Asmudius Heng, on 27 May 2013 - 12:11 PM, said:
Also - what does 'Support' weapon even mean?
Basically, a support weapon has a few common attributes. They are generally designated support weapons based on how it performs in the overall battle field environment.
The term "support" is very apt when discussing these weapons. They are, due to their attributes, not the mainline weapon in a particular scale of conflict in which they are used. Machine guns and man portable mortars are support to small scale infantry operations, while artillery batteries are support to large maneuver elements.
First, they generally have attributes that render them more difficult to employ. This may be special skills required for their operation, special ammunition (or extreme quantities of it), or the difficulty and unwieldiness of their operation. Most machine guns for example require an assistant gunner, a spare barrel (in case of barrel melt down), a tripod or bipod, massive quantities of ammunition for sustained operations, and special equipment needed to maintain the weapon in the field.
Second they do not merely replicate the effects of the mainline weapon; they bring unique capabilities to the battle not replicable with the normally employed weapon. The ability of mortars to suppress and strike troops behind hard cover is one example.
Finally, they are force multipliers so big that their use outweighs the pain in the *** that they are to use and field. They generally have huge impacts on the flow of the battle, otherwise the force employing them would never go to all the trouble of the special training, increased costs, and tricky employment associated with maintaining and fielding such kit.
Edited by Wendigo Vendetta, 27 May 2013 - 01:20 PM.