Matrix Games Forums

'nother n00b here just saying hullo.

(18 from England, yadda yadda)

Just had a look through some of the posts lookin for info before i ask a question thats proberbly been asked a few times before.

At the moment im doing the little 'Utah to Rhine' campaign its small as far as i can tell as im having trouble with picking armies above 2k points. The text at the beginning said it was roughly based on the 70th tank Regiment/(battalion?) so i decided to go mostly tanks for my core force.

My start force was:
(Im at college so i cant remember all the unit names so forgive me for now)

US HQ

M76 (W) Shermans x5
M5 Stuarts x4
Hellcat x2

Current force:

Jumbo

M76 (W) Shermans x3
HVSS x2 (Will soon have 5)
Jacksons x2
M5 Stuarts x2
M4 105mm x2

Its proberbly a terrible force but i seem to do ok ('scept for the missions where i lose all my tanks *G*) but after a couple of missions i can usually repair them all. I think im in germany at the mo and i usually buy Infantry for my support, Paras for taking Vhex's quickly or Halftracks to get there quickly. I think one of my last battles i won 59000 to 1700 but some missions i do terrible.

I was just wondering if you have any general guidence for this type of thing, force choosing, deployment etc etc

PS; Found out a couple of things tho.... Infantry>Tanks in deep cover *Mocks the burning Sturmtigers and Jagdpanthers* 50cal HMG own on defence *mocks all the soft vehicles trying to attack Utah beach*, and 105mm kills infantry in adjacent hex's *mocks the attacking infantry. (period)*

PPS; I hate super sherman assaulting snipers *mutters*

Welcome to the Forums then.

I remember playing with a force quite similar to yours when I started playing SP1 many years ago.

Normally formations are a mix of tanks and mobile infantry, as you have experienced yourself it's often difficult for tanks to do well in dense terrain. That's when it would be great to have infantry - they don't get killed so easily from an ambush.

Also tanks have a difficult time spotting entrenched enemy units. Infantry could help here also.

When I have to breach enemy defenses I normally use (rougly)

1) Artillery barrage
2) Advance with infantry (preferably mechanized) to spot enemy units and perhaps deal some damage.
3) Advance with tanks. They won't suffer much from small arms fire (the infantry might) as long as they keep their distance.

The tanks pack a lot of firepower, but if they don't have infantry spotting support they can roll right over the enemy lines without even seeing them. (and then they fall into ambush )

Originally posted by Svennemir
.

The tanks pack a lot of firepower, but if they don't have infantry spotting support they can roll right over the enemy lines without even seeing them. (and then they fall into ambush )

HEHEHEHEHE

So true;)

Yeah i learnt that very quickly. I got my *** handed back to me when i went tanks first the first few times i played.

My main problem is picking big forces, the WW2 campaign for starters is about 5k+ and 2k support ontop of that for US and UK starting in 39. I just dont know what to choose and even if i do get a botch of an army it takes so **** long to move then all, then do op fire for the enemys turn.

I end up lossing so many units on beach assaults to AT guns and mines about two thirds or my army is surpressed/wounded/dieing or dead.

I did get bored today and had a small battle, i was Uk and with just 700 points i think, i bought 2 Challenger 3 tanks and 4 50 cal HMG's for a laugh. The enemy was germany and just had infantry, i was quite chuffed with the fact i did lose either tank within the first 5 assaults nevermind the whole battle.

Anyway, fun game, but i think getting my head round big battles is going to take some work.

In small battles I generally do better with infantry. In larger battles tanks can rule because of mobility.

HEHEHEHEHE

**** you! I've never found a solution to spotting those squads that you *know* are there, but can't see even though you move up a whole platoon! Maybe the soldiers are too badly trained...

Zeke, try playing Wild Bill's "Flesh And Steel" mini-campaign. That's a wonderful lesson on combined arms.

Well everything is running smoothly at the mo. I still cant get to grips with big armies tho.

Anyway, ive started to come up against Tigers now and they are certainly tough nuts to crack, i did manage to take one out with a nice 3in AT gun that i decided to buy on one mission.

Im finding im losing tanks to alot of the german ones now so ive taken to loading infantry squads into halftracks and running them up to tanks. I usually do it so the tank only sees them when the HT is right next to the tank, when the infantry fall out i just assault the tank and most of the time i win. Naturally i only do that when i know there is deep cover, but the enemy tanks are suffering for it now, im sure theres a better way.