Supply movement

[Tepi]

Can supply columns move along trails and across open ground or do they have to stick to proper roads?

[Lieste]

They route according to a modified 'avoidance' route. This has a preference for roads, and good going, as well as shortish routes away from known enemy.

The time-lag between a request and receipt will be higher if the column has to operate off road, so it helps to have a secure, clear, short network to the heaviest users (ie artillery and other bases), as these persQ and "vehicles" are unavailable until they successfully return.

[Tepi]

Ok, thanks

[Talon_XBMCX]

Security is key. If you get lazy ... at least in my experience ... you will start losing supply. Very aggrevating ... but keeps you on your toes!

[springel]

In a scenario I played recently, I sent some groups behind enemy lines, expecting to link up with them later when I had breached the front line. In the mean time these infiltrating troops would disrupt supply lines, and attract counter attacks that would be dealt with by supporting long range artillery, this time having the advantage of defending instead of attacking.

But the price was that I lost a couple of supply trains to these isolated units.

Ideally I would order the base not to supply these units, as their line of communication was very unsafe, and their isolation would only take a day or so.

But I guess this is not possible in the current version of the game? Or is there some way to do it?

[johndoesecond]

ORIGINAL: springel

In a scenario I played recently, I sent some groups behind enemy lines, expecting to link up with them later when I had breached the front line. In the mean time these infiltrating troops would disrupt supply lines, and attract counter attacks that would be dealt with by supporting long range artillery, this time having the advantage of defending instead of attacking.

But the price was that I lost a couple of supply trains to these isolated units.

Ideally I would order the base not to supply these units, as their line of communication was very unsafe, and their isolation would only take a day or so.

But I guess this is not possible in the current version of the game? Or is there some way to do it?

No, I think not.

[Lieste]

Probably not, but you can set all supplies for the soon-to-be cutoff units to low, which will at least reduce the size of the columns that get hit. It might also serve to 'cut' supplies after fewer lost run/attempts.

Keep the support weapons 'out of the pocket' - they can SBF from a distance without the same risk, this also reduces the potential casualties if you cannot resecure the exposed troops - these are also the largest supply hogs, taking up to 30 tonnes of supplies a day for a battery, compared to 1.5 tonnes for a rifle company.

Be careful about pushing Rgt supplies forward when there are no Bn Supply units - particularly if you are using double envelopement of a position by a single Rgt. Either keep the Rgt Base a long way back, allowing the "shortest" route to be a choice between the flank and central routes, or avoid the double envelopement, and shift the Base to the same wing as the enveloping troops.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: Panman

Security is key. If you get lazy ... at least in my experience ... you will start losing supply ...

Should the player post garrrisons in towns and cities along the MSR?

[Lieste]

Without a doubt.

Ideally you should garrison each village, crossroads and  chokepoint, to deny them to the enemy.

In practice troops numbers may preclude this, but artillery units, HQ and supply elements can be distributed in a manner that protects the supply line to some degree, and definitely provides real-time recon information on any enemy movement in your rear areas. Although these are weak elements in a direct battle, the artillery can support these battles with indirect fires, and is usually a good point AT reserve.

[Lieste]

Remember that denying the objective to the enemy may not be best done with a large garrison 'on' the objective, but alternatives, like a series of lines of strongpoints in BUA, astride the LOC leading to it, with a small, mobile reserve may give you more time/flexibility and better usage of force - at the very least, the un-engaged strongpoints can be used to fire into the active defensive sector, or if 'suitable' can be gathered into a counter-attack force to immediately replace the committed reserves.

The advantages of delay, early identification of axes of advance etc are potentially very valuable, if the forces necessary to use this information are present.