Best way to use airmobile and panzergrenadiers?

RecruitMonty · #1 December 11th, 2005, 03:32 PM

I always try and strive for realism in my battles but lately I have been getting this sinking feeling when I go into a battle and I use airmobile or mechanised infantry. What in your opinion is the best way to do this in game?

RecruitMonty · #2 December 11th, 2005, 03:32 PM

In depth responces please.

Mobhack · #3 December 12th, 2005, 12:22 AM

Have you read through the "Game Play Notes" section of the manual yet?.

Cheers
Andy

RecruitMonty · #4 December 12th, 2005, 04:47 PM

Yes but I was wondering if anybody used different methods.

whdonnelly · #5 December 12th, 2005, 05:08 PM

On defense,I try to move them in an ambush position on the enemy approach, where they unload out of sight/range and wait for the atack. On offense I'll use them to mop up or go after artillery or OBs. I haven't had much luck using them when the opposing force is still unbroken and aggressive.

RecruitMonty · #6 December 18th, 2005, 10:28 AM

Fair enough.

Wdll · #7 October 10th, 2009, 09:53 PM

The problem with paratroopers is, apart from that if their plane go, they stand a good chance of going down with it, they are at best a nuisance. Depending on the battle of course, they can be a threat to specific parts of the enemy, but even then, if the enemy has some experience, he only has to move them away from the area and them bomb the **** out of them. Since there are no special VPs or whatever, and you only use them to attack other units, their biggest problem is their very low speed.

For air mobile troops (aka using helos to transport troops), I have met only one player who was good with it and even then, he needed a ton of good luck for it to work even the first time he did it against me. If against a player that knows that you might do it, they are easy to neutralise. Unless you use your helos to transport the troops close to the VPs flags and that's it. Sort of, very fast apcs. If the terrain is favourable, this can work, even I have done it a couple of times, but it has one huge disadvantage to using APCs. They can't provide fire support or cover for your infantry if you need them, nor a quick way out of the fight.

Imp · #8 October 10th, 2009, 11:55 PM

Very gamey but did this once as situation allowed.
Company of tanks & APCs about 20 vehicles making a run in the open to next cover which I was in a position to intercept just. Bit hit & miss on if my armour could destroy his tanks from the front so my helos swung round behind him drawing fire & turning around giving me targets which tanks engaged. Several Smoke dischargers went off so then drew fire with vehicles where possible then sent the helos the last bit landing directly behind a tank. Picked the ones that were covered by smoke & fired RPGs at point blank. Last few landed behind vehicles without cover but did not fire or took out troops.
What does he do now shoot at my tanks & recieve a hail of RPG fire to his rear or the reverse.
Lost a few airmobile units including a couple of helos while landed due to splash damage from own fire & the troops were smarting a bit but force was totaly wiped out. If he had unloaded a few more infantry or set more tanks not to opfire vs air it would have failed as they would have taken out my landing troops.
Forgot to mention they can be very handy in urban enviroments to though you have to be careful to follow the roads for cover. Drop passengers at delay postions or cut off exits. Helos can then risk attacking units you would otherwise have to move adjacent to. Can clear city blocks pretty fast this way then leave a couple of squads covering the road incase you missed one, once pretty sure helo nips back & picks them up or gives extra firepower if needed.

Imp · #9 October 11th, 2009, 12:56 AM

On using APCs the main asset is mobility & giving the tanks good eyes by having infantry keep up with them who see far better, ignore infantrys ability to see at your own peril.
As I think Andy said tanks lead but try & get to a place of cover to launch an attack, treeline or whatever. Then the infantry move up first for several reasons.
Cheap if die because somethings on the other side & much harder to see, idealy they are not
They can look for targets & are in a position to spot any units opfiring they missed, makes finding ATGMs etc a lot easier.
They can also check out LOS if the terrain is difficult so your tanks move the absolute minimum knowing they have a shot.
They provide a close defence screen
Only now do you decide if its worth the tanks breaking cover.
Now the decision is stay & finnish the job or move & let the arty fall, having a taxi means you can avoid quite a bit of it & relocate to keep the other player off balance.
Concentrate on taking out his vehicles you can now use your speed to avoid his foot units till ready to engage them with your mobile pillboxs still intact if wish.
If contact is expected there should always be infantry on the ground to provide eyes helping prevent ambush. As your tanks are generaly moving at "combat speed" you can rotate your infantry droping one lot off while the others catch up, they do bounding overwatch to.

hoplitis · #10 October 12th, 2009, 03:22 PM

As far as the game goes,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wdll

For air mobile troops (aka using helos to transport troops),...
...They can't provide fire support or cover for your infantry if you need them, nor a quick way out of the fight.

Correct with a twist! Some soviet/russian transport helos can provide decent support to the troops (compared to their western counterparts). So if you're approaching a "hot" landing zone the player may consider the option to proceed with the landing rather then getting the hell(icopter) outa there! But in most cases transport helos must be treated as "fragile" units (more so when they're loaded).