Help please - I'm too dumb to win this scenario

[Spechtmeise]

What do I need to do in order to win the last scenario in the Desert Campaign? I'm a lousy general, please give me a hint...

[cptkremmen]

I have not yet managed the last battle in either the desert campaign or the normandy campaign.

Time is the problem in the desert battle, move fast.

[jomni]

Does the Tiger bother you?
Lure it to a city and let your infantry do the work.
Keep your Artillery alive. It is very important in clearing the way for you.

[berndN]

I advance on the left and use artillery to get rid of some of the 88s on the hill. You get some reinforcements and I use 2 tanks later to advance carefully to the hill while at the same time I deal with the Tiger and other 2 tanks. It's important to get your infantry to the village where the tank and an anti tank gun hides. If you're finished with the tank approach the hill from that side and from the 2 tanks you have advanced. I have solved this scenario 2 times using this approach.
I remember I tried after the first village to approach the hill after taking the first village but it was a mess because of the 88s on the hill.

But I have trouble with the last scenario on normandie. Even if I use Hold Fire there the germans get me 4 or 5 turns before the end.

[Spechtmeise]

Thanks guys, this confirms what I already suspected. I need to speed up my advance and leave the hill for last.

[jomni]

Thanks guys, this confirms what I already suspected. I need to speed up my advance and leave the hill for last.

The hill is optional. I didn't even capture it.

[rubeus2003]

Does anyone managed to win the last battle in Normandy Campaign????
If so, could he tell me how?

I´ve tried different strategies but no luck at all...

Thank you very much in advance!

[MikeAP]

For the last desert mission, you don't have to kill the tiger to win it. If you hit him with 25pdr he'll retreat, then move in and cap that last flag

[Ryben]

Keep pouring artillery into the hill, don´t try a frontal assault...don´t move infantry in the open near it or they would be destroyed.

Take the road to the left instead and fight the way up to the Tiger. Try to ambush it with infantry and fire against him several times until he get supressed. No longer a threat, then you could get behind it and BOOOM!

Time to take the hill, most of the guns should be destroyed or supressed right now...should be an easy task.

[MikeAP]

Its always interesting to hear how other players approached these scenarios.

I guess I did it the hard way.

I split my forces and took the road and the hill simultaneously. I used a 25pdr to knock out those 88s and then surpressed the pillboxes with armor while inf moved in.

I used infanty w tank support to clear the villages along the road. Infanty clear buildings on either side w a sherman rolling down the road to surpress any enemy that popped out.

25pdr is a must.

[rubeus2003]

Ok, I managed to finish the last mission on Desert Campaign.


But, what about the last mission on Normandy Campaign? (I was asking about that one, but nobody answer... ).

Cheers!

[Acererak]

Ok, I managed to finish the last mission on Desert Campaign.


But, what about the last mission on Normandy Campaign? (I was asking about that one, but nobody answer... ).

Cheers!

To be honest, this is the only mission from the three campaigns i have not been able to win. I am not sure there is a fine tactical aproach to it that does not involve having a tremendous ammount of luck.

And there are some old posts discussing this mission in the forums somewhere..

[rubeus2003]

I´m agree with you, Acererak, and I suppose that it must be a question of luck to win this last scenario in Normandy Campaign (same case as Desert Campaign).

But I´ve tried lots of tactical ways to win and it seems impossible. No luck at all! And I love this game, but sometimes it´s a bit frustrating...

And before posting here, I´ve used the Search service in this Slitherine´s forum, but I couldn´t find any post discussing about this mission specifically. Please, could you tell me the address to read it? Maybe in MatrixGames forums...?
Thank you in advance!

[Ryben]

Maybe it´s just a question of luck...i´ve just finished this scenario and it´s the first time i´ve played it. My tactics involved (i hope it is useful):

- Purchases: PIAT + Mortar + Firefly

- Drill sergeant on 6-pounder on first turn: this unit is vital for holding the left flank.

- Hold fire until last second, specially with the 6-pounder. Fire it with too many enemies in sight and the reactive fire will leave it supressed . That´s a bad thing.

- Hunt with the Sherman and Firefly, be very careful with LOS. Fire and get back to cover. Don´t risk them.

- Vickers MG, infantry and odd mortar fire is all you need to stop german infantry, they´ll never reach top of the hill.

- Mortar fire and artillery could (and will) supress enemy tanks. Or, at least, reduce their morale so a couple of tank shots will leave them supressed.

- Use Typoon atacks for those nasty Panthers, of course.

- If tanks get too close to the hill, let them surpass the PIAT units (which should be in "hold fire" mode) and attack them from behind. A frontal shot is useless and makes the unit visible, attracting lots of fire. You don´t have many units that could damage armour so be careful with them.

[rubeus2003]

Maybe it´s just a question of luck...i´ve just finished this scenario and it´s the first time i´ve played it. My tactics involved (i hope it is useful):

- Purchases: PIAT + Mortar + Firefly

- Drill sergeant on 6-pounder on first turn: this unit is vital for holding the left flank.

- Hold fire until last second, specially with the 6-pounder. Fire it with too many enemies in sight and the reactive fire will leave it supressed . That´s a bad thing.

- Hunt with the Sherman and Firefly, be very careful with LOS. Fire and get back to cover. Don´t risk them.

- Vickers MG, infantry and odd mortar fire is all you need to stop german infantry, they´ll never reach top of the hill.

- Mortar fire and artillery could (and will) supress enemy tanks. Or, at least, reduce their morale so a couple of tank shots will leave them supressed.

- Use Typoon atacks for those nasty Panthers, of course.

- If tanks get too close to the hill, let them surpass the PIAT units (which should be in "hold fire" mode) and attack them from behind. A frontal shot is useless and makes the unit visible, attracting lots of fire. You don´t have many units that could damage armour so be careful with them.

Thank you very much, Ryben!
I´m taking notes about your tactics, and I´ll try again later...

Anyway, in spite of what you propose it seems to me an impossible mission (it is funny when you read the optional objectives of this scenario: I think the designer of this mission was drunk! ).


Why?

1- Because I bought PIAT + Mortar + Firefly once. Mortar is OK (I like this unit, it´s very effective), but I´ve shot too Panthers too many times with PIAT from behind and nothing happens

2- Yes, I´ve done what you said about 6-pounder holding fire to the last moment, but usually the infantery or/and others millions and millions armored vehicles get rid of them.

3- I never managed to maintain Sherman and Firefly alive: they´re killed always. Too many armoured enemies from everywhere in last turns!!!!

4- I managed to stop all enemy infantery once, but then enemy armour comes and all is finished...

5- Only a few times you can surpress enemy tanks with mortars. I think you had been very, very, very lucky. Good for you!

6- Airplane attack against Panthers seems to me useless: most of the times Panthers just burst out laughing! And in this mission there are lots and lots of Panthers and other terrible german tanks!!!!


Anyway, as I said thank you for your comments... I´ll post over here if I manage to win this scenario...
(the thing is I´m getting tired, and this game run the risk of being moved away from my PC forever... ).

Rgrds.!

[Ryben]

I´ve shot too Panthers too many times with PIAT from behind and nothing happens

And not only Panthers, this weapon is pretty useless aganist anything. OK, it was not the best infantry AT weapon of the war but a 0% chance of penetration is all you often get, even at close range.

2- Yes, I´ve done what you said about 6-pounder holding fire to the last moment, but usually the infantery or/and others millions and millions armored vehicles get rid of them.

Save the 5.5 arty attacks for that moment. Most of those millons are Halftracks or Marders and artillery fire is very bad for them.

3- I never managed to maintain Sherman and Firefly alive: they´re killed always. Too many armoured enemies from everywhere in last turns!!!!

True, i also lose them in the final turns assault (right flank). Only a lucky piat shots and a quick redeployment of the 6-pounder saved the day.

5- Only a few times you can surpress enemy tanks with mortars. I think you had been very, very, very lucky. Good for you!

Direct supress is quite rare but you could even attack a Panther and low its morale about 15-20points. If it also was caught in artillery zone (or failed Typhoon attack) it would have its morale at 80 or so. A couple of shots from a gun or even infantry attacks will supress them.

6- Airplane attack against Panthers seems to me useless: most of the times Panthers just burst out laughing! And in this mission there are lots and lots of Panthers and other terrible german tanks!!!!

Yes, pretty innefective and also innacurate. Not the first time the Panther moves and the aircraft attacks a halftrack or infantry unit instead. Boooo...

(the thing is I´m getting tired, and this game run the risk of being moved away from my PC forever... ).

I know that feeling. Obsession ends with frustration. .I might suggest leaving the game alone for several days,don´t even think about it...do other things instead.

[rubeus2003]

(the thing is I´m getting tired, and this game run the risk of being moved away from my PC forever... ).

I know that feeling. Obsession ends with frustration. .I might suggest leaving the game alone for several days,don´t even think about it...do other things instead.

Nah!
I was just joking. I love this game!

Thank you for your advice anyway, he, he, he, he, he...
I do lots and lots of things instead of playing games on my PC... I wish I were a rich man and not to go to work for instance, but this is not the case...

I´m going to try in a few minutes this scenario again.

Thanks again, Ryben!
¡Hasta luego!

[rubeus2003]

At last!!!! I win, I win!! HURRA!!!!


Thank you to Ryben for your advice! It works!!





At the end, I managed few things which are important:

1- To keep the Firefly alive until the end!

2- Use the truck wisely to move mortars and 6-pounder!

3- Also, I use mortars to attack tanks and other armoured vehicles and... it works!

4- Use the forest to hide units and ambush.

5- Well... this time I must admit that PIAT were not too bad... he, he, he...

Anyway, I think that to get the optional objectives is almost impossible this time. Look at my poor results

[Ryben]

Wheee!!! Congratulations!!!!

Next stop: the Ardennes Forest.

[Stubee]

I'm a pretty bad commander, as the only way I won this particular scenario was that the AI didn't understand his objective...and flirted around the last flag tile for 3 turns...when he could have easily taken it at any time.
I think the reply value on these mission is very high...as most of my wins I feel were done with a great unnecessary loss of life on my side.
Wish there was a way to store each mission results (units killed, achievements, etc) so I knew which ones were my worst victories:)