The Shock Attack

[kokubokan25]

Anyone can say me the avantages of a shock attack?
I try many times between shock and deliberate and the second seems more better in all cases. Shock attack only suppose very high losses...

[DJAndrews]

From what I've seen the only time that shock attack is effective is if you out-number the opposition by about 20 or thirty to one. I've seen shock attack work against paratroopers in UV but haven't got that far in WITP. I have used shock attack to wipe out the last of a stubornly resisting Japanese force, but it likely that deliberate attack would have had the same result, if not that turn then in a couple more.

As you're probably aware, defensive fire is doubled against the attacker in a shock and therefore can result in large losses for him. I've seen threads that say that Japanese (that have retreated) will use shock attack (simulating a bonzai charge) but i've not seen this happen. If its true, maybe shock attacks main use is to get at the remnants of Japanese units (who are incredibly hard to wipe out).

[AmiralLaurent]

SHock attack is a banzai charge (for Japanese), that is troop take no cover and so suffer horribly from enemy fire but survivors will hit enemy lines with a big bonus.

In WITP? the only advantage I see for shock attack is when you know that enemy reinforcements are coming and you need to take the base at once. If you have enough time, deliberate attack is better.

OH, I remember there is another advantage of shock attack, enemy fortifications will be destroyed more quickly.

[Grotius]

Yes, I think the manual says a shock attack can reduce a fort by as much as 3 in one turn. A deliberate attack can reduce fortifications by only 1 per turn.

Also, I thought shock attack tended to double or triple casualties on *both* sides. May be wrong about that, though.

[chili614]

One advantage to shock attack that has not been mentioned as of yet is that it gives your the option of pursuing the enemy when they disengage. This is especially useful with armored units as they will usually move into the hex with the retreating units on the same turn as the attack. I have found this useful in pursuing weak units with much stronger ones as it takes a shorter amount of time to either wipe out the unit or push it to a nearby base.

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: chili614

One advantage to shock attack that has not been mentioned as of yet is that it gives your the option of pursuing the enemy when they disengage. This is especially useful with armored units as they will usually move into the hex with the retreating units on the same turn as the attack. I have found this useful in pursuing weak units with much stronger ones as it takes a shorter amount of time to either wipe out the unit or push it to a nearby base.

Yes I just had the 33rd Div launch a shock attack with pursue orders on a RAF Base Force N of Moulmein. The Base Force was repelled of two hexes (should be moving at the same time). The 33rd Div finishes in the hex NE of Rangoon, cutting the rail here, and the Base Force is on the hex still NW of the 33rd Div, on the road to Akyab. Another unit has the same orders and remains in the hex of the battle.