The Commander Series Forum

Ciao Pete,
I have a little question.
Can a tank cross a trench or a pit with enemy troops inside?
I post this question because in Terrain movement summary chart trenches and pits are Obstacle (count as linear terrain), but then the rules say that "not voluntarily move
closer than 5cm.to a visible enemy unit unless assaulting."
So I ask you if a tank (that cannot assault troops in cover without inf.support)can move in contact with the trench and with a successive order cross the trench as sometime during a massive attack of tanks on the eastern front.

It can cross a trench, counting as a linear obstacle. If the trench contains infantry, an assault will take place (by the tank).

Thank Pete so can tank close assault inf. in cover?

Excuse me Pete but my question was that "AFV may only assault units that are in the open" so I don't understand if "open" means open terrain or troop without cover.
If "open" means terrain then tanks cannot CA inf. in a trench in a low or high area terrain, is it right?

I would love to know the answer to this follow up question posted by Leonardo: Can a tank close assault an infantry unit in a trench? According to the rules it seems not, but Pete says it can. How do others treat this situation?

I would treat it as follows. If the trench is in the open then the tank could close assault it. IRRC tis happened in the first world war. If the trench is in cover (woods, etc) then the tank could not assault the infantry in the trench.