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cfulbright -> RE: Just Starting (3/6/2021 5:21:05 PM)
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It sounds like you're talking about "support units", which can be assigned to on-map units such as combat units like divisions, brigades, and regiments, and also to HQ units like corps, armies, etc. There also are a hybrid unit called a "multi-role" unit that is a brigade or regiment which can be on-map or broken up and assigned to one or more other on-map units.
There's a lot of detail and nuance on support units. I'll try to touch the highlights and then please feel free to ask me specific questions.
For attacks I assign two armor battalions and an engineer battalion to most divisions, or if attacking into heavily fortified or mountains, I attach one armor, one SP artillery, and one engineer. The same is pretty true for defense.
You can't assign regular field artillery to combat units, so assign them to corps HQ's supporting an attack or defense. I generally when playing the Allies I spread them somewhat evening among my corps HQ's by nationality.
If you assign all three battalions of a multi-role unit one turn to a division, then in a subsequent turn you can "convert" the multi-role unit to a single on-map unit and it can advance one hex, no matter the terrain (as long as the terrain is passable!). I use this to advance an extra hex into a vacation hex if I have a good breakthrough going, as it lets me make a deeper penetration that can unhinge a line.
The game has a very limited concept of "combined arms". Artillery units are useful to help attack or defend, and engineers help attack fortified units or help build fortifications, but there's no benefit to assigning infantry to armor or vice versa.
Never assign AA units to combat units, even the German 88mm AA units. They have very little combat value. Rather, assign them to corps and army HQ's to defend against air attack.
When my support units aren't directly attached to a combat unit, I attach them to an army group HQ that I've set up in a large depot - ideally a port - such as Naples, Marseille, Antwerp, etc, where the weakened ones can recover. Because I've assigned them to an army group, they're available to be assigned to any division or regiment within that AG, whereas if I assign them to a corps HQ, they can't be assigned to a unit in a neighboring corps. I also set up my high command HQ's (AFHQ, SHAEF, UK Home Forces) in the highest level "national" depots such as Oran, Sheffield, and Birmingham, and then transfer very low TOE support units back to one of them for a few turns of major refit, then transfer back to the army HQ when they're back up to snuff.
Cary
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