"How to Handle Mortar Fire in a Company Level Game?" Topic

So I'm in the midst of developing my company level WW2 rules. I've got the infantry rules pretty much all figured out, but I'm a bit unsure on how to handle mortars. More specifically, how to handle what mortars can and cannot target on the battlefield.

In my game company mortars are on table, while higher level support like battalion mortars are off table. For this discussion I'm mainly thinking of the on table company level mortars.

In the interest of realism, I don't want the mortars to be able to fire at anything on the table as there's no way the crews could be aware of everything happening on the battlefield, nor know the topography of every battlefield they fight on!

My current ruling is that forces equipped with radios can have their company mortars fire at anything that is within LOS of any of your units. This is an abstraction to represent the platoon leaders calling in mortar fire based on what his troops are telling him of the enemy's whereabouts. Forces that lacked radios at the platoon levels (Russians, and presumably Japanese?) can only fire at targets the mortar crew has a LOS to. In addition, scenarios can also designate certain areas (a cross roads, a building, etc) as pre-planned targets, allowing them to be targeted at anytime in the game.

Does this sound like a reasonable way to handle company level mortar fire? Is it too abstract and unrealistic?

Bunny,
What scale and time frame are you using?

Light mortars (company level) normally did not need radios. Their observer used a field phone or could perform fire by direct observation.

Wolfhag

Anything in LOS of the FOs, and/or the mortars should be valid targets.

Pre-registered targets are likely too, if they are on defense.

I'm playing in 15mm, but the rules can easily be used for other figure sizes. Standard unit is a squad, represented by a base of 3 figures. Leaders are individual figures. An average game is a reinforced company per side.

Would a company's light mortars have a dedicated FO? I'd assume the different nations would have slightly different systems for dealing with their mortars?

I would go with anything in the LOS of the mortars or in the LOS of any command stand.

I second Crispy and would add pre-plotted target reference points when on the defensive.

We covered a lot of this on this thread TMP link May be of some help/interest …

Mortars can fire on targets they see by using what is called Direct Lay. Or they can use a spotter (without a FDC)if the tube want to stay behind cover by using the Direct Alignment technique. It's was the principal way US Army Company level (60mm) mortars were INTENDED to be used.

While mortar rounds have a minimum range of 10m, light and most medium mortars have no minimum range. You just yank the bipod back until the tube is vertical. Of course there is that blast radius thing to keep in mind…

The mortars should be able to fire at identified targets. Just because something is in LOS its visible, is of course nonsense. In WW2 troops are trying not to be seen as they know that what can be seen can be killed. Thats covered in my rules, Action all Fronts.
So first locate your target. Then the target should be identified, that could be; a specific target, on a piece of terrain or on a registered target point.
And of course you don't just have to fire HE. It could be smoke or illuminating.

Bunny.

I would suggest that the key factor on what on-board mortars can shoot at is whether they are stationary in defense or moving as part of an attack.

I can't think of any nation during WW2 that didn't use field telephones and the use of same would almost be guaranteed when occupying a defensive position. This would allow any Observer within that defensive to spot for their company's mortars.

When the mortar is actually moving as part of an attack, it would be safe to say that they could only engage targets that they (the mortar crew) can see.

An argument could be made for special circumstances where a mortar (with a radio) could move into a new position and set up to take normal (unobserved) fire missions from an Observer (with a radio) but I suspect it would take extra time to get accurate rounds in the air.

I have also heard stories of mortars staying in position to provide fire support to their attacking company via field telephones. The company would have signalers right behind the leading troops, laying signal wire as they go.

Hope this is helpful,

Michael in Sardis.

Best I have used would be tfl IABSM. They got it right.

Any hints on what they did in IABSM?

I think IABSM is a rules set for WWII. "I Ain't Been Shot Mom" = IABSM …

You are quite right, those are the rules GGouveia is referring to when he says they got it right. So it would be nice to know what they did.