Blitz or Assault

[jomni]

I am still not clear on when to choose what when on the attack or defense.
I also noticed that some times, the attacker chooses and other times the defender chooses.
What drives the choice?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: jomni

I am still not clear on when to choose what when on the attack or defense.
I also noticed that some times, the attacker chooses and other times the defender chooses.
What drives the choice?

warspite1

See RAC page 78. The key drivers are the presence of armour and terrain.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: jomni

I am still not clear on when to choose what when on the attack or defense.
I also noticed that some times, the attacker chooses and other times the defender chooses.
What drives the choice?

See Players Manual volume 1, section 3.4.7 for a discussion of Land Combat in general and a few paragraphs on Assault versus Blitz.

[jomni]

I have read those parts already. I just want practical advice.

So can you tell me if I'm doing things right?
When given the choice as defender (because of lack of armor or favorable terrain), I should always chose Assault? And choose Blitz as attacker?

Does the option always come out or only when the conditions are right (armor, terrain)? Because all attacks have the blitz button.

[Centuur]

That depends on the situation. The Blitz table gives less losses on both sides, but forces you to retreat earlier.

If you are short on units and able to retreat into another hex if that is the result (and don't have to worry about giving up hexes), a defender might call Blitz to keep losses low.

[jomni]

So the defender would also prefer blitz so that they would incur less casualties?
Defender select assault if they want to hold till the last man?
Attacker select blitz if they want to gain territory with less casualties.
Attacker selects assault if they want to kill more defenders (and also take more damage in the process).

[Centuur]

Yes.

[brian brian]

There are also differences in how many attacking units are disorganized, which is more likely on the Assault table.

China is wise to select the Blitz table on defense to conserve their forces.

[delatbabel]

If you look at the Barbarossa campaign as an example:

* Early in the campaign, Germany chooses Blitz table in attack whenever possible to enforce breakthroughs.
* Russia chooses Assault in defence in most cases, to prevent breakthroughs. When trading space for time then Russia might choose the Blitz table in defence to preserve units for a more flexible defence (but be aware that retreated units are also disorganised, so you need an HQ standing by and plenty of reserves). If you don't have reserves to put into the line choose Assault to increase the chance that attacking German units will be disorganised.
* As the campaign turns, Russia goes into the attack. Usually choosing Assault in attack as the casualties are higher, and Russia can put units into the front faster than Germany can.
* When executing something like a Bagration style breakthrough, Russia will change to choosing Blitz on the attack.
* Germany when defending its last territories will choose Assault in defence, to slow down the pace of the advance. It has no space to trade.