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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Steel Panthers World At War & Mega Campaigns >> Need help with a core force.

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Need help with a core force. - 4/3/2002 1:56:26 AM

Fallschirmjager

Posts: 6793
Joined: 3/18/2002
From: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Status: offline

Im about to start a WW2 campaign with the American Army at the end of 42(with operation Torch).
One of the hardest things in this game for me is picking a Core force so any help would be appreciated.
If you have time just type out the entire force.
Id like 2 compainies 1 regular rifle, 1 ranger.
1 medium tank group
1 TD group
AT fire power
Flak
and some scout cars or halftracks

I know im leaving alot out which is why I need your help

Thanks in advance.

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Post #: 1

- 4/3/2002 2:03:02 AM

Goblin

Posts: 5547
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Erie,Pa. USA
Status: offline

Skip the regular rifle company, and buy airborne. Every squad has bazooka, a necessity fighting the Germans, plus they are elite, fast, and can be parachuted in if needed. It sound like you already have a good list of choices. This is the one that stuck out for me (an infantry lover!).

Goblin

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Post #: 2

- 4/3/2002 2:07:53 AM

MacCready

Posts: 591
Joined: 1/5/2001
From: USA
Status: offline

I sometimes use Engineers w/ Flamethrowers dropped from cargo aircraft(or gliders) along with M9 bazooka teams.

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Post #: 3

- 4/3/2002 2:49:44 AM

11Bravo

Posts: 2082
Joined: 4/5/2001
Status: offline

I'm on my 3rd battle doing a WW2 campaign as American starting with Torch.

My core force is approximately 1 Battalion of stuff. I tried to be historically correct as to proportions from the TOE included with the game.

Here is my core force:

1 Mech Infantry Company (includes recon, mortars, ATG's)
2 Mech Engineer Platoon
1 Ranger Platoon (+ Halftracks for transport)
1 Platoon Light Tanks (Stuarts)
1 Platoon Medium Tanks (Shermans)
1 Platoon Tank Destroyers (Wolverines)
2 Recon Platoons (50cal Jeep, Command Cars, Recon Patrols)
1 Platoon M15's (for AAA and infantry support)
2 Platoon T19 Self-Propelled Artillary (105mm)
3 Tubes 81mm mortars
2 Munitions Trucks
3 Jeeps + 1 Truck

I use my support points for 155mm arty, air, and any special attached units like engineers, FO, whatever.

I usually divide my force into 4 task forces when deploying. Here they are:

TF1 Mech Inf + Medium Tanks + Tank Destroyers + M15's
TF2 Engineers + Rangers + Light Tanks + T19's
TF3 Recon
TF4 HQ + FO + mortars + jeeps

Don't forget to pad your core with some cheap single units like jeeps. You can later "Change" these into other units and "Attach to new HQ" later. This gives you some flexibility.

Later, I plan on upgrading half of those T19's to M7 Priest's, which have superior range finder, targeting, ammo load, and armor. Also, my Recon will turn in the command cars and draw some M8 Greyhounds when they are available.

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Post #: 4

- 4/3/2002 3:44:19 AM

Bing

Posts: 1366
Joined: 5/20/2000
From: Gaylord, MI, USA
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Goblin's got it: For me, nothing other than US airborne will do - starting with a +10% experience bonus always helps, their other ratings are accordingly higher than regular leg troops. AND ... the airborne will now, it appears, upgrade their bazookas when the time comes.

Thanks to whoever included this in the revised OOB's. Never did make much sense that in 1944 the airborne guys were carrying M1 zooks, while the "armored infantry" had the M9 - first thing I always did was tweak the new OOB for US.

Otherwise, its going to be Shermans and upgrade to the newest and best main armament as you go along. I would also take as many HT-mounted Quad 50's as the points would allow. They are devastating against enemy infantry in unprepared positions.

Engineers? Well, maybe now that they seem to actually be capable of busting bunkers - though a couple of those devils in baggy pants with M9 zooks and goodbye bunker a lot faster than the guys with the satchel charges.

I think its nice to be historically accurate - but I don't always get the best results that way. If you want to literally wipe out the enemy, buy a lot of 4.5" rocket launchers - I cut back on these because there wasn't much game to be played after a few volleys. 4.2" mortars are neat, 105 Howies will do OK.

If you don't have an FO with a good arty rating, you don't have much when it comes to offboard arty performance. Onboard can always be made to work via the clumsy target-per-tube, but that's probably off the scale for historical accuracy.

Bing

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Post #: 5

- 4/3/2002 7:04:05 AM

Venger

Posts: 51
Joined: 7/31/2000
From: Home of the 90mm M46, keeper of the Can O'Whoopass
Status: offline

Well by the end of 42 you should be able to get the M3 halftracks instead of the M2 (important as they can take an entire 12 strength squad), and the Sherman should be available as well.

You ABSOLUTELY need units with either integral or attached bazooka teams due to the relative impotence of the Sherman stub 75 gun against armored targets - Engineers are excellent too, I swear that between the flamethrower and satchel charge you are pretty much guaranteed of trashing any vehicle that is unlucky enough to become adjacent to you...

Rangers are nice as they can infiltrate, and I think you can get the M15 for AA and some halftrack and light armor busting potential.

I just started a generated campaign, 20 battles, between 1940 to 1949, between the U.S. and Soviet Forces, and took loads of M2A4 light tanks - pretty sweet little tank, until mid 1941 and the T34s show up, much less the heavier T34E and KV2's, which the M2A4 simply cannot deal with effectively, though they are outstanding little tanks for standoff infantry engagements and dealing with lighter tanks. I also have skipped the M3 Lee as I just don't see the points being worth it...

Good luck, give those Godless (insert Nazis, Commies, Japs, whoever, here) Hell...

Venger

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Post #: 6

An old Grunts 2 cents worth - 4/3/2002 7:27:12 AM

zaxilon

Posts: 41
Joined: 12/15/2001
From: PHX Arizona
Status: offline

I kind of liked 11Bravos rundown but I think that the Airborne infantry over the standard grunts is a good hedge. Especially if you cant edit the weapons they have when you select your forces. IMHO, it is imperitive you bring two things in that 11Bravo seemed to leave out, Bazooka crews for quick AT purposes and engineers for their inherint capabilities. Engineers can do much more than blast bunkers, like remove mines, wire and other obsticals no other unit can. It would be pretty harsh to have your rear end handed to you because you could not remove even one mine field for example.

I must point out I have not played any of the campaigns here. But I know what you need in action.

Later,
Zaxilon :D

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Post #: 7

- 4/3/2002 7:46:29 AM

Goblin

Posts: 5547
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Erie,Pa. USA
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I agree with the usefulness of engineers, but against randomly generated computer campaigns, think they are better bought with support points on an assault mission, the only time you need them.( They ARE murder in thick woods, though) That is also when I buy any standard rifle companies. A Sherman Flail or Dozer platoon is a good addition to a core force, for zaxilon's reasons. The bazooka teams are good idea.

Another thing I have tried is a pure Ranger Infantry force. They are excellent soldiers, and can be used in infiltration purposes or standard purposes. On the armor page in the purchase section is a "combat group". This gives you a good mix but lets you have a few extra points left over to buy other things.

Goblin

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Post #: 8

- 4/3/2002 9:48:24 AM

tracer

Posts: 1865
Joined: 11/22/2000
From: New Smyrna Beach, FL USA
Status: offline

[QUOTE]

Don't forget to pad your core with some cheap single units like jeeps. You can later "Change" these into other units and "Attach to new HQ" later. This gives you some flexibility.

[/B][/QUOTE]

This is a key point. Sure, having the airborne at the start would be great, but if you buy a standard rifle company you'll have a larger force of airborne a couple battles down the road, plus extra buy-points remaining to invest elsewhere in your force.

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Jim NSB

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Post #: 9

- 4/3/2002 10:01:48 AM

Bing

Posts: 1366
Joined: 5/20/2000
From: Gaylord, MI, USA
Status: offline

With the airborne, I don't need the special bazooka teams; the airborne guys do it themselves - and their ratings are generally higher, meaning they will hang in there when other leg units are long gone, over the hill.

I've killed more German and Soviet AFV's at close quarters with airborne / M9 zooks than all the other ways combined (except maybe on a good day for a squadron of rocket firing Typhoons, which can be a real joy or a real pain).

So far as clearing minefields: Who wants to wait that long? Garbage points at the end of core selection phase go for cheap vehicles - jeeps, command cars and so on. I run them out there to find the mines, then we go around them or run more cheap vehicles over the mines to explode them.

If there is one basic that applies to everything in WAW it is mobility - flexibility and above all else SPEED. I would never start a campaign willingly without a ride for every important fighting leg unit - and spares for the obvious reason.

IIRC, the 7.1 revision makes this easier, trucks especially are more economical. HT's, not sure. Thus far, I found some AFV's marginally more expensive.

Move, move, move and move fast. Blast the daylights out of'em and keep moving. For one thing, the enemy arty won't find you near as easily.

Bing

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Post #: 10

Lol - 4/3/2002 11:30:38 AM

Alexandra

Posts: 546
Joined: 12/7/2000
From: USA
Status: offline

I crack up at the long winded posts whenever someone writes about wanting help with a core.

Why?

Because, you're all so long winded when, what you're really saying is 'Buy the elites.'

Or in the case of armor 'buy the very best and most expensive' tank.

Personally, I like tweaky units, though, currently, in LLR I'm using Rangers.

But, it's boring, really, using elites, and I'm thinking of starting over. Maybe using my Polish core again, or French, or a 'UN' mix.

Why? Because with base line troops there's more of a challenge - all or mostly elites make it too easy against the AI and too limited against people. Yes, it's fun at first, but it loses that luster quickly, to me at least.

My advice for a core force would be very different:

1. Decide how big you want it.
2. Buy units that look neat to you - don't spend hours studying each and every one for the best game advantage, just buy what looks neat.
3. Play the game and not the numbers :)

Alex, who's well into week 20.

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Post #: 11

- 4/3/2002 11:40:59 AM

Fallschirmjager

Posts: 6793
Joined: 3/18/2002
From: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Status: offline

Thanks for all the help, but there is just one problem.

I [B]WAS[/B] going to start a campaign.

I began to play LV and 5 hours later here I am.

Sigh...maybe tomorrow

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Post #: 12