River crossing battle tactics

[Imp]

Some food for thought there. The fake crossing is interesting, I wouldnt have thought of that. Its something I would consider but does it work against the AI? In a PBEM game though I guess it would pay dividends.

Works better probably vs AI than a human if you let it see some units there is a good chance it will call arty in.

In fact - has anyone been insane enough to try a river crossing assault v a human opponent (with or without TI!)?

Pre TI it is just about possible to get over though not in a healthy state Post TI its pretty much a masacre the biggest trouble in both cases is getting your MBTs over. Forget it infantry needs to form the bridgehead any armour is staying on your side. Speed of barge carriers & ease of sticking them means he can predict the few points on the map you can use them, somehow if you avoid arty on the way you have to make it to the waters edge.
Go for a pure Infantry/Mech assault with at least 4 ATGMs per Co to take out vehicles on the other side & pray a lot.

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by Imp

Works better probably vs AI than a human if you let it see some units there is a good chance it will call arty in.



Go for a pure Infantry/Mech assault with at least 4 ATGMs per Co to take out vehicles on the other side & pray a lot.

Actually - that is the approach I had forgotten. If you can dominate the far bank with MBT-killing weaponry, then go for as flat a map as you can, and broad daylight (or pure night if you have a night fighting advantage, esp in TI). Plan on exterminating his exposed key weapons systems (AFV, ATGM and bunkers in the main) with your dominating direct fire weaponry.

Think Egypt v Israel in 1973 forex. Coalition v Iraq. Have a few T-62/M1/Challenger pre-placed (or in reserve) dominating the crossing zone when deployed. Buy loads of saggers, preplace or walk forwards to dominate. Once set up to your satisfaction, move some scout cars about to trigger firing, and then whack the revealed shooters with massed ATGM and/or MBT fires.

Don't fire barrages of arty then - it may obscure some LOS to the enemy MBT. Keep it in reserve for the crossing attempt post dealing with his shooters.

Once the key defending units are wrecked, then putter over the river to sweep up to your hearts content with the usual arty support to deal with any remaining infantry (but you will need less indirect arty with the direct fire dominance approach).

Should be good especially on a desert map with just a few little bumps of hills about.

Not for the totally underdog player though. NK could probably do it pre M1 Abrams, with a sagger barrage?. Not so much once those beasts are common. You need a reliable tank-killer ATGM and/or MBT that are at least evens to his.

Cheers
Andy

[Graeme]

[quote=Mobhack;752701]

Originally Posted by Imp

Not for the totally underdog player though. NK could probably do it pre M1 Abrams, with a sagger barrage?. Not so much once those beasts are common. You need a reliable tank-killer ATGM and/or MBT that are at least evens to his.

Cheers
Andy

I use the Fagot ATGM, its handy and accurate but struggles to penetrate a K1 tank(similar to Abrams). Usually have to gang up on them with inf, button them and then bring a Chonma or Pokpung ho to finish it off. I was looking forward to the challenge of an Abrams but the US didnt use armor in this crossing battle.

Just finished. Marginal Victory, Im quite pleased with that. 6400 pts to 1600 US.

I was bogged down by a stiff counter by the two hex objective groups and wasnt able to move out. Lost a few APC's and light tanks and mixed infantry and was unable to support with my MBT's as there were too many Javelins about. Was able to pin the enemy down and with arty and SU-7 jets then able to sneak an APC onto the last hex group. After battle map showed I had the enemy bottled up and it finished 2 turns early.

Thanks for the tactics everyone, was able to use a combination of them to beat the AI.