Ammo Loadout for 60mm Mortars

[Suhiir]

Looking at the Mobhak Manual under Ammo Loadouts I see "Howitzer & mortar loads are 5xROF for on-map pieces".
Checking the OOB's I find the default 60mm Mortar (ROF 8) mas a 3-man crew and 60 ammo.
Up until the change to the M224 mortar for most of it's history the USMC has used a 6-man light mortar crew (Team Leader, Gunner, A-Gunner, 3 x Ammo humpers).
This would imply they should have a larger ammo loadout (say 90 rounds, possibly more).
Other then general game conventions is there any specific reason for the ammo loadout?

[Mobhack]

As it states at the top of the section in the Mobhack help:

Using standardised information is crucial in order to assure that every nation's database is created using the same assumptions or else SERIOUS imbalances may occur that can ruin game play. We ask that anyone who may MOBHack these OOB's to please follow the spirit of these guidelines and this should ensure that your OOB will harmonise with the existing game database.

The trouble with laying out guidelines is that too many folk don't read the destructions, and then act as if the guidelines are absolute rules set in stone as if they were laws. Especially true in the case of either newbies or the train-spotter type "reality at all costs" ones who worry about if a generic jeep should carry 3 men or 4.

Having guidelines means that the oob designers will e.g. turn out light mortar sections with a roughly similar ammo loadout. It tends to stop the BDMs who would perhaps issue 240 rounds to every 60mm mortar team in their Lower Patagonian OOB.

Since it will be your OOB - so read the guidelines, and then having done so, use your experience & judgement as to whether or not the guidelines fit your case.

Cheers
Andy

[Suhiir]

Mobhack said:
As it states at the top of the section in the Mobhack help:

The trouble with laying out guidelines is that too many folk don't read the destructions, and then act as if the guidelines are absolute rules set in stone as if they were laws. Especially true in the case of either newbies or the train-spotter type "reality at all costs" ones who worry about if a generic jeep should carry 3 men or 4.

Having guidelines means that the oob designers will e.g. turn out light mortar sections with a roughly similar ammo loadout. It tends to stop the BDMs who would perhaps issue 240 rounds to every 60mm mortar team in their Lower Patagonian OOB.

Since it will be your OOB - so read the guidelines, and then having done so, use your experience & judgement as to whether or not the guidelines fit your case.

Cheers
Andy

Thank you sir.
I'd assumed they were guidelines intended for play balance but wasn't totally sure.

I am curious tho.
As an experiment I'll take unit #81 (60mm Mortar Sq) from OOB #13 (USMC).
Default it's 9-man, 3xM19 Mortars, 60 ammo each for 26 points.
If I change ONLY the ammo loadout from 60 each to 90 each it becomes 31 points.
If I change the crew to 20 (in proper train-spotter fashion) and the ammo loadout to 90 each it becomes 42 points.

This would imply that if the Cost Calculator is used any alterations (other then some to the weapons themselves) to the units will "balance themselves".