Best use of Corp HQs

[governato]

How do people use the Corp HQs to maximize their effect?


Red Army:

- In Fall 1941 I attach them to Shock Armies to give their units one more layer of C&C
(as the Germans have). I give them junior leaders with good admin levels. They have 8CPs so
3 IDs + 1 Inf Bde + 1 Tk Bde + a few above average SUs seems to work well. During the blizzard, their units seem to consistently get good MPs and combat multipliers.

- Later in the war I like the suggestion of attaching them to STAVKA and fill them up with
Arty divisions.

- in 42 using them as small 'Fire Brigades' attached to STAVKA with leaders with good initiative would probably work too as a flexible tool to plug breakthroughs.

Germans: If I have understood Pelton's strategy (P: sometimes you write like an oracle!) when the initiative goes to the Red Army, in order to maximize reserve commitments it is better to attach IDs directly to Army HQs (if they are not overladed and their leaders have pretty good initiative). Do you disband some German Corp HQs then?


Any other ideas/suggestions/strong opinions?

[Seminole]

In Fall 1941 I attach them to Shock Armies to give their units one more layer of C&C (as the Germans have).

That will give you another chance, but not necessarily a better chance:

11.3.2. COMMAND RANGE MODIFIER

If the leader fails the check, then the leader in the next HQ unit
up the chain of command conducts an initiative rating check. Let’s say
that it is an Army HQ unit that is 10 hexes from the combat unit, has 22
command points worth of units attached and as an Army HQ unit it has a
command capacity of 24 CP, and a leader with an initiative of 7. The check
would be to see if random (20 + 0 {due to command capacity not being
exceeded} + (11/2) {because army HQ units have a range modifier value
of 2}) < 7. Or random(25) <7. (Values are rounded down). As you go up
the chain of command, the base value of 10 doubles each time you go up
a HQ level.

As I understand it, by grouping his units directly under the Army HQs Pelton is allowing the Army commander to make the initial check against the leader rating in question (random(10) instead of random(20) as it would be going 'up the chain').
That way you can maximize command checks by your best generals at the best odds. I don't know that the Soviets have enough good generals to make the corps a boon. I think those mainly help the Germans more effectively route supplies to armies generally spread thinner than the Soviets operate.

The increase to the random number at each successive check is why I wonder how useful it is to have Zhukov at Stavka. He wouldn't suffer from command overload penalties, but he's going to be running his check against a much higher random number (random(40) in most cases). Commanding a Front he's going to be much more effective I would think.

With regard to how to use the corps HQs for the Soviet. I attach them to Stavka and use them for managing brigades (arb/rifle) on digging/maintenance duties in '41-'42, with plans to use them as artillery div shepherds later in the war as the rifle brigades are absorbed making corps. My understanding is that the command penalties only affect CV calculation for seizing a hex, and don't diminish the firepower they provide during combat itself (disruption, fort destruction, etc)

[Peltonx]

GHC: Once I change over to defensive I start deleting 1 Corp HQ per turn until I get to 40ish.

Stugs, poineers, tanks I put in divisions and AA/AT/Arty stay under Army HQ. You also need to put best Commanders in each Army. I will aslo have 1 Corp under each AGC/AGN/AGS as a fire brigade.

Like Semi said it increases SU's to each battle and ups the reserve commitment. Basicly 2x from 4-8 to 8 to 16.

You get 1-3 regiments to every single battle.

Pain in ass to set-up but worth the pain.

[Shupov]

As Soviet, I'll use one at Sevastopal and one at the Kerch peninsula to free up scarce Army HQ's in 1941. I also spend the AP's (usually 6) to change their HQ to STAVKA and off-load 8 CU's from their Front.