Motorized Infantry Usefulness

[SCC]

So, I'm doing some theory crafting and I need to know, how good are Motorized Infantry, in particular those towing field guns, at infantry only/specialty tasks like storming trenches and buildings, looting buildings, and anything else small scale, both by the game rules and in-universe.

I'm trying to figure out if a raiding regiment comprised of 1 'Mech company, 1 vehicle battalion, and 2 infantry battalions (motorized, towing field guns) would need additional infantry for these sorts of roles.

[AlphaMirage]

Motorized infantry are just like normal infantry just slightly faster. I'd actually upgrade the towed gun unit to Mechanized since those shouldn't be in close contact and it would be nice to have the damage divisor against hostile infantry that are sent to stop them.

[pokefan548]

Yeah, motorized tracked infantry are generally good enough for long range stuff—though I should note that AC/20 field gunners are a fun way to get AC/20s (or even UAC/20s if you're feeling delightfully devilish!) hidden in a building. Also, motorized infantry are the only type of infantry that can staff a Long Tom, which makes them one of the cheapest ways to field that gun without dipping into rail vehicles or buildings.

I should also note that motorized infantry are masters of urban combat. Being able to move multiple hexes through buildings, even when encumbered, is absolutely brutal.

[dgorsman]

Motorized infantry are just like normal infantry just slightly faster. I'd actually upgrade the towed gun unit to Mechanized since those shouldn't be in close contact and it would be nice to have the damage divisor against hostile infantry that are sent to stop them.

Ehhhh... field guns tend to attract heavy weapons fire, and mechanized take double damage from that.  They also have higher weights, which makes them less useful for urban combat.  Infantry weight counts towards weight limits, so those 50+ ton mechanized (and even some motorized) field gun units can't go into a lot of buildings without collapsing them.  For those buildings they can go into, it now only takes however much less points of damage to the building before it collapses in on them.  For example, a CF 70 hardened building is great for a straight 5 ton motorized infantry unit to hide in since it will take a few turns of concentrated fire to reduce the building; but a 50+ ton unit in the same building only needs 20 points (or less) of damage done to the building to do so.

[Dapper Apples]

Motorized over mechanized mostly just lets you do anti-mech stuff.  You're probably in trouble if your field guns are in a position to do anti-mech.

Speedwise it ends up being the same, though you can't move and shoot the field guns anyway.  Field guns do best if the enemy must approach you.

If you want to go on offense, you'd probably want to go without field guns, either rifles for pure move speed or srms for range.  Ideally jump infantry hopping out of vtols.

[SCC]

Mechanized infantry also can NOT be 30 man platoons, which are somewhat useful.

[Charistoph]

Mechanized also have a problem with being in Buildings.  You want to reduce your Infantry's capacity to be hurt, that's the place to be.

[Daryk]

Field guns are the only reason to take Motorized over Jump, I think... 

[pokefan548]

Field guns are the only reason to take Motorized over Jump, I think... 

Again, movement through buildings.

[Daryk]

3 Jump is enough to go over/around, really.

[pokefan548]

3 Jump is enough to go over/around, really.

If your goal is to go over or around in a fairly small urban environment sure, but it doesn't cut it quite so well when you've got 4-6 hex buildings that rise many levels high (such as  onthe Map Set 6 maps). Motorized infantry can just scoot right through them. That also makes them quite good at flushing enemy infantry out of objective buildings where VTOL-dropping infantry from the roof isn't an option.

[SCC]

Also movement inside the building, jump infantry have only 1 MP inside buildings, motorized have 3

[Sartris]

look, i need to get a half dozen LAC/5s onto the roof of this building and there's only one way to do it

[DevianID]

Motorized is strictly better then foot infantry as I understand it, save for taking up more transport space... But they need less transport so I call that a wash.

Mechanized infantry I love deployed in 1 vehicle squads.  As squad sized units the damage divisor matters more for resisting enemy infantry and the 2x from heavy weapons is lessened with such a small unit.  Given a decent burst fire weapon, mechanized squad is great at anti infantry or mobile scouting.

Mechanized hover squads are good for ship to shore operations that I feel a seal team would appreciate.  A tracked or wheeled squad can putter around faster them motorized versions of infantry, letting you chase them down.  So good for security and patrols.  A vtol squad makes for nice sniper platforms similar to the helicopter snipers we use today.

So motorized are city fighters and the guys you want manning static field guns, as its harder for heavy fire to kill them.  Mechanized for anti infantry operations, still useful in squad deployment, and for mobile field guns expecting only light infantry contact, which means field artillery will appreciate the extra mechanized speed as they shoot and scoot.

[Weirdo]

Field artillery reduces ALL infantry to speed 1 motorized, whether motorized or mechanized. Only regular field guns allow infantry to retain their speed and MP type.

[Daryk]

So +1 for Motorized in that case! 

[DevianID]

One thing about motorized and mechanized infantry is that they can dance in the same hex for evasion, unlike jump infantry.  What I mean is, say you have three ground MP, but you are in an enemy mech's hex already and want to stay there to shoot it point blank.  Motorized and mechanized can drive in a little 3 or 5 or however many MP they have circle to get 1+ evasion.  Jump infantry using jump MP cant jump in a circle for evasion.  So motorized in point blank combat are a little more evasive then jump infantry for multiple rounds on a mech who isnt moving.

[Col Toda]

Motorized AC/2 Marion Platoon is 30 troops in 2 divisor armor manning 5 guns . Any Long Tom has to be moterized as Mechanized max number of troops is 28 and a longtom needs the whole 30 troops to man it . This is why I like field works with a hex of Unmanned AC/2s in an adjacent hex because even 1 casualty will prevent the long Tom from being used .

[Hellraiser]

how good are Motorized Infantry, in particular those towing field guns, at infantry only/specialty tasks like storming trenches and buildings, looting buildings, and anything else small scale, both by the game rules and in-universe.

Specifically addressing the OP questions....

Mechanized can collapse lighter buildings as mentioned.  (Bad)
Motorized can carry more field guns since they are bigger platoons.  (Good)
If you need to leave the guns behind, the Motor platoon easily fits in many Hover/VTOL APCs units to zip them across the battlefield far faster than any mechanized platoon can go. (Good)


Honestly, the only time I use mechanized platoons is Hover to go over water or the Thumper/Arrow platoons from TRO3085.