Extremly Noob

[mkjhartmann]

OK,

this sounds really stupid, but I am stuck in the TUTORIAL. It tells me to practice building up units like a Soviet Corps. I even see the picture in the manual that suggests which units to use for the build up. I found the buildup button on the Map Info Tool bar and tried to press the 'b' button, but nothing happens. I assume all three divisions have to be in the same hex?

What am I doing wrong here? This is going to be a LONG learning curve.

BTW, looks like a much more smooth interface than WITP, but I am no expert, and thus already stuck.

Thanks.

Mike

[jomni]

I also experienced the same thing.  It says no units available to merge.

[mkjhartmann]

Page 139 in the manual mentions that merge is different than build up. Merge seems to be more like units of same size being thrown together to bring up to max TOE strength.

Build I guess is supposed to create more powerful combat units as you can only have 3 units per hex, I guess.

Mike

[jomni]

Oh yeah I remember the difference now.  That must explain my errors.

[Indy68]

There are restrictions in building up. E.g. You can't build up ski regiments, IIRC (check the manual). Also, check that you have admin points. Naturally the unit types must be compatible - you can't build up infantry and tanks.

[mkjhartmann]

Surprise, surprise, I did win the tutorial scenario; barely.  But could NEVER figure out how to do a 'build'.  The build button seems totally useless.  Somebody please explain when, and how to use it.

Thanks.

[Indy68]

Ok, restart the scenario and just try to build up: In (84,39) you see 21st Guards Rifle Div and in (85,39) (one hex east) 19th Guards Riffle Div. Move the 19th Guards Riffle Div to (84,39). Now, in the hex SE you have a stack of three units. From that stack move the 28th Rifle Div to (84,39). There you should now have a stack of units:

21st Guards Rifle Div
19th Guards Riffle Div
28th Rifle Div

Select them and press {b} and you get 1st Guards Rifle Corps.

If this doesn't work, retry with the latest beta (unless you already have it). Let me know how it goes.

[nukkxx5058]

I had the same problem when playing the tutorial. I tried again now using Indy68's instructions and it worked. However, I am trying to merge more untits and again, it won't work. For example I tried to merge 357 riffle and 257 riffle on hex(85,42) and it 's not working. I hear the "click" and nothing else happens.

One more mystery in the universe...
What's going on ?

[nukkxx5058]

or is it because you need to have 3 (and not 2) units on the same hex to merge using 'b' key ??

[jomni]

Again, we are confusing two things here.  I also made the mistake earlier.

Build Up = Combining 3 units to form a larger unit... like Divisions to Corps.
Merge = Combining units so that an understrength unit is replenished to 100% TOE.

Execution is differnt.
Build Up is via the 'b' key and the button above.
Merge is done in the unit info screen.

[randallw]

Yes, you need 3 units to build a rifle corps; 3 divisions or 2 divisions + 1 brigade.  Manual item 7.5.3.1, page 135.

[LiquidSky]

From Page 135: Rule 7.5.3.1 Soviet Buildup and Breakdown Availability

Rifle Division = 2 or 3 Rifle Brigades

Cavalry Corp = 3 Cavalry Divisions

Tank Corps = 3 Tank Brigades

Guards Rifle Division = 3 Airborne Brigades (before 1943)

Rifle Corps = 3 Rifle Divisions OR 2 Rifle Divisions and a Rifle Brigade

Mech Corp = 3 Mech or Mot Brigades

Guards Airborne Divsion = 3 Airborne Brigades (after 1942)

NOTE: for a Corp to be Guards, two of the three components have to be Guard. ex. Guards Rifle Corp = 2 Guards Rifle Divisions + 1 Rifle Division

[jomni]

I haven't played Axis yet but am I right to say that Axis can't combine to corps?
It's not in the manual. Wouldn't that be a disadvantage since Russians can stack 3 corps in a hex?

And what happens if 3 Divisions attached to Corps HQ becomes a corps...
Is it still under a Corps HQ? That doesn't make sense.

[Speedysteve]

Axis can't create/combine Corps....

[Indy68]

Axis can buildup/breakdown between regiments and division only, not between dvisions and corps.

[Arstavidios]

Axis does not have enough units to cosider buiding corps.

[FredSanford3]

A Soviet Corps will be about as strong as a German Division. Soviet units tend (and I'm oversimplifying somewhat) to be about the same size as the next level down in German/Western organization. Soviet tank regiments have something like 31 tanks in their TOE, which is less than a battalion of German armor (on paper).

[morganbj]

No, Soviet Battalions had 31 Tanks. Three platoons of three tanks per company, three companies. Add in HQ tanks at the company and battalion levels and you end up with 31.

But, you are generally correct in that Soviet units were about 60-70% of an equivalently named German/Allied unit across the board. So, a Soviet Corps was a little less than twice the strength of a German Division. This assumes TOE strenght, and not actual strength.

[mkjhartmann]

Indy,

thank you very much. That worked just as planned.

I wish there was some sort of tool in the game, rather than just the manual, that told us what can be build and then broken down again.

Mike

[FredSanford3]

Actually, some independent tank regiments were pretty small- 21 & 39 tanks in the examples below:

Independent Tank Regiment

In September 1942, a Independent Tank Regiment consisted of three Tank Companies, a Motor Rifle Bttn, and support units.

39 tanks and 0 armored cars were included.

In total the whole brigade consisted of:

339 x troops

16 x T-60 / T-70

23 x T-34/76



Independent Heavy Tank Regiment

In October 1942, a Independent Heavy Tank Regiment consisted of three Tank Companies, a Motor Rifle Bttn, and support units.

21 tanks and 0 armored cars were included.

In total the whole brigade consisted of:

214 x troops

21 x KW tanks

http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=4628

But anyway, the designers have a valid reason IMO for allowing the Soviets to form corps and not the Germans.