Below is the fifth part of the series regarding “Why We Do What We Do in The Last Hundred Yards.” This article deals with Tactics. Enjoy!

Tactics

Attacking Principles: When maneuvering to attack, it is extremely important to use the terrain tactically to get as close to the enemy as possible without being seen. Remember, if the enemy cannot see you, his reactions will be limited because if he can’t see you, he cannot react. This is a key to success in LHY. Avoid impatient and careless behavior. Be aware of how quickly things can change, especially for the attacker when he loses the Initiative. Expect the unexpected, and be willing and prepared to adapt.

Prior to closing with the enemy, draw his fire to pinpoint his location and locate any hidden anti-tank units. Infantry sections are particularly suited for this. Try and get at least one of them, or another combat unit within 3 hexes of the enemy, close enough to draw the enemy’s fire so that he loses his concealment and hidden units are revealed, allowing your units to react and fire against any revealed enemy unit.

Concentrate your effort, and avoid wasting your strength on numerous unimportant targets. If attacking several positions at once, the enemy may easily destroy you by concentrating successively on each attacking element. Instead, select and strike a key position with all power that can be mustered at the point of contact. If this position falls, others may then be taken. Look for isolated units to defeat with overwhelming force.

Advancing units, especially across open ground, are extremely vulnerable to enemy fire. Use small arms and mortar fire from stationary positions to suppress known enemy positions, reducing his reaction fire against the advancing units. Mortars are especially useful in suppressing enemy hard points prior to an assault. Also, consider the use of smoke to screen your advancing forces. Caution: mortar availability can vary, so plan ahead and use mortars judiciously to ensure they are available when needed most.

It’s difficult to force an enemy from prepared defenses by using small arms or mortar fire alone. In LHY, as in real life, prepared positions will have to be assaulted. To assault, the assaulting units must begin their action within 2 hexes (the last 100 yards) of the enemy. It is even better when the attacker begins his action adjacent to the enemy because the enemy will not be able to react prior to being assaulted. Once the enemy has been assaulted, other friendly units can reinforce the assault. When possible, encircle the enemy position by entering from different directions and maneuvering units into a position to block the enemy’s retreat.

Maintaining momentum can be difficult if the attacker does not have the Initiative. His maneuverability is restricted and all fire is limited to reaction fire. Without the Initiative, the attacker has to be patient, generally limiting his maneuvers and focusing more on reaction fire against key enemy positions. It is important that the attacker places himself in such a position that when he does regain the Initiative, he can aggressively resume his advance, “making hay while the sun shines.”

Defending Principles: When on the defensive, consider what you might do if you were the attacker. Study the terrain to identify his most likely avenue of approach and how to best defend against it. Place defending units in positions so that they have interlocking fields of fire. If possible, defend in depth with a screening force, a main line of resistance, and a reserve.

The outpost, or screening force, should be occupied by a minimum number of troops required to maintain constant observation, combat enemy reconnaissance, and harass and delay the enemy. Mortar fire is especially suited for harassing and delaying tasks. These units should withdraw to the main line of resistance once the enemy threatens their position.

The main line of resistance is where the enemy is to be worn down over time. The defender should deploy his squads to cover the front of the platoon area and the intervals on the flanks and to furnish mutually supporting fires with adjacent platoons. This works well when the assigned frontage is narrow and there are few or no gaps between platoons. When occupying an area with a wider frontage though, the attacker must protect his flank, and any mutual fire support from adjacent platoons is obtained by drawing back the flanks. Small arms and mortar fire should be concentrated on the greatest threat, and situations allowing the enemy the ability to isolate and gain fire superiority against a single defending position should be avoided. Employ enfilade fire whenever possible. Anti-tank units should be deployed to cover approaches best suited for vehicles, defend your infantry, and ambush enemy armor. The defender must be flexible and adapt. Platoon dispositions should be coordinated with supporting weapons in the area.

The attacker will need to concentrate his forces in order to gain superiority at the point of attack. If mortars are available, this is an excellent opportunity to disrupt and disperse enemy units before a pending attack. Also, when enemy units are assaulting from a non-adjacent hex, they must stop temporarily in a hex adjacent to the hex being assaulted. In this case, mortar fire can be extremely effective against the assaulting units, penning them in place and increasing the risk of casualties.

A reserve force, whenever possible, should be established behind the main line of resistance in areas from which they can limit enemy penetrations, execute local counterattacks, and protect the flanks. Armor and motorized infantry are especially suited for this role. Infantry reserves, if possible, should be placed within at least 2 MP of friendly front line units so that, when they are assaulted, the reserves can reinforce friendly units in reaction. Wherever possible, place a platoon leader with reserve units so they are ensured the capability to react. Position reserves so that their route of advance affords cover and concealment. Areas in which hostile tanks are likely to operate are undesirable as reserve assembly areas.

The burden of advance is on the attacker and time is major factor in determining the level of victory for him. Therefore, the defender should attempt to delay the advance of the attacker, inflicting additional casualties when able, rather than attempting to defeat him with a single, strong defensive line. The defender should be flexible and prepared to give ground if needed; thus, determine in advance the best place for a second line of resistance. Remember, you can withdraw faster than the enemy can advance.

Other Principles: Platoon leaders can support friendly units under fire, assist in the recovery of disrupted units, coordinate MFAs, and lead assaults. But be aware that in an assault, platoon leaders are a casualty risk. Platoons without a platoon leader in play are limited to reactions only. Also, when not in LOS of enemy units, try and keep all units of a platoon in the same hex with their platoon leader. This is critical when you are not the active player because units not stacked with their platoon leader or units without LOS to the enemy cannot react.

When in the primary impact hex of an initial mortar fire attack, it is best to withdraw. Although the withdrawing units will suffer the mortar fire attack upon exit, they will avoid the possibility of suffering a subsequent mortar fire attack if the enemy player is successful in extending his mortar fire.

When a disrupted unit is under fire in a hex marked with a DRM marker, it is best to attempt recovery rather than withdrawal, where the unit may be more vulnerable. If possible, move a leader into the hex to assist in the unit’s recovery or another undisrupted combat unit to help protect the disrupted unit and absorb the fire. If not under fire, a disrupted unit should withdraw out of LOS of the enemy and avoid taking any additional fire.

Be aware of enemy units adjacent to yours. These may be opportunities for you, as well as your enemy, to assault from an adjacent hex. By doing so, either player can prevent any reaction fire from enemy units, in essence penning the units in the assaulted hex and therefore taking them out of play. An active or reacting player could then reinforce by conducting an assault from a non-adjacent hex in the current or subsequent platoon activation.

Avoid conducting actions with units that would expose them to superior enemy reaction fire. In many cases, it is better to wait and employ reaction fire against possible enemy maneuvers, especially when they are in a position to maneuver within 2 hexes of your forces. Remember, only units that conduct actions are subject to enemy reaction fire.

If armor support is available, use it first to support infantry against enemy strongpoints. This will also force enemy armor to react in order to relieve the pressure on his infantry, increasing your armor’s chance for the first shot. Do not maneuver against enemy armor (especially superior enemy armor) unless you can do so with at least a 3-1 ratio and, preferably, from different angles to gain enfilade. In tank versus tank actions, it is generally decided more by superior tactics than superior numbers. However, it is still true to say that single tanks invite destruction. When engaging the enemy armor, employ (i.e., leap frogging) fire and maneuver tactics by splitting your force, keeping some of your armor stationary to provide overwatch fire for maneuvering units. Employ Halt & Fire and Shoot & Scoot actions when possible to get the first shot.

-Mike Denson

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Why We Do What We Do in The Last Hundred Yards: Time Lapse, Fire and Maneuver Systems

Why We Do What We Do in LHY: Armor Operations

Why We Do What We Do in LHY: Mortars

Why We Do What We Do in LHY: Platoon Leaders