Russians walk on water?

[Der Kuenstler]

Hey guys - I abandoned part of downtown Stalingrad during my second scenario try, thinking that no Russians could get over there where there was no bridge or ferry. But then I found this:



You see a Russian unit crossing the water. When I click on the hex it says water - no ferry or bridge - so what gives?



Also, when I click on my infantry they are followed by a (-) sign and the letter "W" - anybody know what this means?



While I'm asking, how come the Russians crossing the river earlier are isolated, but the Russians in a stack upriver here are not isolated? Don't see a bridge in either place. Thanks in advance!

[-72-]

One way it can happen (page 51 of the user manual):

Water Hex Ferrying

Some Engineer units can also ferry units across water hexes. Engineer units with this ability have the Has Boats flag in the current scenario. The Engineer unit must not be building or dismantling a bridge and must not be laying or clearing mines. In addition, the Engineer unit must not be Disrupted or Broken, must have full Movement allowance, and must not be in Travel or Rail Mode.

The requirements for a unit to be ferried across a water hex are:

• The unit being ferried must be of Foot movement class, or be of Ski, Bicycle, or Horse movement class and consist of men (right click in Unit Picture to see this information listed) or be a unit which is On Foot (see section on Movement).

• The unit being ferried must have full Movement Allowance, must be in Travel Mode, and must not be Disrupted or Broken.

There are three limitations to this movement:
• The Water hex being moved into must be adjacent to a hex containing an Engineer unit that can perform Water Hex Ferrying.

• The Water hex being moved into must not contain a bridge.

• At most one unit at a time can enter a single Water Hex using Ferrying.

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You are not necessarily going to see the engineer unit depending upon LoS conditions.

[Buffaloes]

I'm guessing that the Russian stack involved in your final question is sitting on a supply source. I know there's a minor Russian supply source near Rynok.

[Dog Soldier]

Buffaloes has it right. There is a Soviet supply source in hex (19,6) to prevent isolation. this simulates the flow of supplies brought over on the ferries from the east bank of the river.

trauth116 is correct about the engineers. There are Russian engineers with the "Has Boats" note that start on Zaitsev Island which could be the engineer unit shown in your image. The Russian infantry unit is in travel mode in your image posted above. It must be supported by this type of engineer unit with boats in an adjacent hex to be on the water.



Dog Soldier

[Der Kuenstler]

Very good - thanks guys! Fun game!

[Xaver]

And remember engeniers can ferry troops in river areas... is a good way to surprise enemy fast and you dont need bridges BUT you sacrifice the organic transport UNTIL the units meets their HQ on the other water side.

[Der Kuenstler]

I've been reading the older posts here and one said the Blitz has an articles section with strategy articles- but I can't find it anywhere here. Does this section still exist?

[Mr Grumpy]

Unfortunately when we migrated to the latest version of the Blitz the strategy article area was left behind, it is on our web masters " to do" list to bring back.