Command Control --> HQ's and SU's

[OberstVonWitz]

Corps 5 hex
Army 15 hexes
Army Group 40 hexes

The questions below are to AID in keeping the potential/participation of SU's in battles.

First, in order for SU's to participate in a battle (not directly attached) a division of any type MUST be no more than 5 hexes away from the unit.

Question: If same unit is attached to an ARMY (e.g., 4th Panzer) will support units' work (not directly attached) at 5 hexes and/or 15 hexes?


Second, do ARMY HQ have to be within 15 hexes of their subordinate units)? This seems to penalize Panzer divisions because it is quite possible double this distance suggesting that SU's will quickly break down if they are not directly attached...

Thus the chain: Army -- 15 hexes ---- Corps A 5 hexes Division A
Division B etc


Question:
Is it possible to attach Divisions to ARMY Groups?

Thus chain ARMY group 40 hexes Corps A -- 5 hexes Division A
Division B

Do ARMIES have to be 15 hexes from Army Groups in order for SU's to operate?

It would be great and will greatly influence my approach to know the correct "chain of command " that offers the maximum use of SU's

For those that go this far do allocating SU's as directly attached have noticeable improvements overall? That is I am not convinced that the AI really does/can offer the best set of SU's for the attack thus would be interestd to know some feedback.

Lastly, I read somewhere in the Forum that by end of 1941 the Germans need to allocate one of the Army Groups either to OKH or to a Romanian command structure... I imagine OKW must be in charge of too many AG's such that penalties arise.



Many thanks

[Wiedrock]

Question: If same unit is attached to an ARMY (e.g., 4th Panzer) will support units' work (not directly attached) at 5 hexes and/or 15 hexes?

HQ units must be able to trace a path of no more than
five hexes through friendly or pending friendly hexes to
combat units in order to provide support units during
combat (23.6).

So, 5.
No matter where your CU - Combat Unit (Tankdivision, Infantrydivision, Mot./Mechdivision) is attached to (wether it be OKH, HG, Army or a Corps HQ). It will only receive SU (Support Units) from the HQ it is attached to at a distance of no more than 5 Hexes, (as you already said).

Second, do ARMY HQ have to be within 15 hexes of their subordinate units)? This seems to penalize Panzer divisions because it is quite possible double this distance suggesting that SU's will quickly break down if they are not directly attached...

Thus the chain: Army -- 15 hexes ---- Corps A 5 hexes Division A
Division B etc

Army <15> Corps <5> Panzer Division works.
The Germans for Barbarossa had 3 Army Groups with 4 Panzergroups (later called Panzerarmies).
North to South:
HGN > 4.Panzergroup
HGM > 2.+3.Panzergroup
HGS > 1.Panzergroup
So Each Army Group has at least one "Spearhead"-ArmyHQ, which u need to move to follow your Panzer divisions and their CorpsHQs to not lose their chain of command.

Further note:
After moving a HQ in a turn, there will only be SU commited to battles in a "Deliberate Attack" any longer. So "Hasty Attacks" will not get any SUs from that HQ any longer untill the next turn.

Question:
Is it possible to attach Divisions to ARMY Groups?

Thus chain ARMY group 40 hexes Corps A -- 5 hexes Division A
Division B

You are asking for two different things.

1. Yes. You can attach any CU to any HQ as you like.
2. This chain works. The Corps can be up to 45 Hexes away from the Army Group.
But it is not efficient since you are missing a lot of potential "Leader checks".
A "full" chain of Command results in more possibilities to get Supplies, Replacements, to join Combat,....and MANY MUCHO MACHO MORE. That's why you always want a complete chain of command with 4 HQs involved.

Do ARMIES have to be 15 hexes from Army Groups in order for SU's to operate?

They can be up to 45.

It would be great and will greatly influence my approach to know the correct "chain of command " that offers the maximum use of SU's

For those that go this far do allocating SU's as directly attached have noticeable improvements overall? That is I am not convinced that the AI really does/can offer the best set of SU's for the attack thus would be interestd to know some feedback.

For the maximum use of SU read chapter 23.6.1. of the Game Manual (at least this one).

Directly attaching may be useful in cases of well fortified enemies (pioneers/engineers ...), but which SU to attach in which circumstance is part of another topic. The AI itself doesn't "think" about which SU to commit. It's all "chances/dice rolls" which reflects that your turn represents 7 days + the same 7 days in enemy Turn and therefore not all SUs can be everywhere at the same time.

In general (German side):
There is the 5 Hex rule for SUs. [HQ <5max> CU]
There is the specific 5(Corps)/15(Army)/45(Armygroup)/90(OKH) rule for "general Support" and Command chain functionality (leader checks).
You always want to keep the full Chain of Command connected.
...there are more Modifiers concerning the distance between HQs and CUs, but thats not of that big of importance for now.