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Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Keep on Trucking





















How much do you need trucks in a war game? One would think that troops, equipment, and munitions would be unloaded far enough back that they wouldn't be under fire unless by ambush, or driver error. Can they be replaced by abstract rules or were they seen so often on the battlefield that they should be included in most games?

Two Roco 2 1/2 ton cargo trucks with cargo in the back of one of them. In WWII the US Army had tens of thousands of cargo trucks moving supplies and troops forward and POWs and wounded to the rear.
























Depends on several factors. Yes, trucks are generally not used in the assault mode. Yes, troops will dismount and walk up to the front line where they will dig in to defend or standby to charge. Wiking cargo truck with Caesar WWII Germans. The Germans impressed civilian trucks into military service and were chronically short of vehicles.
























Yes, trucks will generally not be subject to direct fire unless it is an ambush, driver error, air strike, artillery interdiction fire or exploitation by enemies that have broken through the line, partisans, paratroopers who may be operating behind the lines.

I don't like to limit myself so I collect complete units, including supply and transportation and maintenance trucks. In an exploitation situation the trucks can come forward and move the infantry forward too. On a large wargame table like mine this can be helpful. Imex cargo truck with Caesar WWII Chinese Infantry. Many American oil companies sold their products and searched for oil all over the world before World War Two.

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