Unloading Trucks and Opp Fire

[vince hughes]

Here is one for the masses:

I have no opinion of right and wrong answers here as I do not think its covered in the rules, or not in a definitive way at least. Therefore, this is open for anybody state what they prefer to do under the RAW at present.

Situation: A loaded truck enters a hex 2 hexes away from an enemy INF unit and announces a 3 MP cost made up of 2MP's to enter the hex and 1MP to unload its own INF unit it is carrying.

The enemy INF decided to opp fire and as per the rules 13.11 they announce the Opp Fire as the truck enters the hex.

So ...... Do you fire before the unloading in a form of sequence of events manner, following this by then unloading after any effects of fire are taken.

Or ...... Do you take the 3MP's the trucks expends and enter the hex and unload as a single move and THEN take the fire.

Initially, I thought it made little difference as DF seems to have no mod for firing at loaded trucks (unlike bombardment). However, an X when loaded would eliminate the whole platoon instead of just the half platoon if unloaded.

Personally, I think the firing upon entry followed by the unloading is preferable (if sometimes dangerous). I choose this method because as the truck enters the hex and the opp fire is called, it would generally be before the moving player would state he is unloading. However, I would not bother to argue if an opponent made a case of the other version.(ie a 3MP single move, enter, unload receive opp).

What do you lot do ?

[Matt W]

Shoot first, unload later. Or at least permit the op fire at either stage at the defender's preference.

[vince hughes]

Matt,

Firing at either stage is good in the above example, though a truck that does not move and then unloads in a hex would NOT be able to be Opp Fired at of course.

[plloyd1010]

We have a consensus of 3 now.

The rule implies that op-fire occurs when units enter hexes. A corollary would be the presumed inability to op-fire against units that load/unload but do not move from the hex.

[Poor Yorek]

Concur with plloyd1010: the act of unloading is not entry into a hex (a "static" move action or in D&D 3rd ed parlance a "move-equivalent" action) and thus does not provoke OF. Of course, if the transport is DIS/DEM by the OF, then unloading is forced.

[Blackcloud6]

The answer is in the first sentence of 13.11:

"A moving unit may be attacked in any hex(es) within enemy range that it enters along its movement path."

So the truck is fired on when it enters the hex, not when it unloads the passenger.

[leeboy24]

The truck is hit with loaded occupants when it enters the hex. It's movement into the hex is what initially drew the attention of the enemy, resulting in op fire directed at the moving truck.

[J6A]

I agree with the fire before unloading crowd.

[Blackcloud6]

So the moral of the story is: "Thou shalt not drive passenger laden unarmored trucks in the face of the enemy. Thou shalt disembark at the last covered and concealed position."

[Poor Yorek]

So the moral of the story is: "Thou shalt not drive passenger laden unarmored trucks in the face of the enemy. Thou shalt disembark at the last covered and concealed position."

With the corollary: Thou shalt not be spotted driving passenger laden half-tracks in the face of (within the range of) an enemy equipped with AT guns (or anything with an AT value).