I want to write something about tank tactics. Before going into tank to tank tactics, I want to write something about tanks versus infantry. Sometimes the victory objectives are directly coupled to tanks, but more often than not, its up to the infantry to take the victory objectives.
Tank versus Infantry
Advantages Tanks
1. Protection. Most enemy infantry has only range of 1 versus tanks. Which means most infantry cannot damage a tank 3 hexes away or more. At 2 hexes they are at long range, and the probability of damaging any tank is low.
Thus, if you have tanks, and the enemy does not, your tanks are safe!
And this is so regardless of which tanks you have.
2. Firepower: Most tanks have 6 in firepower versus infantry. Which is fair enough. But, just as important, concussive firepower. 9 in firepower versus infantry is a lot and neglect the entire cover-bonus for buildings.
And often, buildings are your main source for cover.
Due to concussive firepower, if the enemy has lots of tanks, you are probably better of staying in woods. (entrenchment in wood is excelent)
But tanks also has a few disadvantages which may not be that obvious.
1. Tanks cannot enter houses. This means, that any victory objective in a building cannot be taken by tanks. Secondly, this also means that the hexes BEHIND the buildings cannot be attacked. It may be very tricky for the tanks to get into firing view. And lack of line of sight is far better protection than any cover!
2. Tanks cannot assault. This means that if you NEED to take a hex, you need to kill every single enemy first, then use something else to enter the hex.
So, tanks, stay at distance, use your impressive firepower and time to take out the enemy. The better time you have, the more advantage to the tanks.
So, the other way around, do you have any options to fight back using infantry?
1. You may have an anti-tank specialist. It can be irritating to the enemy. An irritation moment. At least if the enemy does not have panther/Tiger.
2. Don't underestimate the 4 in firepower any infantry has versus a tank. You can do a fire & movement action, get 2 in firepower and versus a 'none-super tank' you have a small but fair odds of doing damage. If you then can continue and get the initiative next round, you can fire with 4 dices at point blank range, which is more than enough to damage most tanks. This is obvious a very aggressive move, as an infantry next to tank, isn't probably going to stand fighting for very long. But if you can do 'fire & movement' combined with 'fire' afterwards, it can be a shocking and nice move.
3. Double Mortars: don't underestimate the power of a double mortar to take out tanks! 4 dices versus typical 4 dices in armor, to all tanks in the hex => more powerful than it seems.
4. Artillery!
5. Slow down. You may not necessarily NEED to kill the tanks to win. A infantry in the way, slows down a tank. A hex with a infantry cannot be occupied by a single tank alone in 1 round.
6. Anti-Tank guns: these are really tricky to use & play.
-Cannot move (for all practical purposes)
-need both a fresh infantry and a fresh anti-tank gun to use.
If you place them a poor hex, the enemy may just ignore it. Place it to easily, the enemy may take it out using any method they like.
In the desert warfare they are better since they in that setting has better effective protection. But in general, don't expect an anti-tank gun to to much good.
Tank Versus Tank!
Tank versus tank warfare. The most effective way of eliminating tanks, is to use your own tanks. But how?
Let me put down a few tricks, if playing German.
German Tricks:
1. Sweet spot! Most Late German tanks has range 8, while most allied tanks have range 6. Thus if you position your tank at 7 and 8 hexes from the enemy, this is your spot! Then you can easily attack enemy tanks and stay fairly safe from them firing back. If the enemy has set up so that this is possible, and keeps on firing at you without moving into a better position, just smile. A good enemy will not let this opportunity arise.
2. Fire & movement as last move, win initiative, FIRE!
If the enemy has already activated, this tactic is so powerful. Requiers you to win the initiative, which may be very very important in tank versus tank situations. Any (late) German tank has good firepower and good ods of doing damage. If you have two of them, the probability to heavy damage an opponent is huge.
3. If you have Panther/Tigers: then you typical have less amount of them. The trick to using panther/Tigers is to note that a sherman doing fire & movement action has a very low probability of doing damage. So low that you can almost ignore that threat. Secondly, a single sherman firing at full firepower, still does not have a great ods of doing damage. Thus, if you can move your panthers/tigers so that it only attacks one or two enemy tanks at a time => huge advantage to the panthers/tigers.
4. Note also that Panther/Tigers are difficult to destroy using
-single and double mortars, artillery, bazookas, heavily damaged enemy vehicle. So don't be too afraid of these super tanks.
5. Note also that a Panther itself has a good probability of damaging an enemy with a fire & movement action.
Allies Tricks:
1. How to take out a tiger/panther?
Move to point blank, win initiative, fire and hope for the best.
At point blank range the odds are better.
2. How to take out a tiger/panther trick 2.
Move four Shermans and surround the enemy, expect to loose one of your tanks as a sacrifice. Then, CABOM, with combined fire.
3. How to take out a tiger/panther trick 3.
M10! With its penetration effect, a panther is reduced to a regular tank.
(note that the M10 is single purpose tank: take out enemy tanks)
M10 even have fair odds of damaging an enemy supertank in a fire & movement action.
4. Combined fire!
5. Never ever stay in the 7-8 hexes from a German tanks. Don't let that happen ever. If they move into that range, move your tanks.
6. You typical have MORE tanks than the Germans. Sacrifising 1 tank to take out 1 is a thus a good deal! If you don't have more tanks than the Germans, expect to loose the tank-fight anyway, and decide how to use your tanks accordingly.