Hello all. Today I would like to present a future gameplay option that I think would add more depth to the game specifically in maps that have lots of open water/suitable waterways.
My suggestion is simple, add one time use MTBs to the game in specific maps and locations. This is not an unprecedented feature, there are already maps where you can take off in aircraft that are on the runway of an airfield or on a dock.
Implementation: The idea is not that both sides have MTBs present at the same time, I dont see MTB-on-MTB combat being in anyway relevant to the current play style or objective of any mission type on any map. Instead the idea is that either the defending or attacking team would have access to their respective MTB; this would all depend on game balance and the situation. Maybe in some maps it makes more sense for the Attacking team to have an MTB and vice-versa. Every map would pose a different scenario and I would leave this up to the devs to figure out. Obviously the MTB would either have to be within the bounds of the play. Alternatively, the Devs could add Docks in key areas. The MTBs would be waiting to be used once that area of the map is unlocked by advancing in the match.
Under no circumstances am I suggesting that this should be implemented into the research tree as a premium, event or regular squad.
Role: The role of the MTB would be two-fold, as a transport vehicle and as a land attacker against mainly infantry and maybe some light vehicles. Think of them as waterborne APCs.
The following existing Maps I think would be good to see MTBs in(you may notice a pattern):
The Pacific
MTBs:
Type 4 Mod.2
Armament:37mm Type 4 naval cannon with HE and APHE ammo
Type 98 20mm cannon
Crew: 13 (kindof an irrelevant stat, I’m just including it to show that you can bring your whole squad with you)
Armor: 4-8mm(steel)
Top speed: 48km/h foward, 14km/h back.
PTF-7
Armament: x2 20mm Oerlikon cannons
.50cal AN- M2 Browning
40 mm Bofors L/60 Mark 3 gun
Crew: 21
Armor: 15-30mm(wood)
Top speed: 83km/h foward, 27km/h back
Gavutu:
talk about a map perfect for this type of vehicle.
On the South East side of the map the MTB could be sitting, waiting to be manned, in the dock next to the warehouse.
On the North East side of the map the MTB could occupy either of the docks, replacing on of the float planes.
New Georgia:
On the West side of the map there is a dock behind the airfield
On the East side there are a bunch of floating docks were an MTB could potentially be boarded from.
Tunisia
(you are now entering fantasy land do not take the following suggestions seriously)
These are a little far-fecthed, I dont imagine an MTB would travel so far in-land for river gunboat duties, however until a Mediterrainean map is added this is the only option to see Axis or Common Wealth MTBs.
That being said, if in the future there are Mediterrainean Maps, like the Seige of Malta for example, these would be my suggestions for MTBs
MTBs:
MAS 561
Armament: x2 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT HMGs
20mm/65 Breda cannon
Crew: 15
Armor: 15-40mm(wood)
Top speed: 80km/h foward, 32km/h back
Armament: x2 Turrets x2 12.7mm Vickers V HMGs
40mm Rolls Royce Semi-automatic cannon.
Crew: 12
Armor: 15-40mm(wood)
Top speed: 74km/h foward, 20km/h back
Gorge:
The terrain of this map would make it very restrictive for MTBs to manouver and the cliff faces in some areas would leave them vulnerable to rocket and grenade attacks from overhead. There is also the historical problem of this scenario almost certainly never happening in this theather of combat, but as I said until DF adds a Mediterrainean map the Axis and Common Wealth may never be represented in this way.
There are some docks at the nort eastern river mouth, however at this time I don’t know if that is even in the play area for any mode, and since the idea is to have these vessels be an organic part of the map it would only work if they were within the play area.
On the approach to the River Island with the mansion there is a small dock with boats on it.
Another dock on the west side of the island
On the south side of said island there is yet another dock.
