Ahhhh! What's the deal?

vbmark · Post by **vbmark** » Sun Apr 15, 2001 6:10 am

Ok, I'm doing the WWII campaign, running my craft to the beach (which takes forever) and finaly we get there. I dump a bunch of engineers all along the coast where the road is closet to the beach; you know, down south-side.

Okay, finally the larger landing craft show up with my tanks and I dump everything on the sand. So far I've only lost one plane due to AA fire so I'm psyched and ready to storm.

But here's what happened: Every time I tried to move a tank one hex inland it would either blow up or become immoble due to mines.

Every time!!!

I think only one made it past the shore!

I'd given the engineers time to remove them and they did remove some. But what am I supposed to do; wait 4 or 5 turns for all the mines to be gone while the enemy spotter zeros in on us and we get pulverized?!?

Someone tell me what I'm supposed to do here because I was very frustrated.

Thanks.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sun Apr 15, 2001 6:17 am

are you playing the long computer generated WWII campaign? If so, you'll almost never get a good battle. the computer purchase are predictable, and the AI setup is even worse. I'd be more than willing to purchase and set up the AI forces for you on a long campaign, if you could return the favor - i'm wanting to play a long campaign as the brits, but it is pointless playing the regular way (computer purchase and deploys)

Warhorse · Post by **Warhorse** » Sun Apr 15, 2001 6:37 am

vbmark, about all you can do, yes, is use the engineers to get rid of those pesky mines. However, you will need to help them out by laying plenty of smoke to shield them from enemy fire. You may also want to just send in a few squads of Engineers to do this, an advance party as it were, that way if shells do hit that area, you don't have a big cluster****!! This WILL take some time, but you should loose few more casualties this way, then when the hole is poked thru the field, try to establish a more or less secure beach-head, before bringing ashore everyone else. See how this works for you, has been awhile since I did a beach assault, but this generally will get you thru it!

Tankhead · Post by **Tankhead** » Sun Apr 15, 2001 6:44 am

Here is a few tips for beach assault.

#1: Use lots of smoke before you it the beach.

#2: Use the engineers 4 hexes wide and if you have lots of engineers stack them in the same hexes with the other ones. If you have mine clearing tanks put them with the engeneers this way you will be able to get off the beach a lot quicker. Do no spread your unit all over the beach that is a suicide wish.

#3: Keep your smoke screen going for the corridor you created with your engineers. Send some light foot recon unit ahead and on the flanks only move them 1 or 2 hexes at a time. Use them to find the enemy and what you are up againts.

#4: The most important is you want to keep your units hidden from the ennemy and the only way to do this is with lots of smoke. While on the beach move slow and clear a path to get off the beach, once off the beach thing usually gets way better for you. Beach assault are a bummer and if you follow these pointers you will keep your losses to a minimal and you will get off the beach a lot sooner. Engineers and mine clearing tanks stack together will remove mines very fast.

. Just keep your path 4 to 6 hexes wide. Smoke, smoke and lot of smoke.

#5: Bypass bunkers don't waste your time on these pest smoke them and move on.

Hope this helps you out.

Tankhead

victorhauser · Post by **victorhauser** » Sun Apr 15, 2001 7:09 am

I use lots of naval gunfire support (very narrow front, usually less than 5 hexes) to blow away most of the mines in my designated attack sector before my landing craft even get to the beach. That way my engineers can clear whatever is left very quickly and start moving inland. I never spend more than a turn or two messing around on the beach.

"There are only two kinds of people on this beach. The dead, and those who are gonna be. Now, let's get moving!"

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » Sun Apr 15, 2001 7:23 am

I always try to use naval guns on the beach while I'm coming in to give me an idea of where the mines are.

Flashfyre · Post by **Flashfyre** » Sun Apr 15, 2001 8:14 am

Just finished the first battle of a US long campaign. Morrocco, so I'm up against Vichy French. Beach landing, and desert...no trees.

Ok. Bought 2 engineer companies and 2 platoons of dozer tanks. Also BB, CA, and DD support, and gunboats.

Looked at map, picked the best spot for beachhead (a draw between 2 hills), shelled it with all naval guns pre-invasion. Landed the engineers and dozers. DID NOT move anyone inland. Initial landings are safe....even if on a mine hex, no casualties occur. Next turn dropped smoke along both hills, and flanking landing craft.

Engineers began discovering mines, stacked at least 2 squads and a dozer in each hex I wanted to clear, and kept my forces 15-20 hexes from beach. 5 turns (and multiple shellings of the hills) later, had cleared half a dozen paths thru the fields. Began landing troops and tanks, with engineers advancing forward.

By Turn 8, all forces on the beach, deployments to flank the defense line begun, AND NOT A SINGLE UNIT CASUALTY during the whole time.

Oh..forgot to mention the 12 B-17 bomber flights that hit the defense line during the pre-invasion landing. Many casualties amongst the French Legionnaires....

So, yes, it can be done. A beach landing is one of the few types of battles that require the Three P's.....Planning, Patience, and Purpose. Plan the assault before you place units, Patience while the beach is secured and the landings occur, and remember the Purpose-to safely assemble your forces while limiting the enemy's ability to attack them.

vbmark · Post by **vbmark** » Sun Apr 15, 2001 9:19 pm

Thanks to everyone who replied. I now have hope!

I'm going to use this new knowledge and try again!

Thanks.

panda124c · Post by **panda124c** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 3:44 pm

B-17 are wonderful for pre invasion bombardment. Buy company or two of engineers (+10 Exp platoons are +0 exp.) lots of smoke, lots of 16" guns. Stack engineer one platoon per hex, with one section of engineer tanks. First wave at least two turn behind enginees. First turn B-17, then lots of smoke, buy B-17 before artillary. then walk 16" guns from the waters edge back move them two hexes each turn untill the engineer land.

JTGEN · Post by **JTGEN** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 5:02 pm

Artillery is good at mines. But only if it's 8in or higher, but also 150mm will bring out the mine hexes.

Personally I prefer taking 2-3 points where I put lots of pressure and break through the defence line.

Paul Goodman · Post by **Paul Goodman** » Mon Apr 16, 2001 11:13 pm

My experience has been (for any form of assault) against the AI, that the first and last hex is not mined! It takes so long to clear the mines that its faster to push everything thru the single opening. Of course, that goes to hell in a handbasket if air attacks start up. I just did Omaha Beach in a long campaign and it was the same there.

Paul