[Rules] 7.5 - Off-Board Arty - 7.4 - Initiative Level - War In The Hedgerows: Operation Epsom

[broadsword]

Perhaps one way to soften the interpretation is to consider that the "no OBA" does not mean that there is "no = nadda-zip-zilch" German artillery in action, but that it was unable to produce any tactically significant combat result for the turn/day in question (perhaps due to a "decapitation" or breaking of communication lines, the artillery parks could not coordinate fire). Just like an AT shot is not a "shot" per se, but the average result of 15-mins of maneuvering, target selection, shot selection, change of position, resettling the optics, fire, clear and reload, move again for position, etc., so too consider OBA factors the ability to coordinate a certain amount of potentially combat-effective fire (i.e. a roll on the combat tables). Another option might simply be to consider that the division or corps level artillery support was designated elsewhere that day (perhaps in support of a counter-attack off map).

Of course, another option is simply to overrule the rules and give the Germans a 16 OBA factor for some specified number of turns (I've not studied the campaign games as yet).

I was thinking along somewhat the same lines -- that there could have been an ammo shortage, or that the ammo convoy got hit by jabs, or that communication sent it to a different location by mistake than the place where the regimental artillery set up...or simply that the high command was fooled by the previous day's feint at the Rauray spur (Operation Dauntless) and committed all available OBA to that sector...

I really don't mind the rule, I just wanted to toss it up for discussion about whether it seems plausible to y'all. It really does swing the game balance way over to the Brits for Day One, though.