Disengagement

[Edwire]

Hi guys,

In big scenario, occasionally we have to retreat from front lines to a better defensible position, several hex away. I was wondering if there are any tips when doing such operation. Get everybody to run and hope for the best doesn't sound like a good strategy, yet we want to minimize the sacrifice. I feel sorry for the Romanians i've send to Gulag during my last retreat playing as Axis

I know several things to note :
- HQ give disengagement bonus (by how much? Does HQ never suffer disengagement attack?)
- High unit recon capability gives higher chance for successful disengagement (Again by how much? Does the recon capability = the chance ?)

Did I miss anything else?

Thanks in advance!

[SMK-at-work]

Not sure about the exact size of the bonuses, but yes those 2 unit types help, and yes they both CAN suffer from attrition during disengagement and/or fail to do so.

Generally I think the idea is to leave something small and less-valuable behind. sometimes it will get away too - but you have to be prepared to lose whatever it is. If all else fails split a unit and get 2/3rds of it away!

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: Edwire

Hi guys,

In big scenario, occasionally we have to retreat from front lines to a better defensible position, several hex away. I was wondering if there are any tips when doing such operation. Get everybody to run and hope for the best doesn't sound like a good strategy, yet we want to minimize the sacrifice. I feel sorry for the Romanians i've send to Gulag during my last retreat playing as Axis

I know several things to note :
- HQ give disengagement bonus (by how much? Does HQ never suffer disengagement attack?)
- High unit recon capability gives higher chance for successful disengagement (Again by how much? Does the recon capability = the chance ?)

Did I miss anything else?

Thanks in advance!

Did you read section 10.4.10 in the manual?

[Edwire]

Not sure about the exact size of the bonuses, but yes those 2 unit types help, and yes they both CAN suffer from attrition during disengagement and/or fail to do so.

Generally I think the idea is to leave something small and less-valuable behind. sometimes it will get away too - but you have to be prepared to lose whatever it is. If all else fails split a unit and get 2/3rds of it away!

That's what I did before. Just wondering if there are other ideas. As the Axis are woefully short of everything, need to make sure every last man counts.

Or fortify them to the death. heh.

Did you read section 10.4.10 in the manual?

I haven't. Thanks for pointing that out, exactly what i'm looking for!

[Curtis Lemay]

So, there are a number of "automatic" disengagement paths, via those rules. Players should know them by heart.

If none of those are available, then units with a lot of relative armor, recon, speed, or strength have the best chances of disengagement.

If none of that is available, leave a low-value covering unit behind - usually subdivided - as a sacrificial price to pay.

One final option, if you are strong enough, is to fight your way out. Use limited attacks to force the defenders to retreat - without the risk of your forces advancing after them. (This can also be valuable when advancing if you run into small delaying units along your path of advance).