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Steel Panthers-Tank Formations and Movement
Tank Formations
The following article details armoured formations on the troop level. These formations are taken from when I was a tank driver, and to the best of my knowledge are still relevant. Each formation is shown below along with a description and pertinent strengths and weaknesses. A squadron is made up of 18 tanks, broken down as follows:
4 troops composed of the troop commander, troop second in command (2i/c), a bravo and charlie call sign. The squadron HQ is made up of the squadron commander (usually a Major) and a Battle Captain (usually a Captain). The squadron commander’s call sign will be the numerical equivalent of the alphabet. So the A squadron commander will be 1, B squadron commander will be 2. The squadron call signs are further broken down into a two number and letter format. Thus, B squadron, 2 troop would be 22. A squadron 3 troop would be 13. The troop is then further broken down alphabetically. The troop commander retains the original call sign: 22. His second in commander is labelled as A (alpha), third call sign is B (bravo), and fourth or most junior call sign as C (charlie). So, 22A is 2 squadron, 2 troop, 2 troop second in command.
Squadron Advance
The standard squadron advance formation is used in open ground when the threat is expected from the front. This formation provides excellent firepower to the front, but poor firepower to the flanks. The positioning of two troops to the rear allows these tanks to manoeuvre to the flanks once contact is made. The two forward troops would act as the firebase. Distance between tanks is ideally 100 meters, but will obviously be dictated by terrain.
Echelon Left and Right
The echelon formation is used by either a flank protection troop, or when the threat is expected from a flank. This formation provides excellent firepower to the flanks, but very poor to the front and rear. The advantage of the echelon formation is that the units can quickly move from echelon to line abreast if required.
Diamond Formation
The Diamond formation is used mostly when the threat can come from any direction. The diamond formation provides adequate firepower to all areas, but no one area is good.
Wedge Formation
The wedge formation allows for good firepower to both the front and the flanks. From the wedge formation the tank units can quickly move into echelon or line. Note: the wedge can be wedge left, as below, or wedge right.
Line Formation
The line abreast formation is the most common formation used. Easy to control, it provides excellent firepower to the front and rear, but poor to the flanks. The line is used mostly in open country with leap frogging tactics.
Combat Manoeuvres
The Jockey Manoeuvre:
The jockey manoeuvre is used to change firing positions once engaged. It is normally used when a tank is firing from the hull down position on a hill. In modern combat, with computer enabling 90% first shot kill rates, it is suicide for a tank to fire more than one or two rounds from the same position. Jockeying allows a tank to stay behind cover, quickly engage the enemy from the same cover, and confuse the enemies targeting. When a jockey command is issued, the driver, while backing the vehicle down the hill, will turn the vehicle 45 degrees left or right, back up, and then straighten out. He will then advance into a hull down position.
Over Watch – Leap Frog:
The main type of movement tanks use today is called “over watch”. Over watch is when one tank moves while another provides support. Over watch can also be called leap frogging. With over watch you always ensure that you maintain one foot on the ground in case of sudden enemy contact. To execute over watch, the covering tank (A) will inform the tank to move (B) how far he can support him with EFFECTIVE fire. The moving tank (B) will then advance to the best firing position possible, take up position, and inform the covering tank (A) how far he can then support him. The covering tank (A) will then move forward and past the the new covering tank (B) as far forward as possible while staying under covering tank (B) EFFECTIVE fire range.
In this way, with one tank moving and one covering, you are always ready to bring effective fire down on an enemy target allowing the moving tank to either take up position and also engage, or withdraw. This method of movement allows for quick movement while maintaining security.
Over Watch – Caterpillar:
The caterpillar method of over watch is very similar to leap frog, varying only in one way. With caterpillar, the rear supporting tank moves forward to the same position that the forward tank has moved into and takes over his position. The forward tank will move forward again, take up position, and then the rear covering tank will move forward and take up the forward tank’s position again. This method is slower than leap frog, and also always means that one tank is taking all the risk. This method is rarely used.
Over Watch – Trail Method
The trail method of over watch is when both tanks move at the same time, one a distance away from the other. The rear tank covers the forward tank, while moving at the same time. While this method allows for the quickest movement, it also provides the least security. This method should only be used when contact is not likely. Also, both tanks must still move with cover in mind so if contact is made they can quickly take cover and get into a firing position.
Action on Defile:
A defile is any piece of terrain that funnels units into a narrow corridor, with cover on both sides. An example would be a road flanked by trees. Defiles are great ambush positions, and thus make tanks very vulnerable to infantry close assault.
When tanks come upon a defile, and have no choice but to move through the defile, the following drill is employed. The lead tank or tanks will take up firing positions covering the front of the defile. Infantry units will then move forward under cover of the tanks, dismount at the entrance of the defile and clear it’s length on both sides. Only once clear will the tanks move through. Thus, defile drills are very slow to execute so it is best to avoid a defile if possible.
Quick Point on Movement of Tanks – Use of Terrain
Tanks should always utilize the best possible ground for movement. Good terrain provides cover while allowing a fast advance. Dead ground (ground that cannot be seen into) and backs of hills allow this type of movement. Tanks should always move around hills and never over them. Moving a tank over a hill is called “going tracks up” and allows a belly shot on the tank. Before moving decide where you want to go, how will you get there and what obstacles will impede your advance. Never stop in the open, but only in some form of cover. Cover can be a slight depression or behind a building. And at all times you must have OVER WATCH.
By Weasel
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Ancient Wars Results
| Wartwo Phatman Draw |
| Wartwo Tsunami Major Defeat |
| Wartwo Pete61 Major Defeat |
| Wartwo the secretary Major Victory |
| Wartwo Phatman Major Victory |
Black Powder Results
| Hwkhuntswalking robert noftz Major Loss |
| Hwkhuntswalking robert noftz Major Win |
| Hwkhuntswalking robert noftz Draw |
| CB_stug71 Bilco Major Loss |
| Hwkhuntswalking robert noftz Minor Win |
Campaign Series Results
| General Lee Ensayne Scud Major Victory |
| Chrome Larry Reese Minor Victory |
| leemac Antoni Chmielowski Major Victory |
| blacksherman TheFox Draw |
| Peiper Ed Major Victory |
Classic Wargames Results
| blacksherman TheFox Draw KP |
| Contra Rokossovsky59 Overwhelming Victory KP |
| Contra Freiherr Overwhelming Loss KP |
| blacksherman TheFox Draw |
| Contra burroughs Overwhelming Victory KP |
Combat Mission Results
| [RT] Pioneer Johnsy Total Victory |
| H Andre Draw |
| Ken F. (FGM) Lobo Major Victory |
| jawsconan Andre Total Victory |
| Kelen ekrommen Total Victory |
HPS Operational Campaigns Results
| CB_stug71 Thunder Major Loss |
| HarveyMoon DougMorel Minor Victory |
| Hwkhuntswalking celamanka Major Loss |
| Hwkhuntswalking celamanka Major Victory |
| Indragnir Taffy6 Draw |
Operational Art of War Results
| Airluca Antoni Chmielowski Overwhelming Victory |
| Kru Steiner44 Overwhelming Victory |
| Steiner44 Nemesis Draw |
| Antoni Chmielowski Nemesis Draw |
| Currahee Starfighter Overwhelming Victory |
Sea and Air Combat Results
| Antoni Chmielowski jah4tol Decisive Victory |
| Antoni Chmielowski Kil Roy Decisive Defeat |
| jah4tol Antoni Chmielowski Draw |
| sergio KG_RangerBooBoo Win |
| jah4tol Antoni Chmielowski Decisive Victory |
Squad Battles Results
| Rabbit jmlima Minor Victory |
| Rabbit jmlima Minor Victory |
| Mad_Dog Landser34 Major Loss |
| Luke fastphil Major Victory |
| flynavy Landser34 Major Victory |
Steel Panthers Results
| 2ndLt_Fjun Walrus Overwhelming Victory |
| Vesku Larz Overwhelming Victory |
| Outlaw Josey Wales Sentry Medium Loss |
| Outlaw Josey Wales Sentry Overwhelming Loss |
| wigam Iwo Jim Decisive Victory |
By Dog Soldier
Here we begin an AAR of a HTH T41 scenario, #01a_Mersa_Brega_PBEM.scn. This is an exciting little gem of a scenario. There are several approaches to the game for the Axis player. Here is but one of them.
Ancient Wars
| 1 | Wartwo | 618 |
| 2 | Pete61 | 128 |
| 3 | Belisarius | 110 |
| 4 | Nikb | 70 |
| 5 | Jolly Roger | 50 |
Black Powder
| 1 | Bluto | 436 |
| 2 | Templar | 420 |
| 3 | Pete | 404 |
| 4 | Havoc | 306 |
| 5 | Outlaw Josey Wales | 224 |
Campaign Series
| 1 | Hawk Kriegsman | 2772 |
| 2 | Herr Straßen Läufer | 1915 |
| 3 | Tiger 88 | 1798 |
| 4 | Panzerjaeger | 1133 |
| 5 | Peiper | 1049 |
Classic Wargames
| 1 | Freiherr | 461 |
| 2 | Contra | 428 |
| 3 | czerpak | 160 |
| 4 | Angel14 | 80 |
| 5 | MarkR | 60 |
Combat Mission
| 1 | cargol | 4007 |
| 2 | Joonny | 1522 |
| 3 | hedgehog(FGM) | 1376 |
| 4 | Andre | 1350 |
| 5 | Der Kuenstler | 1178 |
HPS Operational Campaigns
| 1 | alaric99x | 1027 |
| 2 | Caseblue | 594 |
| 3 | Outlaw Josey Wales | 532 |
| 4 | Ricky B | 523 |
| 5 | Beerweasel | 498 |
Operational Art of War
| 1 | jah4tol | 565 |
| 2 | Kru | 388 |
| 3 | Johnsy | 366 |
| 4 | Currahee | 289 |
| 5 | Sapper | 242 |
Sea and Air Combat
| 1 | sergio | 480 |
| 2 | jah4tol | 420 |
| 3 | Antoni Chmielowski | 400 |
| 4 | Tsunami | 270 |
| 5 | Kil Roy | 180 |
Squad Battles
| 1 | tallin | 1390 |
| 2 | Landser34 | 1243 |
| 3 | Mad_Dog | 1047 |
| 4 | Laza | 692 |
| 5 | Ozgur Budak | 416 |
Steel Panthers
| 1 | Vesku | 1610 |
| 2 | Sentry | 1075 |
| 3 | Outlaw Josey Wales | 1055 |
| 4 | burroughs | 825 |
| 5 | SP Tournament Player | 740 |
[All Ladders]
February 1943, the Germans with their Romanian and Italian allies are reeling. The Sixth Army has been lost along with the majority of the Italian Eighth Army and the Romanian Third Army. What to do? Hitler called on von Manstein, the commander of the newly created Army Group Don, and Hausser with t... Read More
[All Articles]
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This article is missing its images...at least for me. It is a very good article but it really detracts from the information provided without images.
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Cool article Weasel. Are you Canadian?
This article reminds me of my days with the Royal Canadian Dragoons. I also served with the Lord Strathcona's.
In my day we had 19 tanks in a squadron. The 19th tank was equiped with a bulldozer blade for preparing fording sites or digging in. It was part of Sqn. HQ, together with the OC (Officer Commanding - Squadron Leader) and the 2 i/c (2nd in Command - Battle Captain) tanks.
Contra