38SquadleaderElinil:A QUIZ ON BASIC INFANTRY TACTICSANSWERS AND DISCUSSION, PART IBy Bill Nightingale<strong>The</strong>re were 98 responses to the SQUADLEADER quiz (Vol. 18, No.1). Not everyoneanswered all the questions posed, but a substantialmajority of the people responding provided commentsand extensive analyses of the situations. Notall of their excellent commentary could be used:partly because these would have been repetitive, butprimarily due to space considerations. In this issuewe will examine the scoring and commentary onQuestions 1-5, and postpone discussion of the remainderuntil the next issue.I appreciate the response the quiz generated. Inselecting comments to include, I strived to bringforth the differing points ofview on each situation.Panelist commentary is shown in quotes; theirname and hometown in italics. In some cases, I'vetaken the liberty of editing and paraphrasing theirwords.1. THE FORCE AT 17 "Do you agree that theunits at 17 (less one LMG) should Prep Fire as agroup?" (See Diagram 1.)ANSWERS SCORE VOTESYes-Target Hex H3 100 64Yes-Target Hex M5 80 23No 60 8Yes-Target Hex J2 40 I<strong>The</strong>re were two responses to this question indicatinga target in G4 which were not included inthe above because of blocked LOS. This questionwas taken from a Series Replay that appeared in theGENERAL (Vol. 15, No.1). On turn I, theGerman player elected to prep fire at M5 while theNeutral Commentator argued for H3. With betterthan 60010 ofthe votes favoring such, H3 is the clearwinner. <strong>The</strong>re arose, in the commentary, somecriticism regarding the initial German setup. ScottZahm, Bethlehem PA, in voting for M5, asked whythe third LMG was not used and questioned theplacement of building F5 units in two stacks ratherthan all in F6. Discussing these points in more detailwere several others.Dave Quigley, Rolla MO: "<strong>The</strong> Russian openingmoves and setup are fairly cut and dried. <strong>The</strong>German setup is what bothers me. Placing Germanforces in G6 is a waste of manpower because theodds heavily favor their breaking or elimination.Any units placed in this hex will suffer 16 firepowerfactors (FPF) at a + 1 terrain modifier from G4.This will cause a morale check 83 % of the time witha 72% chance of a -1 MC or worse. Subsequent firefrom F3 gives another 28% chance for a moralecheck. In the diagram shown [Figure I], theGerman player needlessly lost the firepower of twoLMGs for not noting this. Furthermore, I don'tunderstand the placement of a squad in K4. Itsplacement there doesn't cover any approaches andonly allows itself to be shot at more often. A bettersetup would include three 4-6-7s, two LMGs and a9-1 leader in F6. <strong>The</strong> same setup would be in J4,except the 8-0 leader should be in J5. <strong>The</strong> rest ofthesetup should be as shown in the diagrams, assumingthe broken squad and 8-1 leader in building M7originally started off in L6. <strong>The</strong> defensive fireshould include 17 shooting at J2 along with J4 (16FPF at + 1 DRM followed by 16 FPF at + 3 DRM).This will tend to neutralize the MMG. Hexes L6,M7 and M9 should all fire at H5 to get as many doublebroken squads as possible."C.D. Reeve of Tewautin Australia wrote "<strong>The</strong>key to the German position is also their weakest andmost exposed one, building J4, which is underledand exposed to fire from three sides. It is alsoneeded to keep the Guards at bay by enfilading theD5-H4 street, as the Germans in F6 cannot affordto expose themselves to the withering firepower ofthe Guards and must stay in F6." After stating thereasons for firing at H3, he went on to say that hewould consider advancing the 17 group to H6 sothey could then move into building F5 and "savethe LMGs in G6 (where they shouldn't have beensited originally-too exposed to the Guards) andcover G6 and H5 ifthe Russians make a dash acrossthe street."
<strong>The</strong>re were other comments about those twomachine guns, being needlessly lost; however, mostof the panelists either agreed with the placement ordecided not to comment on it. I will agree with Daveon one point: if you are going to hide the Germanunits in F6, then you had best put all three squadsand the LMGs in J4 and pray for lousy Russian dicerolls. In my opinion, the F6 placement puts toomuch pressure on the units in building K5. <strong>The</strong>Series Replay had a squad and LMGs in H5 which Imoved closer in for this question. My ownpreference would be to place a squad and LMG inboth G6 and H5, but I can hear the screams nowabout that idiotic German who risks losing so manyunits to the Guards. But think about it. With all ofthe German units in F6, the Russian player can concentratehis attacks on J4 in order to open up thestreet for his advance. Granted that his first turnfire is at long range; but, after that, the pressure willmount. With the G6/H5 placement however, hecan only fire Berki and squads at one of the hexesand get the 8 column (+ 3 DRM) on the other.Hopefully this will buy a turn (which is very importantin Scenario 1).Regarding the question of adding that thirdLMG to I7's fire, what is the point? Even if it is included,you will still fire on the 16 column, and if a12 is thrown you have three malfunctioning MGsinstead of two. Attempting to make use of all 18FPF is Craig Roth ofHanover Park IL: "Most efficientuse of strength and the Infantry Fire Tableindicates splitting this group into two parts. First asix factor attack on H3, then a twelve factor attackon M5 (with leader modifier)." Likewise FredOrnstein, Boca Raton FL: "I believe I would getmore mileage by splitting fire. (A) 3 squads plus 9-2vs H3, 1210; (B) 3 LMGs vs 12, 6/ + 3. <strong>The</strong> differencebetween the 12 and 16 columns is only anadded 3/36 or 8010. Gain is 6/36 or 17010 chance ofhitting J2." In theory, both of these panelists areright; by splitting the fire of the 17 group, they havea greater probability of at least causing a moralecheck on one of the two hexes. On the other side ofthe ledger, there is a reduced chance of getting aKIA result and eliminating the whole stack, with thesix FPF attack having no chance whatsoever. Inpractice, I would prefer to fire at one target since, ifI am lucky enough to cause a morale check on thesmall attack, that same result would be excellent ona 16 FPF attack. <strong>The</strong> other players who answered"No" are more concerned about reinforcingbuilding F5.Tim Brown ofDallastown PA: "I disagree withthis plan of action because during the first Germanmove, I feel there should be two objectives:establishing a firebase and reinforcing building F5.<strong>The</strong> reasoning for the first is that, when the terraineffects modifier is zero or positive, a single large attackis more effective than several smaller attacks.A single attack of 24 factors with a + 3 modifier is27010 more effective than three separate attacks ofeight factors each with a + 3 modifier, and just aseffective as three separate attacks of 12 factors with+3 modifier! To accomplish this, a location mustbe chosen. I tend to use building 17 for this purpose.It has the best German leader, is easily strengthenedby moving the HMG and a squad from buildingM9, already has a good number of LMGs, and iscentrally located within LOS of every major stonebuilding on the mapboard. <strong>The</strong> second objective isneeded to slow the Guards advance. Every turn theGuards spend in F5 is one less turn they can spendtaking new buildings. <strong>The</strong> second objective isaccomplished by removing the extra squad (becauseof the transferred HMG and squad) from 17 andsending it across at G7. <strong>The</strong> MGs should not betaken, since these would eventually be captured bythe Guards. <strong>The</strong> purpose of reinforcing is toslow-not stop-the Guards, unless a full commitment-suchas the entire 17 garrison-is to berisked. Relating this to the question, only as manyunits in 17 as are needed to pin the units in M5should prep fire so that the rest can cross at G7 toreinforce building F5."Giving battle to slow the Guards' takeover of F5is a worthwhile objective, but it might be better touse the entire 17 force to pin M5 and then advanceinto the street. Going further than the others in thisreinforcement effort is Robert Moesinger ofOgdenUT who wrote "the forces in 17 should move immediatelyto reinforce F5. Specifically, one squadfrom F6 should go to G6 to make room for onesquad and two LMGs from 17 moving through H7into G7 and advancing into F6. <strong>The</strong> remainder ofthe forces in 17 should be moving to G6. This eventuallygives you 34 factors, ten penetrating and all atnormal range, supported by two leaders against 72factors (none penetrating), and 36 at long rangesupported by one leader. This may seem to be an advantagefor the Russians, but they will have considerabledifficulty rallying 'squads while yoursshould rally on the second Rally Phase after breaking.This, coupled with supporting fire from J4, willmore often than not hold back the Guards longenough for a German victory."I assume that the units moving from 17 to G6would also go through H7, but even then theRussian squads in M5 will have a 6(-2) FPF shot atall three squads as they cross the street at G7. Thishas a 30/36 chance of causing a morale check, butof greater concern is the 10/36 probability of a KIAand there goes the ballgame. Even bolder is TimGarafola of Hammond LA who suggests movingtwo squads, two LMGs and the leader through H6to H5. I have a sneaking admiration for this butdon't think I would have the guts to face the 12(-2)attack from M5/N5. Incidentally, even though thisattack is almost certain to cause a MC, the chanceof a KIA result is no greater than a six FPF attackon the 1FT.Felix D'Albor III ofPlaquemine LA did a finejob of summarizing the situation and makes a pointregarding that lonely squad in K4: "<strong>The</strong> answer isyes; the reason is simple: by prep firing as a group,they get all the benefit of the German's most effectivecounter on the board, the 9-2 leader. Directingfire, it is almost as effective as having eight additionalfirepower factors. Quite a dude these 9-20\\\39leaders. <strong>The</strong> German player should prep fire asmany units as possible to try and eliminate or atleast break Russian units before they can weakenGerman positions with their own fire in preparationfor the inevitable assault. As to what hex to fire at:the choice is limited to three, namely H3, J2 andM5. Whenever given a choice of target hexes, Ialways ask myself the question of which groupthreatens my position the most. <strong>The</strong> answer is H3.<strong>The</strong>se Soviet units not only threaten an assault onbuilding F5, they can DF at full strength on theGermans in J4. This is the only position protectingthe street between the Russians and building F5,and must be protected to delay the fall of not onlythat building but to hold their own position. Itcould be said the Russians in M5 are a large threattoo. <strong>The</strong>se threaten assault on the building K5 andcan DF at the German firebase in 17. Loss of theunits in 17 would mean loss of the game. However,by utilizing the Germans in L6, M7 and, ifyou wantassurance, K4 the German player can probablyneutralize M5. Actually, the lone squad in K4 couldbe used in a number of ways. Besides the beforementioned, it could bolster the fire from J4 at theMMG in J2 an extra column or fire at the brokensquad in N4. <strong>The</strong>re is small chance of success here,but such fire would keep them under the effects ofdesperation morale."<strong>The</strong> choice of H3 as the target hex was based onone or more of three considerations: I) protectingthe J4 position; 2) diverting Col. Berki to rallyingsquads rather than directing the attack; 3) the + 2DRM for the wooden building as opposed to the+ 3 for the stone ones. <strong>The</strong> second choice of thepanel was to prep fire at M5. <strong>The</strong>se players wereevidently willing to ignore the added DRM for whatthey believed to be more important factors:Larry Shelton, Holloman NM: "Yes-againsttarget hex M5. (Would anyone seriously considerbreaking up the only decent fire group the Germanshave?) <strong>The</strong> 17 boys have only three targets: H3, J2and M5. Hex H3 is the obvious choice due to thelesser building modifier and the psychologicalthreat of the three Guards. Hex J2lacks an assaultforce and is therefore a nuisance rather than athreat. Which brings us to M5. Since Germancasualties are lighter than I would expect (K5 stillintact), the German has the luxury of diverting the
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