Spotting and German Assualt Guns as Efficient Armor

[Blackcloud6]

Guys, this is game where the counter represents a platoon of four or five vehicles.  And the turn is 20 minutes long.  "Efficiency" in this context does not mean just the ability of the tank commander to to employ his weapon by turning the turret or turning his vehicle or get off a number of shots but covers the ability of the platoon leader to properly employ his platoon over the course of the 20 minute turn.  So yes, the assault guns should have efficiency when taken in this context because it accounts for a better trained and able platoon leader and better trained and experienced crews in the platoon.

Except that at this scale the time is 15 minutes per turn, and there is no way that an unturreted AFV platoon would be as fast on the draw as a turreted tank platoon in combat. STG-IIIs, Hetzers and the like were often lethal as "ambush predators" of Allied AFVs -- when on defense in urban settings, and in prepared, covered & concealed positions with infantry support.

NBGB and Peter are on the right track on this topic, IMHO.

Efficiency does not necessarily reflect "reaction" but more so leadership ability. The efficient tank platoon leader had properly deployed his platoon to cover flanks and secondary avenues of approach.  The simple notion that he has one of his tanks covering a crucial tank and that tank geta couple of shots off thus eliminating a step is what is also being modelled.  The dice decides if this is successful or not.

The converse is that the non efficient tank platoon has a leader that might not have considered this and has his platoon oriented in one direction.