Patrick Moore

QUOTE]Thin turret front and no model of undersize turret. Don't people study the armor stats anymore? P.S. post spoilers for info like the above.[/QB]

I had 3 Panzer IVH tanks KO'd with frontal hits by Stuart Mark Vs (?) at ranges of ~1000m in the CMBO battle "Meyer's Decision 1." I think the Stuarts had veteran crews...perhaps that makes them good shots? I thought this was due to my bad luck (which I never seem to lack in CMBO ).

From a broader tactical perspective, if your infantry is being FREQUENTLY surprised by armor at close range, you may want to start reconsidering your habits of infantry placement. Ideally, infantry should be positioned so that it's seeing the armor first 95% of the time, since infantry has all the advantages when it comes to stealth and freedom of movement through closed terrain. Armor can only go through certain kinds of fairly clear terrain. On an open map, there's no danger of surprise because you can see the tanks from far off. On a map with more cover, you should think about placing your infantry so that it's monitoring the various openings through which tanks can move. Wherever possible there should be infantry AT weapons to monitor those openings. So, the key is to plan ahead so your infantry isn't surprised by tanks. The other point is to consider your lines of retreat before placing your infantry. Your men should have a covered way out of trouble if at all possible. Thus if you spot a tank bearing down on you and you've got no AT, you can bug out through your covered route in the nick of time.</font>

duh-oh! forgot to mention that I am playing CMBO (don't own CMBB at the moment). Thanks for the reply, Redwolf. I read that tip in another post; too bad CMBO doesn't have the covered arc feature!

I've seen this happen with enough occurence to ask this question: my infantry (lacking A-T weapons) is surpised by enemy armor at close range. The infantry will fire it's small arms at the unbuttoned tank even if they have the "hide" or "run" (as in "run away!") command. The AFV then buttons up and promptly eliminates my infantry. Is this action due to the troops panicking? Or does the TacAI think it can wound/kill an AFV crew member? Does anyone have any suggestions allowing infantry to retreat from such an encounter? thanks!

Welcome Easy Target, Ditto on Alsatians comments! I've been playing CMBO for about 6 months and I seem to be amazed and awed by some new combat event in every battle (wtg Battlefront for detail). Don't forget to ask the grognards on this BBS any questions about the game; their quick response and depth of knowledge about the game and WW2 will astound you! See you on the battlefield, -Patrick

Probably preaching to the choir but.... Gamespot gave G.I. Combat a score of 3 out of 10! You can find the short review at: http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2897501,00.html The reviewer commented that folks should continue playing Combat Mission. Three cheers for Battlefront quality!

LOL good one! I guess Napoleon was not too specific about using the word "great" to apply to a victory or defeat! LOL

hear hear! Thanks for the tips, Whizbang, and I agree with your comments in your second post. I tend to favor small battles with a low to medium unit density as these are more manageable. Win or lose I'm still having fun when it is a well-designed battle!

Are you saying that there aren't any teen grogs lol. I am no grog but just semi, and too boot, 17 at that.</font>

I am interested in both theaters thanks to taking a WW2 class at university here in the U.S. Though the majority of the time was spent on the U.S. war effort in Europe and the Pacific the class definitely piqued my interest about The Russian Front...oh, and my roommate got me to play Advanced Squad Leader/Beyond Valor/Streets of Fire (Russian front)!

Yup,sounds like teenage angst! lol With an attitude like that Zart, please do everyone a favor and stay out and away from computers more often. Thanks! But if you are sincere and have serious questions about CM by all means post them on the board!

Markshot, I used the same tactic of crawling behind a wall in my current battle to move a platoon laterally away from several unbuttoned sherman tanks and it appeared to have worked (what a great game for allowing one to try "real world" sensible tactics with success!). I'm attempting the same maneuver you mentioned in your P.S. with a panzershreck team. Good luck! Guten erfolg (?) Patrick

Wildass69, Thanks for the book recommendation. I need to read it! I've been playing CMBO for about 3 months and like Magnum I am frequently getting beat (by the comp to add insult to injury! ha ha), especially in the tank vs. tank department when attacking. In my current battle (Meyer's Decision 3) the TacAI is the Brit defender and taking out my panzers at ranges over ~1000m! I'm even losing tanks after being able to get off the first shot! (so much for superior german optics! ha ha) Sounds like I need to use more smoke and more manuevering.

Pak40, The battle regarding this post is "La Fantay." I tried your suggestion after the battle and the tanks are German Panzer IVs. Very nice touch IMHO!

Punt! Great questions about CMMOS. I just started playing around with the mods and had no clue that CMMOS was available!

Thanks for the replies. I observed this phenomenon (sp.) in a battle from The Scenario Depot (night battle with american paras and two 57mm AT guns defending a crossroads). When i played as the American paratroopers the german forces had 1 Panzer IV, 1 Tiger, and 1 Panther. When i played the same scenario from the German side I was provided with 3 Panzer IVs. I will find out the exact scenario and report back. ....come to think of it, could it be possible that the full fog of war allows misidentification even at close range of ~50m because of the night conditions? I don't have the CMBO manual with me but I thought it stated that if the playbalance is increased it will only provide an increase in numbers of forces already present in the scenario. Looks like I have a bit of CMBO homework! ha ha Patrick

Question for the CMBO vets. I've been playing CMBO for about two months and I have noticed that in several scenarios the computer will get an enhanced OOB that is not available when the human plays the same side. (i.e. if the comp plays as the German it will get one Panzer IV, one Panther, and one Tiger, but when I play that side I get three Panzer IVs). Is this 'balancing' feature of CMBO for the TacAI in all scenarios? Does this enhanced OOB happen when you play head-to-head against a human opponent? just curious... Thanks, Patrick p.s. what is up with "G.I. Combat" by the blokes from the close combat series? IMHO, the AI in the CC series was very weak and that is not a good thing in a real-time game! [end of rant]

TSword, I have been playing CMBO (i.e. getting beat up by TacAI) for about 2 months and I must state that your post is the most succinct and informative tip I have read on infantry tactics! Thanks. p.s. anyone heard about the new "GI Combat" game from the close combat series developers? Is it just me or does it look like a copy of CM with real-time? The problem with close combat for me was that my reflexes were too slow to stop the AI from doing stupid things with my troops (anyone remember the 'dancing' tanks that would start rotating in from of enemy troops for no reason? ha ha). sorry, enough of my ranting... [steps down from soapbox]

punt

Thanks for the tip on finding AAR's for the scenario 'Chance Encounter.' I am sure I will be able to glean a few pointers from your text!

I would like to see a couple of veterans dueling in this scenario! I need all the help I can get in CMBO! I suck so bad against the AI usually on the losing end regardless of which side I choose! lol

Shosties and Silvio, Enough of your textbook tactics!! You two should play a PBEM of Chance Encounter against each other and post the AAR for us to read!

Duh-oh! Yup, there it is on page 42 of my CMBO book! Thanks for the replies. I'll make a note to check the book before posting a question!

I observed several AI-controlled Shermans breaching bocage with no difficulty. I ordered one of my Panthers to move across the bocage and instead of breaching the bocage the panther moved, IN REVERSE mind you, to an opening in the field to get to the final destination point. Of course moving in reverse in view of several shermans this panther did not last long! Are Panthers unable to breach bocage? Do Shermans have better breaching ability? Any enlightenment on this matter would be appreciated.