ACQUISITION OF TARGETS

In order to fire at an element or call down indirect fire on a target it must have been acquired at the time the fire is to be carried out or requested, respectively.

An element remains acquired until the line of sight (LOS) is broken, the number required to see it after all modifications exceeds 10, or the observer acquires another target.

A vehicle that moves at more than half speed may only acquire to make a request or respond to the enemy’s presence.

Deployment of elements.
Any element within visible range can be placed on the table as long as both sides have clearly written orders and objectives. Units moving out of sight can be recorded on a map or represented by markers, spurious markers being used to maintain secrecy and surprise. When moving into sight of an enemy, models replace their respective markers. Only those enemies in sight of, or having communicated with those in sight of enemy troops may react to them.

All elements except MFCs, FOOs, FACs and infantry with enemy within 10cm (200m) may make only one acquisition attempt per phase, unless mistaken identity applies (see 10.7). However, any target that is within 100m of the target acquired, that requires the same number or less to acquire, is also spotted if the target element is acquired, providing it has either fired or moved in the last possible phase. Fire from the acquirer may then be changed to one of these targets in the next firing phase, providing there is no intervening upward change in the acquisition number.

MFCs, FOOs and FACs may each make up to two acquisitions, but only one of these may be selected for action. The second acquisition must be of a target more than 250m from the first.

Infantry with potential targets within 10cm (200m) may make one acquisition at a target over 10cm and up to two acquisitions at targets within 10cm. Only one die roll is made for targets under 10cm and any modifiers are applied to this for each of them individually.

All elements are given a target size number depending on their dimensions and aspect being presented to the observer. Those at intermediate angles can have their aparent size calculated simply. E.g. a tank of size 7/15 (front/side) seen from approximately 45° would have an apparent size of 11, half-way between the two.

Vehicles have three main aspects: front/rear, side (top to aircraft overflying) and hull down, which are given in the vehicle data. Examples of trucks, jeeps and field cars are given in the army lists and others can be deduced from these.

Other elements are as given below.

Target size	Element type
8 7 6	Artillery over 155mm Artillery over 76.2mm, AA over 25mm ATK guns over 57mm, artillery to 76.2mm, AA up to 25mm
5 4	ATK guns up to 57mm, mortars over 90mm, animal teams, mounted cavalry/bicycle troops MMG/HMG sections, mortars up to 90mm, bicycle troops or cavalry dismounted but with mounts, infantry sections moving
3 2	Independent FOOs moving Infantry sections gone to ground
1 0	Independent FOOs gone to ground Vehicle periscopes, troops hiding and unable to fire

'Gone to ground' indicates an element stationary and using natural cover or minor (unshown) ground features and undulations, with men prone or kneeling, but able to observe and fire all weapons. They only count as in cover if using cover shown on the table. Artillery and support weapon sizes are for when set up in such positions. When limbering, unlimbering or on tow add the gun and vehicle sizes together.

A target is classed as either in the open or in cover. To count as in cover it must comply with one of the following.

If a vehicle, it must a) have spent at least half a period in a wood, among scrub, broken ground or buildings, or have come into sight from behind terrain that blocks LOS and not moved more than 250m in sight, or b) be of size 5 to 15 behind and touching a linear obstacle from the direction of the observer.

If any other element, it must have spent at least half a period in a wood, among scrub, broken ground or buildings, behind a linear obstacle such as a hedge, wall or gully, or behind and touching a contour.

Sky-lined: if an element stops on or moves over a top contour it cannot count as being in cover that period, however far it moves, to an observer at the same or lower level unless there is terrain that appears to the observer to be higher behind the element.

Hull-down is when a vehicle is exposing a minimal part of its hull or turret in order to observe and fire.

A vehicle may not move more than half speed and take up a hull-down position, but must either stay out of sight behind the contour or become fully exposed on the contour, then take up a hull-down position in its next movement phase. This is because it takes time and fine adjustment to effectively occupy a hull-down position.

A hull-down position will give an area of dead ground below a vehicle depending on the height of the terrain. The dead ground is 200m per contour higher than the proposed target. As guns have better elevation than depression, halve the distance for those firing up a hill. The distance is measured from the far edge of the contour away from the firing vehicle.

A vehicle behind a linear obstacle counts as hull-down for acquisition but not for shooting.

Swimming vehicles count as hull-down for both acquisition and firing.

A turreted vehicle may not fire any hull-mounted guns or subsidiary turrets if it is claiming to be hull down, e.g. T-28 turret MGs, M3 Lee 75mm, any bow MG.

Dug-in vehicles are treated as if behind a contour and in cover, for other elements the modifier in the acquisition table is used.

Find the acquisition number for the appropriate target type at the measured range on the Acquisition Table, below, and modify it for any of the factors listed that apply. This number or higher must be rolled on a D20.

Acquisition table

Target size	Target in the open up to									Target in cover up to
	50	100	250	500	1000	2000	3000	5000		50	100	250	500	1000	2000	3000	5000
26+	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1		1	2	2	3	4	4	5	7
25	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	2		2	2	3	4	4	5	7	9
24	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	2		2	3	3	4	5	7	8	10
23	1	1	1	1	2	2	3	3		3	3	4	5	6	8	10	12
22	1	1	2	2	3	3	4	5		3	4	4	6	7	9	11	14
21	1	2	2	3	3	4	5	7		3	4	5	6	8	10	12	15
20	2	2	3	3	4	5	7	8		4	4	6	7	9	11	14	17
19	2	3	3	4	5	6	8	10		4	5	6	8	10	12	15	19
18	2	3	4	5	6	7	9	12		4	5	7	8	11	13	16	21
17	3	3	4	5	7	9	11	13		5	6	7	9	11	14	18	22
16	3	4	5	6	8	10	12	15		5	6	8	10	12	15	19	24
15	3	4	5	7	9	11	13	17		5	7	8	11	13	16	21	26
14	4	5	6	7	9	12	15	18		6	7	9	11	14	18	22	27
13	4	5	7	8	10	13	16	20		6	8	10	12	15	19	23	29
12	5	6	7	9	11	14	17	22		6	8	10	13	16	20	25	-
11	5	6	8	10	12	15	19	23		7	9	11	13	17	21	26	-
10	5	7	8	10	13	16	20	25		7	9	11	14	18	22	27	-
9	6	7	9	11	14	17	21	27		8	9	12	15	18	23	29	-
8	6	7	9	12	14	18	23	28		8	10	12	15	19	24	-	-
7	6	8	10	12	15	19	24	-		8	10	13	16	20	25	-	-
6	7	8	10	13	16	20	25	-		9	11	13	17	21	26	-	-
5	7	9	11	14	17	21	27	-		9	11	14	18	22	27	-	-
4	7	9	11	14	18	22	28	-		9	12	15	18	23	28	-	-
3	8	10	12	15	19	23	29	-		10	12	15	19	24	-	-	-
2	8	10	13	16	20	24	-	-		10	13	16	20	25	-	-	-
1	9	11	14	17	21	26	-	-		11	14	17	21	26	-	-	-
0	10	12	15	18	22	28	-	-		12	15	18	22	27	-	-	-

The acquisition number is modified by any of the following that apply:

-2	Element being acquired fired rifles, LMG, Lt mortar, ATK rifle or PIAT Element being acquired moved between 50m and 250m in sight
-3	Element being acquired fired ATK rocket launcher, MMG, HMG, mortar up to 90mm, RCL up to 90mm or gun up to 57mm Element being acquired moved between 251m and 750m within sight Element being acquired ‘handed on’ by friends on the same radio net or within 100m
-5	Element being acquired fired any other weapon not listed
-7	Element being acquired fired flamethrower or artillery rockets
+2	Observing through artillery fire zone Observing on the move, up to half speed Target is dispersed Observer illuminated by searchlight
+3	Any suppressed element but AFV observing Target dug in Observing through rocket fire zone Observer is on AA overwatch Observer illuminated by CDL
+5	Suppressed AFV observing or observing out of normal visibility arc Observing on the move, over half speed Observing through partial smoke, snow, fog or heavy rain
+7	Observing in partial moonlight
+9	Observing at night without light
+	Night vision modifier from table 15.2
Movement modifiers are not cumulative Observing on the move applies if movement was made during the last movement phase

‘Handed on by friends’ can include being fired at by infantry command elements or others designated as using tracer rounds. Such rounds should have their distribution previously ordered and controlled by a cost of 1 point per command element, 2 for others. Infantry may not contribute to passing on an enemy location merely by firing rifles or MG at them unless the unit observing is within 100m of the firer or target.

Dust trails.
Vehicles kicking up dust while moving at more than ¼ speed, if in sandy or dusty terrain, will reveal their presence out to the limits of visibility. Acquisition of such vehicles will be subject to a modifier of –2 unless being viewed through the dust cloud when the modifier is +1.

Dust plumes. Guns firing in dusty or sandy conditions will kick up a plume of dust revealing their location with an acquisition modifier one greater than normal for the type of gun.

Any case of an acquisition attempt failing, a further attempt to acquire the nearest or most visible element of its own nationality in the same general line of sight or area. If this is successful with a score of within 20% (round down) of the number required, it must be targeted and engaged if possible. If a more positive acquisition is made, or none, or there is no friendly target applicable, no further action is taken.

E.g. a SiG33 supporting an infantry assault attempts to acquire an enemy FOO at 500m and fails, when larger enemy elements are more easily seen. It fails and so must then try to acquire the most visible friendly infantry section, requiring 5 for a moving firing target. 20% of 5 = 1, so if 5 or 6 is thrown the friendly fire is carried out.

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