[RERomine]

Originally Posted by Lt. Ketch

Not a bad idea. What organization do you normaly have when you hit the rear area? For example, your set up your forces: recon up front, tanks and infantry main body, mobile reserve in rearish area of main body and then just press forward maintaining the spacing between the recon and body.
Or, after you hit the enemy do you fold around his flanks and penitrate his line at weak spots letting the units that penitrate in force ravage the rear? Let me put it another way, do you advance like a bulldozer or like water?

The reason I ask is because I'm curious how you keep from losing too many units to the rear forces. As I've related, I'm always losing the units that penitrate the line. I understand that good recon can help with this, but how do you set it up? A basic thought for me is to regroup my forces after sending the enemy packing and reestablish the scouts (which ever ones are left) and basicly begin another advance against the rear units. Any thoughts or personal experiences?

In an assault, support units (engineers) lead out to breach the obstacles. Initially, the engineers move out alone because they will be delayed at the obstacles and draw artillery. The core moves out attempting to arrive in time to exploit the breach just as it opens, but after enemy artillery has started falling. Once the incoming mail starts, you can alter your advance to avoid the impact zone. People shift artillery, but the AI doesn't seem to do so. This doesn't mean the AI won't have uncommitted artillery to still bring in.

Recon units, followed by armor, half-track mounted infantry, SPAs, SPAAs, etc., breach the gap. It's important to move fast, because the AI will target the lead elements with artillery as soon as they are spotted. The lead elements will be clear of the targetted area, but the rear of the formation could get beat on if the movement is too slow.

My forces attempt to approach the objectives from the flank or rear and close to within 10-20 hexes. One company of infantry will dismount at covered/conceiled locations and advance on the objectives. Targets identified by this infantry will be engaged by the infantry, artillery or my armor as appropriate. One mounted company of infantry is held in reserve.

If the situation is under control, I'll push the reserve on to other objectives with some tanks I peal off from supporting the first company. There will always be casualties, but I tend to keep them away from my armor.

This method isn't always practical. Terrain and time are the determining factors.