According to the rules published in Over the Top, each armored train model represents 4-6 actual trains, which is consistent with the scale of Command Decision. However, while this scale works well with "AFVs," artillery pieces, etc., it can't be realistically applied to armored trains. Historically, armored trains operated individually, or rarely in pairs, and never in platoon or company sized units. Therefore it would be appropriate to have an armored train model represent ONE armored train, with each model on the weapon representing 4-6 actual weapons. For example, a Russian Armored Train consisting of I locomotive and two armored rail cruisers (which are described in OTT) would have the following arcs of fire. A: B: 1 76.2 FG, 1 MG C: 1 76.2 FG, 1 MG D: Crew Quality Direct Fire Modiriers: There is ample evidence to suggest that crew quality not only influences a tanks ability to fire quickly and accurately, but also its ability to avoid being hit by enemy fire. German tankers noted during the early stages of WWII against Russia the low skill level of the Soviet tank drivers. Among the error noted was an inability to take advantage of concealing terrain, skylining their vehicles, driving along predictable routes, executing too long firing halts, etc, all of which made their vehicles easier targets to hit. I suggest that the following modifiers be used when engaging vehicles with direct fire. Target's Crew Quality : Modifier Elite : -1 Veteran : -1 Experienced : -0 Trained : +1 Green : +1 If the target vehicle has a "Travel March" Order, any unit engaging it with Direct Fire should be given a Bonus of +1 to their Hit Number. This modifier should not be cumulative with the modifiers listed above, put should be used in place of it. Thus if a, unit fired at a Veteran Tank operating under a Travel March Order (Trolling for Ambush as it is locally known) the firing unit would have a +1 Modifier to its Hit Number. The Target Quality Modifiers are only used when the Target unit has orders other than "Travel March." Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Newsletter #5 To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1991 by Greg Novak. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com