in game tactics
a mortar is awesome for longer range situations in game -but few players are willing to forego all the phases that are required to set up the mortar position ,and then 6 phases required for calling fire -if the enemy isnt in plain sight . At least 12-18 phases there .
As for the discussion of what portable artillery to bring :
riflegrenades are not very accurate
the 40 has some accuracy but lacks a little punch -it has a lot of nasty shrapnel though
the mortar has problems with direct fire and has a minimum range but packs a punch and has got range to it and has indirect fire properties .
and then for wrapping it up - the carl gustav 84 mm RFK or 84mm Gustav as I believe its called in Anglo.
This is a truly versatile weapon capable of using different rounds -illum,smoke/WP,HE ,HEAT ( Capable of penetrating app 700 mm homogenous steel).
Rounds can be set for airburst ,it can get ranges out to 2000 meters with some ammo and one two man team can carry it and 5-6 rounds and still keep up with the rest of the squad in fire and manouver .(It is a heavy bastard though )
The rest of the squad can each carry a round in a canister giving the team app 10-12 rounds .
In game two players or one player and 1 npc can fire and reload in 2 phases (from the last round was fired the shooter aims while the loader ejects spent shell casing and loads the new one ).
This means that players "ine the artillery" can join the fight after an initial set up period of 2 phases -and if they are crazyenough to run with it loaded -get a quick shot of in app 1-2 phases.
In all fairness it has disadvantages - it has a violent backblast capable of serious injury something like 10-15 feet back .It has to be shot using ear protection /the hard plastic domes not plugs ) or 1-2 shots will render you concussed and scrambled brained. Also it is by far not as efficient without a laser designator to measure distance to target .If you know this and target is stationary -90% success rate even for conscript soldiers with 3 weeks training .
Ranging w/o laser and hitting moving targets is the province of experienced heavy weapons operators -liek a PC with certain skill . ( The ranging can be considered incorporated in the skill heavy weapons as use of laser range finder gives a bonus to the roll OR tasked by the GM in a seperate phase prior to the shot if the GM feels the situation warrants .
In conclusion -if indirect fire is not a big worry and you have a LOS -the 84 is the way to go .
Manportable
kicks like a mule - ( well I like to feel the gun I am shooting respond,not just lay there ,like a dead piece of metal)
versatile ammo infantry,soft skinned targets,armoured,support -it does it all.
robust -banged one around for years in the back of our APC-functioned like Swiss clockwork .(Had to realign sight every week or so -but that takes 5 minutes)
And finally - the sound of the breachblock being slammed shut after loading a round has a charachteristic ring to it that will scare the shit out of anyone that know what it is and is likely to be on the recieveing end .
ALL in my humble opinion -of course
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