The Reserves and Rotation System

[General Staff]

I thought I'd post this as a separate thread (fron the Balkans 12 article, slightly modified for 2WIN), since I think it's so useful in this scenario where you have to cover a broad front, and sometimes with not as many units as you'd like, often necessitating units being broken down into 2s and 3s.

Rotate units in and out of combat as they wear down. Split units into 3. Have 2 units in the line with the third (weakest?) one hex behind. Dig all in and place the third unit on Tactical Reserve IF you feel its arrival in the front line may help to 'burn' enemy rounds and if it is in reasonable shape (better yet, dig the unit in and have a piece of armor on TR, especially if it will roll into a battle with infantry in the open). Otherwise use this rear position to both rest units and construct second lines (if possible with the aid of engineers), preferably in good supply. If possible only 2 out of 3 'pieces' of any unit should be in the front line- if only one is attacked you may be able to rotate units in and out of combat so that 2 out of the 3 are in reasonable shape. So, for example, if one of the 2 front line units gets badly hit but the line holds, rotate it out for the fresh one in the rear and dig both in again. This helps supply for the whole unit, since when recombined the unit does so at the average of all 3 pieces, so the effect of the 'hit' one or two piece(s) took can be diluted by recombination with the other(s).

In some cases and if possible, rotate entire formations out, putting them either in total reserve or else in the front line in areas that are less threatened and/or needed by the enemy. You should always try and save 1 MP for any unit to dig in at the end of its turn, even when moving reinforcements up to the front. It reduces interdiction effects and you may need these entrenchments as you retreat so as reinforcements move up, try to dig in on the way to the front in good defensive positions you know you'll probably need later, though don't go too far out of your way.

[Hank2]

I need to get an understanding on this.

Most of my units that will be initially on the front line, when broken into 3 units have 2-2 (attack-defense) numbers. In bocage, will one unit per hex be sufficient to hold off an attack? (with the 3rd - as you say - sitting behind in tac reserve mode - in some cases)

It seems like they will get smashed by some of the strong Allied units. (but we'll see since I haven't made my first move yet against Mangus)

... and an unrelated question: When units are red or orange, does changing the loss limits (say - to ignore losses) make any difference in their ability to defend?

thanks
Hank

[General Staff]

Most of my units that will be initially on the front line, when broken into 3 units have 2-2 (attack-defense) numbers. In bocage, will one unit per hex be sufficient to hold off an attack? (with the 3rd - as you say - sitting behind in tac reserve mode - in some cases)

It seems like they will get smashed by some of the strong Allied units. (but we'll see since I haven't made my first move yet against Mangus)

... and an unrelated question: When units are red or orange, does changing the loss limits (say - to ignore losses) make any difference in their ability to defend?
It's an inexact science. You'd be safer with a 2-3 especially if it's got support from rear arty. And the %age dug in helps also. It's also what you anticipate facing in your opponent's turn. If a huge attack is in the offing against a VP location, well, you need to be sure you can hold it. It's a fine line what you need to hold without providing a rats in a barrel scenario for the enemy, also what will hold without being overrun. Practice makes perfect and hotseat is the way to go to test your own theories.

Red or Orange health indicators obviously have an impact, but you either have the luxury of getting them to the rear to rest or you don't. So I pay attention to these when I can spare the units from the front, but often you can't, in which case they just have to stay and put up with it with the others. I almost always use ignore losses on defence (regardless of shape unless they're stacked with other units in which case I might cut them some minimize losses slack). Exceptions are if they're units in very bad shape (routed, retreated, not dug in, arty in the front line by mistake, specialist units I really need (e.g. Special Forces, Engineers) or retreat) and I want to get them out of there at the earliest opportunity.

Hope this helps.

[Hank2]

The red or orange I was referring to is at the bottom of the unit icon ... over the attack/defense OR MP numbers. ... the color bar that signifies routed or reorganizing (or fixed).

I can change these unit's loss limits even when they are "routed" (colored red) so I was wondering if this effects their defensive ability.

... a routed unit may pay no attention to the commander when they're running like heck but some may decide to stop and fight ... ignoring losses.

[General Staff]

The red or orange I was referring to is at the bottom of the unit icon ... over the attack/defense OR MP numbers. ... the color bar that signifies routed or reorganizing (or fixed).

I can change these unit's loss limits even when they are "routed" (colored red) so I was wondering if this effects their defensive ability.

... a routed unit may pay no attention to the commander when they're running like heck but some may decide to stop and fight ... ignoring losses.
Got you. Reorganizing units I treat as regular units really, since it's just their C&C gone- some are otherwise quite healthy. So if I want to keep the hex it's Ignore Losses. If not and they've somewhere to fall back on, another unit say, I might use Minimize Losses. IIRC you can still dig these in.

Routed units. If there's no way out, and it is impossible to disband them, it's fight to the death on Ignore Losses. If there's a way out, and I try to make one available where possible and within reason, I put them on Minimize Losses hoping they'll retreat at the first whiff of cordite back to my adjacent units.

[Hank2]

Got it! That helps a lot. Sorry about highjacking this thread for a couple of posts.