Need help stopping the T-34's in Case Blue

[JRodda]

I'm up to about mission 9 or 10 in the Case Blue Campaign, and the good news is that I've rated outstanding in most of the missions. The bad news, however, is that in the last mission, my mostly infantry force was confronted with a large force of T-34's and KV-1's, and they handed me my arse on a silver platter! It was my first defeat in this game, and it was a bad one. The Russian tanks rode roughshod over my mostly infantry force, and I managed only to destroy one measly tank. What's the secret here?

About the only thing I know of that I've not yet tried is using smoke shells. I'm wondering if firing smoke shells at the tanks and then following up with a close infatry assualt will do the trick?

Advice would be appreciated. I'm loving this game, but am a bit discouraged now after suffering such a bad defeat.

BTW, in case you were wondering, although I'm playing an infantry command, I usually get a squadron of PZ3's and 4's to counter the Russian tanks. Didn't get any in the last one though.

[Crazy Aido]

I'm surprised that you got so badly mauled for such little return, but my own answer to your question is very similar to your strategy, sneak up and assault. I play mostly late '44 games, but I think even by that stage German infantry have some reasonable anti-armour assets. You just need to get close enough to use them.

My suggestions is use the ground as best you can. when the game starts, zoom out and get good idea of the hills, forests and towns that can cover you as you move up. The overhead 2d map is great for this.

Another gem is dead ground, which can save your hid. A spot of ground that is one hex up from another and one hex away can't be seen by that hex, maybe you know this already, but when I've used it quite succesfully to sneak infantry closer to a unit of tanks on hill before, then popped smoke, moved up and assaulted. It was quite succesful.

I hope this was helpful as opposed to being preachy!

[TAIL GUNNER]

Hi Jrodda, glad you're enjoying the game.


I'm afraid the only counter you'll have against these beasts at this stage of the war is your Engineers and AT guns.

Hide your infantry as best you can, and try to disrupt the armored savages with the aforementioned units and then assault, assault, assault with your troops.

If you don't have any Engineers or AT guns.....then run and take your lumps!

Good luck!
ChadG

[JRodda]

Ok, I sort of have been doing what you guys have suggested.  I see that it takes skillful maneuvering and use of terrain, and yes, I have occasionally had some luck with close quarters assaults.  But yeah, I see that you advance your infantry and guns in clear terrain against the T-34's at your own risk!!!  Also, yes, I'd read in Paul Carel's 'Hitler Moves East' that the German infantry formations did often have a tough time against the T-34's. 

Again though, I can see that this is a great gaming system that really makes you think, and is probably the best tactical WW2 game I've played since, well, Panzerblitz!!!  [;)]  I'm nearing the end of Case Blue, and am looking forward to trying my hand with Rommel in Africa, Georgie Patton, and of course Manstein's early '43 battles and Kursk.

Thanks again, and Chad, thanks for recommending to me such a cool game.  [&o]

John 

PS......I think I'm going to start hearing those German war songs in my dreams!!!!   lol  

[Achsah]

         close assault them! In my opinion you chose a good method to practise. i learned the game playing all infantry in the barbarossa campaign..those give the most nailbiting opertunitites too. if there is a lot of open ground sometimes you simply have to retreat and lose the game to keep your troops..playing russian infantry is also good..for some reason when the ai has germans they seem to fight with more skill on the attack..when using all infantry on attack you must prepare ..all you really have to do is get a positive score anyway to not lose..