Assaulting and Destroying Caves

[KG Erwin]

These are extremely tough defenses. Their defense capability is 222, and they can only be destroyed from their front entrance. This is no back door. I hate 'em.

If a Japanese rifle unit is occupying it, it only becomes a tougher proposition.

First, smother that hole with direct/indirect fire. Suppress the defenders. Tanks, flame-tanks, mortars, bazookas, MGs, naval fire -- whatever you got, hit that b*stard. That MIGHT be enough to collapse it and bury the defenders.

Note: for some odd reason, I've found that firing a Sherman's 75 or a tank-flame seems to be more effective at a 2-3 hex range than being directly adjacent. Why? I have no idea. The cave is treated as an armored target.

If that doesn't work, bring forward engineers and assault teams armed with satchel charges and flamethrowers, if you have them. Stack an Infantry squad with them. Move these guys adjacent to the cave, and close assault with each. If that fails, use the C key to use any remaining demolitions/flame for direct fire.

This is what corkscrew and blowtorch is all about. Timing is everything, but with practice, you will get the idea. It is a choreographed death dance.

If the infantry fails and gets destroyed or thrown back, you bring up reinforcements and start the process all over again.

This is how we reduced the defenses of Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

It is an ugly and particularly brutal form of warfare, as the defenders have no chance to retreat or surrender.

If conducted correctly, all of them will die in the most horrendous ways one can imagine, by being blasted to bits, burnt to death, or buried alive. We had no choice but to do it this way , as they would not usually surrender voluntarily. [:(]

[Alexandra]

Of course, you can always smoke and bypass with a squad left as security incase they come out of the cave!

But, yes, they can be very tough to crack, especially if they have long range LOS.