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  #1  
Old July 27th, 2018, 07:21 AM
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Mobhack Mobhack is offline
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Default Re: Which vehicles lead a Cav push?

In the game?

a) If you are a cruel overlord type, that likes to pet your Persian cat and wear a monocle:
- send cavalry down the road (the clip-clop type)
- or send a motorcyclist (either the type that carries passengers or without)

The AI will reaction fre with MGs etc, or riflemen if closer.

It's hard on these, but you are an evil overlord so it does not matter

b) Load a halftrack or APC with some infantry, or put some scouts on a light tank. Go slowly down the road and hopefully you will spot something before you get shot up.
- vehicles with loaded grunts spot better than empty ones
- moving slowly is better for spotting. going 3-4 hexes a turn is better than charging 15-20 hexes.

c) The real-world tactic as described to me by a friend at University OTC 50 odds years ago (The OTC operated as a recce platoon with obsolescent kit) was a thing called the "snake patrol".

Recce troop is 2 ferrets and 2 Saladin armoured car, with optional attached Saracen (with a small team) and (not held by OTC) - a ferret with ATGM.

1 ferret leads the string, backed up by a Saladin. The lead ferret tries to keep where it is under the gun of the armoured car for immediate fire support.

Second ferret hangs further back and observes the first pair, again with its armoured car supporter nearby.
the assault section in the Saracen hangs behind these, and is brought forwards if a dismounted recce is required (say you are about to enter a village) or an assault on an outpost is needed.

The ATGM ferret hangs about where it has an overwatch of everything, and looks for tank threat revealed by the actions of the patrols

When the lead ferret comes to a place where it is about to leave the overwatch of the covering Saracen armoured car, it halts and the armoured car comes up to its position, the following section of 1 ferret and 1 Saladin moves up to the first section's position. Once the lead Saladin can cover the point ferret's next bound, and the others are in place then the lead ferret cautiously advances. Rinse and repeat till "something happens".

It was also described as "caterpillar" or "inchworm" tactic as that described the Troop/platoon's progress going forwards.

Key points (game related)
- The slower you move, the better your spotting. Halted (overwatching) units spot better than the movers do.
- A vehicle with infantry on board will spot enemy (especially infantry) better.
- Cavalry or motorcycles spot as infantry, but are vulnerable to any fire. Tin cans at least keep rifle fire out.
- Having a second (or more) spotting unit overwatching the area helps spot firers if the lead unit is fired upon or killed by the fire.
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  #2  
Old July 31st, 2018, 10:58 PM

RetLT RetLT is offline
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Default Re: Which vehicles lead a Cav push?

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Originally Posted by Mobhack View Post
In the game?

a) If you are a cruel overlord type, that likes to pet your Persian cat and wear a monocle:
Hey! I resemble that remark!

I like to use cheap units at mine trippers and air strike decoys too. A few trucks moving in the open might suck up an airstrike that could have damaged a valuable tank!
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Old August 2nd, 2018, 06:09 PM
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Spledge Spledge is offline
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Default Re: Which vehicles lead a Cav push?

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Originally Posted by Mobhack View Post
...Recce troop is 2 ferrets and 2 Saladin armored cars, with optional attached Saracen (with a small team) and (not held by OTC) - a ferret with ATGM...
An aside, in my mind, I can value those Ferrets from back in the day, a small (easy to conceal unit with only 4 troops; 2 as crew, 2 as observers) lightly armored vehicle that has high mobility and is less expensive that a larger halftrack or APC. Seems like some top tier militaries now a days favor larger more costly APCs. Yes I appreciate the concerns from IEDs for scout vehicles, but a modern small-ish vehicle with better protection that is cheaper, easy to conceal and simple seems to have a role. At least I think so. Something along the lines of the German Fennek or the French Panhard VBL with attention given to maintaining a low silhouette like the Ferret and dare I say it, slightly stylish looking. The larger and supposedly low price point Oshkosh MRAP our US troops will employ appears to have a high silhouette and looks absolutely awful.

Anyway, just reflecting on the ol' Ferret.
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