Artillery

[Simon Edmonds]

Just a quick question.
Are there any good threads out there on the optimum use of artillery. For instance when firing from two hexes away is there still a difference between; minimize losses; limit losses; and ignore losses. Is there any point where adding more artillery units to an attack wont get you any more chance of doing damage. Should artillery be able to attack bridges or naval units within range.

[Lobster]

There are a lot of things artillery should be able to do but can't in this game because of some arbitrary game mechanics. We just have to live with it because it has been 'discussed' at length and it was made very clear it wouldn't be changed.

[Curtis Lemay]

Just a quick question.
For instance when firing from two hexes away is there still a difference between; minimize losses; limit losses; and ignore losses.

Distance is irrelevant. What matters is whether the artillery is bombarding (sans ground assault) or supporting an assault by ground forces. Former true, latter false.

Is there any point where adding more artillery units to an attack wont get you any more chance of doing damage.

No. More the merrier. Although a target can't lose more than 100% of itself.

[PrivateLsd]

Just a quick question.
For instance when firing from two hexes away is there still a difference between; minimize losses; limit losses; and ignore losses.

Distance is irrelevant. What matters is whether the artillery is bombarding (sans ground assault) or supporting an assault by ground forces. Former true, latter false.

Is there any point where adding more artillery units to an attack wont get you any more chance of doing damage.

No. More the merrier. Although a target can't lose more than 100% of itself.

Speaking of loss orders, exactly how do they affect artillery units performing bombardment missions? do the 3 loss orders just impact how many tactical rounds they fire for or is there more to it?

[Curtis Lemay]

Just a quick question.
For instance when firing from two hexes away is there still a difference between; minimize losses; limit losses; and ignore losses.

Distance is irrelevant. What matters is whether the artillery is bombarding (sans ground assault) or supporting an assault by ground forces. Former true, latter false.

Is there any point where adding more artillery units to an attack wont get you any more chance of doing damage.

No. More the merrier. Although a target can't lose more than 100% of itself.

Speaking of loss orders, exactly how do they affect artillery units performing bombardment missions? do the 3 loss orders just impact how many tactical rounds they fire for or is there more to it?

Only the impact of being in the wrong defensive stance if the turn ends early.

Now, for aircraft bombarding, it impacts how likely the air unit is to drop out from AAA or AS prior to bombarding.

[scout1]

Just a quick question.
For instance when firing from two hexes away is there still a difference between; minimize losses; limit losses; and ignore losses.

Distance is irrelevant. What matters is whether the artillery is bombarding (sans ground assault) or supporting an assault by ground forces. Former true, latter false.

Is there any point where adding more artillery units to an attack wont get you any more chance of doing damage.

No. More the merrier. Although a target can't lose more than 100% of itself.

OK, I'll bite on this one ....

from my limited knowledge, I have 3 general uses for artillery
- Bombardment (one being counter battery and the other hitting a front line troop prior to a ground assault)
- supporting a ground assualt

what if anything is really different between bombarding the frontline troops independpently vs supporting an attack by frontline ground troops ?

[Curtis Lemay]

Just a quick question.
For instance when firing from two hexes away is there still a difference between; minimize losses; limit losses; and ignore losses.

Distance is irrelevant. What matters is whether the artillery is bombarding (sans ground assault) or supporting an assault by ground forces. Former true, latter false.

Is there any point where adding more artillery units to an attack wont get you any more chance of doing damage.

No. More the merrier. Although a target can't lose more than 100% of itself.

OK, I'll bite on this one ....

from my limited knowledge, I have 3 general uses for artillery
- Bombardment (one being counter battery and the other hitting a front line troop prior to a ground assault)
- supporting a ground assualt

what if anything is really different between bombarding the frontline troops independpently vs supporting an attack by frontline ground troops ?

1. Bombardment is subject to counterbattery, if the target includes artillery.
2. Support of an assault gives the artillery a big strength boost (x10, I believe). (Difference between firing blind vs. with spotters).

[Simon Edmonds]

1. Bombardment is subject to counterbattery, if the target includes artillery.
2. Support of an assault gives the artillery a big strength boost (x10, I believe). (Difference between firing blind vs. with spotters).

I think I may have been handling my artillery wrong. In the game I expend the long-ranged artillery softening up the opposition. Then the next round I use the assault units only to make the attack.

From the above I understand that if I use the long-ranged artillery at the same time as the assault units the combat will process the artillery bombardments and duels first and then go on to do the actual ground assault. Is this correct?

Also if ranged artillery supports an assault is it's attack value multiplied by 10?

[Curtis Lemay]

1. Bombardment is subject to counterbattery, if the target includes artillery.
2. Support of an assault gives the artillery a big strength boost (x10, I believe). (Difference between firing blind vs. with spotters).

I think I may have been handling my artillery wrong. In the game I expend the long-ranged artillery softening up the opposition. Then the next round I use the assault units only to make the attack.

From the above I understand that if I use the long-ranged artillery at the same time as the assault units the combat will process the artillery bombardments and duels first and then go on to do the actual ground assault. Is this correct?

Correct, except there is no counterbattery against support.

Also if ranged artillery supports an assault is it's attack value multiplied by 10?

It's a little more complicated than just that. The "Assault Ratio" plays a part in that multiple and in the supplies expended by the defenders. See 13.20.

[scout1]

1. Bombardment is subject to counterbattery, if the target includes artillery.
2. Support of an assault gives the artillery a big strength boost (x10, I believe). (Difference between firing blind vs. with spotters).

I think I may have been handling my artillery wrong. In the game I expend the long-ranged artillery softening up the opposition. Then the next round I use the assault units only to make the attack.

From the above I understand that if I use the long-ranged artillery at the same time as the assault units the combat will process the artillery bombardments and duels first and then go on to do the actual ground assault. Is this correct?

Correct, except there is no counterbattery against support.

Also if ranged artillery supports an assault is it's attack value multiplied by 10?

It's a little more complicated than just that. The "Assault Ratio" plays a part in that multiple and in the supplies expended by the defenders. See 13.20.

This is enlightening ..... one follow up question ....

If I opt for my artillery to solely run support and get ~ 10x benefit for the overall ground assault .....
Does the enemy artillery within range of the ground combat also get a healthy (~10x) benefit as well ?

[Curtis Lemay]

I think I may have been handling my artillery wrong. In the game I expend the long-ranged artillery softening up the opposition. Then the next round I use the assault units only to make the attack.

From the above I understand that if I use the long-ranged artillery at the same time as the assault units the combat will process the artillery bombardments and duels first and then go on to do the actual ground assault. Is this correct?

Correct, except there is no counterbattery against support.

Also if ranged artillery supports an assault is it's attack value multiplied by 10?

It's a little more complicated than just that. The "Assault Ratio" plays a part in that multiple and in the supplies expended by the defenders. See 13.20.

This is enlightening ..... one follow up question ....

If I opt for my artillery to solely run support and get ~ 10x benefit for the overall ground assault .....
Does the enemy artillery within range of the ground combat also get a healthy (~10x) benefit as well ?

Yes. They will be supporting at half-strength though. (Same as support for the attack that isn't directly assigned to the attack, but joins cooperatively).

[ncc1701e]

So I have a doubt. If I have an artillery unit, range one hex, stacked with an infantry unit. If this group attacks an enemy unit, what does the artillery do? bombarding or supporting?

[Curtis Lemay]

So I have a doubt. If I have an artillery unit, range one hex, stacked with an infantry unit. If this group attacks an enemy unit, what does the artillery do? bombarding or supporting?

see 10.5.1

If more than 50% of its combat strength is ranged, it will bombard; if less it will assault - provided it's range is nominal. If the range has been changed from nominal it will bombard if > 0 and assault if = 0. Note that the attack cursor will indicate which case applies.

[ncc1701e]

Thank you Bob.

[scout1]

So I have a doubt. If I have an artillery unit, range one hex, stacked with an infantry unit. If this group attacks an enemy unit, what does the artillery do? bombarding or supporting?

see 10.5.1

If more than 50% of its combat strength is ranged, it will bombard; if less it will assault - provided it's range is nominal. If the range has been changed from nominal it will bombard if > 0 and assault if = 0. Note that the attack cursor will indicate which case applies.

OK, something else to learn .....

If ranged support, should these show up in the support window like aircraft and ships ?

Or does this all occur behind the scenes so no knowledge whether the artillery weighs in to the overall equation or not ....

[Curtis Lemay]

So I have a doubt. If I have an artillery unit, range one hex, stacked with an infantry unit. If this group attacks an enemy unit, what does the artillery do? bombarding or supporting?

see 10.5.1

If more than 50% of its combat strength is ranged, it will bombard; if less it will assault - provided it's range is nominal. If the range has been changed from nominal it will bombard if > 0 and assault if = 0. Note that the attack cursor will indicate which case applies.

OK, something else to learn .....

If ranged support, should these show up in the support window like aircraft and ships ?

Or does this all occur behind the scenes so no knowledge whether the artillery weighs in to the overall equation or not ....

Do some tests for yourself and see.

[scout1]

see 10.5.1

If more than 50% of its combat strength is ranged, it will bombard; if less it will assault - provided it's range is nominal. If the range has been changed from nominal it will bombard if > 0 and assault if = 0. Note that the attack cursor will indicate which case applies.

OK, something else to learn .....

If ranged support, should these show up in the support window like aircraft and ships ?

Or does this all occur behind the scenes so no knowledge whether the artillery weighs in to the overall equation or not ....

Do some tests for yourself and see.

Fair enough, I will do so ...

But for the record, I learn as I play, and in the last 3 scenario's, I have NEVER been offered ranged support along with aircraft or ships, not once .... So guessing the answer is behind the scenes ..... but will do due dilengence ....

[Curtis Lemay]

OK, something else to learn .....

If ranged support, should these show up in the support window like aircraft and ships ?

Or does this all occur behind the scenes so no knowledge whether the artillery weighs in to the overall equation or not ....

Do some tests for yourself and see.

Fair enough, I will do so ...

But for the record, I learn as I play, and in the last 3 scenario's, I have NEVER been offered ranged support along with aircraft or ships, not once .... So guessing the answer is behind the scenes ..... but will do due dilengence ....

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