Vehicular Grenade Launchers

[SCC]

I thought there was a thread recently that bemoaned their one-shot nature yet I couldn't find.

I have, I think, figured why they are one-shot: Chaff Grenades, they fill a 3-hex arc centered on the direction they're fired in for two rounds with a Light Smoke that does double duty as ECM, this means that a unit that is going to be standing still will be protected from electronically enhanced attack's (Artemis and the like) without disrupting a C3 link if it has one (unlike Chaff pods) or radiating a giant hit me sign to ARAD Missile like Guardian does (It may even protect units from ARAD Missile)

[Weirdo]

Chaff Grenades are extremely handy. So are frag ones as an emergency anti-infantry defense, and the plain smoke ones are really handy for when you just need to break LOS for a single turn. VGLs are kinda like missile launchers, in that the sheer number of ammo types available gives you an almost Omni-like flexibility, without having to actually take an OmniMech. I see most OS missile systems the same way, though their greater weight does make them suspect, and I bet I'll never win over the people who hate all OS equipment on general principle.

[Jim1701]

Plus from a meta-game PoV they are handy little crit soakers for vehicles. 

[VhenRa]

They are also a decent way to deploy chemical weapons, if that is your cup of tea.

[SCC]

Weirdo, the smoke from smoke grenades is Light Smoke and lasts for three turns and I don't think it moves

Jim, why would a vehicle need crit soakers?

[Jim1701]

Weirdo, the smoke from smoke grenades is Light Smoke and lasts for three turns and I don't think it moves

Jim, why would a vehicle need crit soakers?

Have you SEEN the vehicle crit chart?   :)  It's not the same sort as a mech of course but taking a crit and not having a weapon or two on that facing can be pretty painful since crits "bump" up if there is nothing to affect.  I weapon malfunction result on the side is a lot better than bumping it up to crew stunned and a weapon destroyed result is MUCH better than bumping it up to engine hit or crew killed!

[Weirdo]

Weirdo, the smoke from smoke grenades is Light Smoke and lasts for three turns and I don't think it moves

Three turns? Sweet. 8)

[SCC]

But it's only Light Smoke, that's a +1 to-hit right?

[Jim1701]

Correct.  Plus it affects LOS the same as light woods. 

[Weirdo]

Still useful. A single hex may not block LOS, but it does dispense three hexes of the stuff in a single shot. I'm sure you can maneuver so that LOS to the primary threat passes through more than one of the hexes, and possibly combine it with actual woods to block LOS completely.

[SCC]

This basically kills A-Pods and Chaff Pods.

And if I'm reading the rules right BA using the new alternate munitions they get from these are broken, four inferno hits from three hexes out, no attack roll or cluster hits and it maybe AoE

[Weirdo]

VGLs have that kinda spread, but something tells me the direct-fire ones aren't that easy.

[SCC]

Nope, the alternative ammunition write ups all mention that they effect multiple hexes (but don't say what these hexes are) and the 3.03 errata doesn't change that

[Weirdo]

Given that BA grenade launchers are listed as DB and not AE...I think this is one for the rules forum.

[SCC]

One thing I have been thinking about since these popped into the forefront of my mind that's right up your ally Weirdo: An engineering support transport, something configured to carry a combat engineers (trenchworks) platoon (The sample one in TRO:3085 is two tons, right?) and several of these loaded with smoke and possibly chaff, allowing trenchworks to be set up safley

[TigerShark]

This is a piece of tech best judged in the era it was most common: The Age of War.

In that time period, it's an invaluable utility against the Conventional Infantry hoards and "advanced" 'Mechs. If you can put a good gunner into your Estevez unit, you can stand on even ground with a 'Mech as you lay down smoke.

I've found them to be quite useful. It really just takes experience to use them. A noob is going to not see the value until someone else punks him (her?) with it. ;-)

[SCC]

Just double checked TacOps, the light smoke counts as a light forest, so if your in a heavy forest and pop smoke people now can't attack you from the direction you popped smoke it

[Diablo48]

Just double checked TacOps, the light smoke counts as a light forest, so if your in a heavy forest and pop smoke people now can't attack you from the direction you popped smoke it

Would it be possible to smoke your own hex (or an ally's hex) to get the full block from every direction while still being able to shoot unimpeded?

[SCC]

Not with grenade launchers

[RunandFindOut]

Still useful. A single hex may not block LOS, but it does dispense three hexes of the stuff in a single shot. I'm sure you can maneuver so that LOS to the primary threat passes through more than one of the hexes, and possibly combine it with actual woods to block LOS completely.

Plus smoke is supposed to be used en masse.  One platform pops smoke and it's useful but not worldbeating.  An entire unit in close formation for supporting fire or built-up terrain with chokepoints starts popping smoke and suddenly it's a lot more interesting.

[Sami Jumppanen]

Just double checked TacOps, the light smoke counts as a light forest, so if your in a heavy forest and pop smoke people now can't attack you from the direction you popped smoke it

If you are in a heavy forest then they can. Hex you are in doesn't count for LOS only for to-hit modifier.