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Newbie question - how to approach an unsecure area with infantry?


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Okay, maybe this is a simlpe question, but bear with me:

You have three platoons infantry, some sharpshooters, LMGs. You face a possible enemy village. How do you approach it?

Simply walking in with your infantry, on the open street, pretty as you please? Send in one squad to recon and draw fire? send in sharpshooters first to recon?

What would you do?

Thanks in advance,

von Steinberg

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Move one rifle platoon forward at a time while a second rifle platoon is ready to back it up (i.e. is in overwatch position able to fire on areas where enemy fire could come from). Then leapfrog these two platoons in this kind of alternation. When you get into a fight, maneuver the third rifle platoon and the light MGs from the weapons platoon into a position to give you a decisive advantage in the local infantry fight.

If you are approching a particularly dangerous or suspicious area, don't even send the whole platoon forward, but just a half-squad, with the rest of it's platoon and maybe another platoon on overwatch.

One way to get scouts is to buy an extra platoon of good quality (vet or up) infantry and divide all the squads. You get 6 scout teams plus an HQ which you can give to a weapons position or use in other capacities.

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I rely heavily on half squads.

Split one or two squads from one platoon into half squads. So right then and there you have 4 half squads. With these, approach from different angles of the village.

Note, it is inevitable that if your opponent is even in the least bit intelligent, some of those half squads are bound to get severely mauled, routed, or completely destroyed. Such is war. You can only attempt to augment their sufferings by following them closely (but not TOO closely!) with the rest of your men, sharpshooters, and LMG's.

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If you are attempting to take an enemy held village with only LMGs in support and no other form of direct/indirect HE you are in for a world of hurt unless you have the numbers to swallow the inevitable losses or superior small arms.You can finesse all you like with half-squads but in the end you will have to bring the bulk of your infantry to the pointy end and get something decisive before the enemy can react, no mean feat unless you are playing the AI.

Make a plan, not just for the initial contact but for the actions/goals you want to achieve afterwards as well, preferably something that has your opponent guessing and off-balance. That means don't show everything until you are ready to, then move fast(and that doesn't necessarily mean "Run" smile.gif ) with everything. It will do no good to commit piecemeal.

If you have the time scout ahead with the Sharpshooters to see if there are any 'holes'. There probably won't be but it may confirm or help you adjust your initial plan. Try to get the bulk of your main force into postion undetected, as close as possible, before launching your attack, while using a screen somewhere else to act as a feint, ie a couple squads split with a Coy HQ to look 'larger'. If you time it right and have enough firepower to bear you can overwhelm the enemy before he can react and reinforce. A defended village with no real support is a tough nut no matter how you look at it though.

Talk is cheap, hope that helps...

Ron

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