Tank leader Activation Conundrum

[Blackcloud6]

6.81 Effects A tank leader can activate AFVs (including APCs) in his own hex and all six adjacent hexes.

 But

6.82 Limitations
Tank leaders have no rank, cannot activate non-AFV units, cannot activate other tank leaders through subordinate activation (3.2)

So, can a Tank Leader activate a tank unit in adjacent hex that also has a tank leader?

[Blackcloud6]

3.2 Subordinate Activation

Tank Leaders (3.3) have no rank, so they cannot activate other leaders (including other tank leaders) through subordinate activation. So, when a tank leader activates, only the AFVs in his hex and the six adjacent hexes may activate (3.31).

 It does not answer my question, however reading between the lines it seems to me that the intent of these rules is that it is prevent a whole line of tanks being activated through subordinate activation.  For example there are four tank platoons, all with tank leader, in an line (in the same hex-row) in hexed w, x, y, and z.  x activate sand can activate w and y because they are adjacent as allowed by 6.81, but y could not activate z because the leader in y could not be activated per 3.2 and 6.82.

Otherwise, a force with all tank tank leaders would be a t a disadvantage because a side with 7 tank platoons could put the leader tank platoon in the center and put the other six in surrounding hexes and always activate all 7 where as the side with all tank leaders  would take 76 activations to activate the same formation; I think the intent of the rules is to have the side with less tank leaders to be at C2 disadvantage.

What say you?

[plloyd1010]

So, can a Tank Leader activate a tank unit in adjacent hex that also has a tank leader?

Yes, but only as a tank. Any tank, with leader or not, can be activated by a tank leader. If the tank activated has a leader, that leader may not activate other tanks.

[joe_oppenheimer]

Right. I've always understood the intent of the rule was to prevent chain activations not to prevent activating adjacent tanks that also have tank leaders.

[Tubac52]

In my humble opinion it is an unrealistic  to not allow subordinate activation in tanks, which we know happened when hand/flag signals and runners were used to communicate orders between leaders of tank outfits at 200-400 meter ranges in WW2 - especially in flat desert terrain.

Maybe a more realistic rule covering what tank leaders can, and can't do, might make it into the 5th edition PG rules. Let's hope.

[plloyd1010]

In my humble opinion it is an unrealistic  to not allow subordinate activation in tanks, which we know happened when hand/flag signals and runners were used to communicate orders between leaders of tank outfits at 200-400 meter ranges in WW2 - especially in flat desert terrain.

When it comes to subordinate activation, you are talking about a minimum of 400 meters. That a bit much for semaphores (read Brazen Chariots and others), and there are no runners for the tanks either. As it is, activating a company or 2 of armor isn't so bad. If you think you need to activate more than that, there is a formation activation rule.

[Juiceman]

WWII history has shown how well those hand signals, flag waving and runners did for the armored forces of the French in 1940 or the Russians in 1941.

[Miguelibal]

6.81 Effects A tank leader can activate AFVs (including APCs) in his own hex and all six adjacent hexes.

 But

6.82 Limitations
Tank leaders have no rank, cannot activate non-AFV units, cannot activate other tank leaders through subordinate activation (3.2)

So, can a Tank Leader activate a tank unit in adjacent hex that also has a tank leader?

This thread note and others, sounds like the mighty Blackcloud6 has returned to shared play with live opponents.

No more close assault die-rolling, lamentations brought on by too many play-throughs with the T-Rex?