von Marwitz
Forum Guru
A4.3 states "Bypass cannot be used to skirt the edges of [...] an obstacle that is Ablaze or contains an armed non-Disrupted (19.12) Known enemy unit."
I read the above and this set me thinking...
Imagine the following situation:
The German HS in R7 wants to bypass S7 along the S7/S8 hexside to enter T7.
As the Russian 447 is concealed, it is not Known to the German HS.
As such, it seems that the bypass of the German HS is in accordance with the rules as long as the 447 remains Concealed.
Interestingly, the HS is not automatically bounced back to R7 unless the Russian 447 elects to reveal itself.
A12.15 DETECTION: Concealment can also be lost due to attempted enemy movement (not advance) into a concealed unit's Location. Whenever a non-berserk enemy infantry/non-charging Cavalry unit attempts to move into a Location containing a concealed unit during the MPh [EXC: Bypass (12.151)], the DEFENDER must immediately reveal at least one concealed unit in that Location and thereby force the moving unit back (even from a Wire Location) to the last Location occupied before entering his Location [EXC: units allowed to enter an enemy Location during the MPh; 4.14] where it will lose concealment and end its MPh (unless it goes Berserk first) and is subject to possible Defensive First Fire attack (or, in the case of a routing unit, eliminated or captured for Failure to Rout; 10.533).
A12.151 BYPASS: A unit concealed in woods/building terrain does not necessarily lose that status due to an opposing Infantry unit using Bypass in that hex. The opposing Infantry unit must actually attempt to occupy the concealed unit's obstacle and Location (not using Bypass) to cause loss of concealment. However, should Defensive Fire, the presence of other unknown units in the planned exit hex, or other unforeseen circumstances force a Bypass Infantry unit (or any other Infantry unit which legally ends its MPh in the same Location) to end its MPh prematurely in the Bypass Location with a concealed enemy unit, all concealment in that Location is lost. The previously concealed DEFENDING unit(s) may use TPBF against any units in the same Location and is also entitled to [EXC: if the targets are already pinned; 7.83] a -2 First Fire DRM for both FFNAM and FFMO unless the Bypass is through other than Open Ground (such as I9-H8 in 2I9). This FFMO DRM and the lack of TEM apply to units in an obstacle Location only if they were in the act of Bypass therein when First Fired upon (e.g., a berserk unit entering the same Location in non-Bypass mode would be subject only to FFNAM and the normal TEM of that Location). If the Bypassing unit cannot enter the Bypassed Location (e.g., a Fortified Building Location containing an enemy squad), the unit is forced back to the last previously occupied Location it may enter. During Final Fire the moving units would be entitled to full TEM for the obstacle and may attack in turn during their AFPh (Area & TPBF) if they are able. Any survivors are not considered held in Melee until after the CCPh and are therefore able to rout away in the RtPh. Mark the stack with a CC counter to indicate that Melee rules do not yet apply. Any AFV using VBM in the hex can be attacked using Reaction Fire (D7.2).
So, this basically gives the German HS the option either to slip by via Bypass and get into the back of the Russian 447, possibly screwing up Rout paths or wreaking other havoc in its back. Or to 'force' the Russian 447 to drop Concealment to bounce the Germans back to R7 if this is to be prevented. If the 447 elects to fire TPBF and the Germans survive, they'd be placed under CC and thus imposing Target Selection Limits on the Russians.
The interesting thing is that I was not aware of the possibility to avoid the 'blocking power' of the 447 and the possibly unenviable options imposed on the Russians as a consequence.
von Marwitz
I read the above and this set me thinking...
Imagine the following situation:
The German HS in R7 wants to bypass S7 along the S7/S8 hexside to enter T7.
As the Russian 447 is concealed, it is not Known to the German HS.
As such, it seems that the bypass of the German HS is in accordance with the rules as long as the 447 remains Concealed.
Interestingly, the HS is not automatically bounced back to R7 unless the Russian 447 elects to reveal itself.
A12.15 DETECTION: Concealment can also be lost due to attempted enemy movement (not advance) into a concealed unit's Location. Whenever a non-berserk enemy infantry/non-charging Cavalry unit attempts to move into a Location containing a concealed unit during the MPh [EXC: Bypass (12.151)], the DEFENDER must immediately reveal at least one concealed unit in that Location and thereby force the moving unit back (even from a Wire Location) to the last Location occupied before entering his Location [EXC: units allowed to enter an enemy Location during the MPh; 4.14] where it will lose concealment and end its MPh (unless it goes Berserk first) and is subject to possible Defensive First Fire attack (or, in the case of a routing unit, eliminated or captured for Failure to Rout; 10.533).
A12.151 BYPASS: A unit concealed in woods/building terrain does not necessarily lose that status due to an opposing Infantry unit using Bypass in that hex. The opposing Infantry unit must actually attempt to occupy the concealed unit's obstacle and Location (not using Bypass) to cause loss of concealment. However, should Defensive Fire, the presence of other unknown units in the planned exit hex, or other unforeseen circumstances force a Bypass Infantry unit (or any other Infantry unit which legally ends its MPh in the same Location) to end its MPh prematurely in the Bypass Location with a concealed enemy unit, all concealment in that Location is lost. The previously concealed DEFENDING unit(s) may use TPBF against any units in the same Location and is also entitled to [EXC: if the targets are already pinned; 7.83] a -2 First Fire DRM for both FFNAM and FFMO unless the Bypass is through other than Open Ground (such as I9-H8 in 2I9). This FFMO DRM and the lack of TEM apply to units in an obstacle Location only if they were in the act of Bypass therein when First Fired upon (e.g., a berserk unit entering the same Location in non-Bypass mode would be subject only to FFNAM and the normal TEM of that Location). If the Bypassing unit cannot enter the Bypassed Location (e.g., a Fortified Building Location containing an enemy squad), the unit is forced back to the last previously occupied Location it may enter. During Final Fire the moving units would be entitled to full TEM for the obstacle and may attack in turn during their AFPh (Area & TPBF) if they are able. Any survivors are not considered held in Melee until after the CCPh and are therefore able to rout away in the RtPh. Mark the stack with a CC counter to indicate that Melee rules do not yet apply. Any AFV using VBM in the hex can be attacked using Reaction Fire (D7.2).
So, this basically gives the German HS the option either to slip by via Bypass and get into the back of the Russian 447, possibly screwing up Rout paths or wreaking other havoc in its back. Or to 'force' the Russian 447 to drop Concealment to bounce the Germans back to R7 if this is to be prevented. If the 447 elects to fire TPBF and the Germans survive, they'd be placed under CC and thus imposing Target Selection Limits on the Russians.
The interesting thing is that I was not aware of the possibility to avoid the 'blocking power' of the 447 and the possibly unenviable options imposed on the Russians as a consequence.
von Marwitz
