Spotters

[Greg]

I have a question:  If an indirect fire unit (like a mortar sqd) has a spotter, but doesn’t use it for the engagement they are firing, can another indirect fire unit (say a BT42) that doesn’t have a one use that spotter?

[Kar98k]

Hi Greg. You can find your answer and much more on page 102 of the rules (Spotters). “If an indirect fire weapon is fired by a Veteran or Regular crew, the crew are assumed to be able to also see whatever any spotter (or forward observer) in your force can see.” And yes, indirect fire weapons with inexperienced crews cannot use spotters or forward observers.

Note: because it is in the Errata & FAQS, some people forget or don’t know yet, but if a crew changes spotters, it resets the ranging-in process. That is, a six is needed to hit. Also, a spotter can only spot for a single indirect fire weapon per game turn.

[Greg]

Hi Kar98k.  What I meant was if a mortar team with spotter was shooting with line of sight from the mortar itself (so not needing the spotter), could another unit use the spotter?  Or is the spotter now tied up because the mortar team it’s attached to is engaging?

[Greg]

While we’re on this subject, if a spotter is shot at and takes a pin, does the firing unit have to take an Orders Test to fire?  This has come up in a few games recently.  I thought the Spotter in BA was treated as simply a line of sight, not an actual soldier sending a call for fire (unlike in real life, where he is).

[Stuart Harrison]

Yes, another unit can use that unit’s spotter if they don’t need him that turn (firing with their own LOS, moving etc) providing they meet the criteria to use a spotter.

[Kar98k]

Yes, what Stuart said. But remember, every time the spotter spots for a different unit, it resets the ranging-in (roll of 6).

No, if the spotter has pins, but the mortar team doesn’t have pins, the mortar team does not need to pass an order test to fire. As explained on page 102, the spotter and mortar team (or any unit with a spotter) can be thought of as two elements that share the same order die.

[Author]

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