Using RESERVE to make a weak defense strong?

[MarkShot]

Suppose I am on defense. I want a longer line, but I face the defenders problem. I cannot be strong everywhere, and the attacker will find a weak spot.

So, I create a picket line use:

1x DIV -> 3x REG (cover 3 hex)

then, I put the rest of the divisions behind stacked and maybe another CORPs ... 3 HQs (2 corps and 1 army HQ) stack 3 high. All the units behind the picket are set to RESERVE. (I understand that they must be no further than 6 hex from the fighting hex.)

Now, if within 6 HEXes and HQs with good initiative the RESERVE units should fight. Thus, my pickets appearing weak and thin should have an adequate counter-punch.

Is this a reasonable defensive tactic besides using terrain features?

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Furthermore, if I build forts on the picket HEXes will the RESERVE units which call up benefit from the fortifications? As I understand it, they fight under the terrain parameters of the defenders HEX.

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GS AD only kicks in for your turn, correct? The best I can do on defense with air power is AD SUP or a near airbase will send up fighters to protect the bases air space. Just how far will those fighters travel? Their entire range circle of just N hex?

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Thanks for helping a noob become a Rommel.

[GloriousRuse]

1. Yes, reserves can react to a picket line attack. But it is far from guaranteed, especially for the soviets. You may also run into an issue where the correlation of forces is going to cause, say, your picket airborne brigade to rout out regardless, and end up trashing your "main" line in picket battles - by the time you're fighting at your MLR/battle zone/whatever, you may have exhausted and , undersupplied, and attritted defenders. Particularly because your forward line is probably nice and close to well rested enemy infantry. On the other hand, you can give some nasty surprises to someone trying to shave the margins.

2. They only benefit from fortifications in urban hexes I believe, elsewise just the straight terrain.

3. If you leave GS set to ON when you end your turn, your GS will fly on the defensive. For EVERY battle where there are available aircraft. Can be a powerful shock. Can let your opponent mercilessly butcher your now entirely predictable air efforts.

[Q-Ball]

Mastering how to use RESERVES is one of the keys to an effective defense. It's critical for the Germans in particular who don't have the unit density to cover every 2nd-line hex. What you describe is a valid tactic; back a German Regiment with, say, an SS Unit will create some nasty losses and surprises!

Some caveats though:

1. Units that RESERVE activate have very few MP the following phase, which can limit their ability to counterattack
2. RESERVE units benefit from defensive terrain, but NOT forts

Despite the hits to MPs, I still think it's critical for the Germans. It forces the Soviets to overload attacks, or potentially suffer massive losses in a repulse

[hei1]

1. My experience: this my work well for a "first" attack with totally overpowered response, BUT in an extreme situation all your reserve units run out of (enough) MPs and in a "second" attack nothing is left...
Another tactics is: the mesh defense. A loosely woven first line and a second line (that makes a breakthrough difficult) plus some good and fast units for a counter attack in your turn.

[DeletedUser1769703214]

Ahhhhhh, reserves. Has Pro's and Con's and some have already said some. But, in 41 I love Soviets with heavy Reserves, it is like getting a 2 for 1 purchase .

[Firewire9452]

I dislike using reserves as the Soviets in 41. You really don’t have enough troops to stack and cover the line, and winning combat that the axis initiate is hard. It’s not impossible with good rolls, bad rolls for the axis, heavy terrain, rivers, etc. But the Germans will win the combats that they choose to initiate by and large and my experience was that reserves usually didn’t change that much, but certainly did impact the number of casualties I took in 1 combat by letting the Germans thrash 2 divisions with 1 CPP reducing attacking instead of having to make 2 CPP reducing attacks and fight the second battle with less CPP than the first.

[cameron88]

You should always attack as Germany, those reserve divisions should be gaining cpp to make micro encirclements and counter attacking over exposed soviet tank/motorized forces. If you allow the Soviets time to organize and mount an offensive, a reserve division isn't going to save you and isnt something you should worry about.