Editing M163 VADS (section)

==In Team Yankee==
===USA===
[[File:M163 Stat Card.jpg|300px|left|thumb|The Stat Card]]
The only weapon of this adorably tiny vehicle is the M168 20mm Vulcan Gatling AA Gun, which is capable of close to 3000 RPM. This gives the gun an absurd ROF, 7 while halted and 4 on the move. This is especially epic as the M163 has the special rule Dedicated AA, meaning that it can fire at its full rate of fire (either 7 or 4 depending on if it has moved) at aircraft, rather than only rolling 1 die. The VADS also has the special rule Radar, meaning that it ignores the +1 penalty for shooting at aircraft, and increases the AA range by 12 inches. This thing will absolutely shred aircraft within its 32-inch range.

If there are no aircraft around, the M163 VADS is quite decent at dealing with lightly armored vehicles and infantry. The M168 Vulcan has an AT rating of 6 meaning that, say, a BMP (either 1 or 2) will get glanced by this weapon on a 4+. However, the Firepower rating is only 5+, so only 1/3 of your penetrating hits will knock out the tank.

As for defense, the M163 VADS has the standard defense of the M113 chassis, except for the top. The top armor rating is 0 because of the gunner's open-topped turret. Long story short, any airborne weapon system with an AT rating greater than 6 is an auto-pen, so make sure you take down aircraft before they tear you a new one (which you should have been doing anyway). Artillery's ability to hit the top armor also means that these cute but vulnerable death machines should be hidden from any possible spotters.

You get 2 VADS in a platoon for 3 points and 4 for 6.

===Israel===
[[File:VADS.jpg|300px|thumb|left|We won't need the Amphibious floats in a desert, right?]]

For the Israeli commander, this unit is a strictly better Shilka in most cases. Its main gun has near identical stats: superior to the Shilka with a faster dash speed, better stationary ROF and front armor that might actually protect you from .50 cal fire and autocannons.

The Shilka has 1 less shot while stationary (ROF 6 vs 7). It also features weaker armor from the front and sides which is only relevant for autocannon fire: anything heavier like a LAW will be going through your soft-skinned chassis. Additionally, the Shilka features much worse dash speeds. 

However, your trade-off is a weaker top armor which may be a dealbreaker to some players. In a world of infantry dominance, artillery is an auto-include for almost every combined arms list. This means units with top armor 0 are in serious trouble, given that you have a 50% chance to survive a mortar hit from an AT3 shell, from artillery units like the M106 and the Gvozdika. Additionally, the front armor may prove irrelevant considering the prevalence of AT10 autocannons and light tanks (think T-62s and Leopard 1s) which auto-penetrate both the Shilka and VADS alike.

TL;DR:
+1 to courage, assault, counterattack. +2 to skill.
More vulnerable to artillery than the Shilka. Superior firepower as an AA piece or a fire support vehicle.


{{clear}}