I tried searching the forum, and could not find anything which really clears this up.
I begin with these observations of the rules (4th Ed.):
6.81 Effects
A tank leader can activate AFVs (including APCs) in his own hex and all six adjacent hexes. If an AFV is activated by a tank leader, it can initiate an assault (12.1) or move closer to an enemy unit that can spot it, has range on it, and could obtain a combat result on it through Anti-Tank Fire.
6.82 Limitations
Tank leaders have no rank, cannot activate non-AFV units, cannot activate other tank leaders through subordinate activation (3.2), may not spot for bombardment fire (9.1), and do not modify combat or morale.
Consider:
a. I have a PzIII surrounded by German Halftracks each with PzGren Inf in them.We are all adjacent to a town hex with a Russian Inf in it.
b. I choose to activate the PzIII inherent Panzer Leader to Assault.
c. I will then also activate two of the halftracks to join my Assault.
So far all that is clear from the above....
I could certainly Assault with PzIII+2Halftracks..... The Russian would defend against unaccompanied AFV...getting a modifier...
But---what if:
d. The halftracks unload in the Assault hex....
This is based on this piece:
5.67 RestrictionsUnits being transported may not conduct any type of fire. If a transport has a fire value, the transport may fire even if it is loaded. In a hex containing enemy units, a unit being transported may unload as a movement action, but it may not load.
Example: The German player declares that an SPW 251 APC carrying an INF unit will conduct a Fire action, moving into an adjacent hex to initiate an assault. The German player may count the APC's direct fire value in his total assault strength, but not the fire value of the loaded INF unit. The next turn, the APC may declare a movement action and unload its INF unit. Because it was a movement action, neither unit may conduct an assault that turn (though they may defend against enemy assault).
Can they? the infantry units were in the halftracks--but no officer activated the infantry unit....???
Can the Halftrack choose to unload it's cargo--regardless of the activation status?
Would the infantry participate in the Assault? or would they impact the "unaccompanied" status only?
The status of a passenger (Infantry/weapon) and it's activation status when it's transport is activated could
be either way....
I'm asking to understand how most would assess this situation--or what we think the rules would intend--had they
been clear about this.
So--the ideal Assault sequence is: Declare Fire activation for PzIII and 2 loaded Halftracks.....move into hex....unload Infantry....
The Pz and Hlftrks do assault...but the defender does not get the AFV alone....the unloaded infantry cannot Assault as it did not
get an activation to Assault an enemy---it was unloaded by the Hlftrk...at cost of 1MP...
?
?
