Matrix Games Forums

Of course they work in reserve. (Well, assuming they make reaction roll.) But so does a 1 AP tank battalion, or artillery regiment, or AT regiment or AA regiment. I just don't think I'm getting value for my 5 APs with brigades that are hardly any stronger than their SU equivalents. Mileage may vary.

There's some exceptions to my rule here. Tank brigades are free and you get more of them than you know what to do with. They're nice for reaction duty. Heavy rocket artillery brigades and the 43 mortage brigades are true heavy hitters packing serious heat. I like those.

For the reserve status to function they need to be in the same command chain, correct?
Best to have them under the same parent HQ, or would both of them under the same Front suffice. Basically asking how much it affects chance of commitment.

Brigades have a much higher chance of being committed based on the way reserves work, but I wonder what kind of AP cost you encounter presumably moving these guys around as 'fire brigades' where ever the panzer concentrations form.

I would not have stopped a single Pz Div if I'd used the same amount of Brigades of tanks or infantry and though they cost 5pts to buy, the material contents in tubes and men are mimimal so in that respect they are cheap(er). I agree that 1pt. SU's do the job too and are cheapest to buy but they do not physically occupy real estate and half the job of these fellows consists of sitting on Fort 2 hexes, keeping them from deteriorating until needed. The screenshot was from '42, so there are no Arty Divs or Hvy Rockets around to play with. The 42 campaign starts with a pile of the little guys already attached to SW Front, so they are free and easy to concentrate.
Anyways, my point origional point was that Arty units are, yes, effective. -You just have to adapt your tactics to take advantage of their limited capabilities. I find the best thing to do is concentrate them because scattered they don't do any more than an SU would do in reactions and alone they could'nt halt a falling bicycle. And to those who were confused about the tubes firing in support in reserve: The answer is definately yes.

KenH

Thanks kenh - I have been disbanding those buggers - might give it a try. I am a 280mm mortar fan in 41 42, but most are not. Caution on the heavy rocket SU - they seem to have priority over Rocket divs for replacements.

In the past I have disband AT regiments but am trying to keep them this time.