Krinks Posted March 23, 2001 Share Posted March 23, 2001 Can anyone give me pointers on how to properly recon an area? Should you do it differently if you're defending as compared to attacking? What units work best as recon units? Any other pointers and advice is welcome too. Thanks ------------------ Krinks "If news travels at anything less than the speed of light now, it just means we weren't paying attention." --Bruce Sterling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest claespiper Posted March 24, 2001 Share Posted March 24, 2001 Hi A good example how how you conduct recon on the attack can be found in the After Action Report (AAR) that Fion Kelly have written. http://www.combatmission.com/aars/game12/openindex.asp Regards Claes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmac Posted March 25, 2001 Share Posted March 25, 2001 by all means don't enter a town with armor alone. send in a squad ahead of the tanks first.(I speak from experience) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Commissar Posted March 25, 2001 Share Posted March 25, 2001 The way I do it is with half-squads and sharpshooters. Both of these mehtods are pretty realistic. Usually, depending on the forces you have, you should allocate anywhere from a platoon to a battallion to recon purposes. In my latest PBEM, I am using a whole Batallion of regulars coupled with sharpshooters to scout out a very large map. Try to get your men into every possible position you think your enemy might be hiding in. Also, if at all possible, try to cover your scouts. Scouts are usually going to be shot to pieces for the good of the others, but if done properly (something I havent as of yet been able to achieve) I suppose you can salvage most of them from total destruction. Hope that helps. Cheers! ------------------ "...Every position, every meter of Soviet soil must be defended to the last drop of blood..." - Segment from Order 227 "Not a step back" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagdwyrm Posted March 25, 2001 Share Posted March 25, 2001 fast vehicles can help to..fast moves from cover to cover to draw fire. Or driving up to backside of hill, in hull down position. If armored car spots a threat it will usually back up, although that method can be dangerous if first shot from tank or AT gun hits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citizen Posted March 25, 2001 Share Posted March 25, 2001 Hands down the best recon units in CM are Sharpshooters with No Ammo. They can sneak like the dickens and won't give away their position by firing. You'll be surprised at what you can get away with using these little suckers. If you're interested in a scenario that utilizes these recon troops, I designed a scenario called Recon By Stealth I'd be happy to send you. It was designed specifically to be played against the AI. It's good practice and you'll learn a thing or two about recon. Thanks, Matt Hyra loyalcitizen@home.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nedlam Posted March 29, 2001 Share Posted March 29, 2001 I usually use split squads to recon for me. When they have to go over open ground I position a MG unit as well as the rest of the platoon in a position that they can cover the recon unit. I move the rest of the platoon across the open ground followed by the MG units. When I am moving a large force across and area I might use one platoon as the recon unit, ahead of the main group and then with that platoon use two split squads (or more) as an advance guard (so to speak). Then I send full squads out on both flanks to protect them. Sharpshooters are great for recon too. At set up I place them in cover as far forward as I can preferably in areas I think the enemy will move through (or near). I just sit them down and gather the info on the units that are moving infront of them. Getting them back sometimes is a little difficult, I tend to leave them there a turn or two longer than I should. NEVER, EVER lead with your armor. Bad things happen when you lead with your armor. This excludes scout vehicles maybe even HT's. I usually use these vehicles in open terrain. when I make contact with the enemy I immediately run for cover and bring up the big guns to deal with the threat. This definately is not the "GOLDEN RULE" for troop movements but It has worked for me. Nedlam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSpkr Posted March 31, 2001 Share Posted March 31, 2001 Originally posted by citizen: If you're interested in a scenario that utilizes these recon troops, I designed a scenario called Recon By Stealth I'd be happy to send you. It was designed specifically to be played against the AI. It's good practice and you'll learn a thing or two about recon. Thanks, Matt Hyra loyalcitizen@home.com No no no -- Thank YOU Matt! Very fun scenario - taught me the problems of being too cautious in some areas and not cautious enough in others. Pulled out a draw - woulda done better but I waited for the largest force and I ran out of time. Keep making 'em and I'll keep playing them! MrSpkr ------------------ But we're saying goodbye to them all We're Harry's police force on call! So put back your pack on The next stop is Saigon Don't bless the few bless 'em all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freak Posted March 31, 2001 Share Posted March 31, 2001 MrSpkr, Can you send me a copy of your scenario? lion261@yahoo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSpkr Posted March 31, 2001 Share Posted March 31, 2001 Originally posted by Freak: MrSpkr, Can you send me a copy of your scenario? lion261@yahoo.com Umm . . . its not mine. It's citizen's. (Thanks again Matt!) You can download it at The Last Defense (109Gustav's page): http://www.angelfire.com/ak5/TheLastDefense/Scenariospages/Scenariospage.html Enjoy, and make good use of those scouts! MrSpkr ------------------ But we're saying goodbye to them all We're Harry's police force on call! So put back your pack on The next stop is Saigon Don't bless the few bless 'em all! [This message has been edited by MrSpkr (edited 03-31-2001).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citizen Posted April 3, 2001 Share Posted April 3, 2001 Thanks, MrSpkr, for the compliments and for passing on the info. MrSpkr wrote: Keep making 'em and I'll keep playing them! That's a deal. I've just sent you Scenario #2 of my "Recon By" series. It's called 'Recon By Riverboat' so you can guess it'll be a doozy. As usual, it features a new method of recon and a unique system for receiving reinforcements. And no, it's not the same way as in Recon By Stealth. I'll send it to Last Defense tomorrow, so the rest of you can look for it by the weekend. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agua Posted April 3, 2001 Share Posted April 3, 2001 Matt, could you send the Riverboat.cmb to me as well? I too enjoyed the stealth. You're right; I was amazed at how close those sharpshooters could get to enemy units. It's a shame you can't eliminate the ammo of sharp shooters is preset scenarios or QB. Thanks in advance, Agua Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrspkr2 Posted April 4, 2001 Share Posted April 4, 2001 Here's a thought. Why not use FO's as recon specialists. Designt the scenario so that the only guys you have at first are the FO's. They pound the main objective area (or wherever they want, for that matter) until their battery runs out of ammo. The FO's then move forward as recon guys. The only drawback I can see is if there is a high score penalty attached to losing an FO. Does anyone know how many points you lose for an FO out of ammo? Not as good as a sharpshooter w/no ammo, but better than nothing. Also, you wouldn't have to worry about the FO's shooting. What do you guys think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilhil45 Posted April 4, 2001 Share Posted April 4, 2001 one way to dp it is send in snipers with no ammo...there normally quiet and they won't give away there position by shooting at targets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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