1st Winter - German Mobile Units

[PeeDeeAitch]

Having less than a world of experience at this, but having 4 tries at winter's under my belt, I have some thoughts on tanks when it gets brass monkey chilly.

Mechanized/Motorized - In the summer months, or light snows, these are brutes. During the blizzard, they become weaker than a Romanian division guarding the Don. DO NOT have them in the open. German tanks and tankers need to be sheltered, preferably cities (2 units) or urban (3), but a good sized town (size 4 is best) can shelter 1 unit. When it merely becomes snow, your tankers will thank you with a wonderful ability to smack down the enemy.

However, as is often the case, the Soviets do not cooperate, and insist not only on attacking your infantry, but pushing them back and possibly encircling units. This is where your rested tanks in the cities CAN be of some use in the deep snow. If the danger zone is close, move them, attack, but make sure they can get back to the city by the end of the turn. They will have a decent CV, and if the danger zone is only a couple of hexes away they can bloody the nose of the Soviets.

Do not, repeat, do not have them spend the inter-turn outside of shelter, or all your hoarding of them will be in vain. However, if you keept them warm and toasty in a city, they can provide a bit of punch if things go bad. I have seen Tula hold out as all around was chaos because there was a 2-3 hex zone of possible roaming panzers.

One last thing. While this will work a time or two, just moving about in the blizzard is enough to wear them down. Do not attack all the time, save this punch for a critical time.