I need tactical help

[gila]

Originally Posted by Mobhack

But that is all off-topic for the thread, so end of off-topic discussions.

Andy

What is off topic for "i need tactial help" thread?

it's pretty much open to anything correct?

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by gila

What is off topic for "i need tactial help" thread?

it's pretty much open to anything correct?

I was drifting off into AI related topics - and the thread topic is about tactics for end user players, not AI.

Andy

[Aeraaa]

Quick question: does anybody know if ruined buidlings offer better protection than healthy ones? And if so does that apply to buildings that have become holes (meaning completely demolished)?

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by Aeraaa

Quick question: does anybody know if ruined buidlings offer better protection than healthy ones? And if so does that apply to buildings that have become holes (meaning completely demolished)?

Rubble is a very good protection - plus since it has already fallen down then it cannot collapse on top of your guys....

Andy

[Paderborn]

I just picked up a book called, [u]TANK TACTICS:From Normandy to [/U]Lorraine " by Roman Jarymowycz that may be helpful though I havn't had a chance to read my copy yet.

[Aeraaa]

Anyone knows if vehicles in the same hex as infantry can be used as extra cover? Does this also apply with destroyed vehicles?

[Griefbringer]

Not to my knowledge. Actually, placing infantry in the same hex with a vehicle can end up badly (or at least with some suppression) for the infantry, since vehicles tend to draw hefty amounts of fire from the enemy.

As for destroyed vehicles, burning ones tend to block LoS and after a while they produce smoke in adjacent hex, which also affects LoS. However, being close to destroyed friendly vehicles can be bad for morale, giving units some extra suppression.

Keep in mind the scale of the game: single hex represents an area of ground about 50 meters across, where as even a large tank would measure at best 4 x 8 meters.

[Aeraaa]

Originally Posted by Griefbringer

Keep in mind the scale of the game: single hex represents an area of ground about 50 meters across, where as even a large tank would measure at best 4 x 8 meters.

Agreed, but it would make sense for an infantry squad to bunch up behind a tank when under fire (remember that they're supposed to search for cover the whole time, hence why they arent massively annihilated when on open ground...)

[Griefbringer]

Modern tactical doctrines tend to discourage bunching up, since it makes for pretty vulnerable targets on a battlefield. Thus infantry is trained to spread out to provide less concentrated targets and to make better use of all available cover.

I have seen some pictures from Vietnam war depicting a whole squad sheltering behind a slowly advancing tank. This may be a viable tactic if you are only facing small arms fire and from a single direction. But what if an enemy combatant manages to outflank the tank and engage the bunched up squad from an exposed angle - single burst from an automatic weapon could cause serious mayhem. Or what about a round from grenade launcher or mortar falling somewhere behind the tank and showering the exposed squad with shrapnel? Or anti-tank round penetrating the tank, brewing up ammo and blowing the turret off? Or well-placed MG in front of the tank shooting between the tracks and hitting the exposed lower legs? Never mind the difficulty of effectively firing back at the enemy from such a position.

Also for destroyed vehicles, sheltering close to a burning tank might be rather uncomfortable in real life. Heat, flames, clouds of suffocating smoke, danger of any remaining munitions catching fire and brewing up, smell of burning flesh and so on.

[Suhiir]

For my part I'd stay as far as possible from one of our tanks on the advance, as others have said they draw a LOT of fire.
As Griefbringer pointed out there may be some advantage if all the fire is coming from one direction, but these days a 'fragmented battlefield' is the norm. Gone are the days of defensive lines, it's all strongpoint or hedgehog defenses, because that way the loss of no single position means a breach in the defensive belt. Thus you're usually catching fire from at least two (or MANY) directions at the same time.