Dealing with the Infantry Peril

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by PPoS

Hi, I'm playing a Long Campaign as the Japanese, starting in 1931. I've had major successes against the Nationalist Chinese forces during my first two engagements (two Decisive Victories).
Now I'm on the third engagement and have encountered a quite "hairy" situation. My force consists of 2 Infantry Companies and have an assortment of tanks and artillery in support.

My dear enemy, Nationalist China, seems to have atleast twice the number of Infantry Companies that I have.

1st Company is holding the right flank and together with elements of the 2nd Company; the center flank. The right flank is apparently where the main enemy attack takes place; hordes of enemy infantry. I've been trying to hold my ground, but the 1st Company's 1st and 2nd Platoons have almost been destroyed (desperately trying to hold their ground).

At the same time there seems to be another enemy company attacking between my center and left flank (taking out one of my platoons), so I don't really have any other forces to commit to the right flank.

Are there any great tactical advice on how to deal with this situation? And how do you really handle massive hordes of infantry attacking?

The Nationalists will likely have twice your infantry, since they are cheap and of low experience and morale compared to yours.

Are they advancing? - they will then have more points than you if so.

"An assortment of tanks and artillery" - what exactly, since off-map arty and armour can be expensive. If you bought ammo bunkers to service your mortars - they are 200 odd points each.

"Hordes" of enemy low quality infantry can be held with a couple of MG and medium mortars - and every rifle coy should have about 2 MMG and 2 mortar tubes attached.

Simply receive the enemy with your riflemen at the halt, and a good field of fire for the MMG ahead of them. Dose their advance elements with MG and mortar fire, backed up by your riflemen on any that get within 500m. Direct your arty onto them as well - use your rifle company commander as spotter if no FOO nearby. After 3-4 turns of pounding then they should start to break. (You should have some scouts with weapons turned to range 1 ahead of your rifle line to spot them early).

You say you have some tanks - all you need against the Nationalists is Cupola MG fires from an armoured car or tankette or 2 in support of each rifle coy as they are bullet proof, provided you keep out of ATR range.

So stand still and form a firing line, pound them till they recoil and only then follow up. If they get frisky once again form the firing line and service them till they break and rinse and repeat.

Cheers
Andy