towed artillery

[dks]

I have in my core 4 x 15 cm sFH 18 w/HT. I'm playing at colonel and they are at 4+. plus the heroes of + attack and + range in the mix. also have 2 x Sturmpanzer 1's and
2 x Wurframen 40's. this starting at IIovlya in DLC 42. going to start over at general the campaign from 39 DLC again due to the uber status I find my core with and 16926 prestige.

my question is for you FM players.

do you think it is necessary to upgrade your towed arty to the monsters like the 21 cm Mrs 18? I'm finding that my 15's just knock the heck out of entrenched units along with the occasional tank shots. the suppression by the 15's have satisfied my blitzes so far. maybe even the 10.5 cm leFH 18 with some hero stats may be all that is necessary for the suppression needs? the ammo loads is my concern. more the better if all I need is suppression most of the time.

where I am heading is playing FM when I'm finally comfortable with my knowledge of the game mechanics. in other words, I knows what the AI is gonna do then I want to play using the house rule of no two units of the same kind. hence, less large towed artilley playing at FM.

[4kEY]

Bigger guns, more kills, less suppression.

[dks]

Bigger guns, more kills, less suppression.

thanks 4key. I think I'll stay with the 10.5 next go around just to see what happens. fits in with my plans of one of a kind. the 7.5 will be a bit tricky to use.

[deducter]

One thing to keep in mind is that the larger caliber artillery have lower ROF, which can actually result in lower suppression. The larger caliber artillery also has less ammo.

7.5 cm: ROF = 11
10.5 cm ROF = 10
15 cm ROF = 8
17 cm ROF = 8
21 cm ROF = 7

For instance, against conscripts the 10.5 cm arty probably works better than the 21 cm. I believe there was a thread posted on this subject a while back.

[dks]

thanks deducter for the stats! I'm terrible at that stuff. did a quick search and went for this thread. started a new 39 DLC and using one of a kind. so far so good. I'm pleased with 7.5 along with the 10.5. the Sturmpanzer is the monster right now. 15 a little heavy for it, but I'll take it seems I'm doing better than I was at colonel using general. got more prestige. will see later what's to be. also I've learned to slow down my moves with my 7.5 in mind.

suppression suppression is my order of the day now. I also noticed for some reason my towed arty was gaining experience faster than my SP's at colonel. we'll see if that holds true at general. my little 7.5 could use a +1 range hero asap

[dks]

well at Modlin 39 DLC at general and my great campaign of no two units the same is beginning to flounder only have 1 x 7.5, 1 x 10.5 and my savior Sturmpanzer. ahh the plans of mice and men oh man are my little panzer groups getting hammered in Poland! the Pz 1's are a damned if I do and damned if I don't I need more infantry and headquarters has only given me 1 x SE Infanterie, oh joy! my prestige is down about 800 points compared to my last campaign Modlin, gots to use them towed arty wisely for sure forts and fortifications, lions, tigers and bears think maybe I took on more than I can chew....ahhh the fun of PzC

[shawkhan]

Panzers are simply not that great at the start of the war. Infantry are better for most combat. They are also cheaper. Only use panzers to finish off damaged or fully suppressed units. Some players believe cavalry works better during many of the '39 scenarios. They are fast, don't require transport units and are even great against Polish tanks in forests and cities. The major advantage of unit quality in this period of the war rests with the Luftwaffe. Two Stukas, one Bf109E and one Bf110C work wonders on the battlefield. For Modlin you really should use at least one strategic bomber to deplete the ammo of the forts, then use adjacent units and overhead air to keep them from re-supplying. Doing things with the appropriate forces makes things much easier.

[brettz123]

Panzers are simply not that great at the start of the war. Infantry are better for most combat. They are also cheaper. Only use panzers to finish off damaged or fully suppressed units. Some players believe cavalry works better during many of the '39 scenarios. They are fast, don't require transport units and are even great against Polish tanks in forests and cities. The major advantage of unit quality in this period of the war rests with the Luftwaffe. Two Stukas, one Bf109E and one Bf110C work wonders on the battlefield. For Modlin you really should use at least one strategic bomber to deplete the ammo of the forts, then use adjacent units and overhead air to keep them from re-supplying. Doing things with the appropriate forces makes things much easier.

Buy two strategic bombers. I think I had four or five artillery in this scenario.

As to your previous question about 10.5 I upgrade to 17cm artillery when it is available because I find it takes two hits from either one to fully suppress a unit but the 17cm does more damage and can actually hurt heavier targets (like tanks and fortresses better). No right answer though just whatever you prefer.

[dks]

after a long hunt and peck typing I lost power to my Pc well here is a short version very short version of what I had typed earlier:

I'm locked to my no same two units of a kind or type. except the Pz I's I started with. stuck with only (3) arty and each has to be different. allowing myself more than one 109e because there is no other fighters available for a long time.

I have one new open core slot available at Modlin and headquarters will not bless me with more infantry. only have four. man I don't think my weak core can sustain a frontal attack of Modlin to get to the Modlin fortress and achieve the DV. I know headquarters will give me infantry in the near future scenarios. that's my infantry delima.

drooling at the thought of a strategic bomber if I can get to the AA around Modlin I can pound those forts and give me an advantage to my weak infantry numbers. got to plan a southern assault to Modlin from Nowe Miszewo at the west and Fort Beniaminow from the east.

here is my core minus the new core slot:

prestige 1327 before rebuild of core.

Inf:
2 x Wehrmact Inf
1 x SE Infanterie
1 x Gebirgsjager

Panzers:
2 x Pz IA
1 x Pz IB
1 x Pz 38(t)A

Recon:
1 x SdKfz 222

AT:
1 x 3.7 Pak 36

Arty:
1 x 7.5
1 x 10.5
1 x Sturmpanzer I

Luftwaffe:
2 x BF 109e
1 x Ju87B
1 x BF 110c

well back to planning and making a decision on that core slot..............

many thanks for the help guys. very much appreciated!

[dks]

I did it on last turn.....yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! Modlin is mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!! did the southern rear attack.....man I don't want to do that again! was beginning to think I was going to be the first one on record to have a heart attack playing PzC that swamp at Nowe Miszewo just about drove me crazy trying to get my west flank moooooooving to cross the Bzura to attack the fort next to Modlin and I completely forgot about that 3 range damn rail watcha ma call it at Modlin and that the other fort had a 12 strength knock the heck out of ya in Modlin Fortress

well my Sturmpanzer saved the day and my 7.5 being teamed with it made taking Modlin Fortress possible. sent the 10.5 with the west group.

finally made up my mind for that new core slot. since I'm basically playing a weak hand, I went for the Do 17Z.

ended with no losses and beat up Panzers, infantry, Luftwaffe and only 1064 prestige at battle conclusion but, hey.....I gots the DV

now is it Warsaw north or Warsaw south? I do remember getting those captured arty in this scenario and I doubt I'll sell it come the next scenario. 4 arty, a generals dream come true

[shawkhan]

More room for maneuver at Warsaw if you go in from the South. Deducter's advice is to go for the free artillery before getting serious at attacking Warsaw. If you have any questions, watch his video on Warsaw. That is what I am doing myself in my second playthrough. Watch the video, then play the scenario right afterwards, makes a great difference in how you play the game.

[dks]

thanks shawkhan......will do. I'm real happy to get Modlin out of the way! need those Polish arty asap. boy do I miss having 4 x 10.5's. limited to having one arty with only a 2 range and then run like hades to the next set up is a killer look out Warsaw, I'm commin from the south and want them arty's

doing the only one of a kind has made the capture of enemy equipment all the more important to my core now. before I just sold them off for more prestige to purchase/upgrade to the newest German equipment. hmm, France will be something to see what happens. oh, got a SE Gebirgsjager from HQ for Warsaw south

[jaggy]

I did it on last turn.....yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! Modlin is mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!! did the southern rear attack.....man I don't want to do that again! was beginning to think I was going to be the first one on record to have a heart attack playing PzC that swamp at Nowe Miszewo just about drove me crazy trying to get my west flank moooooooving to cross the Bzura to attack the fort next to Modlin and I completely forgot about that 3 range damn rail watcha ma call it at Modlin and that the other fort had a 12 strength knock the heck out of ya in Modlin Fortress
:

Almost the exact same experience for me! I've almost wrapped up the last scenario, Demyansk Pocket, in DLC '41, but I've still fond memories of the Polish scenarios. Maybe because it felt so damned hard with inexperienced units. One of the best piece of advice from AgentX was to load a single player new scenario (as opposed to Campaign) and examine the map before playing. If you turn off the necessary options at the game menu, you can see all enemy units placement. It helps tremendously in your own force deployment and will aid you in configuring your core forces before you start the actual scenario.

[dks]

howdy jaggy. gonna start doing the sneak peak here real quick! I just finished Narvik and I'm down to 978 prestige at Narvik decisive. last time playing at colonel I had 2098 finally got to upgrade one of my Pz IA's to the PzIIIF and man did that captured 105 from Warsaw help out at Norway.........I needed that extra gun can't wait to upgrade it in France.

you know, I haven't had this much fun with a game since the learning days of PG

well after a few R&R minutes.....it's off to see how good truffles are at Paris. might even throw in a frog leg or two

[dks]

had to do an update playing general and just finished Wassigny! got 740 prestige left after the decisive titled "run Forrest run". oh man did my core get hammered this time when I figure out how to paste a picture here I will later. it will show my Panzerjager IB and captured Somua S35 holding the enemy at the L'oise River river crossings close to Hirson to the east of map. there are no less than 24 combo of enemy inf, tanks, at's AND, calvary I don't know about you but these guys deserve a medal

man using a weak core is somethin else playing PzC

[dks]

getting a handle on the how toooo's posting an image, some Frenchies not showing but you can see my heroes should be getting a few medals oh my captured Somua S35 just got a hero for a movement +1 at Dunkirk was wondering if captured equipment got heroes and got my answere now if only I could upgrade my 105mm wz.29 truck transport to a HT, I'd be happier than rooster in a hen house

[brettz123]

getting a handle on the how toooo's posting an image, some Frenchies not showing but you can see my heroes should be getting a few medals oh my captured Somua S35 just got a hero for a movement +1 at Dunkirk was wondering if captured equipment got heroes and got my answere now if only I could upgrade my 105mm wz.29 truck transport to a HT, I'd be happier than rooster in a hen house

When you upgrade it to a german model you can upgrade to a half track at that point.

[dks]

thanks brettz123, just would be great to be able to upgrade before. must of done an ooppser with my image. used them before on other forum. well back to see what's up!

[Zhivago]

I dunno...I use the 21 mars arty. I just like the satisfying thud they make when the shell hits a Russian arty unit!

[dks]

with the excellent help as always from the PzC people here at Slitherine, I will be posting images soon. another thanks guys from the guy who knows just enough to be dangerous.....ME

well I just finished Reims and starting to feal that uber status again playing at general. of course I'm not into DLC 41 yet but that fealing is there.....OR....I'm starting to get the hang of the game finally

playing having no two units the same has made me purchase different types of equipment....AND....I started to have some respect for those captured equipment. talk about a coyote looking for a squirrel hole I was all over them maps hoping to get a captured tank and finally got another one at Reims. yes finally after purchasing a Pz IA and a Pz IIC, I located a captured Char BI at Suppes. now I have (8) panzer groups and my unit leaders are fat and sassy with overstrength status going into Dijon along with some needed prestige of 1749 after overstrength.....yahoooooo

gonna be doin an AAR later when I try no two units the same at Field Marshal. I really want to try playing with a limited fighter group. just a BF 109e for most of the scenarios until I can purchase seperate F, G and K. same with the FW group. that means I'll be needing the AA from the start. using different versions also. only one 88!

back to arty. playing at general level, I have found the 10.5 more than enough to serve my style of play. the 7.5 is good also but I need that 3 range with a limited arty aresenal when comes to towed arty. I'm in love with my Sturmpanzer

well it's back to the French at Dijon and I'm gonna add some mustard to my truffles and frog legs