11. Guns as Targets

11. GUNS AS TARGETS

11.1 NEAR MISS: Any "hit" vs a Gun usually represents a Near Miss close enough to affect the crew.²⁸ A hit which actually strikes the Gun is termed a Direct Hit (11.4).

11.2 EMPLACEMENT: The To Hit procedure vs a Gun which set up manned by a crew and has not been hooked up and which has not been moved since the start of the scenario (11.3) can be resolved in either of two ways at the firer's option. An Emplaced Gun can be fired on using the Area Target Type (the Gun's Target size [2.271] is a To Hit DRM unless inside a pillbox; B30.32) with a +2 TEM (once hit) for being Emplaced; or it can be fired on using the Infantry Target Type, with the +2 Emplacement TEM and the Gun's Target size used as a combined To Hit DRM. For OBA or other FP attacks, the +2 Emplacement TEM applies on the IFT [EXC: FT; A22.2]. In all cases, however, the Emplacement TEM cannot be used in addition to any other positive TEM; the Gun's owner may choose one or the other, but not both. There can possibly be different To Hit Numbers for units in the same hex. A Gun can never be Emplaced on a paved road. Q&A

EX: Using the Infantry Target Type, a CE PzKpfw IVH Prep Fires at a 57mm AT Gun six hexes away in a 2 + 3 + 5 pillbox that is in its LOS through the pillbox CA. The Modified TH# is 5, but there is a +3 To Hit DRM for Case Q (since the +2 Emplacement TEM would be less beneficial to its defense).

EX: A CE PzKpfw IVH Prep Fires on a hex containing an entrenched squad, an emplaced 45mm AT Gun, and another non-emplaced 45mm AT Gun in an Open Ground hex six hexes away on the Infantry Target Type. The Modified TH# is 8 but there is a +1 DRM for the non-Emplaced Gun (Target size), a +2 DRM for the entrenched squad (foxhole), and a +3 DRM for the Emplaced Gun (Target size and Emplacement). So the tank will hit the non-Emplaced Gun with an Original To Hit DR ≤ 7, or the squad and the non-Emplaced Gun with an Original DR ≤ 6, or all three targets with an Original To Hit DR 5.

11.3 If a Gun is a RCL or starts a scenario hooked up or manned by a non-crew unit, moves, or its manning Infantry voluntarily forfeits Wall Advantage (B9.322) it loses the "Emplaced" To Hit DRM of Case Q. Once lost, a Gun may not regain Emplaced status during that scenario. A Gun's Emplacement TEM ceases to exist when that Gun is removed from play. A Gun that sets up qualified for Emplaced status may nevertheless set up nonEmplaced, provided this fact is noted on a side record. Q&A

EX: A CE PzKpfw IVH fires during its DFPh at a 57mm AT Gun in its TCA which has just been pushed into a woods hex six hexes away. The Modified TH# is 8 and there is no DRM to the To Hit DR (+1 [Case P; Target size] +1 [Case Q; TEM] -2 [Case O;Hazardous Movement] = 0 To Hit DRM).

11.4 DIRECT HIT: Once a hit is secured (or in the case of OBA/DC attacks which do not need hits), the firer rolls on the IFT to determine the effects on the crew and Gun. If the Final DR (prior to any gunshield DRM) results in a KIA, the Gun is considered to have taken a Direct Hit and is destroyed along with its manning Infantry. A K result is also considered a Direct Hit, although it does not actually strike the Gun; rather it causes the Gun to malfunction and causes Casualty Reduction to its manning Infantry [EXC: if AP was fired; 11.52]. Gunshield DRM never apply to a Direct Hit. If the IFT DR does not result in a Direct Hit, the hit is considered a Near Miss and the +2 DRM for any gunshield is applied (if applicable) to the same DR to determine the effect (if any) on the manning Infantry. Even unattended Guns must check for elimination. Gunshield modifiers are lowered by one to +1 vs all forms of Indirect Fire. A CH automatically destroys both the Gun and its manning Infantry. Q&A

11.5 GUNSHIELDS: All AT and INF Guns have gunshields which help protect their manning crew.²⁹ A gunshield helps protect the Good Order manning crew (only) of a Gun from most attacks which originate within its current CA. Other Infantry in the same hex, even if serving as an ad hoc crew, receive no benefit from the gunshield. Infantry moving to a Gun or pushing it while being attacked by Defensive First Fire is not entitled to any protective DRM from its gunshield, nor is manning Infantry attacked by any means from the Gun's own hex ever entitled to protective DRM from its gunshield. Manning Infantry protected by a gunshield may add +2 to the IFT DR of fire vs that manning Infantry [EXC: 0 for FT (A22.2) and +1 for Indirect Fire (11.4)]. The gunshield DRM is never cumulative with that of positive TEM; the target has its choice of accepting either the gunshield DRM (if applicable) or the positive TEM of the terrain (including Emplacement; 11.2) in that Location. A gunshield does not have to be penetrated for HE fire to affect the Gun/its manning Infantry, and protects the Gun and such Infantry from ordnance hits only insomuch as the application of the gunshield modifier to the IFT DR of all Near Miss hits may lessen any MC level sustained. A gunshield DRM never affects a To Hit DR, but can be used to modify the effects of a Near Miss Hit even if a TEM was already used to modify the To Hit attempt.

11.51 HEAT destroys a Gun using the same mechanics as an HE hit, except that it uses HE Equivalency (8.31). A FT/MOL attacks destroys a Gun using Random SW Destruction (A9.74) but is slightly more effective than MG/Small Arms Fire because gunshields never modify a FT/MOL attack. Q&A

11.52 AP: AP/APCR/APDS/ATR hits vs a Gun are resolved using the same mechanics as HE hits, but using HE Equivalency (8.31). The Gun and any manning Infantry are destroyed by a CH/any K/KIA result. A MG attacking alone, an ATR attacking as Small Arms, or an ATR/MG attacking as part of a FG, may cause Gun Destruction only as per A9.74.

11.6 GUN DESTRUCTION TABLE: The above rules for Gun Destruction are summarized on the Table below.

GUN DESTRUCTION TABLE¹
	Ordnance/ Bomb/OBA	MG/IF/Small Arms/ FT²/MOL²/OVR³	DC
≤ Final⁴ KIA	Elim	Random SW Dest	Elim
= Final⁴ K	Malf-CR⁵	NA	Malf-CR
= CH	Elim	NA	NA
Elim: Gun and manning Infantry are eliminated. Malf-CR: Gun is malfunctioned; manning Infantry suffers Casualty Reduction. Random SW Dest: Check for Random SW Destruction (A9.74) ¹ If in tow or being (un)hooked, a Gun can only be destroyed if its vehicle is (C10.1-.12). ² Gunshield is NA to FT/MOL attack (11.51). ³ Gunshield is NA if OVR uses FT. ⁴ Prior to applying Gunshield DRM (11.4). ⁵ K result = Elim if AP was fired (11.52).