Soak off attacks, love or hate them and what to do?

[seabolt]

Against attacking tanks, German infantry doctrine was to fire at the tanks along with the heavier weapons. Presumably this might have helped button up the crew and possibly obscure the source of lethal fire. When attacking tanks, infantry were expected to provide covering fire for AT teams and armor. Assuming no soft targets nearby, presumably this could include firing at the tank to distract its crew.

The Afrika Korps routinely used "soakoff" tactics by firing a unit or two at long range with hopes that the British would maneuver to return fire, then opening up with the concealed, close-in main force.

So, I'd have to suggest this particular example of gamesmanship isn't ahistorical. It probably is exploited in WinSPWW2/MBT a bit because the stock infantry is so darn durable. In the various SPWAW builds, soakoff tactics aren't as reliable and infantry goes into shock rapidly when used in this way.

-- 30 --