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Combat Warfare: River Crossing

Combat Warfare: River Crossing

Based on your experiences what for you was the tactical Combat Warfare: River Crossing's rating, pros and cons environment advantages and disadvantages against the enemy?

Crossing River Warfare Combat

A river crossing can be easy if the enemy is not around or hard if they are. Getting a bridge across the river is the first thing and to do that you will have to lay down a lot of suppressive fire power to allow the bridge to be completed and then start moving across the river to gain a foothold on the opposite bank. The enemy is going to do everything in their power to see that you do not cross the river and anyone on or in the river is at a serious disadvantage due to being exposed with no cover around.

Combat Warfare: River Crossing History & Civil Business Politics

An opposed river crossing is difficult in the extreme… if the river really provides an obstacle to crossing. So, the Mississippi is a tremendous obstacle that would require extensive planning to breach if the opposite bank is opposed. This would require massing boat for troops to cross, prepping the other side with artillery, and having air superiority. If an attacker doesn't have both artillery and air superiority a major river crossing is virtually assured to fail. This is because while the troops are crossing they are completely exposed and will most likely be slaughtered. One can factor in six or more to one to breach a major river. This depends on how major the river and how well dug in the defender is. At least nine to one for the Mississippi scenario and maybe double that if the defender is fortified.

On the other hand, the Rio Grande in places is so shallow that it is barely an impediment, even if opposed on the other side. Sure, crossing the river would slow down the attacker and they are in the open, but attackers are normally in the open and why the general rule of thumb is a ration of three to one whenever you attack, and higher depending on the terrain. A small, fordable river like the Rio Grande would probably only require a bit more combat power to breach. Maybe for to one.