Slitherine

Have reached spring of 1944 Eastern battle, have 2 three star SdKfz.233 recon units as my favorites, but hesitate to upgrade them to the 234/2 version.
These have better HA values but less SA - what do you prefer?

ptje63 wrote:Have reached spring of 1944 Eastern battle, have 2 three star SdKfz.233 recon units as my favorites, but hesitate to upgrade them to the 234/2 version.
These have better HA values but less SA - what do you prefer?

Congrats on getting that far with a recon. I gave up in '41. Too big a target and to weak to justify keeping in my play style.

ptje63 wrote:Have reached spring of 1944 Eastern battle, have 2 three star SdKfz.233 recon units as my favorites, but hesitate to upgrade them to the 234/2 version.
These have better HA values but less SA - what do you prefer?

Good job on keeping your recon units alive. I prefer the 234/2 version, but, it almost doesn't matter. Either one is so weak compared to the Russian tanks that it's pointless. Admittedly, there's still a few tricks you can pull with a recon unit this late in the campaign. I guess one of my favorite things to do would be to try to bait an enemy air unit into attacking the recon unit defended by an AA unit just out of enemy spotting range. But you have to be so cautious with them that it's probably not worth the distraction. I'd rather use the slot for a more versatile unit. By this time, you probably have a tank or two with a spotting hero. With a spotting range of 2 & a hero, these should be able to see as far as a recon unit but with more utility. Good luck!

TSPC37730 wrote:With a spotting range of 2 & a hero, these should be able to see as far as a recon unit but with more utility.

I have Kerscher with an extra spotting hero for a total sight range of 5. 8-move recon is still handy for finding mines and capturing remote cities, but not needed for scouting.

By the start of 1944 the recon units just can't stand up to the big boys and hordes of Russian armor. They need to be coddled too much, and as mentioned you probably have a few heroes that add spotting value on to your other more useful units such as armor. And as you probably have discovered the AI LOVES to kill recon. After '43 the battles tend to be more defensive in nature when you don't need wide-ranging recon units to snatch up widespread objectives.
**The way recon units should be used in this game is as you see in several scenarios where a none-core recon unit or two are scripted into the battle.**
Another option would be a reward of a non-core recon unit given to you during the scenario after certain number of kills or capturing certain objectives.

My favorite Recon Unit 1944 are the SdKfz. 234/2 - Puma and the SdKfz. 234/4. He has a good Weaponery and Velocity.

The captured BA64 is quite tough, but with road-wheels only and a feeble attack it's rather limited. One time I used Dwight's Camo Spray shop to create a bright pink one, and used the cheat code to add an extra core slot so I could deploy it even though it was a bit rubbish.

I reckoned it would survive longer on the basis that if you said there was a bright pink recon vehicle passing by, they'd think you'd been at the cheap vodka again. Of course it made no difference, but it amused me for a few weeks.

captainjack wrote:The captured BA64 is quite tough, but with road-wheels only and a feeble attack it's rather limited. One time I used Dwight's Camo Spray shop to create a bright pink one, and used the cheat code to add an extra core slot so I could deploy it even though it was a bit rubbish.

I reckoned it would survive longer on the basis that if you said there was a bright pink recon vehicle passing by, they'd think you'd been at the cheap vodka again. Of course it made no difference, but it amused me for a few weeks.

That thing was bright yellow, not bright pink. The following emote can tell you the difference:

- BNC

I only managed to get these units survive this late in the campaign due to a combination of strategic employment... and shere luck... and no cheating...haha! Must admit: both were damaged to 2 or even 1 point(s) remaining on two occasions when attacked on the battlefield. I did lose 3 other core recon units... Their use thus far has been according to the course of the scenario: best if attacking. If defensive role, then Pz.'s with +SPOT hero's will do - indeed. When attacking and bad weather conditions, then recon is not usefull either. I never use any air units for foward/offensive recon.
I hate the fact that, if not usefull anymore in the scenarios remaining, its heros or experience cant be transferred to some other, more usefull unit. But, as our (most) famous Dutch soccerplayer Johan Cruijff (R.I.P) already mentioned many years ago: each benefit has its drawbacks. And he was right. It applies on many fields - and PC is just one of them...

captainjack wrote:The captured BA64 is quite tough, but with road-wheels only and a feeble attack it's rather limited. One time I used Dwight's Camo Spray shop to create a bright pink one, and used the cheat code to add an extra core slot so I could deploy it even though it was a bit rubbish.

I reckoned it would survive longer on the basis that if you said there was a bright pink recon vehicle passing by, they'd think you'd been at the cheap vodka again. Of course it made no difference, but it amused me for a few weeks.

I love this! Hahah!! I would love a Tiger that would have a John Lennon type "Love The World" cammo and still beat any Soviet armor encountering it

How about a yellow submarine?

captainjack wrote:That thing was bright yellow, not bright pink

I did try yellow, but it didn't look quite funny enough so I made it pink.

I generally prefer the recon that can dealt the most SA dmg as in late campaign recon just can't stand up against soviet armor hence I use them to scout withdraw and flank any weak target like AA or under strenght infantry. Sdkfz 222 is still my favorite not because of the profile because I play another game H&G while the sdkfz 222 is very cool hahaha plus they have air defence

I don't often use recon but when I do I like the 8 move all terrain ones. I agree with simcc that for recon SA is probably better than HA because your recons are the ones that should be catching out transports, exposed artillery and AA units, rather than tank hunting.

captainjack wrote:I don't often use recon but when I do...

You drink Dos Equis?

alkafluence wrote:You drink Dos Equis?

I normally drink darker beers, but when I don't....

The Sd.Kfz. 234 ("Puma")

My favorite German recon unit is the Fw190A or Bf109F in earlier scenarios.

Stoneform wrote:My favorite German recon unit is the Fw190A or Bf109F in earlier scenarios.

Nice

The 'Rudel' Stuka because of its -5 attack factor and increased spotting makes for a great air recon unit, if kept in service. It just never generates enough kills to get offsetting + heroes (to become a more effective fighter) and requires steady equipment upgrades over the years.
It is vulnerable in combat and it seemed certain the AI made it a priority kill taking enough losses to demand it's withdrawal to safety and become an expensive repair liability.
Rules can be devised to allow "evade" (ala submarines) or some resistance to attack or automatic withdrawal 2-3 hexes as it becomes prohibitive to give it a fighter escort especially '43+.