Tips for tanks taking out entrenched infantry?

[sandman2575]

Apologies if this is already dealt with in the threads -- have been going through them (and esp. appreciate Mad Russian's informative posts on tactics) but don't recall seeing this --

my question then--

What is the advisable way for tanks to approach and take out infantry in trenches? (ditto for infantry in houses/structures, but let's stick to trenches for now)

I've been going with a very cautious approach... maybe too cautious. Mostly I have tanks Advance toward them, then shell for perhaps several turns with Area-fire HE, being careful to keep a safe distance from the potential blast zone. If I get closer, then I switch to machine gun Area Fire (the game does a good job of selecting the proper ammo for you, i must say).

The tricky thing, of course, is that your tanks won't spot infantry in trenches until they're too close that it's a danger to your tanks and an advantage for the infantry, exp. those anti-tank-rifle equipped.

Can tanks crush infantry in trenches by rolling over them? If so, is that advisable?

[junk2drive]

Last first, no they won't crush troops. There is something about tanks crushing guns though but I don't remember if it is Soviet only with the charge order or ?

Best of course is to have troops ahead of your tanks. Tanks were originally infantry support weapons. Hopefully you have the lastest beta installed because we did have problems with entrenched enemy troops being too tough to dislodge. I generally use HE and MG (just a target order) and after a while the troops will dismount and try to crawl away. At that point they are very vulnerable.

[Mad Russian]

The key, as J2D pointed out, is combined arms. Use infantry to get close enough to ID the infantry in the trenches. Then you can area fire the location. Once they are taking hits you can move your tanks closer to where they can do direct fire but that's taking a chance. Once the infantry starts taking damage you can move your own infantry closer.

Without an infantry screen you can area fire a section of trench for a bit, until you feel cocky enough to advance, then move a single vehicle forward to see what they can see.

Any tank will overrun an ATG if it gets close enough. Any movement order will cause the destruction.

Tanks will not destroy infantry simply by moving over them like they do guns.

Taking infantry out of houses is the hardest thing to do in the game, as it is in real life. Use the same formula as for the trenches, lots of fire, suppress or damage the enemy units then move closer with your own infantry and attack at close assault ranges. If all you have are AFV's this task is extremely difficult and dangerous. Firepower and more firepower is all that works.

Good Hunting.

MR

[Mobius]

If you can bypass the infantry do so. Let them roost in their foxholes or houses unless they have anti-tank weapons.
Use a combination of area fire and direct fire.
I have a youtube video where my tanks are used to support infantry attacking houses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rskPrgvl ... re=related

[Mad Russian]

Wrong thread. Sorry.

Good Hunting.

MR

[sandman2575]

Many thanks for the advice.  I have to say, the more time I spend with Ostfront, the more and more impressed (and hooked) I am.

Unrelated question, but rather than start a new thread --

Wondering about the extent to which friendly fire is a danger.  I believe your artillery can hit your own units if they are 'danger close.'  But what about other situations, for example, cross-fire.  Can your tanks accidentally hit other friendly units if they are in the line of fire?  What about MG's/small arms fire cutting across your own units?

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: sandman2575
Wondering about the extent to which friendly fire is a danger.  I believe your artillery can hit your own units if they are 'danger close.'  But what about other situations, for example, cross-fire.  Can your tanks accidentally hit other friendly units if they are in the line of fire?  What about MG's/small arms fire cutting across your own units?

Not with direct fire. You cannot target your own troops. You fire through your own. With area fire any troops in the area can be hit no matter the side.

[sandman2575]

ORIGINAL: Mobius

]Not with direct fire. You cannot target your own troops. You fire through your own. With area fire any troops in the area can be hit no matter the side.

thanks Mobius -- just so I'm clear regarding Area fire -- you mean friendlies can be hit if they fall within the "red cube" zone that appears in Area fire before you set the target? I.e. you could have a squad of your own troops directly in the path of friendly MG fire, but as long as they remain outside the "red cube" for Area fire targeting, they will be OK - ?

Quick additional question about Area fire: if, *after* you have you set an Area Fire target, the fire-vector rubber-band turns *Grey,* what exactly does this mean? It seems to mean that the target did not really "take", and that the rubber band should stay Red after you've set an Area fire target. - ?

[junk2drive]

Usually there is a fine point between sight and no sight. Kind of like the action spots in CM. You get the red line and circle until you click the ground and then the target point "snaps to" the spot. If the spot is now out of LOS you get the gray line. Keep redoing it until you get a red line. Otherwise the whole thing will disappear when you click play.

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: sandman2575
Quick additional question about Area fire: if, *after* you have you set an Area Fire target, the fire-vector rubber-band turns *Grey,* what exactly does this mean? It seems to mean that the target did not really "take", and that the rubber band should stay Red after you've set an Area fire target. - ?

Yeah, that is a little wierd. I guess is it means that while you hover the cursor the game takes a shorthand calculation of the factors into account, but once you lock it down on the ground it takes all factors into account. The results may be that LOS is attenuated.

ORIGINAL: sandman2575
thanks Mobius -- just so I'm clear regarding Area fire -- you mean friendlies can be hit if they fall within the "red cube" zone that appears in Area fire before you set the target? I.e. you could have a squad of your own troops directly in the path of friendly MG fire, but as long as they remain outside the "red cube" for Area fire targeting, they will be OK - ?

Yes.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: Mad Russian

The key, as J2D pointed out, is combined arms. Use infantry to get close enough to ID the infantry in the trenches. Then you can area fire the location. Once they are taking hits you can move your tanks closer to where they can do direct fire but that's taking a chance ...

... 'cause that's when the unseen anti-tank arty open up as the armor is target-fixated on the infantry.