Uses of Multi Meltas as defensive weapons

[lobster-overlord]

Hi all,

This isn't a game rule related tactics question, but a real-world style question. In what circumstances would a Multi Melta be considered or used as a defensive weapon? I know of it as a vehicle killer as you move up an into enemy lines (Devastator, mounted on a Crusader, attack bike, or land speeder). In what capacity would it serve as a defensive weapon?

I got my hands on a pair of older metal crusader mounts, and was thinking of putting them atop a pair of turret mounted cannons I've been working on. They are the 3-3/4 scale Hoth Rebel Turret Cannons for Star Wars. I have them each rigged out as immobile baneblade cannons for Apoc games, and the multimelta was an add on I thought about for them as guns on the top. Would this make sense, or would they be better suited to conversions on tanks, or just unload them to someone who might need them for a crusader?

Thanks,

John M>

[Hadronas]

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Space_Marines/Space-Marine-Support/SPACE-MARINE-MULTI-MELTA-TARANTULA.html

[mysterex]

Hi all,

This isn't a game rule related tactics question, but a real-world style question. In what circumstances would a Multi Melta be considered or used as a defensive weapon? I know of it as a vehicle killer as you move up an into enemy lines (Devastator, mounted on a Crusader, attack bike, or land speeder). In what capacity would it serve as a defensive weapon?

I got my hands on a pair of older metal crusader mounts, and was thinking of putting them atop a pair of turret mounted cannons I've been working on. They are the 3-3/4 scale Hoth Rebel Turret Cannons for Star Wars. I have them each rigged out as immobile baneblade cannons for Apoc games, and the multimelta was an add on I thought about for them as guns on the top. Would this make sense, or would they be better suited to conversions on tanks, or just unload them to someone who might need them for a crusader?

Thanks,

John M>

I don't know, I think multimeltas are a bit short ranged for emplaced weapon. Any vehicle just shoot it from range and then move in. But as a hidden booby trap a completely different story.

[Aspire to Glory]

IRL? Better as a vehicle mounted weapon, but could work in an emplacement in a pinch. Mainly for anti-tank ambushes.

[fuzzbuket]

not for along a trench (and why cause autocannons look badass) but i reckon for things like gates and trenchmouths as well as buildings they would be quite good,.

[lobster-overlord]

i like the idea of heavily defended gate emplacements. For my mining colony table idea that would be perfect. Even built up like the tarantula and set inside the gates. THanks for the input guys.

John M>

[Nabterayl]

I think the key to them in defensive emplacements is the terrain. A multi-melta emplacement (be it Tarantula or other emplacement) makes the most sense when the enemy can't even see the emplacement until they get close. Defending blind corners in a city, for instance, or in mountainous terrain or canyons.

[DarkLink]

Realistically, a multi-melta would be a weapon purely for urban warfare. It lacks the range to do anything else. Longer ranged weapons, like lascannons, would be much more beneficial on vehicles. Only Space Marines would be able to carry them on foot to make good use of them in other situations.

[thelion]

well i think that it might work well as a point defence weapon these weapons are used to defend big easy to hit targets from smaller more mobile assault craft, and simmalar weapons are used to clear the dore and ramp areas for acp's and assault boarding craft (ie the cestius assault vic)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_defence

[DarkLink]

Except you'll notice most of those types of weapons are high rate of fire, to allow it to engage highly mobile threats that are inside the main weapon's range. Light fast vehicles are what slips past your main defenses, not heavy, slow, and clumsy main battle tanks. Anything a multimelta will kill, the main gun on a tank or weapons emplacement will probably kill better. Anything slow enough for single shot guns to hit will allow the main gun to engage it effectively, while a multimelta would be useless against light fast threats compared to an assault cannon (which would be the closest equivalent to a CIWS, probably).

Urban warfare specifically forces close range engagements, which uniquely allows for heavy weapons platforms to take advantage of such a short ranged weapon system. Otherwise, the range is inadequate. Infantry could set effective ambushes with multi-meltas in cramped quarters, but otherwise the multi-melta is too heavy to be an effective frontline infantry weapon and too short ranged to be an effective weapon for a fire support unit. The exception is Space Marines, who can not only carry a multi-melta fairly easily, but can also drop in right on top of their target to negate the issue of range.

So multi-meltas would be a common weapon for Space Marines, but a specialist weapon for IG.

[Nabterayl]

I don't think it needs to be urban warfare specifically, just that the terrain encourages fights at close range. Any terrain where ranges are confined to small arms (i.e., where you don't need more range than offered by a combat rifle), I think, would be conducive to multi-melta use. That means that plenty of outdoor environments where lines of sight are restricted would work, I think.

[DarkLink]

Urban is the most common case, though. Most other instances I can think of, like jungles, would in and of themselves make vehicles unusable simply by having such rough terrain, thick vegetation, and loose soil and mud that there wouldn't be many vehicles to use the multi-meltas on.