Effects of Encirclement Operation in SP
 

Ok, aside from protecting your delicate units on the rear (supply ammo, arties, HQ, etc) and maintaining your balance (related to troops' disposition), what is the main reason of avoiding an attacker's encirclement operation in SP? I know that the game scale doesnt allow for simulation of morale-dropping, critical fuel & ammo status, & cutting off of communication to higher HQ, which are (one of) the primary reasons of commencing encirclement operation.

Am I right in saying that the main purpose of encirclement in SP is to "Utterly Annihilate" your opponent's forces, in which way he can't withdraw his forces to gray hex area bordering the map? I just found out that withdrawing your forces into gray hexes, WONT lose you points, NOR give your opponent any points. So this gray-area is a kind of safe haven for those who can't continue the battle, while avoiding the destruction of his own remaining units (so that the opponent won't take any more points). Am I right?

RD

Re: Effects of Encirclement Operation in SP
 

If you can get a significant force in the rear you can:
- Ambush enemy retreating units.
- Taking the enemy units at the front under crossifre, making their position untenable.
That being said I never managed a full encirclement. If the enemy made a run to the rear they usually managed to get significant forces off map. I would rather let them go than lose
good units to ambushes from scattered untis.
Generally I only try to get some infantry in the enemy artillery park.

Re: Effects of Encirclement Operation in SP
 

Imagine a situation this way: you're in a PBeM battle against someone and the rule said "e-mail diplomacy will either mean decisive victory or decisive defeat". That is, if you think you can no longer put up a fight, you have two choices: 1)Make e-mail diplomacy (surrendering, hence decisive defeat), or 2)Retreat to the gray hexes and avoid more losses (so at least you can achieve a minor defeat or even a draw).
Viewed from opponent's point of view, he will either surround your forces to achieve complete isolation and squeeze what last points he can get out of your forces, or, he will continually send you surrender e-mail. (if we assume that winning streak is so important for both sides).

What you said is not generally an encirclement, Marcello. It can be achieved either by flanking, or infiltration. So maybe I can say that FULL encirclement in SP doesnt have any significant effect (unless you're under the situation I stated above) ?

Re: Effects of Encirclement Operation in SP
 

Against a human opponent - consider the psychological effects of a force appearing in his rear.

Even a small raid can have effects way beyond their points value as the opponent shifts attacking forces off-mission to deal with the threat, race back to protect his arty park of guns, SAMS and ammo carriers etc.

This is especially true of the sort of player that does not consider maintaining a reserve is necessary :)!.

Also - in the defence or delay, you should always walk a few little infantry ambushes (and/or a couple of scout cars with a decent cannon - the Fox, say) forwards of the deployment lines if the terrain (cover) permits. A human opponent may be demoralised by being "bumped" in what he had considered no-man's land. You may get a kill opportunity on a juicy bunched-up road column of loaded APCs etc which he was planning to go tactical with a turn or so later on. That is perhaps not the usual idea of "flanking" - but it is, in a small way.

Andy

Re: Effects of Encirclement Operation in SP
 

The AI and your own units will react the same way if either is retreating from the field during a game. Once objectives are reached I find that I'm a little more ruthless then the AI can be, however depending on the type of units running in the enemies rear will dictate "our" tactics and who we go after. I personally am hunting for the HQ unit. I can't say about the AI but the harder the settings are set the more aggressive I've seen the AI in the situation discussed and in general play in my experience. But "we've both" suffered as noted from units that have rallied especially from specialized units such as ATGW or AAGM teams SO BE CAREFUL. It's a good thing (But bad as well?) the AI doesn't buy ammo support or I would've been toast a few more times. Personally I believe in the supply chain.

Regards,
Pat