Move-wise FitE

[larryfulkerson]

The next arty unit under consideration has this situation:
 

 
Options 5,6, and 7 seem too far away to be helpful.  Of all the options I'm leaning toward option 1 since it brings
three Soviet units within range, moves the minimum amount to become useful and spreads the arty assets out
somewhat.

[larryfulkerson]

The next arty unit is this one:



I've depicted the place I suggest to move it so as to be able to support attacks indirectly
on the targets in the green ovals. There is arty to the north and south of the chosen
position so I'm spreading out the arty units somewhat.

[larryfulkerson]

The next one is this one:
 

 
I've decided to move it to the hex specified so as to bring 4 Soviet targets within range and to spread the arty
out somewhat.  I'm setting the arty to Tactical Reserve once they arrive at their destinations by the way.

[larryfulkerson]

Next we consider the situation of the 2/61 arty:
 

 
I notice that there is no arty support against the southernmost Soviet division and there aren't any particularly
strong German attack units in that area so I'm leaning toward option 1's hex as the destination.  We could move
instead the arty unit one hex to the SW of 2/61 to option 1's hex but it's attack strength is only 4 and the 2/61th
arty attack strength is 10 which would be better to attack/support with in this instance.

[larryfulkerson]

Next we consider the situation of the 2/65th arty:
 

 
Option 1's hex is only a move of 1 hex adn gives the support against 3 Soviet units but is off the road.   Option 2
is 4 movement points away for the same support condition but is still off the road.  Option 3 is 8 movement points
away but only supports attacks against the 2 southernmost Soviet divisions and is again, off the road.  Option 4
is 5 movement points away and supports attacks against the two northern Soviet divisions but is on the road net.
Option 5's hex is only 1 movement point away, is on the road, and supports attacks against 3 Soviet units.  I'm
leaning toward option 5's hex as the destination for the 2/65th arty.
 

[larryfulkerson]

Next we consider the 2/68th arty:
 

 
This arty unit has a range of only 2 and has to move in any case to be of use in the first combat round and of all
the options I'm leaning toward 3 as it's the only one which will enable the support of attacks against 3 Soviet
units.

[larryfulkerson]

Next we consider the 101/154 arty.  There are a plethora of places it COULD move to and I've plotted only those
deemed "best" of the possible:
 

 
There are many more arty tubes to the south so I haven't plotted places to move down there as I thought that
arty coverage already adequate.  Of all the options I'm leaning toward option 1's hex as the destination.  There
isn't arty in the north of the picture and I thought that those three Soviet units might benefit from some German
arty coverage.

[larryfulkerson]

Next is the 151/818 arty:



I'm leaning toward option 2 since there are three Soviet units that would be covered and that road junction DOES
need to be cleaned out soon.  The other options are good but I think 2 might be best for the first combat round.

And another thought just occured to me. Should be place all the attacking units, arty
included, on limited losses or minimize losses ( or ignore losses ) setting for the first
combat rounds attacks? Here's the pros and cons: (1) minimize losses setting would eat
up the least amount of supply but would limit the support of the arty to one firing of the
tube. (2) limited losses would tend to give us less combat rounds but would tend to give
more favorable combat results. I guess it's a matter of personal taste and/or the extent
to which the loss of combat rounds offsets the gain from combat results. I guess it's a
matter of experience in this instance.

What are the opinions of the experts out there? Anybody?

[larryfulkerson]

Next is the 445/611 arty:



I decided to leave him where he is and assign him to attack ( at minimum losses ) the
Soviet division ( in the green oval ) since he's in the forest and might be a tad harder to
dislodge/destroy in the attack. There is another arty unit in the same hex as the 455/611
and I haven't decided what to do with him yet. I guess we'll get to him shortly.

Assigning him to attack directly this way will use the full 7 attack strength instead of the 3.5 that would be used indirectly ( using the tactical reserve setting ) and I think it's
justified since the target is in favorable terrain.

[iaidoka2]

Thanks for this Larry, it is very helpful to a noob like me - you picked a big scenario to teach with.  Can you say something about what you are doing with your air forces?
 
Keep up the good work.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: iaidoka2
Can you say something about what you are doing with your air forces?

You bet. I say we cover everybody ( even the Soviet dudes ) and everything (weather, terrain, etc.) Don't worry there's less than 3,000 units total ( both sides ) so it shouldn't take forever to read it all. Thanks for your post(s).

[larryfulkerson]

The 506/845 arty is next:
 

 
It's already in a really good spot since there are three Soviet units within it's range and I'm thinking I'll just leave
it where it is.
 

[larryfulkerson]

The 511/620 arty is on the road and within range of two Soviet divisions.  I say we leave him there where he is:
 

[larryfulkerson]

The 526/536 arty needs to be moved anyway in order to be of use in the first combat round.  Option 1 would put
him within range of three Soviet units but those are small fish and should be easy to move without arty help. 
Option 2 puts him in range of 2 Soviet units but moving one more hex to option 3's hex ( 5 movement points
total ) puts him within range of 3 Soviet units, all of them division sized.  I say move him to 3:
 

[larryfulkerson]

Out of all the spots to move the 604/607 arty I think I like option 5 the best since he doesn't have to move very
far, he's still on the road, AND he covers a grand total of 6 Soviet units from there:
 

[larryfulkerson]

The 606/108 arty is a fairly strong arty unit ( 12 for an attack strength ) and it needs to be since it's really
important to clear out that bunker at the road junction.  I'm thinking we ought to assign it in direct attack
on the bunker since it's so important:
 

[larryfulkerson]

The 616/808 isn't one of the more powerful arty units but it has a range of 3 hexes.  I'm kinda undecided where's
the best place to put this guy.  I'm kinda leaning toward option 1's hex since it covers more Soviet units from
there.
 

[larryfulkerson]

As far as I'm concerned the 624/641 arty unit is just fine where he is:
 

[larryfulkerson]

I decided to keep the 625/740 arty where he is and attack directly ( at minimum losses ) the Soviet division in the green oval because there are probably going to be so few Axis
units that can attack in the first combat round:

[larryfulkerson]

I finally decided that the Soviet division in the trees was worth a direct attack from the 633/709 arty unit: