Whacking HQs?

[Jabba]

I know that enemy HQs lose all their supplies if you displace them, but how big a problem is this for the enemy?

Often I have a choice whether to use my mobile units to attack enemy combat units or to go after enemy HQs, so I am wondering whether it is worth doing the latter.

[cpt flam]

attacking unit, they will go toward thei HQ
displacing HQ will give you a part of they stocks
and (possibility)for units attach to be over 5 hexes ;so less supply

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Jabba

I know that enemy HQs lose all their supplies if you displace them, but how big a problem is this for the enemy?

Often I have a choice whether to use my mobile units to attack enemy combat units or to go after enemy HQs, so I am wondering whether it is worth doing the latter.

Historically, during an exploitation or pursuit logistics were a very high priority target. Enemy combat units slowed you down. Remember the goal of an attack is to unhinge the defensive position--this shows up in the statistical data where what matters is the depth of deepest penetration. Going after rear area garrisons is exactly the wrong thing to do.

[James Ward]

Another HQ question. Are they ever destroyed? I know I've had stacks with HQ's in them surrender in pockets. I don't see them in the destroyed unit list.

[Jabba]

Historically, during an exploitation or pursuit logistics were a very high priority target. Enemy combat units slowed you down. Remember the goal of an attack is to unhinge the defensive position--this shows up in the statistical data where what matters is the depth of deepest penetration. Going after rear area garrisons is exactly the wrong thing to do.

In practice going after an HQ might slow you down more. It may mean taking a diversion. If the HQ is simply on the way to where you are heading then there is no dilemma, but this is not necessarily the case.

Logically, if all that matters is depth of penetration, then you should ignore HQs unless they are directly en route.

In some situations, attacking combat units will speed up your advance. They may be lying across your axis of advance, so the sooner you deal with them the better. But this may require you to ignore exposed HQs.

attacking unit, they will go toward their HQ
displacing HQ will give you a part of they stocks
and (possibility)for units attach to be over 5 hexes ;so less supply

I can understand the command advantages of knocking them more than 5 hexes away if there are still combats nearby to be resolved. Though in the situation I am thinking of, most frontline units have already been routed, so there is no real benefit from that.

What I can't really quantify is what the additional benefit is from reducing their supplies. Is it worth diverting a unit to whack an exposed HQ, when that unit could be used for other purposes?

[Fänrik Stål]

ORIGINAL: James Ward

Another HQ question. Are they ever destroyed? I know I've had stacks with HQ's in them surrender in pockets. I don't see them in the destroyed unit list.

No, they always jump out of the pocket in my experience.

[arras]

ORIGINAL: James Ward

Another HQ question. Are they ever destroyed? I know I've had stacks with HQ's in them surrender in pockets. I don't see them in the destroyed unit list.

They can not be destroyed but they "displace". Which is nearly equal to "destroyed". They will loose all their stocks, most of the men and there is high chance for leader to be killed (or captured?). At last according to the manual.

Think of it like old HQ gets destroyed in the pocket and new one is formed with the same name and who ever managed to escape from old one.

However I'm jet to see killed general.

[Zebedee]

ORIGINAL: arras

However I'm jet to see killed general.

I saw it a lot on the early versions of the game (it's very noticeable for me because leader deaths will 'pause' the flow of the game events and need me to intervene by clicking on it) but less frequently recently. Think I counted two soviet and one German death from displacement in my run through to late 41 under the .16 beta (darned pocketed unit routed next to a German HQ and displaced it before then surrendering [:o]).

[randallw]

An HQ displaced during the last enemy turn may have 0 MPs for the turn of the player who owns the HQ.