Keep Moving

[Der Kuenstler]

One generally successful tactic to use when playing human opponents in CM is to keep moving. The reason is that good players will react in some way to everything your units do on the battlefield. They will either begin to move something over to destroy what they’ve spotted, move something out of imminent danger, or sit tight and observe, waiting for ideal killing conditions.

AT Guns - when you’ve fired off that hidden gun and you have killed your target, and you are not getting any return fire, move that gun quickly. You’ve been spotted now and it will only be a matter of minutes before HE starts falling on your gun. Move the gun and a) you will get to fire it again from another place and b) he will waste a few rounds of HE on an empty spot when he gets it into position. During one QB I was able to move my 57mm gun three times - I know he was thinking “how did he afford all those things?” but it was the same gun!

Infantry - cycle through them every turn and ask “Is this the best cover for these guys?” On the flag is not the best place for them. Can you get them in front of the flag? That way when your opponent is stopped by your fire he is not able to neutralize it -he won’t be close enough. Keep an eye out for large caliber spotting rounds. Get your men out of there when one falls. When you meet a lot of resistance, pull back and go around or wait for more help. Walk a platoon around behind the lines - see what they run into - I’ve killed a lot of FOs that way. *Note - once your infantry are in good cover and unspotted you DO NOT want to keep moving them as they will spot and shoot better when still.

Armor - there is not a safe place for armor on the battlefield if it’s left there sitting long enough - not without a good infantry screen around it. If you are aware of an enemy platoon in the area and it disappears for a while - then get that armor the heck out of there - assume he’s sneaking them up on you - he probably is. If you win a short armor clash, back out and move. He will likely move more armor over there - don’t be there when he gets there. Take advantage of his moves with your own. For example, if you spot him area firing a building with a tank, make your move on that tank then - while it is distracted with an order. In town you can also distract tanks by running AT teams behind them - the AI will turn their turrets all the way around to shoot the team. Now make your move. Then move out of there before he reacts to what you’ve done.

Halftracks- I’m still trying to learn how to keep these things alive. They make excellent tank bait, I know that. Don’t leave them sitting around parked for long in view of the enemy - even on overwatch - is all I can say.

Trucks - once they’ve done their job, get them quickly the heck out of there, preferably off the map.

Crews - don’t be lazy with them any leave them sneaking across open ground after their tank is taken out - get them to cover immediately with a “withdraw” order - your opponent gets big points for killing them.

FOs - they are worth BIG points - there’s really no reason I can think of to leave them exposed to roving squads after they’ve fired off their rounds - get them out of there - even all the way off the map - that way they can’t be shot or taken prisoner.

Schrek teams and snipers - can be moved successfully around the battlefield by using “fast” for short bursts in the open and then “move to contact and hide” in the trees. I like to do it that way - I don’t want my specialty guys firing at inopportune times and giving themselves away too early.

Mortars with spent ammo - again - why leave them sitting around to be shot at? Move them out of there.


In summary: assume that your opponent loves to win as much as you do and has a plan to destroy everything he has spotted, and if you leave your unit there long enough he will come get it. So you must foil those plans by continuing to be somewhere else. It takes more work to do all of this but it usually pays off in the win column.