Tips from the Frontline

[RNL Tiger]

Evaluation of performance

Purchase and setup stage:
• On balance the purchasing decisions could have been improved, in particular replacing the reserve platoon and perhaps one sniper with additional support weapons [HMGs/mortar]. In hindsight, I am inclined to have chosen more ATGs in preference to tanks but I was not impressed with the gunnery in this battle of either units
• Wire was completely ineffective and roadblocks would have been better. The trench on the right served its purpose even though it was unoccupied and whilst the anti-tank and anti-personnel mines played no part in the battle that was due to the effective tactical surprise of the attack
• Whilst the strong point setup had a fire-sack in the centre I am happy with that deployment. The attack came from the right, which achieved tactical surprise but the trench being saturated with HE showed what would happen to any thin line of defense on the right
• Infantry, spotter and sniper were well placed

Execution of the Defense:
• Infantry, spotter and sniper were manoeuvred as needed and in time
• ATGs were left in their original position and the expectations about their use against an attack from the right were proved true in that all three were engaged in the battle when the attackers moved towards he centre
• Tanks were used like semi-mobile ATG and once the tanks were in place they effectively lost all mobility because of poor location selection. For example I would have liked to move the surviving tank nearer to the surviving ATG so that at least they could try to stand up to six T34s together; using the principle of united we stand and divided we fall. However, with the tank backed up to the woods and the T34s to the front just out of LOS there was no manoeuvre that I could do that would help the tank to relocate. A tactical mistake if ever there was one for armour. [The downside is that if the tank and ATG were closer together the ATG might have been spotted…]

The purchasing decisions could have been improved but all in all, I was satisfied with the performance - not due to the minor victory but because I made good use of what I had.