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KG Erwin -> RE: Stacking (2/27/2007 12:40:40 AM)
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To put this in a different perspective, I'm thinking that a basic problem is the size of the maps vis a vis the number of units allowed.
In the USA/USMC, a basic tactical principle is the concept of "two forward/one back", i.e., two platoons/companies/battalions in the forward line, with one in reserve.
Considering that the long campaigns' maps are either 2000, 3000 or 4000 yards wide, the problem becomes apparent. The force to space ratio gets all buggered up.
This is why my in-game deployments tend to lean towards a broad-front approach or basically an "outpost" defense. I'm not that crazy about it, but especially in a jungle environment, three rifle companies spread over 3000 yards of front doesn't allow for maintaining any significant reserve.
As a matter of fact, this was often the situation the 1st MarDiv found itself in during the first few months of the Guadalcanal campaign. Vandegrift resorted to the expedient of keeping his tanks and SP 75s as mobile reserves, and deploying the Engineers/Pioneers in the front line as part of the "outpost" defense.
So, when it comes down to it, my stacking rules were basically forced upon me due to the tactical situation.
I've come down hard on Victor for his methods, which might work in the more open terrain of the Western/Eastern Fronts or the Desert.
The early battles in the Pacific are something else entirely. Sweeping manuevers are damn-near impossible. The best I've managed to do is a ponderous shifting of rifle units towards a promising opening, with the few mobile units I have concentrated closeby for support. That's another thing. The Japanese seldom have tanks, so I figured I would allow myself no more than three platoons of light tanks (15 total) and a couple of SPs. That's it. I might convert a couple of transports (my command jeep, the two LVTs I use for my 81mm mortars) to heavier vehicles later. These help once the scene shifts to the island assaults.
In these assaults, doctrine called for battalions to land on beachheads that could be anywhere from 400-1000 yards wide (keeeping the two-foward, one back dictum in mind).
I've actually tried translating this into SPWaW, but still using companies in place of battalions. A quick lesson, though -- infantry stacked up on a beachhead under fire will suffer tremendous losses to enemy artillery/mortars/MGs.
So -- for me, at least, translating historical doctrine into useful SPWaW tactics can be problematic due to the game's physical constraints ( I hate to resort to that old bromide, but it is true).
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