M113 Blowpipe
Like most Canadian support units, this vehicle is just a regular old M113 protecting specialized equipment for a specific role. In this case, the equipment in question is the Blowpipe shoulder-mounted launcher.
In Team Yankee
The poor mans ADATS, the Blowpipe is capable of engaging almost anything (rather poorly). With AP 12, it struggles to penetrate anything stronger than a Leopard 1 but deals with IFVs and APCs decently though you probably wouldn't want to waste shots on infantry when you already have better options for that. Can't fire on the move, so a bit tricky to work with Canada's overall shoot'n'scoot mentality. Don't mistake this as an alternative to the ADATS or vice versa, as the two often need each other to truly take advantage of their mutual multirole status.
Counter-argument: While the ADATS/Blowpipe combo might work, I would argue that the Blowpipe is the Starbucks to your Tim Hortons'. While the ADATs can make its points back VERY easily in the right situation, the Blowpipe will struggle to do the same. It has passable air-defence against NATO aircraft, but lacks the number of shots needed to quickly splash Frogfoots and Hinds. The Blowpipe section is overcosted at 3 vehicles for 4 points, or 6 points for 8 points. Assuming the enemy goes with an air-heavy list, your Blowpipes lack the raw efficiency of dedicated air defence units like the Roland or Rapier. They might pick off a model or two, but need far more time to grind through a hind flight, never mind several squadrons. Its use in ground-defence is strictly situational: you would not bring the blowpipe if you did not expect units in the air. In this role, it competes with the [Leopard 1#Canada|Leopard C1], which does the anti-ground role far better. I would argue that a combination of Leopard C1s and ADATS would be more rounded, with the Leopards om-nom-noming light units with brutal shots while the ADATs snipes heavy tanks.
Where it does excel, however, is in competitive high point games where air cavalry lists emerge. Rather than being a good unit, it is a necessary one to provide sufficient air cover. It is not a strong unit, just a nudge to ensure that your air defence will chew through enemy helicopters before they chew through your air defence.
Despite having the hatch swung wide open, the vehicle is not treated as being open-topped.
IRL
Just like the Spartan Blowpipe, you’re supposed to dismount from the vehicle to fire the weapon.
| Canadian Forces in Team Yankee | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | Leopard C1 |
| Transports: | M113 APC |
| Infantry: | Canadian Mechanized Platoon |
| Artillery: | M109 Field Battery - M125 81mm |
| Anti-Aircraft: | ADATS - M113 Blowpipe |
| Tank Hunters: | M150 TOW |
| Recon: | Lynx RECCE Patrol - M113 OP |
| US Support: | M1 Abrams - M60 Patton - US Mech Platoon - A-10 Warthog |
| WG Support: | Leopard 2 - Marder Panzergrenadiers - BO-105P - Tornado |