Question about the combat system

[Lohengrin]

Gent: 

Actually assault is a unique combat / movement action that is separate from artillery and supporting automatic weapons fire. It simulates unit(s) physically moving, firing, and assaulting into an adjacent enemy held hex. Good players will often use artillery and supporting weapons fire prior to assaulting an enemy position to get disruptions that subsequently will improve the chances of a successful assault. However, not all assaults are supported by artillery or other separate direct firing weapons.

I think he may have been talking about depictions of assaults in the real world, which tend to suggest more bloody affairs than are seen in the game, as has been observed. In real life, you may see depicted a lot of firepower directed at the target prior to men actually going in, and it may be believed that the prep was or should be part of the assault.

Of course, in the game and in actual military practice (I assume), assaults are strictly about the ejecting of the enemy from their position which doesn't have to mean a bloodbath. And it's separate from the prep.