Re: musings on infantry [TANKS]

[Frank Pittelli <frank-at-rctankcombat.com>]

Martin Helsing wrote:
> A supply vehicle can carry 40 paintballs, 1 battery, 1 C)2 cylinder or 4 
> soldiers.  Can it also pull a trailer?

Yes, a trailer can double the hauling capacity of a support vehicle. 
When hit, a trailer is destroyed and must be left behind by the vehicle. 
   If the vehicle is hit, the trailer must stay where it is and can be 
picked up by any vehicle, including the enemy.

Note, combat vehicles can also pull a supply trailer if they want and 
they are destroyed with a single hit anywhere.

> For construction purposes, would it be acceptable to have all 4 soldiers 
> run off of long extension cords for firing purposes? They would 
> basically plug into the jeep.

Yes, multiple soldiers can be operated from the same tether.  In fact, 
anything can be operated from a tether, including tanks, armored cars, 
field artillery and support vehicles.  And, there is no problem hooking 
all soldiers up to the same CO2 supply mounted, for example, in the 
support vehicle or in a small hut nearby.

> They would all have individual rocket launchers but would have the 
> pressure fed to them from a common solenoid and co2 tank. Each would be 
> placed on an individual soldier so that the weapons would still be part 
> of the grunts and not the jeep.

You crossed over the boundary slightly with that step.  Soldiers must be 
*dismounted* from the support vehicle before their weapons can be fired. 
  But that doesn't take long if you do things right (artillery guards 
are set up very quickly by pushing a stake into the ground).  And, if 
you set up the men in a cover-fire formation, especially near artillery, 
it could be difficult for armed vehicles to attack them without shots 
coming from multiple angles.

In the scenario you envision, the Jeep arrives on scene with a trailer 
carrying ammo, CO2 and electrical components.  Four Marines jump out of 
the vehicle and deploy around the trailer, operated from the same 
electrical tether and CO2 system.  The support vehicle takes off for 
another load and the 4 Marines stand vigil around their trailer waiting 
to defend their turf valiantly.

As with any infantry campaign, if you put enough of them in an area with 
various firing angles "dialed-in" then armored vehicles will not have an 
easy time confronting them.  It's just a matter of coordination, control 
and courage.

        Frank P.