A0 HQ as a Primary Target?

[ChristopherT]

I'm getting back into WinSPMBT and WinSPWW2. One of my favorite tactics is putting small groups of units as far back as possible.

The intent is to specifically seek out the enemy A0 HQ unit, and eliminate it as early as possible. In MBT a helicopter or two could drop enough units, and in WW2 they can be air dropped by parachute as well. Does anyone else use similar tactics?

ChristopherT

[gila]

Have you had much success with that strategy?

Usaully if you have airpoints the AI will have some ack ack guns to counter any landing deep in the rear or anywhere behind lines,and if you do land somewhat intact,likley will be shot to pieces on landing unless its a night drop (low vis)then you got paras landing in trees or rough or whatnot.

Even worse when playing an experienced human opponent:shock:

[ChristopherT]

Have you had much success with that strategy?
Even worse when playing an experienced human opponent:shock:


I've had a fair amount of success though I haven't kept track of the raw numbers.:D I do recall one point, right after they came out with the last version of SPMBT, I was chasing the enemy's HQ with a Bradley and ran the Bradley out of ammo! :doh:

My son is now learning the game using SP:WAW, SP:MBT and SP:WW2. I'm using the new Windows versions myself! I may try running a hotseat battle against him.

ChristopherT

[Imp]

Have you had much success with that strategy?
Even worse when playing an experienced human opponent:shock:


I've had a fair amount of success though I haven't kept track of the raw numbers.:D I do recall one point, right after they came out with the last version of SPMBT, I was chasing the enemy's HQ with a Bradley and ran the Bradley out of ammo! :doh:

My son is now learning the game using SP:WAW, SP:MBT and SP:WW2. I'm using the new Windows versions myself! I may try running a hotseat battle against him.

ChristopherT

Does not compute what do you call chasing, Bradley has a big ammo loadout & would expect it to kill the HQ in 4 or 5 turns tops unless you are engaging at 3kms or something

[Lt. Ketch]

Going behind enemy lines is risky without proper planning. Between hidden AA guns, slow moving ATGM teams and inf teams and units left to defend the rear on purpos you run the risk of blundering into an ambush.

Again, going to the rear requires preration and planning. I'm all for it, but not specificly to hunt the A0 unit. The AI often moves them up gradually. The last game I played he (the AI A0) blundered right into the bulk of my advancing force.

[gila]

Have you had much success with that strategy?
Even worse when playing an experienced human opponent:shock:


I've had a fair amount of success though I haven't kept track of the raw numbers.:D I do recall one point, right after they came out with the last version of SPMBT, I was chasing the enemy's HQ with a Bradley and ran the Bradley out of ammo! :doh:

My son is now learning the game using SP:WAW, SP:MBT and SP:WW2. I'm using the new Windows versions myself! I may try running a hotseat battle against him.

ChristopherT

Does not compute what do you call chasing, Bradley has a big ammo loadout & would expect it to kill the HQ in 4 or 5 turns tops unless you are engaging at 3kms or something

Not to forget, Bradleys can carry a small squad or 2x scouts.

Get one in the rear and not getting much resistance? why mess with the HQ's?, i'd be attacking arty parks first;)

[Imp]

Good point Gila take out known stuff (or at least good idea due to smoke puffs) its a big area to search hunting HQ tends to be a job for a major breakthrough. Course you can just get lucky but 80 wide map somewhere in last 20 rows gives it 1,600 hexes to choose from, could take a while.

[Wdll]

Very rarely I have seen such moves (for HQ or not) work. When they do, the casualties of the attacker are much higher or they pose no threat. For example having a company paradrop and the defender simply moving far away enough to not take any fire (mobile artillery etc).
Most of the times that it works is when the opponent is not very experienced or if it is done in such a perfect way that it works but only because it worked more as a distraction than anything else.

[wulfir]

Does anyone else use similar tactics?


Not really. On big maps I sometimes used transport helicopters to froward deploy Artillery Forward Observers or inf-SAM units (back in the day when Attack Helicopters were really dangerous), but I never aimed at getting them "behind enemy lines".

In PBEMs I have faced oppos who tried to drop paratroop formations but nearly always with disastorous result for the paratroopers - it is seldom a good idea to drop paras on the immediate frontline I guess.

Some Oppos have been good at using air mobile tactics with gunships and helicopters, however.