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Europa Games and Military History

FAQ Tag: Support

Rule 20G2b: Limits to the numbers or air units providing GS

Question:
Does the limit mean total number of units that may be committed per RE or the maximum number that counts?

For example, I am attacking with three REs of ground units (one panzer division). I have committed 8 air units to GS. Per the rules, 3 air units provide GS, the 5 others don’t contribute any SPs. The defender now fires AA and turns back one unit. May the attacker “call in” one of the surplus 5 units instead of the one that was turned back?

Answer:

This shows why the sequence of play and various activities is so important. The air units can not provide GS until combat is resolved and combat isn’t resolved until after AA has fired during the GS air operation.

You can fly as many air units as you want for a GS air operation. Some may be lost through air to air combat, others through AA fire. You don’t have any limitations upon the number of air units that can fly the GS mission, only upon how many can effectively aid the attacking units.

After all air to air combat and AA fire, the air mission is carried out, that is, the bombing strength is added into the combat strength of the units participating in the combat. The limitations of numbers of air units participating in the ground combat isnot figured until the ground combat is resolved. So, in your example above, the single panzer division an be aided by up to three air units. Regardless of how many air units began or participated in the air operation, three may assist the ground unit in its attack.

Please note the sequence, the air units are not limited in number until the ground combat resolution, and that resolution takes place after all air to air combat and AA fire in that air operation. []

Source:
TEM 67

 

Rule 14B: Limited use of NGS for Support

Question:
Since each point of NGS is treated as a 1/4 RE field artillery unit, does this mean that NGS is limited by the number of REs participating in the combat?

Example: A British TF is supporting a single British 3-8 Infantry Brigade. Four of the sixteen strength points may be added to the combat due to the one RE non-artillery unit participating, and the remaining twelve strength points are in excess and thus have a total strength of one. Thus the total combat strength of this force is eight. Is this correct?

Answer:
Yes. Rule 33A defines NGS and explicitly says it uses Rule 14B for the purposes of artillery.

Source:
TEM 43/44

 

Rule 13: Providing NGS as Support during Overruns

Question:
For purposes of support can a player consider NGS as providing support to units being overrun, without taking into account the NGS points?

Answer:
Per Rule 33A, TFs may only provide NGS during a combat phase. Therefore, NGS does not affect overruns, since they occur in the movement and exploitation phases.

Source:
TEM 49

 

Rule 11: NGS and Support

Question:
Does NGS make units supported? The rule about NGS would seem to imply so (“each point of NGS counts as 1/4 for purpose of artillery and support”, but I would like an explicit statement. If it makes units supported, is there some minimum requirement for NGS points?

Answer:
Yes, per Rule 33A, each naval strength point is treated as 1/4 RE of artillery for purposes of Rules 11 and 14B. Since one RE of artillery will support all units stacked with it, you require 4 points of NGS, 1 REs worth of artillery, to provide support.

Now for some further thoughts on this…

As an unofficial option, allow NGS to support units, even if the naval units are not stacked with the units, if the NGS fire can assist the combat. Because of the two hex range, it is possible for naval units to fire NGS into hexes that they could not enter through movement, but it seems strange to require them to abide by a strict reading of Rule 11, in that they should have to be stacked with the units they are supporting.

In a similar unofficial manner, exempt NGS from the “being stacked with…” requirements of Rule 14B, that is, naval units firing NGS defensively do not have to be stacked with the units they are supporting. RE requirements, for all cases, are still in effect (one defending RE may only be assisted by four points of NGS at full strength; any excess NGS would add a total of one factor, regardless of the total present). Example: Two Inf lll are invading a beach and have 10 points of NGS. As each point of NGS is 1/4 of an RE, per Rule 14B 8 points of NGS (2-REs worth) have full effect and the remaining 2 points of NGS have a strength of 1 (so the 10 points of NGS provide 9 attack strength points). Since there is more than one REs of field artillery equivalents present, the ground units are supported.

The difference between this option and RAW is that these units will be supported regardless of the location of the naval units firing the NGS.

Source:
TEM 54

 

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