Tactics for Recce units on Defense

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Tactics for Recce units on Defense - 11/24/2001 3:41:00 AM

Zorfwaddle

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Joined: 3/16/2001
From: Pensacola, FL
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While in defensive scenarios/battles, what are some good tactics for recon units to use? For example, my core forces have a number of scout sections (Im the USA), two platoons of cavalry, and two platoons of Rangers who used to be scout sections. Should I attempt a penetration with these units to locate arty or have them hold position near my front lines to detect advancing enemy units? In my last battle, one platoon of cavalry was successful in a penetration action with knocked out a number of enemy AA/AT weapons (Italian 37mm/20mm guns). The rest of my recce units had little or no job to do.

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- 11/24/2001 6:04:00 AM

Rune Iversen

Posts: 3630
Joined: 7/20/2001
From: Copenhagen. Denmark
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quote:

Originally posted by Zorfwaddle:
While in defensive scenarios/battles, what are some good tactics for recon units to use? For example, my core forces have a number of scout sections (Im the USA), two platoons of cavalry, and two platoons of Rangers who used to be scout sections. Should I attempt a penetration with these units to locate arty or have them hold position near my front lines to detect advancing enemy units? In my last battle, one platoon of cavalry was successful in a penetration action with knocked out a number of enemy AA/AT weapons (Italian 37mm/20mm guns). The rest of my recce units had little or no job to do.

Well, it depends on the terrain, your opponent and the rest of your core force. Generally I would try to keep the scout teams to man OP�s, watching over suspected enemy routes of advance. Having observed where the enemy is coming from, will allow you to call in artillery fire, while you manouver/emplace your force to meet him. The cavalry can either be used to man an OP, as a local reserve or if you are feeling lucky you can try to sneak them past the enemy to cause mayhem

. As for the rangers, use them to infiltrate near suspected enemy arty or C3I installations in order to cause havoc in his rear areas, pulling his attention away from the front line. If you are feeling frisky here, you can even use them to infiltrate the dead ground between you, allowing them to ambush his advance (perhaps you can even fool him into thinking that you are counter attacking

) If you need further help on tactics, I can recommend Larry Holts excellent "Tactics-Guide", available from "The ARMOR site"

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- 11/24/2001 6:45:00 AM

AmmoSgt

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Joined: 10/21/2000
From: Redstone Arsenal Al
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One of these days you will run up against an opponent that uses infiltration or small airdrops in your rear areas .. those recon could be covering the rear area of your map and save you some serious grief against aggresive commandos or airborne .
I have been known to use Airdrop, in low visibilty PBEM games, where I only drop airborne recon troops, 2 or 4 man teams with some bazookas, maybe just an FO per plane ( no need to max out transports, thats just not subtle, and full company airborne drops that close to FEBA never made any sense to me anyway).. if I am moving first, often times the player moving second never even sees the transports do the drop, sometimes they never see the transports ... I use an enemy rear corner lateral entry with a exit at the other enemy rear corner, with the designated drop zone about the 5th-7th row from the back of the map ... if there are not any troops in the rear area .. like the back 15 hexes ..often times the transports or the drop is not seen ... well ok sometimes I fly empty transports and just fake a drop ( my opponent sees the transports but not the drop and just worries to death) .. ya never know .. but those pesky scouts can catch that and spoil the whole thing .. small scout units overwatching rear area Vhexes , will often spot infiltrators, without being spotted themselves, allowing you to neutralize infiltrators with arty or mortars, so they can be easily mopped up by your reserves without disturbing your main line of resistance... all in all some handy units against a sneaky player.

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- 11/24/2001 8:43:00 PM

11Bravo

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Joined: 4/5/2001
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Some great advice here already. Mine won't be so good though. Anything you can do to distract an attacking enemy is good, as long as it does not weaken your defense too much. If you keep a reserve, or you have transport, these can play some of the rear security role mentioned by AmmoSgt, freeing up recon for other missions. Those other units will likely be spotted though, and you give up the element of stealthily watching enemy action in the rear. What ever you do, defense should not be passive. You should always be doing something to keep the enemy from having the monopoly on initiative. Check out Larry Holt's strategy/tactics guide.
http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/Tactics_Guide/TG4.zip [ November 24, 2001: Message edited by: 11Bravo ] [ November 24, 2001: Message edited by: 11Bravo ]

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- 11/30/2001 10:45:00 AM

Capt. Pixel

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Joined: 10/15/2001
From: Tucson, AZ
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I just get myself a few cheap scouts, move 'em forward a bit, button them down in defensive stance - and SET THEIR RANGE TO ZERO!! I've had entire companies of AFVs with infantry escort walk right past scouts set in this manner in both AI and PBEM games. (It drives your opponents nuts while they try to figure out who has an "eye on 'em" behind this hill, but can't be found.

)
I use infiltrators in the same manner - I find continued intelligence is far more useful, over time, than running up to an HQ tent with a demo charge.

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- 11/30/2001 8:31:00 PM

panda124c

Posts: 1692
Joined: 5/23/2000
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline

quote:

Originally posted by Zorfwaddle:
While in defensive scenarios/battles, what are some good tactics for recon units to use? For example, my core forces have a number of scout sections (Im the USA), two platoons of cavalry, and two platoons of Rangers who used to be scout sections. Should I attempt a penetration with these units to locate arty or have them hold position near my front lines to detect advancing enemy units? In my last battle, one platoon of cavalry was successful in a penetration action with knocked out a number of enemy AA/AT weapons (Italian 37mm/20mm guns). The rest of my recce units had little or no job to do.

In defense scout units can be used far forward to provide a trip line so that you can spot the main thrust of the enemy before he is sighted by your main force. This is particular important in low visibility sitiuations. This allows you to relocate your main force to better intercept the enemy. The scouts should keep the enemy in sight until he is engaged by your main force. At this point your scouts should remove themselfs from the battle area and take up positions that allow him to view the flanks of the battle so that no nasty suprises occour. Some of your scouts should also overwatch your rear so that they can give warning of any infiltrations. This usually is done by watching your victory squares.

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- 12/2/2001 10:42:00 AM

generalrichmond

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Joined: 10/15/2001
From: richmond, va
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Rear area security, flank security - these are all good topics. I have not be good at keeping any rear security and this is just not wise. Admittedly, I haven't done any PBEM/online with SPWaW yet, so I wouldn't be burned, I guess. But I have to get some good tactics down. Thanks for all the pointers.

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- 12/2/2001 12:46:00 PM

choco

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Joined: 9/20/2000
From: Poland
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Use em agressivly if u can, to spot enemy, then harass his flanks or rear from distance, the goal here is not to inflict damage but to make him thinking about a counter attack or that u can be dangerous for his rear installation ( or fleeing sqds, crews etc...), then he ll have to choose to forget u and let u continue to do ur job or to send sombody to go after u, if he do so just diseappear (u risk not to be a match), if so u have win a small victory as the forces that will go after u cost far much that ur scouts and he will not be able to use em a in a better way. Of course it's theory, then there is reality of terrain....

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- 12/3/2001 8:19:00 PM

Jacc

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From: Viikki Imperium
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I have an alternative option for recce units, which I, however, use just a little bit (it is expensive, but efficient): I put some AT-guns in well hidden posts at the frontal area (not behind the lines like they "should" be used), and place some SMG-armed recce units in the same or adjacent hex (depending on the territory). The AT-guns then use Soviet tactics and wait, until they can shoot enemy tanks at the rear or side, as they are under fire from the real front area, putting them on a crossfire situation. Recce units will guard them, holding the infantry back fora while. Usually, such an AT-gun can score 1-3 kills plus a little bito f infantry, before it isdestroyed - if you compare the prize of a tank and a at-gun, you can understand, why this is used. However, the tank and the recce time will only survive 1-2 turns after opening fire.

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- 12/4/2001 12:23:00 AM

panda124c

Posts: 1692
Joined: 5/23/2000
From: Houston, TX, USA
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quote:

Originally posted by James Coscinu:
I have an alternative option for recce units, which I, however, use just a little bit (it is expensive, but efficient): I put some AT-guns in well hidden posts at the frontal area (not behind the lines like they "should" be used), and place some SMG-armed recce units in the same or adjacent hex (depending on the territory). The AT-guns then use Soviet tactics and wait, until they can shoot enemy tanks at the rear or side, as they are under fire from the real front area, putting them on a crossfire situation. Recce units will guard them, holding the infantry back fora while. Usually, such an AT-gun can score 1-3 kills plus a little bito f infantry, before it isdestroyed - if you compare the prize of a tank and a at-gun, you can understand, why this is used. However, the tank and the recce time will only survive 1-2 turns after opening fire.

Nice idea but you should use two groups one forward of the other. The first group kill an enemy unit or two then pull back behind the second group and sets up another ambush. They last much longer and get more kills this way and your cost of tanks per AT gun goes way up.

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