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Along the lines of the favorite AFV thread.

I used to like the US ranger squads with garands but have recently discovered a new fav.

Japanese SNLF squad with type 100 SMG. Talk about hardcore, these guys pack 18 men and a morale that just won't quit. The knee mortar is a bonus as well. They just don't seem to have the close assault anti-tank capability that others do.

Ranger infantry company. Enough squad-level firepower to do some real damage, in the form of bazookas, satchel charges, SMGs, etc. Not to mention the ability to infiltrate behind enemy lines, showing up in the worst place at the worst time (for the enemy!).

Only thing that gets to you is price for such a limited number of troops. Basically, you are buying two overequippped light platoons when it comes down to simple grunt work (urban combat, assaulting bunkers, holding defensive lines). Add in the expense of repair, and you have the makings of a unit that could be a gold-plated elephant. Rifle companies soak up casualties just as well, fill gaps far better, hold the line better (if only because there are more troops, thus more to hold back in reserve), and are (relatively) cheaper.

For me the best are Pioneer, Arm Eng, or any other Engineers with Halftracks.

The Halftracks give the Engineers protection, the long range firepower and a lot of mobility. They are also difficult to hit if they are moving fast.

The Engineers besides their job with the mines have a devastating firepower with flamethrowers and satchel charges. They also protect the halftracks and could hide very well thanks to many smoke grenades.

This combination is excellent in defending where they could fill any gap or protect other units. They also do wonders in fast attacking anything, from heavies and building to infantry and AT.

When artillery is foreseen they could be loaded in the halftrack giving them a lot more protection and preventing supression.

I don't change this guys for nothing.

[ November 22, 2001: Message edited by: RichardTheFirst ]</p>

I'm agree with Richard, those guys are
really tought, and deadly in close combat. I like to use them with Smoke arty barrages when I have to assault fortified defences. I think that's the best role they can achieve.

I don't like to put them in a hold line, I think it is an unnecesary waste.

Parachute infantry are also one of my favorite, special when no support is available on isolated positions. They have good multiporpouse role dealing with infantry and armoured.

I'd prefer the Finnish ski troops best. Their mobility is very good, even in sommers(maybe they use rollerskis?). They have good armanent with SMG and satchel sarges. They are like tough and fast engineers with good morale. I like 'em very much. But that's what they were. One Finnish soldier made the same thing as ten enemies...

German late-war FJ troops. Those StG '44's have a habit to decimate enemy squads in a few shots at close range. For long range they have the MG42, for armor Pzfaust100. They can also take quite a bit of beating before dispersing.

My favorites are:

- german fallschirmjägers with HTs. They're fast, well armed (against armor and infantry), FC is great...can be used both in defensive and offensive role easily.

- Finnish ski infantry. Excellent mobility, well armed and very good experience/morale ratings. They rarely miss when assaulting armored units <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

- Soviet ski infantry. Excellent mobility, very well armed against infantry (rifles + LMG + SMG), but very limited weaponry against tanks. These guys are great for cleaning an area of remaining hostiles or to be used if there are only a few enemy armored units nearby. I usually accompany Soviet ski infantry with motorized soviet Marines...this combination is deadly <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Colonel von Blitz

Rangers equipped with M-1 carbines and M-9 Bazookas. I'm playing with experienced troops and they can destroy both infantry and armor from long range. It's great to see a squad bag a Tiger from 3-4 hexes away! <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

For effective infantry, in the early years, I'm a fan of Sov paras with Tokarev SVTs, and RPG-3s for AT work. They've got good morale/exp and available at a time when the Sovs really need some backbone in the line.

Originally posted by LilJoe:
Rangers equipped with M-1 carbines and M-9 Bazookas. I'm playing with experienced troops and they can destroy both infantry and armor from long range. It's great to see a squad bag a Tiger from 3-4 hexes away! <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

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agreed!!!

if they were somewhat ceaper they would be the best unit in the game.


US has best inf. and arty in 44/45

I gotta give a vote for the late-war Marine squads, with their lethal mix of close-range killing ability and their overall toughness. Mix these guys up with some long-range arty & armor and they're the best, IMHO.

Just had a mech battalion turned into a junkyard by AI controlled VF troops. Don't remember which ones exactly. I saw FF, VF, and maybe CF versions of French infantry while invading North Africa. They were all good, but especially the VF Somethings-or-Others with the remarkable 50mm grenade launcher. Nice LM as well.

Their HQ unit decided to defend the last cluster by itself. Took my reserve platoon with 10 units 3 turns to take it out.

Had AI advantage on, don't know if that mattered.