Best use of artillery, supply and HQ units

[TPM]

Playing the North Africa scenario, div. sized units.

Artillery -I've got all these Italian artillery units with range 1...any advice on how to use them most effectively. I know situations determine this, but basically on defense if I need to defend a hex, I've just been stacking them with the other units defending the hex and entrenching them...should they instead be behind the unit on tactical or local reserve?

HQ - I've got these a couple of hexes behind the fighting units, is that alright?

Supply - these have a radius of 5. I'm assuming then that I should keep them within 5 hexes of critical battles, etc. Also, how does this work with supply centers? Are supply units supply centers? I can't seem to get this info from the manual!

Thanks in advance!

[Veers]

In defence, with an arty unit w/range 1: put it right behind your defence line and dig it in. That way, it will support adjacent defences (dependedn on a comms check) and it won't run into the battle (as it would if it was on tac or loc reserve.
 
HQs are only useful in assisting with supply bonuses for units they are adjacent to. SO you want to have them stacked right behind you defence line as well. I'm not sure about that particular scenario, but the HQs often have the AA attached, so it can be a good idea to have the HQs stacked with your arty for protection from aircraft.
 
Supply units: Yes, get as many units as you can within those fix hexes, as they give a suppyl boost. They DO NOT, however, act as suppyl sources themselves. This info is on page 20 of the manual. If you do a search for 'supply unit' in acrobat reader, you will also find it (on page 20).

[TPM]

ORIGINAL: Veers

In defence, with an arty unit w/range 1: put it right behind your defence line and dig it in. That way, it will support adjacent defences (dependedn on a comms check) and it won't run into the battle (as it would if it was on tac or loc reserve.

HQs are only useful in assisting with supply bonuses for units they are adjacent to. SO you want to have them stacked right behind you defence line as well. I'm not sure about that particular scenario, but the HQs often have the AA attached, so it can be a good idea to have the HQs stacked with your arty for protection from aircraft.

Supply units: Yes, get as many units as you can within those fix hexes, as they give a suppyl boost. They DO NOT, however, act as suppyl sources themselves. This info is on page 20 of the manual. If you do a search for 'supply unit' in acrobat reader, you will also find it (on page 20).

For some reason, I'm always finding the manual a little vague, but I think that's just me. Thanks for the response, it really helped.

[Veers]

No problem, and it you have any other questions, feel free to ask. I'm confident that you will get other responses that are just as helpful.

[a white rabbit]

..set art to tactical resrve, keep one hex space between them and the front line..
 
..that way they'l support without rushing in ...

[Catch21]

ORIGINAL: a white rabbit

..set art to tactical reserve, keep one hex space between them and the front line..

..that way they'll support without rushing in ...

No, no. Not with range 1. If one unit gets retreated and adjacent to your arty and attacks again, your arty gets sucked in- that's over the top, in the open and without guns, a disaster. Follow Veers' advice.

Hmmm. Now if only designers could play better and players design better, we might between us make a better world.

[a white rabbit]

ORIGINAL: General Staff

ORIGINAL: a white rabbit

..set art to tactical reserve, keep one hex space between them and the front line..

..that way they'll support without rushing in ...

No, no. Not with range 1. If one unit gets retreated and adjacent to your arty and attacks again, your arty gets sucked in- that's over the top, in the open and without guns, a disaster. Follow Veers' advice.

Hmmm. Now if only designers could play better and players design better, we might between us make a better world.

..sorry, just general advice..

..1 hex range stuff i divide and then spread dug-in along the front line, only using Tac Res during attack phases..

[Veers]

ORIGINAL: General Staff

ORIGINAL: a white rabbit

..set art to tactical reserve, keep one hex space between them and the front line..

..that way they'll support without rushing in ...

No, no. Not with range 1. If one unit gets retreated and adjacent to your arty and attacks again, your arty gets sucked in- that's over the top, in the open and without guns, a disaster. Follow Veers' advice.

Hmmm. Now if only designers could play better and players design better, we might between us make a better world.

HAHA! I gave good advice! This could be a first...[:D]

[a white rabbit]

ORIGINAL: Veers

ORIGINAL: General Staff

ORIGINAL: a white rabbit

..set art to tactical reserve, keep one hex space between them and the front line..

..that way they'll support without rushing in ...

No, no. Not with range 1. If one unit gets retreated and adjacent to your arty and attacks again, your arty gets sucked in- that's over the top, in the open and without guns, a disaster. Follow Veers' advice.

Hmmm. Now if only designers could play better and players design better, we might between us make a better world.

HAHA! I gave good advice! This could be a first...[:D]

..yup..[;)]

[freeboy]

Best us of all weapons of art nature when on offensive, crush the point of attack! Each situation is different

[DoomedMantis]

where does the range show on the arty?

[a white rabbit]

..go show unit, then individual weapon types..

[DoomedMantis]

cheers mate

[DoomedMantis]

Whats the best way to use range 1 arty on offense?

[Telumar]

ORIGINAL: DoomedMantis

Whats the best way to use range 1 arty on offense?

Stack them together with the units that you want to attack with and put your artillery in support mode (tactical reserve or dig them in, but then they can't advance anymore to support following attacks in the case of an avance)

[JAMiAM]

ORIGINAL: Telumar

ORIGINAL: DoomedMantis

Whats the best way to use range 1 arty on offense?

Stack them together with the units that you want to attack with and put your artillery in support mode (tactical reserve or dig them in, but then they can't advance anymore to support following attacks in the case of an avance)

In the vast majority of cases, this is true. However, it also depends on the assigned equipment for the firing unit, the composition of the defending unit, and the assets that it has supporting it. For example, if the defender is a unit that has little artillery support and is a good defensive position/deployment and the designer has thoughtfully included some light rifle squads, or other active defender type equipment in the unit, and you are careful to not subject yourself to a flanking penalty, then you can use your one-hex ranged artillery in direct fire mode, with minimal losses to your guns, as it will be the active defenders in your attacking unit that will bear the brunt of the defenders returning AP fire, instead of your guns.

[sPzAbt653]

Also, when a unit is selected, you will see the range displayed in the unit panel.

[DoomedMantis]

I gather then they are providing support, but because they are one hex away (with range 1) you can't just physically assign them when they are on Tactical

[B/snafu]

Iv'e got the basic use of artillery support kind of down--But what about bombardment??--

On turns where I have say a range 2 art unit placed behind my front line units where it can be used to support attacks or defense for those adjacent units---------If I don't use those units for attck on that turn and are just digging them in---is it worth bombarding the enemy units in front of them just with the art (in cases where I have unused combat rounds of that turn that will go to waste anyway) or should I just further entrench the art unit??

Is a prep--bombardment a turn or so before you attack a given area give a benifet with this system??

Last question----If I dig in an art unit (reducing it's movement to 0) then attack with a unit adjacent to it----will the art support the attack even with 0 movement left??

Any response would be appreciated.

[Veers]

ORIGINAL: B/snafu
On turns where I have say a range 2 art unit placed behind my front line units where it can be used to support attacks or defense for those adjacent units---------If I don't use those units for attck on that turn and are just digging them in---is it worth bombarding the enemy units in front of them just with the art (in cases where I have unused combat rounds of that turn that will go to waste anyway) or should I just further entrench the art unit??

If you decide to use that art unit to bombard you take a chance of the turn ending and that unit not being dug-in, and, therefore, not supporting your defences during the next turn.

Is a prep--bombardment a turn or so before you attack a given area give a benifet with this system??

Maybe. Someone else will undoubtedly bring forward a better answer than I can right now.

Last question----If I dig in an art unit (reducing it's movement to 0) then attack with a unit adjacent to it----will the art support the attack even with 0 movement left??

Yes.