Attacking Strategies

[PenCapChew]

Hello. I was recently playing the "Getting Started" scenario in France 40 as the Germans. It came to my attention on how tough this scenario can be in attacking. I have played it 5 times against AI and lost everytime. I can't seem to capture all the objectives needed to win. How do you do this? For general attacks do you prefer:

1. Advancing on a broad front approach: Use panzer divisions to attack along roads with motorised inf. battallions on the flanks.

2. Concentrate all forces along a small front 3 to 4 hexes: Use weak forces to cover the flanks


In this particular scenario there is a majority of heavy forest as terrain. I can't "blitz" past the defenders as the forest inhibits tank movement tremendously.The panzers slog through it at a snails pace and I can't outflank the Belgian defenders. I am forced to use them along the roads and while doing so I create a traffic jam.

How do you as experienced players conduct an attack? This scenario is just one German division vs. a Belgian one. Do you prefer a fan out approach (which covers more territory and blocks enemy units from slipping past your lines) or the schwerpunkt version (most of divison along a narrow front). I can't "blitz" past the defenders as the forest inhibits tank movement tremendously.

Any ideas?

[Adam Parker]

Hi PCC, this really is an example of a really great scenario in my opinion though frustrating just the same - as I type this with the French National Anthem blazing away on my speakers - signifying another "Axis Major Defeat" :)

The challenges of this scenario are the fixing of the bulk of the Axis forces until about turn 3-4, the limited number of turns being 8 and as you say, some pretty rough terrain in the centre, though with some seemingly open approaches in the north - but all plagued by some well thought-out Allied engineering works.

Taking Lierneux the 50 point objective on the second turn was easy just now, due to arty and a lucky disruption of the defender - and it's a great hubris booster when secured. With no other solutions seemingly available due to the fixing of the bulk of my forces, I then sent what else I had remaining into the central sector coming up of course, against well placed wire mines and the enemy.

More enemy disruptions and airpower allowed my motorcycle company to move adjacent to the 100 point town of Chabrehez. Direct fire forced a disruption of the enemy and the next turn the town was mine. However due to friendly losses a check of the victory dialog showed only 157 victory points - still a major defeat with 301 being needed for a draw! At that point I accepted the fact that the enemy had reached the area of battle before I and the thrust the Axis needed in the broader section of the assualt, regardless of what John Tiller wanted from me, wasn't going to come from this General today!

The unfixing of the 7th Panzer Division main body did open up some options and some forces maneuvered north. But in my opinion, to win this scenario the central thrust is the way to go - or another 16 hours of operational time.

What made this scenario so beatiful for me to play? Well on Turn 7 - the penultimte turn, the enemy AI, pinned against Chabrehez with three companies of Chasseurs did the unexpected. Whilst I tried to maneuver west in futility against the deciding 200 point victory hex of Samree, the Chasseurs regrouped and with a lucky result, pounced on the undisrupted 300+ occupants of the town, retaking it!

I had no response. On turn 8 I suffered almost 70 casualties trying to retake the town. End result. Just 66 victory points, a big loss - and a big smile on my face.

What a hell of a scenario! You'll find with PzC sometimes you'll win and sometimes the fortunes of war and a crafty design team will make that outcome very hard ;) In my humble opinion, this may just be one of those cases.

Rommel's 7th Panzer will need to find another way in!

Thanks for the great post and question. Let's see what others can provide,

Adam.

[jonnymacbrown]

[Dog Soldier]

PvE,

Just the opposite methinks....

The 7th panzer has no time to waste in this scenario. I have played it several times and came up just shy of the Major Victory for the Germans several times. Remember, it is the AI your playing here. Reckless behavior by the Germans can win the day.

By reckless, I mean moves that would be crushed by a human player, but are still within reason for the historical German. The German's biggest enemy during their advance to Sedan was time. The German command was eating antacids by the bucket, because the attack through that terrain was such a gamble. As this scenario points out, a determined defense led by a cool hand would have crushed the German attack through the Ardennes. Unfortunately, the Allies were convinced this was 1914 and not 1940.

Dog Soldier

[jonnymacbrown]

We shall see Dog Soldier. The only problem with what you say is that a player may develop some very bad habits making too many reckless, and feckless moves against not only the A/I but anyone. I'm sure you know Aesop's Fable about the tortoise and the rabbit? Slow but steady wins the race! Von Egan :rolleyes: :cool2:

[milan]

It was a long time ago, but I still remember this scenario. It has purpose of showing the true nature of the Blitzkrieg.
After several games lost, I adopted a new strategy and won.
If you punch with your forces through the shortest route you'll never have enough time to accomplish the mission. The main road is well blocked.
Try to concentrate main assault on different route and you can win. Speed is essential in this scenario - bypass the strong resistance points and keep advancing.

milicko

[Tortue Agile]

I'm sure you know Aesop's Fable about the tortoise and the rabbit? Slow but steady wins the race! Von Egan :rolleyes: :cool2:

Are you talking about my extrordinaries abilities to win :P

It remind me of a quote and I think it is from Chruchill (but I can't find it) where someone describe the advance of the Germans in France and he says that it is like the neck of a turtle coming out of the shell and tha tis is overextending... Finishing by saying that the solution is to cut the neck. If someone has the exact quote I will be extremly happy