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MarkShot -> RE: COTA (mini-guide): Tutorial, AAR, and tips! (12/8/2005 4:49:43 AM)
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It seems COTA has quite a few scenarios of the type (for the Allies) where you must perform a fighting retreat. Meaning:
(1) Hurt the enemy.
(2) Slow the enemy's advance.
(3) Preserve as much of your force as you can to fight another day (exit the map).
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Some insights on how to approach this. If done properly, the following approach will work even when facing an enemy force composed of armor and/or motorized infantry while your own force is entirely on foot but for some heavy weapons units.
* Mobile Forces *
(1) Set up blocking positions along likely axis of advance by the enemy (like roads) with at least two forces covering an axis. One force forward and one force back.
(2) Set up your arty fire bases such that their maximum bombard range covers close contact with the forward force. Throughout this whole evolution remember to keep pulling back the fire bases so that they do not get overrun. Ideally, their should be two blocking positions in front of them most of the time. Have them displace at night, since there most likely won't be too much to shoot at. If you feel you need fire support at night, then have them displace in two shifts so that there are always some batteries ready to shoot.
(3) To prime the whole situation such that the forward force can get dug-in, you may need to take a single company and push them considerably further forward to buy a few hours and give your guns something shoot at. (Such companies aren't going to make it home.)
(4) You will have your two forces per axis withdraw by reverse bounding overwatch (in leap frog fashion). Checking the force order delay, issue orders to the forward force to pullout prior to sun down such that when they commence their march night will have fallen.
If they are being pressed hard by the enemy, then you may want to use the [W]ithdraw command. But keep in mind that this will cause the creation of a rear guard. It is quite possible that the rear guard may well be guarding the rear when the Sun comes up. In which case, they are going to catch h*ll from the enemy. This will most likely result in you having to write off the rear guard and having a considerably weaker force assembled at Phase Line #3.
If your force was able to dig-in and had ample arty support, then it is likely that the enemy did not close considerably. In which case, you should be able to simply issue a [D]efend order for your force to move to the next blocking position as long as no one leaves their foxholes before it gets dark. This should allow you to make much better time and guarantee that the whole force is ready at the next position.
* Static Forces *
What is described above constitutes your active or mobile forces. Additionally, you should contemplate some limited inactive or static units.
(5) A few anti-tank gun units much further back positioned along key road junctures on the outskirts of a village and given time to entrench can cause considerable delays for the enemy.
(6) A few companies of infantry on foot placed further back such that they will have time to dig-in/entrench along the axis of advance can also spell trouble for the enemy. The best positioning will have these companies situated along an elevated tree line flanking the axis of advance (2-4km off the road is about right). This will accomplish a number of things.
(a) Due to differential sighting, you should have eyes on the enemy while being unobserved yourself. Your on-call arty can easily work with this to attrite the enemy. {I hope to produce some examples of differential sighting screenshots when I conclude my current game.}
(b) Even if spotted, they will be hard to dislodged dug-in into the woods.
(c) Their flanking fire can be very disruptive to the enemy. He'll be forced to deploy off road and this will slow down his advance as his movement rate is cut and he switches to a defensive formation. Further, this will keep him in your arty kill sack even longer.
PS: There is a delay command that Dave completely recoded (since HTTR) which is supposed to work wonders. I have yet to really experiment with it. However, if anyone gets some really good results with it. Then, please post here and explain to us how it can best be employed.
And that concludes this evening's tip.
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