The Unplanned Assault Conundrum

[Dog Soldier]

ZOC's don't lock, so now move your tank units through the gaps you've identified. The German player now has one or more isolated units, which depending on whether they're actually encircled might not be able to leave their position.

Hmmmm...
Sound like a specific set of conditions are required to successfully pull off the 'gamey' move you describe.

You could be right if the defending player has a thin, strung out picket line with no units backing them up. You would need clear terrain in front of the defenders and between them with normal ground conditions. We have to assume there is terrain at least every other hex to hide in for the defenders to be concealed. The attacker could be starting say, within four hexes of the defending line you describe which is not so long laterally so you do not run out of MP with your tanks as you 'bump' down the line, assuming you get the orientation of the line correct because the defender is unimaginative and there are no mines or obstacles to 'catch' the probing tanks....
If all those conditions are met, then the defense can be chopped up motti style with barely a whimper as you suggest.

In a year and half of play testing though, this situation, as you describe did not happen in my experience.

I think the defending player may have thought of this.

There are many uses for concealed units and AOF. Not all are on the front lines.

Unsupported attacking tanks stuck in the defense lines can also be cut off or severely mangled if you use them in this way. Especially if the defense has some ATG and/or armor behind that front line you describe.

I think there is nothing to really worry about here as long as players do not line up their troops exactly along a hex grain and leave them there unsupported.

Dog Soldier