I need tactical help

[Mobhack]

As some folks need help on tactics, acronyms etc beyond the basic introduction in the manual (see the "playing the game" link), the following links may prove useful:

useful links for US Army Field Manuals:

top page:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita.../fm/index.html

esp:
TACTICS AND TECHNIQUES FOR COMBINED ARMS HEAVY FORCES: ARMORED BRIGADE, BATTALION TASK FORCE, AND COMPANY TEAM

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...rmy/fm/71-123/

FM 90-10-1
AN INFANTRYMAN'S GUIDE TO COMBAT IN BUILT-UP AREAS

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...0-1/index.html

FM 90-10
Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT)
(The American Acronym for "Fighting in Built-Up Areas" (FIBA))

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-10/index.html

And for tactics as a general topic:
FM 3-90
TACTICS

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-90/index.html

Cheers
Andy

[Randy]

One of the "Osprey" "Elite Series" books covers squad and platoon infantry tactics for WWII infantry.

[RecruitMonty]

Anybody know of any sites that deal with Germany's tactical methodology?

[RecruitMonty]

I play as the Germans almost exclusively so it would really help if somebody could give me some pointers.

[Mobhack]

RecruitMonty said:
I play as the Germans almost exclusively so it would really help if somebody could give me some pointers.

For the USSR, get a hold of David Isby's "weapons and tactics of the Soviet Union". For NATO, he had a similar volume, whose title I cannot recall (it was less useful as it tried to cover all NATO sides). Both books were released in the early 80's and you will need to track them down in second-hand bookshops. (I did that for weapons and tactics of the SU, but not the NATO one.)

The USA is about the only nation that publishes tactical manuals for all to read. The rest of the world seem to classify such stuff under thier version of the Official Secrets act.


Cheers
Andy

[andy1964]

Just in case anyone is interested in the above book by David Isby, it was Armies of NATO's central Front. Not sure any of the tactical details given are any good as they are based mainly on brigade level battles and are pretty general. As Mobhack states, it covers all the NATO armies on the central front. No Italy Norway etc.

It's helpful if you are into putting together OOB's and looking for weapons data maybe. Or are new to the subject and want to know what an M60A3 is for ex.

Not sure how easy it would be to find either of those volumes.

Q for Mobhack. Did you find that Sov union one recently? I have the NATO one and have been looking for the companion for years. Just wondering if they are still to be found.

TY
Andy

[MezMerrick]

RecruitMonty said:
I play as the Germans almost exclusively so it would really help if somebody could give me some pointers.

Check out theBlitz archives; they have a document released by the U.S Army covering everything there is/was to know about German tactics.

[Gargantou]

That's alot of readnig material, shame I don't have the time to read it all, great resources though!

[c_of_red]

http://www.battlefront.com/products/...nzerintro.html

Try that URL. I haven't read it yet, I just did a google on 'panzer training manual' and took that as the best of a poor selection.
There used to be a site called "Panzers Vorward" or maybe 'achtung panzers vorward' That had the scanned pages of the german officers tactics hand book. My German is worse then sucks but I managed to get thru most of it with the help of babbblefish. Some of it was useful, some of it worthlesss for a IGOUGO system. Example; It was considered critical for tank formations to break cover at the same time. One platoon in over watch while the other charges out of the tree line or over the crest. That, of course, is impossible in SP.
The officers training manual was nick named "Aunt Maude" or auntie Maude in german. Auntie is a german word that crossed with the Saxons (Sax was a short sword in old german), it's german spelling is about the same as English and those type words give me fits. So find the proper german spelling for 'auntie' and google it.

[user38]

Originally Posted by RecruitMonty

Anybody know of any sites that deal with Germany's tactical methodology?

I just today recieved from Amazon On the German Art of War, Truppenfuhrung: German Army Manual for Unit Command in World War II: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811735524. I have only had it for a few hours but if the back cover is any indication it would seem to be exactly what you are looking for.

If you are looking for something a little less reality based there is an interesting site at the other place: Introduction to Tactics Guide v 1.05 by Larry Holton (Steel Panthers World at War) http://www.spwaw.com/lholttg/spwawtg1.htm