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SETTING UP A DEFENCE
By Tom Huntington
Defensive positioning is arguably the most difficult part of the game. In many scenarios the defender's set up makes or breaks the game. Careful attention must be paid to several critical factors like the placement of weaponry and Fortifications, Victory Conditions, or even your opponent's MFs per turn. As the defender, it reaps rich rewards to pay attention to details. The list below is not intended as the final word on defensive positioning or tactics, but rather as an aid to new players and a reminder to intermediate level players.
PRIOR TO PLAY
Read the VC carefully. Remember them.
Review the troops. Read the Vehicle and Gun Notes in Chapter H.
Review your opponent's troops.
Read the Vehicle and Gun Notes in Chapter H.
Read or review the rules on anything new or complicated (e.g., minefields, wire, DCs, LCs, etc.).
DURING SETUP
Look for choke points (bridges, woods bottlenecks, roads to cross, etc.).
Look for havens where your leaders can safely rally broken units (building, woods).
Plan to overlap fields of fire.
Look for Fire Lane opportunities.
Remember that Fire Lanes only fire along the same level.
Where possible defend in depth.
One approach to defending in depth is to locate Guns farther back where they won't get overrun early in the game. But placement of Guns is an ART not a science.
Set up in Crest Status (but the opportunity doesn't come up often).
Bore Sight Guns, MMGs, HMGs, and Mortars. [If shooting an MG at Infantry, a Bore Sighted hex gives only the MG a bonus and only during your Defensive First Fire (i.e. during MPh).
Beware that PF, PSK, and BAZ suffer from Backblast in confining terrain.
Take those FREE LOS checks during setup. It's part of the game (cf. Bore Sighting).
Don't forget that you can deploy 10% of the squads at setup. Sometimes it's worth it (but see A9.11).
Be creative in ways that your opponent won't expect it (e.g., HIP placement).
If you have the resources, make a killer stack (EX: three 4-6-7, three MG and a 9-2) with good LOS.
CONCEALMENT
MAXIMIZE the use of Concealment.
As Scenario Defender, use the "free" "?" to cover every real unit (EXC: dummies).
As Scenario Defender, use the OB-given "?" to create pure dummy stacks.
Consider the best use of Concealment.
Are you expecting an attack along one flank? Set up concealed units there and place dummies on the other flank.
Dummies can help make the set up look evenly distributed.
If both sides set up on board, then you may find good spots to gain Concealment by setting up out of LOS.
Guns keep their concealment when firing (on a coloured TH DR < 5), but lose it when changing their CA.
Infantry can keep Concealment in OG as long as they don't do anything to lose it.
Any TEM or Hindrance for an Open Ground hex will allow retention of Concealment (A10.531).
Remember that dummy stacks must set up in Concealment terrain (and that crags and graveyards, among others, are NOT Concealment terrain).
HIDDEN INITIAL
PLACEMENT - HIP HIP units must set up in Concealment terrain.
One tactic is to let the attacker advance past your HIP unit, then pop out and kill broken units for Failure to Rout. It's tough to pull this off.
Know what terrain is Concealment terrain:
buildings,
woods, brush,
grain fields,
orchards, etc.
It's legal to deploy a HIP squad during set-up, and hide both half squads.
Look for potential surprises. There's nothing like having your HIP units wipe out a tank or big stack.
GUNS (ATG, INF, ART, big MRT)
Guns are a dream. They set up Emplaced (+2 TEM) and HIP. So why place them in buildings or woods? Take advantage of HIP placement to position Guns where they may get side shots on attacking AFV. A surprise (not lucky) shot can win the game.
Guns can use Bore Sighting anytime they fire at the right Location (not just against moving targets).
Guns automatically set up HIP if they are in Concealment terrain (unless specified by SSR).
Guns lose their Concealment if they change CA, or if the coloured die is > 4 on their TH DR.
Always check the Gun notes in Chapter H. They might surprise you (e.g., German Gun Note A).
Don't forget that a Gun's Area Fire affects every Location within the hex in which that GUN has LOS.
DEFENDING VEHICLES
They're not just big targets. Integrate them into the defence. Plan their use.
AFVs set up like mobile Guns (except not HIP, and not Emplaced).
AFVs can set up Concealed in Concealment terrain.
Defending AFVs can't setup in Motion unless by SSR (A2.9).
AFVs can setup in Bog terrain (woods or buildings, for example) without consequences (unless changing VCA) (A2.9).
AFVs can set up HD behind walls, or make HD checks on the edges of hill levels (D4.221).
Note that HD status gives minor protection to un-armoured AFVs (IFT, A7.308).
Always check the Vehicle notes in Chapter H. They might surprise you (e.g., German Vehicle Note F).
An AFV may be able to move away when threatened (Motion Attempt, D2.401), but Forward or Reverse Movement must be declared. It pays to retreat to continue the fight.
SMOKE (sD, sM, sN, sP, s) can and should be used defensively. It's very effective at neutralizing a kill stack, or covering a retreat.
AFVs make great cover for retreating infantry and can even provide TEM for safe routing.