Kraut
01 Nov 03, 14:14
How to break a strong defence.
My opponent in a GiO game seems to have some problems in breaking my defence and asked me for help :)
So, here is my little secret on how I managed to break the axis defence during another game:
The best moment for such an attemp is obviously the shock period, during these turns you have to work really hard to break the defence and don't ever look at your losses during these turn, after breaking the axis lines you'll have plenty of opportunities to sack some axis units and avenge your losses. So, how to do it? First you need to knock the defending units out of their fortified status, to do this use minimize losses attacks with plenty of artillery support! And I mean plenty, I usually assign several hundred guns to this task, te bigger the guns, the better your chances. And use some bombers, too, that can't hurt either (uh, well, maybe it'll hurt the axis a little bit :) )
Than, beginning with you second combat round you should attack all hexes were the defender was pushed out of his fortified status with at least limited losses, using as much armor as possible together with at leas one infantry division and again with plenty of artillery, this should retreat the defender soon. Obviously you dont have enough artillery or tanks to do this along the whole front so concentrate your attacks on some hexes to be sure to get at least some breakthroughs.
That's basically all, of course you'll need some mobile troops in reserve to exploit the breakthroughs but that's another story :)
Here are some interesting screenshots on how I broke through a well fortified german line. I have to admit that my opponent helped a little because he realised to late how dangerous the situation really is and deployed his PzD to late (they were busy digging entrenchments for at least 2 turns instead of crushing my bridgeheads)
The Plan
The germans have established a strong defence behind a river and as my supply situation up front is still not as good as I wanted it to be I oped for a limited offensive, not going for Berlin but aiming at cutting off substancial axis forces at Königsberg.
I rested my forces at the intended point of breakthrough, carefully assembled several reserve armies nearby and conducted spoiling attack north and south of my intended Strongpoint to draw axis reserves away from this sector.
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/ebmrulez666/GiO_the_plan.jpg
before the attack
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/ebmrulez666/GiO_020_everything+still+calm.jpg
the attack
I manage to get across the river at four locations, the rail repair unit at the northern most part of the screenshot retreated during my last attack round.
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/ebmrulez666/GiO_021_the+attack.jpg
My opponent in a GiO game seems to have some problems in breaking my defence and asked me for help :)
So, here is my little secret on how I managed to break the axis defence during another game:
The best moment for such an attemp is obviously the shock period, during these turns you have to work really hard to break the defence and don't ever look at your losses during these turn, after breaking the axis lines you'll have plenty of opportunities to sack some axis units and avenge your losses. So, how to do it? First you need to knock the defending units out of their fortified status, to do this use minimize losses attacks with plenty of artillery support! And I mean plenty, I usually assign several hundred guns to this task, te bigger the guns, the better your chances. And use some bombers, too, that can't hurt either (uh, well, maybe it'll hurt the axis a little bit :) )
Than, beginning with you second combat round you should attack all hexes were the defender was pushed out of his fortified status with at least limited losses, using as much armor as possible together with at leas one infantry division and again with plenty of artillery, this should retreat the defender soon. Obviously you dont have enough artillery or tanks to do this along the whole front so concentrate your attacks on some hexes to be sure to get at least some breakthroughs.
That's basically all, of course you'll need some mobile troops in reserve to exploit the breakthroughs but that's another story :)
Here are some interesting screenshots on how I broke through a well fortified german line. I have to admit that my opponent helped a little because he realised to late how dangerous the situation really is and deployed his PzD to late (they were busy digging entrenchments for at least 2 turns instead of crushing my bridgeheads)
The Plan
The germans have established a strong defence behind a river and as my supply situation up front is still not as good as I wanted it to be I oped for a limited offensive, not going for Berlin but aiming at cutting off substancial axis forces at Königsberg.
I rested my forces at the intended point of breakthrough, carefully assembled several reserve armies nearby and conducted spoiling attack north and south of my intended Strongpoint to draw axis reserves away from this sector.
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/ebmrulez666/GiO_the_plan.jpg
before the attack
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/ebmrulez666/GiO_020_everything+still+calm.jpg
the attack
I manage to get across the river at four locations, the rail repair unit at the northern most part of the screenshot retreated during my last attack round.
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/ebmrulez666/GiO_021_the+attack.jpg