The Hastings Manuever

[Me262inWarthunder]

Who here knows how William the Conquorer won the battle of Hastings?

Answer: The Saxons, camped up on a hill, had good defensive terrain, and woulsd have beat back the Norman assault if William did a line battle. So he, pretended to retreat, the Saxons followed, and then William's men beat Harold's on the flat terrain.


I have copied this in the game. In a battle against the Americans, (I'm Germany) I came up to a ridge line of mountains, next to plains. The plains mine, and hills were USA. So I have a Panzer division retreating from a province, then the three surrounding divisions (including the retreating one, actually having decent org) attacking it. It has proved effective, and I have had a victory where 285 of my guys died, but they claimed 1,200 Americans.

 

[markkur]

Who here knows how William the Conquorer won the battle of Hastings?

Answer: The Saxons, camped up on a hill, had good defensive terrain, and woulsd have beat back the Norman assault if William did a line battle. So he, pretended to retreat, the Saxons followed, and then William's men beat Harold's on the flat terrain.
.

I've read something a little bit different. Harold wanted his shield wall to hold its ground. But after a failed attack on the right flank of the shield-wall the men there dis-obeyed the stand-order and chased the retreating Normans (in sensing victory, a common occurrence) but the rest of Harold's line obeyed his order and that left the over-eagers out in the open for easy slaughter. However it happened, In the end...the result was the same. If a flank is destroyed the line eventually folds.

<imo> William won the battle because of his Cav and his archers, much the same as Henry the 5th's smaller force trounced the Heavy French Knights at Agincourt; the Welsh long-bowmen were the bazookas of that day. The Saxon army was an old-fashioned army that was outclassed by new tech.

 

[pocho.hr]

that is interesting but also depends on opponents bad decision to follow you into the plains. smart enemy will hold his dominant ground and will not be lured in your trap.

 

[markkur]

that is interesting but also depends on opponents bad decision to follow you into the plains. smart enemy will hold his dominant ground and will not be lured in your trap.

True. I've heard both accounts. It may be that William did the ruse and Harold's right flank sensed victory and dis-obeyed.

Btw, here is a wonderful overview of many aspects regarding the battle. http://www.1066.co.nz/library/master_wace/chap22.htm

 

[Snow Wolf]

interesting idea actually, using this tactical advantage on a strategical level. I don't think only the AI would fall for this, too

 

[Pugmak]

This kinda thing also works for "defensive encirclement".

Have 2 strong flanks (channeling terrain such as rivers helps if, say, there's a gap in the rivers and you can anchor your flanks to use the river defensive bonus but leave your center weak). Let the center retreat. Once the enemy forces flow into the pocket made by the retreat, close the pocket with the forces stacked on the flanks for that purpose. Might seem like it's picking on a poor, dumb AI, but it worked in irl a time or few in history too. And, I see it as revenge for the supply AI.

 

[Timotheus1]

That's what the Germans did at Kharkov in 1943.

 

[Loke]

Way old tactics, first used at Cannae 216 BC, maybe earlier?

 

[Pugmak]

Way old tactics, first used at Cannae 216 BC, maybe earlier?

Cannae was the one I was thinking, myself.