Tips from the Frontline

[RNL Tiger]

Evaluation of current situation

OK, we have had a few more turns and POS got to the flags first so I am losing again - familiar position for me! I am going to need to look into my bag of tricks as I know POS wont do anything that he doesn't need to... “Okay, the standard procedure in CM is to regard each turn as an intriguing puzzle, firstly think what you WANT to do, the EXAMINE YOUR OPTIONS in the context of the Big Picture, and plump for the one that seems the best, its fun! This decision-making process begins right from the start, I had the option of assigning my tanks in separate groups at different points, or putting the whole mob in a big bunch on the road, which I did and it went slightly in my favour, I lost 3, you've lost 4.

Now the game moves into a Second Phase, you've reversed off the road and are shaping up for a push towards the flags, so I'm forced to move to counter that threat.

See, it’s like fun chess with move and counter-move, Phase after Phase. The main thing both of us need to remember is that I've got 8 tanks left and you've got 4, but all yours are better than mine, especially the Stalins.

The Big Pic is that I'm ahead on points because I've got more flags, so I'm basically in Defensive Mode now, there's no need for me to do anything at all except sit tight and quiet waiting for the game to end..:) You however, MUST attack or you'll lose, so I'm now busy positioning my tanks to protect the flags and form a welcoming committee. The Stalins are the main threat because they have super-duper thick green armour and my only chance of slaying them is with a mass hail of PzIV fire in the hope of getting enough partial pens to brutally club the beasts to death using caveman tactics.”

Enemy forces spotted so far:
• 2x platoon of Panzer IVH
• 1x Hetzer
• 1x 20mm Flak
• 1 Squad, so probably part of a platoon

I have also heard the crack of a sharpshooter and lost 1 tank commander so he still has points for another company of infantry. I know his armour is in the village and I can assume that an infantry company is deployed near the flags. I can also assume that he has a platoon located around the outside flag too.

I still like my overall infantry plan and so I continue to pursue it. My sharpshooters are situated on both flanks to see enemy disposition and perhaps bag a tank commander or two. What needs to change is the deployment of the armour and I decided that I want three tanks [2xT34 and 1xStalin] in the centre to support the infantry and to place the other Stalin to cover the road and so to cover any flanking moves but also to provide options. Those options are basically to cover the other tanks or to range out and look for opportunities to hunt lone tanks. In my limited experience so far POS has always kept his tanks together but you never know! Tactically, it seems clear that if I only mass tanks then it becomes easier for the enemy to a) know where the tanks are and the direction of attack b) to prepare a defense.

So, let’s continue with plan and see how things develop.