Getting arty to support defensively

[glvaca]

Which orders do I need to give my arty/HQ units to add their arty support to defensive combats without moving into the hex being attacked?

The manual makes a lot of reference to combat support but I can only find reference to this "mode" for air units eventhough this term is also used when explaining arty use.

Thanks.
Glenn

[lenin]

They need to be dug in or put on tactical / local reserve. Try to leave an empty hex between the arty and the defensive hex when on tactical reserve, and they shouldn't move, just support the defence. You will find that passive defence will eat up supply like nobody's business however, especially if the attacker makes lots of attacks, so make sure the arty is next to an HQ.

[Industrial]

I strongly suggest to always use the dig-in version, and only use Tac reserve (never local) when you are player 1 and your arty has no mvement points left to dig in, or as player two if your arty is at lest 2 hexes away from the frontline, because otherwise they would move forward into battle because of their Tac reserve setting.

The exception is if you move your arty in range, want them to support a battle but want to move the arty elsewhere after the attack: than use Tac reserve, resolve combat, than move the arty to its final position and dig in.

[Captain Cruft]

Yep, it's basically any deployment other than "Mobile".

I actually really like it that you can, by using Mobile, stop your arty units "op-firing". No other game I've played allows that ... [:)]

[Industrial]

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

Yep, it's basically any deployment other than "Mobile".

Not quite, arty in retreated or routed state will no longer support combat in TOAW III, that was changed from CoW

[lenin]

A change for the better I think. Re-organising artilery needs to establish range etc in the face of enemy attacks.

[glvaca]

Thanks!