Strategic Road Movement

[pcasey]

In the game units have different types of movement.

Combat Movement --- slow but safe
Move --- about twice the speed of combat but lower combat effectiveness
Strategic -- very fast but has a pack/unpack cost and can only move over certain improved railroads and roads

Specifically question about strategic movement.

I can move any unit I want to via strategic RAILROAD movement (RR or RR+)

*Some* of my units can also do strategic ROAD movement (RD) which is slower than RR but still a lot faster them Move.

I can't for the life of my figure out how to tell if a unit is capable of strategic road movement or not other than putting it on a base with a road exit and trying to send it down the road via strategic movement.

Observationally a lot of western allied units seem to be able to do RD just fine (but not all).

I don't think any of the Chinese units I have tried can do RD though (but maybe one can).

Can somebody share the logic as to which units can and cannot do strategic road movement?

[DConn]

It is based on the "nationality" of the ground unit (as defined in the game). For example, USN and USMC are a different "nationality" than US Army units. From memory, the following nationalities cannot use strategic road movement: USN, USMC, Commonwealth, Chinese. (There may be others; my memory isn't so good!)

[RangerJoe]

The only way to get those units that can't use strategic road movement is to have at least one unit in the stack capable of strategic road movement, then all of the units are set to strategic movement, then you have to order the unit capable of strategic road movement and have all others march.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: DConn

It is based on the "nationality" of the ground unit (as defined in the game). For example, USN and USMC are a different "nationality" than US Army units. From memory, the following nationalities cannot use strategic road movement: USN, USMC, Commonwealth, Chinese. (There may be others; my memory isn't so good!)

US Army and British Army units all can use Strat mode on grey roads. (No units can Strat move on dirt roads). I think some Australian units might also be able to Strat move on the road. The idea is that the US and British units have the necessary vehicles for this type of movement and other nations do not. Some of the Aussie units may be working with a British or US TOE that allows them to travel thusly.

The workaround Ranger Joe mentioned (setting non-capable units to follow a Strat-Rd capable one) is fine when you are playing the AI but would likely raise objections in a PBEM game. It looks the me like the game designers did not intend that else they would have made all the units Strat-Rd capable.

[rustysi]

The workaround Ranger Joe mentioned (setting non-capable units to follow a Strat-Rd capable one) is fine when you are playing the AI but would likely raise objections in a PBEM game. It looks the me like the game designers did not intend that else they would have made all the units Strat-Rd capable.

+1

[Ian R]

In he latest beta -

US Army, British, Indian, Canadian, Aust, NZ are all road strategic move capable.

USN, China, the Soviets are not. Dutch/NEI are not. CW units are not (not even the proper African divisions and brigades, so do not send them to China).

Not sure about French land units.

It is strictly by nationality. TOE has no effect.

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: Ian R

In he latest beta -

US Army, British, Indian, Canadian, Aust, NZ are all road strategic move capable.

USN, China, the Soviets are not. Dutch/NEI are not. CW units are not (not even the proper African divisions and brigades, so do not send them to China).

Not sure about French land units.

It is strictly by nationality. TOE has no effect.

USMC? I don't recall that I've tried to do a strategic road move with a USMC unit... well, ever, but now I'm curious.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Gridley380

ORIGINAL: Ian R

In he latest beta -

US Army, British, Indian, Canadian, Aust, NZ are all road strategic move capable.

USN, China, the Soviets are not. Dutch/NEI are not. CW units are not (not even the proper African divisions and brigades, so do not send them to China).

Not sure about French land units.

It is strictly by nationality. TOE has no effect.

USMC? I don't recall that I've tried to do a strategic road move with a USMC unit... well, ever, but now I'm curious.

USMC is not capable of strat movement by road because their role as a landing force did not provide troop/supply trucks in their TOE. They were meant to land and stay within walking distance of the beach (at least back then they were). USArmy para units might also be excluded from strat move by road for the same reason as the USMC. Such vehicles as the USMC units have are likely jeeps and other light vehicles.

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

USMC is not capable of strat movement by road because their role as a landing force did not provide troop/supply trucks in their TOE. They were meant to land and stay within walking distance of the beach (at least back then they were). USArmy para units might also be excluded from strat move by road for the same reason as the USMC. Such vehicles as the USMC units have are likely jeeps and other light vehicles.

Well, actually, a Series F USMC division (for example) had over 200 "deuce and a halves" (a quarter of them with dump truck bodies). Granted, the division only had about 2/3 the motor vehicles of the contemporary Army infantry division TOE while having a quarter again the manpower.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Gridley380

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

USMC is not capable of strat movement by road because their role as a landing force did not provide troop/supply trucks in their TOE. They were meant to land and stay within walking distance of the beach (at least back then they were). USArmy para units might also be excluded from strat move by road for the same reason as the USMC. Such vehicles as the USMC units have are likely jeeps and other light vehicles.

Well, actually, a Series F USMC division (for example) had over 200 "deuce and a halves" (a quarter of them with dump truck bodies). Granted, the division only had about 2/3 the motor vehicles of the contemporary Army infantry division TOE while having a quarter again the manpower.

Are you talking about "back then" or now?

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Gridley380

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

USMC is not capable of strat movement by road because their role as a landing force did not provide troop/supply trucks in their TOE. They were meant to land and stay within walking distance of the beach (at least back then they were). USArmy para units might also be excluded from strat move by road for the same reason as the USMC. Such vehicles as the USMC units have are likely jeeps and other light vehicles.

Well, actually, a Series F USMC division (for example) had over 200 "deuce and a halves" (a quarter of them with dump truck bodies). Granted, the division only had about 2/3 the motor vehicles of the contemporary Army infantry division TOE while having a quarter again the manpower.

Are you talking about "back then" or now?

Series F was adopted circa May '44.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Gridley380

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Gridley380




Well, actually, a Series F USMC division (for example) had over 200 "deuce and a halves" (a quarter of them with dump truck bodies). Granted, the division only had about 2/3 the motor vehicles of the contemporary Army infantry division TOE while having a quarter again the manpower.

Are you talking about "back then" or now?

Series F was adopted circa May '44.

The US Army also had a lot of transportation companies with lots of trucks not represented in the game unless those are the motorized support in the HQs.

[Gridley380]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

The US Army also had a lot of transportation companies with lots of trucks not represented in the game unless those are the motorized support in the HQs.

True, and in the ETO it was found that you could basically 'motorize' a division for short marches with the use of the organic vehicles in the typical attachments (Tank, TD, and AA battalions). The USMC had the equivalents to those units already organic to the division, so their equipment is already included in the TOE.

Not saying the USMC was as motorized as the Army (it wasn't), just noting that they DID have significant organic motor assets.

[Ian R]

Update: The French can't strategic road march.

I find this odd, given that the CEFEO was basically equipped as a Free French US TOE ground force.

I guess the developers had the reasons (and there were no FF units in stock, as far as I can remember).

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Ian R

Update: The French can't strategic road march.

I find this odd, given that the CEFEO was basically equipped as a Free French US TOE ground force.

I guess the developers had the reasons (and there were no FF units in stock, as far as I can remember).

Stock does have a few small FF units in Tahiti, Noumea and other spots. No vehicles.

[Tanaka]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: DConn

It is based on the "nationality" of the ground unit (as defined in the game). For example, USN and USMC are a different "nationality" than US Army units. From memory, the following nationalities cannot use strategic road movement: USN, USMC, Commonwealth, Chinese. (There may be others; my memory isn't so good!)

US Army and British Army units all can use Strat mode on grey roads. (No units can Strat move on dirt roads). I think some Australian units might also be able to Strat move on the road. The idea is that the US and British units have the necessary vehicles for this type of movement and other nations do not. Some of the Aussie units may be working with a British or US TOE that allows them to travel thusly.

The workaround Ranger Joe mentioned (setting non-capable units to follow a Strat-Rd capable one) is fine when you are playing the AI but would likely raise objections in a PBEM game. It looks the me like the game designers did not intend that else they would have made all the units Strat-Rd capable.

So Japan cannot use Strategic Move on Roads? Ah so this explains why I never knew you could do this haha

[Leandros]

One advantage with going strat is that you can change to strat without the enemy detecting your intentions before you designate the destination.

Fred
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