how do I use Infantry

[general_solomon]

To all Panzer Generals:

I am on the third battle playing on the german side. So Far I have not seen the need to use infantry. What am I doing wrong?

I use my half tracks to scout and attack other infantry. My take out enemy tanks.

Please tell me how I can use Infantry to my advantage.

be as detailed as possible. I would really love a Primer on a combined arms approach.

thanks for your time.

Gen. Solomon

[Mobius]

If your infantry attacks other infantry the usual ratio is to have a three to one superiority to win. I don't think you are going to find that in any OWS mission. Wih enough infantry you can even take on an anti-tank gun. But if you are sending infantry to attack tanks furgetaboutit.

The best way to advance is to find a way behind cover. Either put hills, woods, buildings or smoke between you and the enemy for most of the way. (Sorry but there’s no smoke in OWS missions unless you get the Kharkov expansion.)

Take on one point in the enemy line (maybe an end or weak spot) at a time. Maybe a house. Overwhelm it with at least 5 to 1 odds. Use that position as cover and move more of your men toward other nearby enemy positions. Basically you want to mass your troops at one point of an enemy line. Knock it out and wheel your force to attack along his flank. That is how you have to work against fortified positions.

But in some situations it depends on where the flags are. If you punch a hole in the enemy lines but the flags are to the rear it is better to keep on going for the flag. Then the enemy is left with its rear hanging in the wind as they now don't have much purpose where they are.

[general_solomon]

Thanks for the info, so is it better to just purchase half track or tanks.  they do a better job. 

you should write a primer on combined arms approach which includes what to look out for when there is no enemy intel.  I know the usual with open areas, do you think it wise to study the capabilities of each tank.

[Erik Rutins]

General Solomon,

The historic Winterstorm operation was very tank heavy and fought largely on flat open ground, so in most scenarios armor will be your best bet in Winterstorm. However, situationally infantry will be better at engaging other infantry at short ranges and rooting them out of buildings or other cover. In general though, in Winterstorm if given the choice, take more armor or anti-tank guns as you'll generally need it.

In Kharkov, it's a different story particularly for the Soviet campaign but also in general. Once you get a chance to try it, I think you'll see there that infantry has a much more clear role.

Regards,

- Erik

[general_solomon]

Thanks Eric and mob.

I didnt know i coud use ant-tank guns in the game.  I was afraid to us them thinking they are off map weapons like mortors.

[Owl]

one thing that bugs me about PCWS (and indeed the competition's similar games) is that Infantry seem to be fairly difficult to use as scouts.  I've read plenty of instances where German panzer crews or other scouts went forward before they rolled the tanks out and very carefully spotted many of the enemy tanks and anti tank guns and what not they were going to have to deal with. 
When trying to use infantry as recon in game though, they virtually always are spotted and come under fire - and often don't find a damn thing other than the wrong end of bullets and the location of enemy MG nests and such.  A couple of good men moving carefully forward with a pair of field glasses should be quite useful, but it just doesn't seem to be something possible in game(s).
 
The other "gripe" - light armor.  Use of armored cars to do recon was common practice.  In PCWS you can do that, but if and when they find something they don't have any sense to get the heck out of dodge themselves, and instead take fire until you get your next movement orders phase.  This is one thing I certainly like about the competition - the units have some sense of self preservation and will stop or retreat in spite of orders when and if they encounter something "unpleasant".  I find in PCWS I make really, really short jumps hoping to find things AND survive long enough to back up and get gone if my AC can't deal with it (and they often can't).  Any way around this?

[Stridor]

Owl,

I agree with much of what you say.

It is possible to change the size class of AC to one size smaller (and hence less visible). Not sure if you can do this with infantry? I do not have access to the game at the moment.

It is all a question of relative visibility and sighting, something I think PCOWS could do with some improvement.

Shame there is not a "move to contact order".

Another nice thing that would help would be the following. The attacking force should always be eagle eyed if they knew they were attacking into defences. Eagle eyed implying that they have their maximum visibility. The defending force would start *not* eagle eyed until gunfire exchanged or they could hear enemy tanks rumble. Reflecting attacker surprise & the fact that to be 100% vigilant at all times is physically exhausting and is only done during times when it is *really* needed.

[Erik Rutins]

Owl,

In the upcoming Kharkov release, we added a "recon" trait to certain armored reconnaissance cars and things like sniper teams. This gives them a slight advantage to spot and avoid being spotted relative to other units of their type, reflecting the training of the soldiers or crew in such tactics. Sometimes that can make all the difference.

I find the Advance order in general to be a pretty good recon order, though Bound is the ideal one IMHO if you're playing Germans.

Regards,

- Erik

[Owl]

Thanks for the replies, I look forward to the Kharkov release.  Of course I've never been in combat (thank God) but reading Panzer commander and the like is informative.  Some Panzer crews wandered ahead and did their own recon!  I would imagine they'd be pretty effective at knowing what to look for as far as ATG's and other dangers to their tanks (self preservation can be a power motivator).