Role of the SPW251/2 Gw?

[hveldenz]

Can someone tell me how the Germans used the SPW251/2 Gw 81mm Mortar halftrack? Was it used as mobile indirect fire mortar platform?
Pluses in the game:
Mobile, good ammo load out, can 'roll' with the front to stay in range.

Minuses in the game:
Expense per gun/tube w.r.t. regular 81mm mortars (multitube units), ? priorty target

Or did the Germans use it as sort of a backrow direct fire sniper:
Pluses:
Smoke fire, reasonable to hits (18-20%) on infantry and ATGs once stable, good range, low priority target compared to tanks in closer or uncovered flakwagens right next door. Good ammo, MG fire also.
Minuses:
Poor accuracy until has been still in a position, single tube, weak kill/damage results by impression.

Comments from the community? What was its historical role? What is it best used as in the game?

[Nox]

Sertainly no directfire weapon, basicaly it was a SdKfz-251 halftrack whit an 81mm mortar on the floor and ammunition boxes. The mortar could be fired from the vehicle or taken out and fired normaly from the ground. Only reason for halftrack mounting was that it could keep up whit the mechanised infantry and provide fast fire support.

Picture of the 81mm mortar on the halftrack floor:
http://www.czolgiem.com/niemcy/foto/sd251x2.jpg

[hveldenz]

Nox,

Thanks for your answer. Now I know the history on the SdKfz-251/2-GW (sorry for the earlier wrong label.)

I still like using it as a direct fire 'smoker' http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif