Profile of Mr.Smith

The two golden rules when playing against emplacement spam are:
1) Do NOT feed veterancy to the emplacements (at vet3, they get +50% health and, oh boy, do they vet up fast)
2) Use recon and always focus fire on Forward Assemblies first (no brace, low HP, doctrinal passive repairs with doctrine)

Then, (as OST) you either use PIVs (if they rely on AT guns) or Stugs (if they rely on tanks) to crush the sim city. In the late-game Elefant and LeFH also works wonders, too.

Now, with respect to Lorch, your best bet may have been to brute-force the south flank and take some VPs (so that you aren't bleeding as heavily and have a chance for the late game). The rest of the team could also harass the north flank (the emplacements can't move).

If you've tried too hard to brute-force middle (and failed), the emplacements would have achieved Vet3. In this case, you have only made your life harder.

This is not a reliable strategy by any means, but it's currently your best bet.

Once more comparing Gammon and satchel is quite pointless.

Different design intent and different timing.

Satchel is an AI/anti-garrison/anti-fortification/anti-structure device that can be used against vehicles.

Gammon is anti-vehicle device that can be used for AI/anti-garrison/anti-fortification purposes.

In order to find a more appropriate price, we need to compare it to something else which is already in the game.

We have already established that the gammon bomb is strictly inferior in terms of anti-garrison/anti-infantry to the satchel charge.

When it comes to AT performance, we have the following abilities to compare it with:

1) AT snares (25-ish munitions):
+ significantly longer range
+ no aiming required
+ "permanent" engine damage
- require 75% health on target
- deal less damage (but always hits)

2) AEC treadshot (45-ish munitions)
+ 50 range
+ snares the vehicle for 20 seconds (yes, 20...)
- requires both shots to land
- requires a Vet1 AEC

3) Target weak point (45-ish munitions)
+ 60 range
+ also stuns the vehicle for 3 secs (can't use abilities/fire back)
+ requires no other units to finish the job; the pak40 can do it by itself
- requires Vet1 Pak40

4) Guard button (45-ish munitions)
+ 40-ish range
+ instant
+ blinds vehicle
- only slows vehicle
- deals no damage
- requires Guards with DP-28 to use (weakest LMG in the game)

5) Gammon bomb (85-ish munitions)
+ second immobilize time
- temporary debuff; requires other units to exploit
- 12 range (requires a long-range unit to come to close range)
- damage only sufficient to kill a kubel (or bring a 222 to 40%-ish HP)
- long aim time + priming time

I don't remember the exact numbers, but I always use these abilities when the opportunity presents itself. None of these abilities give the enemy tank any other form of counterplay except for "don't sit in the firing arc for more than 1 second".

Now, before somebody says "Oh, but Gammon bomb is BOTH AI and AT, therefore the cost should be additive", you can never ever use a single gammon bomb to fulfil both roles at the same time. Therefore:
- The cost of the gammon bomb cannot be lower than the best role it performs
- The cost should not be significantly higher than that either. Each use of the ability serves exactly one purpose (either AI or AT)

If you are still not convinced:
Show Spoiler

Ergo, a 45-50-ish price tag for the Gammon bomb is neither too cheap nor too expensive.

2 more range is 20% which I would argue in not negligible. Gamon bomb also has more AOE 4.5vs3.75 (20% better.

Multiplying something small with 20% will still yield something small.

Would increasing the far accuracy of Shock Troops by 100% turn them into snipers? No, they are still going to be pathetically horrible at far range. In the case of Shock Troops even 100% is negligible. I'm not going to argue anymore about the range.

Now, regarding AoE::
- Gammon bomb has a wider radius (6 vs 5 -- AoE radius is a different thing from far AoE distance)

However, the Satchel charge deals more damage (340 vs 200). Does this make a difference vs infantry which has 80 health? Yes, it does:
- The Satchel charge deals enough damage to kill infantry models ANYWHERE within the explosion zone (340 * 0.25 = 85; I'm just multiplying with the far AoE damage multiplier here)
- The Gammon bomb does NOT deal enough damage in the outer ring to kill infantry (200 * 0.25 = 50).

That means that the Satchel Charge is lethal in a 5-unit radius.
The Gammon bomb is lethal in AT MOST a 4.5-unit radius (it's even lower).

Now, if somebody could tell me what is the Mid AoE distance & damage modifier for the gammon bomb, I could calculate the exact lethal distance for the gammon bomb.

Comparing Gammon bomb to the Satchel, here.

Hammer Gammon Bomb are meant to be used against vehicles and are extremely powerful if the explosion hits a vehicle.

It immobilizes any vehicle that it hits for 8 whole seconds...

The explosion is not really that powerful (200 vs 340 damage), however it does immobilize the vehicle for 8 seconds (the penal satchel doesn't seem to immobilize vehicles)

It has different range the satchel and different use and it should not be compared with it...

The throwing range on the gammon bomb is longer 12 vs 10, but I would argue that this is negligible. Penals also get Hurrah.

The Gammon bomb upgrade is not really non-tech; it comes a bit too late into the game, when Tommies' complete lack of utility begins to show.

My personal opinion that a "more spammable" gammon bomb at 45-50-ish munitions is not going to be much of a substitute for the lack of snaring options of that faction. (AT nades/fausts/etc are wayyy more spammable, and they cause permanent engine damage -- unless you play as USF).

PS: I can't really comment on the anti-infantry performance, since I can't launch my tools
But no, the Gammon bomb should not become a better satchel charge.

Hello.

I consider 75 munition beeing a fair price for the desrtuction caused.
Just don't use it like a grenade and don't targed mobile objects.
It oneshot any weapon team and defensive tools.
It is quite comparable with a mini demo- as a grenade or a goliath, all proportions kept in mind.

Kozokus.

Which defensive tools do you have in mind. I'm 100% sure it doesn't deal enough damage to kill a bunker (I've tried it a few days ago -- however, before the patch to be precise).

Also, regarding weapon teams. Does it take out just the crews, or also full-health guns themselves? Does it make a difference if the guns have been previously abandoned, or not?

I haven't tried it against mobile AT guns, but I know it doesn't work vs LeFH/Pak43 (again, pre-patch).