Firing vs Assaulting

[Ograbme]

I've noticed that sometimes an infantry unit, when told to atack a vehicle or fort in an adjacent hex, will fire their weapons in standard fashion(EG fires its rifles, MG, grenades, and bazooka) rather than attempting an assault. I find this preferable, since it seems to kill its target more often, dosen't cause supression if it fails, and looks cooler . My question is, how can I get them to always do this rather than try an assault?

In an unrelated note, the name of the Minenram tank implies it can do something about enemy mines other than roll over one and kill itself. Is there some trick to using this thing?

[Katana]

Infantry never assaults if their supression is high enough to start with. Or you an use 'C' fire, but then you can only use one weapon.

Minenram works the same as other mineclearing tanks, which is the same as engineers.

[Ograbme]

I've tried it a dozen times now, but every time the minenram just rolls into the hex and explodes(which clears 1 mine, I suppose ). I've never had this happen with flail tanks.

[Katana]

Maybe that's why it's called a mine ram.:p

[bigtroutz]

if the tank clears mines like engineers, you can 'aim' the tank at the adjacent hex, set it to 'clear mines in front of unit' and it will clear mines in the adjacent hex.

I just fire mech flamethrowers into a hex to clear it if I have these AFV....its faster.

[Ograbme]

Originally posted by bigtroutz
if the tank clears mines like engineers, you can 'aim' the tank at the adjacent hex, set it to 'clear mines in front of unit' and it will clear mines in the adjacent hex.

Of course, that means some poor bastard has to find the mines the hard way first :rolleyes:

[Irinami]

Originally posted by Ograbme
Of course, that means some poor bastard has to find the mines the hard way first :rolleyes:

Not necessarily. If assaulting a beach, your landing craft may spot mines if you point them at the suspect hex. Likewise, infantry (or anyone else) may do same if you point them at suspect hexes. I tend to point as many people as possible.

Of course, you can always assume the beach is mined and be right 9 times out of 10.

[bigtroutz]

You can also use arty to 'find' and remove mines, in combination with other units, and in this way minimize casualties caused by 'recon by death' BOOM:D

[Belisarius]

Originally posted by bigtroutz
You can also use arty to 'find' and remove mines, in combination with other units, and in this way minimize casualties caused by 'recon by death' BOOM:D

That will work only if you use big enough earth-moving ordnance, +150mm. So if you feel you can afford throwing the shells at dirt... :p

[Gary Tatro]

That by purchasing a combination of mine tanks and flame tanks you can deal with mines fairly easily.
For example you move forward with your mine tanks find the mines pop smoke. Next turn move the mine tank back off the mines and move forward the flame tank. Direct fire your flame thrower at the mined hex. If you use a couple of flame tanks like this you can clear the hex in the same turn and then move your miine tank foward again. This way you can clear a path through the mines fairly quickly.

[bigtroutz]

Originally posted by Belisarius


That will work only if you use big enough earth-moving ordnance, +150mm. So if you feel you can afford throwing the shells at dirt... :p

Actually, what I have found is that BIG arty will more frequently 'discover' mined hexes but even US 60mm mortars will also do 'discover' mined hexes. It seems as tho the 'discovery' dice-roll' is definitely improved as the size of the arty increases.

As far as 'wasting' my arty on mine-discovery, this is NOT an issue. Let's say you are playing vs the computer. When you plan your turn 0 arty bombardment, you should be dropping your barrage at the 3rd hex from the green-line to hit the typical AI defense/offense concentration. Setting your target hex for the bigger arty like OB battry's to hit this hex and range to the green-line is all that is required to 'discover' the minefield line.

PLaying against a human or in a scenario is another story entirely, but I hope you understand my point.

[Belisarius]

Originally posted by bigtroutz


Actually, what I have found is that BIG arty will more frequently 'discover' mined hexes but even US 60mm mortars will also do 'discover' mined hexes. It seems as tho the 'discovery' dice-roll' is definitely improved as the size of the arty increases.

As far as 'wasting' my arty on mine-discovery, this is NOT an issue. Let's say you are playing vs the computer. When you plan your turn 0 arty bombardment, you should be dropping your barrage at the 3rd hex from the green-line to hit the typical AI defense/offense concentration. Setting your target hex for the bigger arty like OB battry's to hit this hex and range to the green-line is all that is required to 'discover' the minefield line.

PLaying against a human or in a scenario is another story entirely, but I hope you understand my point.

True, I got your point. For AI play, this is a good tactic.

I should have pointed out that I was talking about the human vs. human case. Mine can be anywhere, and you'll never know just how deep that field is. :p

[Jacc]

A short, true and sad story about minefields.

Heroically standing up to defend against assaulting Russian hordes, the German KG commander brilliantly puts up some half-circle minefields around the two hills he is to hold at any costs. Berlin is only a few dozen kilometers in the west.

Russians attack with large formation of T-34/85, ISU-122 etc. tanks, supported by SMG infantry. First tank reaches minefield (10 mines per hex)... and passes it, unharmed. It is destroyed by infantry, who regard it as a lucky event for the Russians. Second tank comes, reaches the minefield... and passes it, again unharmed. Same follows for some 8 more tanks, until German grenadiers on the hill are totally decimated. Elsewhere, the minefield, OTOH, stands fast and destroys any and all tanks trying to go though.

As the 10th tank passes the minefield, the German Panthers valiantly attack. Following a huge German artillery bombardment on their former positions, the Panthers and SS charge the hill, causing severe damage. After a short recce, the commander sees a chance to cause havoc in Soviet flank and sends 4 remaining Panthers to attack it. Accidentally, the shortest path is through that apparently disabled minefield (it has not claimed even enemy troop casualties). "What the heck", thinks the commander, "it did not harm them, nor will it harm me."

In a glorious attack, all 4 Panthers are immediately destroyed in a friendly minefield, infantry casualties raising up to 10. Great.

So never, ever trust the minefields. They can be your loyal ally, but relying on them is as good as giving a gun to blind warthog and tell it to reclaim the Stalingrad.