Dirt Side Vehicle Turning

Being new to Dirt Side, I have what is probably a dumb question.

In the section on vehicle movement, turning isn't fully explained.

Are there any restrictions, or can all vehicles turn on a dime?

In a message dated 97-01-13 09:24:39 EST, you write:

> Being new to Dirt Side, I have what is probably a dumb question.

I've never found a turning restriction in the rules, so we play with no
restrictions on turning, which makes sense in terms of the ground/time
scale. However, when moving your vehicles, you must turn them to face and move
them foward, etc. This can be important for opportunity fire. If your opponent
suspects you are about to move laterally, he'll wait until you turn your flank
armor then zap you good. We allow behicles to move in reverse, treating all
terrain as on grade more difficult.

Later

Brian

> On Mon, 13 Jan 1997, gordon peterson wrote:

There are no restrictions on vehicle turning, but facing is important
because your front armor is thicker than your side/rear armor.
Facing is also important during your move for your opponent's opportunity
fire, and at the beginning/end of your move for your own fire.

The related question is: can a vehicle move sideways & backwards as fast as it
can move forwards? In other words, if you want a grav tank to retreat as fast
as it can (30"), can it retreat backwards the full 30" while presenting only
its front armor to your opponent?

Since the rules don't prohibit it, we've played that you can do this, but I
think that's pushing the limits of the game a little bit.

> Are there any restrictions, or can all vehicles turn on a dime?

Considering that each turn is 15min, even the slowest vehicle can do 360o's
all day long and not expend movement on doing so.

Date sent:  14-JAN-1997 12:49:13

> The related question is: can a vehicle move sideways & backwards as

> Since the rules don't prohibit it, we've played that you can do this,

A reasonable compromise would seem to be that you can move any direction and
end with any facing, but you must be facing the direction of travel
while moving. (Only important for op-fire.)