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1916
LAND WAR IN THE AGE OF MACHINES: 1914-1918



Combat Situations

Infantry Assaults
A typical frontal assault by infantry can be easily achieved by moving an infantry unit toward enemy bases until base to base contact is achieved between any two portions of the enemy units. There are however, many variations on this theme, some of which are valid maneuvers and some of which are not allowed for game play. Below are a few examples to give new players a feel for how units are moved into contact with each other.


Figure 1.
Figure 1 shows two units, the defending unit B is a two base "remnant" occupying a section of trenchline shown in black. The attacking unit A is a six base "weak" unit depicted by the grey squares at the top of the figure. Both units are assumed to be facing each other.

Figure 2 shows a flanking assault. Unit A has used its movement to establish base to base contact and to throw its two "wing" bases around the defenders flank in order to gain an advantage during the assault rolls. However, with the newly expanded definition for the packed target small arms modifier now in effect, players attempting such maneuvers from too great of a distance will discover that the flanking bases create a packed target as they squeeze in to contact the defender's flanks (as shown at right). Only if the attacking unit begins its movement close enough to the target of the assault will it usually have enough movement available to maneuver onto the flanks of the defender while still maintaining a loose formation.




Figure 2.

Figure 3.
Figure 3. The example at left shows a more typical frontal assault which loses the benefit of a flanking attack while avoiding the potential extra loss as a packed target.

Figure 4. This figure gives an example of an illegal assault move called "Daisy Chaining." This is sometimes attempted when a player maneuvers a unit into a well covered position near an enemy unit. If allowed, the assaulting player retains benefit of the cover while simultaneously conducting the assault. In this example, the attacking unit B has moved two of its bases forward while keeping both within the allowed base interval. Only one base is put into assault contact with the defending unit A, while most of the remainder cower in the woods. This is not a legal game action. Any unit committed to moving into assault contact with an enemy must move all of its bases forward and attempt to make direct contact, although the unit may still retain an open formation in the process (i.e. - it is not obliged to form a packed formation).


Figure 4.

Figure 5.
This set of examples shows an attacking unit (A) which is spread out toward the limit of its base interval allowance. Its assault options are many, but some of the more obvious include Figure 5 at left, which shows a general advance to contact with both the remnant unit B, and the right flank of a much larger unit C. The center base of unit A might be tempted to try a flanking maneuver on one of the defenders, but it would likely violate the base interval and so it remains in a "bridging" position. Unless it rolls well, unit A is not likely to succeed.

Figure 6. In this figure, unit A has inclined its assault to the left, bringing its weight to bear on the isolated unit B. Since there is no base to base contact with unit C, it will not be involved in the assault unless it moves forward to contact unit A during its own movement. Note that in this example, the right-flank base of unit A might be able (if it has the extra movement) to flank unit B by moving into contact with the left side of unit B's left-most base.

Figure 6.

Trench Fighting
Many of the standard methods of movement and assault do not translate well when the units and bases involved are forced to operate within the confines of trenches. The guidelines below offer a few standard methods of movement and interpretation which will allow player to re-create the difficulties of maneuvering in the trenches.


Figure 1.
Refusing the Flank: The figure at left shows a unit (A) which has inclined its left flank base in order to prevent a flanking assault from any units which might sweep into that section of trenches. Note that the end base is still considered to be within the trenches even though a portion of it is outside the trench marker.

Transverse Movement: Units must face the direction in which they assault, even in trenches. The same facing practice is also advisable for units conducting extensive regular movement when there are enemy units present within a trench system. For units to face down the length of the trench during such movement, place them in an open column arrangement as shown with unit B at right.


Figure 2.
 
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