Action and Contact Drills

[Mpat120]

Is there a way to get a unit to conduct these types of drills on their own....ie when you are unable to give orders to a unit while dealing with another more serious engagement somewhere else?

If not may I make an entry on the list?

[Ssnake]

These "drills" are part of the movement route tactics and/or battle position tactics. Use "Engage" routes, and if there's enemy around, the platoon will stop and go look for a hull-down position facing the enemy.
Similarly, set up retreat routes and alternate BPs around the main BP, and things could work with relative ease.


In SB, the computer will NEVER make a tactically relevant decision, but support you by executing your orders in a reasonably competent way so that you don't have to worry too much. Nevertheless, each BP order warrants three questions:
1) How do I get into it?
2) What am I supposed to do there once I'm in it?
3) When and how do I get out of it?

Failure to answer any of these will inevitably result in sub-par performance, and it will be just you to blame and nobody else.

Some planning can be done independently of battle phases. A good position to take control of a certain area (by observation and fire) is a good position, regardless of when you actually get to occupy it. A thorough terrain analysis will therefore reveal these potentially beneficial positions, and you have the means to mark them. Whether you actually order a platoon to go there is a different matter entirely. But improvisation works best if you have made a sound plan that leaves room for error. Identifying good BPs and plotting retreat routes from each of them IS planning, and you should make good use of it.

[Hell_Hound]

Despite endless oodles of time playing SB, I still have only a weak and intuitive grasp of terrain analysis.

Could some of you formally-trained panzerkriegmeisters recommend some reading on this? I'd love to see what a systematic approach to this process looks like, even if I don't end up following it rigorously.

[Mpat120]

Fm-17-15 is a good start HH
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/17-15/cont.htm
heres another
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-34-230/toc.htm
and annother
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/5-33/default.htm

As for the drills, an action drill, for me is to assault the enemy position then continue the origanal route.....the engage route typicly stops the whole plt...even for one BRDM....makeing them vernerable to attack while staionary....sitin duck anyone?

I prefer to be in a moveing target at all times while not conducting SBF or defenceive ops.

If you need more HH tell me..I'll hunt and kill them for ya

[Ssnake]

The LOS analysis is best applied with "reverse logic". You click on a spote where the enemy might be or might move along. The red area will then show you from which points you will then have best chances to kill him.
Now you need to identify those positions that - from the enemy's point of view - have a forest behind them to reduce your visible signature. Ideally such a position not only offers good view, good firing options, and concealment, it also has a depression nearby that allows for your hidden retreat.

Look for these spots. Ask yourself, "If I were the enemy - based on what I know about his intent and situation - what would I do to achieve my goals?"
List the various alternatives. Decide which of them are most likely. From that you can guess the most likely positions. Identify how the enemy could bring you in real trouble - and what you can do about it to prevent that happen. Have an answer to all the problems that the enemy may impose on you.
If you know that the enemy is strong with infantry, then you can espect him in terrain with forests and bushes. You also know that you can fight infantry best with artillery, so it gives you a hint where to place your FIST-V and/or CO, and to find out where the positions are that would allow observation of the enemy infantry. etc. It's not that difficult. :P

[Brad_Edmondson]

Hellhound,

It comes with game experience, but as Ssnake spelled out it also takes a lot of thinking. In terms of game mechanics it's best to find sadles in the terrain and natural obstacles that give you a narrower field of view. This is a two edged sword: it protects your vulnerable flanks because you have no real peripheral vision in the game, but it also means somebody can slip by in those flanks. The trick is to stay mobile and jockey, check one view, jockey, check another view, until you have a clear picture of the ground. Driving up to the highest point is a little like setting fireworks off and saying "here I am!"

[Skip]

Whoever is maintaining the "newbie" help document might consider including Ssnake's brief overview above. Effective and concise.

[attackrat]

Indeed. I can't remember how many times I'd look at the map, think "this is a good spot" and then get hosed by a well-placed enemy force. I could practically see the AI smirking at my smoking tanks... :casstet:

[Hell_Hound]

I'm the guy running the newbie guide.

Scary, eh? ;)

The guide is aimed more at the total rookie at the moment, much of the advice is of the "do not drive over the top of the large hill in the center of the map" variety.

I'll probably include the above, and will throw in some more material on the subject if I ever feel like I'm knowledgeable about it.