Captured Vehicles & Battlefield Recognition Symbols

[Slappy]

Side point here. I used to impose penalties to using captured vehicles, particularly for recently captured and for PCs that didn't have the appropriate language skills. Don't expect that you can just jump in a foreign vehicle and operate it at normal effectiveness immediately. We had several "oops! so that's what that lever does!" moments.

[Legbreaker]

Sounds a little like the aircraft (specifically helicopters) piloting rules from 1st ed (in Free City of Krakow). Your skill level dictated how many aircraft you were familiar with and you had penalties for trying to fly unfamiliar ones. Machines labelled in foreign languages the character was not familiar with attracted greater penalties.

[Targan]

Sounds a little like the aircraft (specifically helicopters) piloting rules from 1st ed (in Free City of Krakow). Your skill level dictated how many aircraft you were familiar with and you had penalties for trying to fly unfamiliar ones. Machines labelled in foreign languages the character was not familiar with attracted greater penalties.

Yes indeed. Just last night I was watching an episode of Air Crash Investigations in which a crash that killed everyone on board was 100% due to the senior pilot having been trained in Soviet aircraft where the appearance of the artificial horizon instrument is very different to the western configuration.

[Blink_Dog]

I'd strip the weapons out of the turret and put red cross symbols on it, make people at first think it's a medical vehicle.

[rcaf_777]

Side point here. I used to impose penalties to using captured vehicles, particularly for recently captured and for PCs that didn't have the appropriate language skills. Don't expect that you can just jump in a foreign vehicle and operate it at normal effectiveness immediately. We had several "oops! so that's what that lever does!" moments.

I can see that for tanks and fighting vehicles, but not so much for wheeled vehicles like trucks and Jeeps

[pmulcahy11b]

I can see that for tanks and fighting vehicles, but not so much for wheeled vehicles like trucks and Jeeps

I would have a problem with Pact jeeps and suchlike: I never learned how to drive a standard. Some PCs may have this problem as well.

[Raellus]

I'd strip the weapons out of the turret and put red cross symbols on it, make people at first think it's a medical vehicle.

Legally speaking, could that act be treated like wearing enemy uniforms Regardless, that sort of dirty trick, should you be caught, would likely result in a summary execution.

[.45cultist]

I would have a problem with Pact jeeps and suchlike: I never learned how to drive a standard. Some PCs may have this problem as well.

After being in Japan, I can shift with my left! Hated the 1/4T column shift pick ups.

[CDAT]

I'd strip the weapons out of the turret and put red cross symbols on it, make people at first think it's a medical vehicle.

I think that if you have combat troops in it and/or non medical troops this could be a war crime. Do they care at that point that is a different question.

[Legbreaker]

Easy fix. Make it a black cross.
The vehicle is still classed as an ambulance, however it is allowed to actually use it's weapons for more than just self defence.

[Targan]

I would have a problem with Pact jeeps and suchlike: I never learned how to drive a standard. Some PCs may have this problem as well.

Auto cars, manual cars, trucks with split shift gear boxes, motorcycles - bring it on. I can drive them all.

[CDAT]

Easy fix. Make it a black cross.
The vehicle is still classed as an ambulance, however it is allowed to actually use it's weapons for more than just self defence.

I do not think that would work either, any ambulance can not have a weapon on it. The Black cross is what we used from battalion aid station forward, red battalion aid station rear. The weapon is one of the things That makes a difference between Medivac (Medical Evacuation), and Casevac (Casualty Evacuation).

[Legbreaker]

Auto cars, manual cars, trucks with split shift gear boxes, motorcycles - bring it on. I can drive them all.

Most non-Americans have no problem with manual gearboxes. Quite common.
I for one refuse to drive an automatic unless I absolutely have to - less control over the vehicle and no good for towing. They also tend to be about 5-10% more expensive.

[aspqrz]

Legally speaking, could that act be treated like wearing enemy uniforms Regardless, that sort of dirty trick, should you be caught, would likely result in a summary execution.

Treachery and Perfidy. There's specific rules for abusing Red Cross and Truce signs ... but summary execution is not normally allowed, there has to be some sort of judicial proceeding (there are probably exceptions or legal caveats, but I can't remember any offhand).

There was a case just after the war where a German soldier was tried for firing on US troops from a clearly marked red cross/ambulance, convicted, and sentenced to 6 months gaol time.

http://www.worldcourts.com/imt/eng/decisions/1946.08.09_United_States_v_Hagendorf.pdf

is the report on that case,

Phil

[pmulcahy11b]

Most non-Americans have no problem with manual gearboxes. Quite common.
I for one refuse to drive an automatic unless I absolutely have to - less control over the vehicle and no good for towing. They also tend to be about 5-10% more expensive.

The family cars were mostly automatic; my stepmonster tried to teach me on a manual, but he gave up in less than an hour after much gear-grinding. He never tried again.

As far as I know, in my family only my ex-brother-in-law knows how to drive a standard. And the stepmonster.

Many have tried to teach me standards over my time in the Army, on various jeeps and old deuce-and-a-halfs. All have failed -- I just can't get the use of the clutch and shifter down. Luckily, the Army started to move to automatic transmission for all its vehicles not long after I enlisted.