chiquichops]

Hello.
CMFI game. I have some British 51mm mortar teams on area fire orders with line of sight, outside minimum range and within maximum range, but who decide to just sit there and spot. They seem to have popped off a few bombs at one target but now are spending whole turns doing nothing but spot.
What reasons might they have for this, anyone?

 

[Badger73]

Could you post a picture of their UI information? Seeing their C2 and suppression status and ammo count would be helpful.

 

[Blady]

Also, is it a direct fire on a unit or area fire?

 

[chiquichops]

It's an area fire order. They've been a whole turn just spotting.

 

[Badger73]

Hmm, I'm as perplexed as you. Weapon is deployed. Unit is not suppressed. Target line is red. The detachment has sufficient ammo.
The AI must think that it can't see anything well enough to commence fire. Try moving the team a bit and see what happens when they re-target from a different location.

 

[Wellsonian]

Hmm, I'm as perplexed as you. Weapon is deployed. Unit is not suppressed. Target line is red. The detachment has sufficient ammo.
The AI must think that it can't see anything well enough to commence fire. Try moving the team a bit and see what happens when they re-target from a different location.

I find with weapons teams that sometimes one of the members “sees” the target, but the actual trigger puller does not.

 

[Blady]

I find with weapons teams that sometimes one of the members “sees” the target, but the actual trigger puller does not.

Since the trigger "puller" in this case is a firing pin, I guess it never sees anything.

On a more serious note, this seems a viable explanation!

 

[chiquichops]

Hmm, I'm as perplexed as you. Weapon is deployed. Unit is not suppressed. Target line is red. The detachment has sufficient ammo.
The AI must think that it can't see anything well enough to commence fire. Try moving the team a bit and see what happens when they re-target from a different location.

I did just that. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Bulletpoint]

Sometimes the game allows you to place a direct fire order and the red line "sticks", but the unit is unable to fire. Usually this happens when LOF is marginal. Could you share a screenshot that shows the whole line of fire as seen from the mortar's position?

 

[chiquichops]

I'll post one tomorrow. It's a light-blue line.

 

[blue]

I find with weapons teams that sometimes one of the members “sees” the target, but the actual trigger puller does not.

The target fire line would be grey in that case, no? Or does it work different with crews that can direct fire?

 

[Gunner]

He's in a "Cautious" state and out of command if that means anything.

 

[chiquichops]

Still not firing, I moved them slightly but they're just sat there on a fire order one more turn. I forgot to take another screenshot but it's a blue line. Another mortar team are doing exactly the same. It's a conundrum. I did see one team fire a few rounds a while back so I know they can. I figure it's a LOS issue, I'll see if they lob a bomb elsewhere.

 

[Blady]

The non-expended ammo will be usefull elsewhere I am sure. I've always see mortar bombs like cash: there's never a shortage of places to spend it on...

 

[A Canadian Cat]

That is pretty odd. One thing with mortars is if they think their rounds will be obstructed on the way out they will not fire. That should not be the case here - firing over a low wall should not be a problem. Try moving them back from the wall in to the yard behind them and see if they will fire then.

Like I said I don't think this should be happening but there is code to prevent teams from firing into overhead tress or into a tall wall or building. So, I'm just making a suggestion to remove one element.

Also how close is this? Another thing that can happen is the target system concludes the target is past the minimum firing distance (using centre of action squares) but when the game goes to actually target the enemy it finds it is too close (using actual distances). I have had that happen to me with frame throwers and max range.

 

[chiquichops]

All advice gratefully accepted. I will move them more out of the shadow of the building and see. I'm sure it's something like that.

 

[Stafford]

Could you provide a wider screenshot? One which shows the area surrounding the mortar team, and also the target area?

 

[Gunner]

That's a good point about the trees Cat.
It may sound silly but make sure the trees are on.
I've found I've been in a near tress before without knowing it because they were off.

 

[Bulletpoint]

Still not firing, I moved them slightly but they're just sat there on a fire order one more turn. I forgot to take another screenshot but it's a blue line. Another mortar team are doing exactly the same. It's a conundrum. I did see one team fire a few rounds a while back so I know they can. I figure it's a LOS issue, I'll see if they lob a bomb elsewhere.

We're still waiting for some more screenshots before we can properly help you. It's not enough that it's a blue line.. in some cases you get a blue line but something else is causing trouble.

 

[chiquichops]

I hope this gives a better picture. I think it's perhaps the tree, after seeing previous posts. It didn't occur to me that the tree would block the bombs because I had them semi-off.