It's my turn- I've just set up an attack on a German front line with an all armor unit, and the German unit has retreated. So with my 23,11 unit (in Center of picture) now in the enemy hex after the overrun, I have the MPs to try to move through directly north into the rear- where they'll be 3 empty hexes in front of me, and I have the MPs to make any of these hexes and possibly go further, since I see nothing behind these hexes either, though they show as 'unknown', so it's quite possible these are enemy occupied.
This means moving from one enemy ZOC to another, so MP costs are high (though I have enough) and there's the possibility of a disengagement attack by the Germans on the first move (German ZOC to German ZOC) and any possible subsequent move to another empty hex either NW (2VPs) or NE. My Recce value is high at 42% and enemy units are pretty tired.
My Q is whether friendly artillery in range will help, because if so- and it's a critical and drop-dead breakthrough- I'd move as much arty as I need up to get it in range to support the attempt, but if not I'd leave the arty in place and use in Round 1 combats in Direct Fire Support of other combats, which of course if I move these arty units is no longer an option. I'd already pack the hex with 23,11 armor unit in it with other units to exploit as combats left and right permit, so that's a given and the unit wouldn't be jumping off leaving an empty hex- displayed this way for clarity (I hope).
The manual mentions arty supporting disengagement in 'Retreat before Combat', but that's as it relates to units being attacked by the player whose turn it is- for example in this case the German units that got retreated here could have benefited. But it doesn't seem to mention whether it works in the manner described above for the player whose turn it is.
Any help appreciated.
