The Commander Series Forum

During Saturdays game, my 1967 Russians had a ZSU23/4 and an SA-6. The part of the rules that covers Arc's of fire says that Air defence weapons use the standard 180 degrees when firing on ground targets. Thats fine for the ZSU 23/4 but what about the SAM missiles. Can they fire at a ground target? Sounds very unlikely to me but they are classed as Artillery in the rules. Any thoughts?

Cheers Bryan

SAMs can't fire at ground targets. Someone will now say the Egyptians did it in 73. Well, yes... they did. But it was close range and desperation that made them do it.

Radar clutter would screw a radar SAM. IR SAMs rely on the mid-IR signature of a target with a temperature of about 800-1000K (a very hot exhaust). Hence, not a ground asset.

"SAMs can't fire at ground targets. Someone will now say the Egyptians did it in 73. Well, yes... they did. But it was close range and desperation that made them do it. "

And IIRC it didn't achieve anything beyond maybe making the SAM gunners feel they'd tried!

"they were fired like unguided telegraph poles"

If it's stupid & it works, it ain't stupid. So... I'd say it's still stupid

So,sounds like it is allowed in the Rules but only a cad and a bounder would do it! I am neither, I was just interested is what others thought.

I think guns can.
Radar or IR guided missiles can't.
EO guided missiles or laser beam riders at a push - but I'd say no based on doctrine.

I think from the one example in real world history, you can't, and even if you do it won't work anyway

From RAW - it's a no.

RAW?? I agree that they shouldnt, but the rules dont seem to distinguish between guns and missiles when it comes to firing at ground targets.

Rules as written Actually, am not sure it specifies in CWC (it does explicitly state so in in FWC), but I have a feeling it leaves it to the readers knowledge of likelyhood!