Battletech Tactics: Which APC?

[KageRyuu]

Rarely use APCs but for the sake of the argument, some kind of Tracked APC, Heavy Tracked APC comes to mind as it's fairly cheap, can carry quite the selection of infantry formations, and can offload their troops into some light woods giving them some cover to start with. That or Karnovs, still fairly cheap, extremely fast, and also has quite the troop compartment, course that either requires an Anti-Mech roll to dismount or Jump troops.

[errolwhitaker]

I'm about to experiment with vehicles, I have a couple lances of manticores backed by goblin IFVs and SRM infantry.

[Beatnik]

I usually like foot infantry or jump infantry. Yes, they are slow, but the speed is matched by the unique properties of these units to bypass most terrain penalties. In a city with lots of buildings, this makes infantry surprisingly quick, because they can take shortcuts through buildings that other units have to move around. Combine this with a threat bubble that can reach out two or more hexes, and foot platoons do their work to deny whole areas of the battlefield, which is what you deploy them to do. But getting them to where you want them can be a challenge when you're in the field. That's where APCs come in.

The problem with APCs is that the platoons are vulnerable so long as they are in there. So I try to have them in there for as few of turns as possible, preferably only one turn. I have a couple of Maxim heavy hover transports for when I want to get a platoon downrange in a hurry. They ain't cheap (764 BV), but they're as fast as a Locust (8/12/0) and can take a lucky light hit or two. I'm looking to get some cheap APCs, however, like the ones Fritz talked about that range from 60-100 BV or so, depending on the movement type. My thought is that I'd prefer the hover, because speed saves lives, and speed means less turns spent in transport, when the infantry are especially vulnerable.

[Linkous]

I've always liked the Maxim. Fast, decent armor, and good firepower for what it is.

[aprinnyonbreak]

Maybe it's the Ork in me, but my favorite transport has been a rough approximation of a Trukk. A box for infantry, with a Wrecking Ball on top and a flamer on the front, represented by the grinning chap in the passenger seat with a molotov.
There's nothing quite like flinging your tiny, 15 or 20 ton transport into glorious melee combat with something that outweighs it 4 times over, and meaningfully threatening it.
Heat from the flamer, piloting checks from the ball, and an honestly not terrible damage profile for something that has ostensibly already completed its primary purpose, and now is trying to die in the most productive way possible.

Heaven forbid your trukks find something like an Archer or a Blackjack that can't even instantly kill them when they stop moving.

[Mortvent]

For the most part, it really depends on narrative/function.

For mercs/mobile units I tend to use tracked vehicles (cover most terrains), city defense/militia I often go with wheeled vehicles (cheap and usually on roads/urban terrain).

Hovercraft are often a niche item for me, there are some nice ones. But the limits and weaknesses are something I worry about (motive hits are brutal). Especially for say for any unit that has to be flexible.

I do use the planetlifter and Karnov at times, but usually for getting scout units into the field vs being part of the main forces. Very useful, but risky to use at times vs something with punch.

I would expect most units to be using tracked vehicles as primary motive, simply because they never know what they will be dealing with terrain wise.

[CrankyOldGamer]

Love Death Ray Designs. Just did a review of their terrain on my channel. Great stuff!

[EdmondHiggins]

When it comes to troop transports I never know WiGE to pick. In spite of being over costed and from an Era it is hard to get games in, I love the Fensalir. I look forward to the inevitable Naval and WiGE episodes. Campaign goes fine until someone has to punch a submarine.

[moonknight]

I'm thinking about jumping ship from warhammer 40k to battletech or marvel crisis protocol could you discuss this

[akiraguy]

i use apc only in smash n grab scenario ie pirates.

[VultureXV]

As someone who's merc PMC has roots in the Capellan Confederation, I approve of this topic.

[Magermh]

I do use APC’s. The APC’s get immobilized on a regular. Moving the APC into a position and drop off the troopers as best. Motorized is my personal favored infantry type next to mechanized infantry units. This personal favorite of motorized leaves heavy tracked APC’s as the main transport. The basic APC’s are good for recon teams for spotters as the infantry compartment is limited.
When choosing motive type for the force. I go by the other motive types in the unit to keep tracking for the game easy. For instance, with Goblin IFV’s, the heavy tracked APC would be taken. In open terrain the APC’s are pulled back to be spotters when LRM units are a part of the force. But in some cases, I have set them at the end of a bridge to be used as road blocking for enemy vehicles. It’s a cheese tactic offering up the APC as bait for weapons fire as the infantry hold up in a building overlooking a fire lane.
Respected amounts of jump infantry are picked for hover APC’s. Combined with Maxum hover transports and maybe Drillsons or Condors and other hover tanks like the Saladin, Harasser, Pegasus, J Edger, or Savanna Master. Maybe some Hover Mechanized Infantry. It becomes an effective offensive hover force.
My personal favorite APC is the Maultier Intermediate or Machine gun. It could be in any force for 200 BV or less and carries battle armor if needed. The other in the Maxum (I) with a 12 ton infantry. The Maxum (I) is considered for any assault level of infantry from assault battle armor to loads of jump infantry.

[pilot]

Clanners know how to get infantry into battle. Elementals away!!!

[edwardclay]

What transport would you reccomend for Inner Sphere Battle Armour Fritz?

[CDMJDMHHC]

most apc's are battle taxi's and not true anti-mech afv's or ifv's

[nexusofice]

I really like his content but I really hate his abrupt cutoff style ending. LOL

[Gunner]

Fritz, are you receiving any compensation for these videos? If so you need to disclose it. I enjoy your videos and have learned a great deal, but will question your credibility if you don’t disclose.