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[Soldiercrush]

couple other random questions


What exactly is a section—how many units is that?

Range finder and Fire control? How does this correlate to hitting and abilities in game? How does this deal with the fire control ladder?

[Imp]

Originally Posted by Soldiercrush

couple other random questions


What exactly is a section—how many units is that?

Range finder and Fire control? How does this correlate to hitting and abilities in game? How does this deal with the fire control ladder?

These answers will be in the game guide if you search it.

Section normally 2 units may be 3 for some nations if scouts or the like.

Range Finder increases chance to hit at range less effective if moving.

Fire control think improves all hit chances including helps a bit if moving but a stabiliser helps movement more though WW2 ones are not great.

No idea what the actual calculations are just play & get a feel for, all bigger is better WW2 tanks need to be stationary or near to when firing if you want to hit something.

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by Soldiercrush

couple other random questions


What exactly is a section—how many units is that?

Range finder and Fire control? How does this correlate to hitting and abilities in game? How does this deal with the fire control ladder?

An infantry section is what the left-pondians would call a "squad". (In the UK army "squads" are random bunches of whoever is available to do square-bashing or KP, paint rocks white etc. - the stuff thought up by NCOs to keep the troops busy in barracks that gives soldiers the nickname of "squaddies". The tactical grouping of 8-10 men is a section)

Section is also sometimes applied to an ad-hoc sub-grouping of a platoon sized unit of vehicles or arty, e.g a 5 tank US platoon which might act tactically as 1 HQ and 2 sections of 2, or as a 3 tank "heavy" and 2 tank "light" section. The unloaded APCs of a mech platoon which has dismounted may operate togrther under an NCO and be termed an "APC section" (Bronigroup (sp) in Soviet armies, usually consisting of all the empty APC of a mech coy gathered together as a fire support group).

RF and FC are described in the Game Guide and also in the Mobhack help. We dont go into any great detail because the end user is not allowed to know the details of the original SSI code per the original agreement.

Basically - RF helps you hit at longer range, and FC helps deal with moving enemy targets (and your own motion, a little). STAB lets you move a little further without deleterious effect for your movement, and so long as LOS is not broken, keeps you locked on the target and hence you keep the ladder position. The ladder is a 1-2-3 progression usually to a 100% solution, unless you are a missile, or a laser RF (in MBT) under twice the RF range (40 if I recall correctly) where it is a 1-2 progression.

However - WW2 values for all are rather low, so it is best to try to engage at the full halt (no move till shots all fired), or move maybe 1 hex at most (e.g. from defilade onto a ridge) before firing at the short halt, maybe 2 hexes along a road if stabilised. (Naturally if firing at 250m or less then you may scoot maybe 3-5 hexes before shooting e.g. in a town with a half-decent chance, snap-shooting in other words, esp if your target has moved fast - inadvisable if he is halted and has shots available unless desperate!)

Cheers
Andy

[troopie]

Some general advice: If you can lay hands on them, get some real world tactical manuals. The stuff they prescribe really works.

Recce. I cannot overstate the importance of recce. Scouts should precede your advance. If you are defending, have scouts between your positions and the likely enemy arc of advance. It is important to know where the enemy is, it is also important to know where the enemy is not. Scouts should SCOUT, not tangle with the enemy. They're your eyes and ears. If you were a boxer would you lead with your ear? No. They why lead with your scouts.

Maintain a mobile reserve. You will need them for the following reasons: As a fire brigade to plug holes and help where things are going kaklike. To exploit holes in the enemy's line when you are advancing. (Make blerrie sure it is a hole. The AI can be tricky. Here's a good glass of Single malt to Andy and Don for that.) To pursue a broken enemy. It may be only a troop of cavalry or a platoon of footies in lorries, but have a mobile reserve.

Artillery. The Sovs were right, you can never have too much. And ammunition vehicles, even if only ammunition mules. Ammunition is expensive, but men are more so.

Hope I haven't bored you.

troopie

[Ts4EVER]

To start out I would start a bit smaller, perhaps one infantry company with a platoon of tanks (+ artillery and stuff of course).
It might also be helpful to read some campaign aars on the forum.

[Roman]

Originally Posted by Ts4EVER

To start out I would start a bit smaller, perhaps one infantry company with a platoon of tanks (+ artillery and stuff of course).
It might also be helpful to read some campaign aars on the forum.

So I started learning. Doing battle with small units and small maps. You can go changing unit type according to what you want to learn. For example start with a company of infantry and a tank platoon that can add a section of mortars. Then add antitank, antiaircraft ....
Repeatedly play the tutorial and the scenarios suggested in the manual is also good. I had to make many small battles because they do not master English well then learned playing.
And where you really learn is by playing against humans. But before you react well known as units, to serve etc.