Question about the combat system

[Xaver]

Well thats normal, to have the "overrun" casualties numbers you need launch a well coordinated and planned assault and use a few time to do it.

In PZC the ABC of "victory by kill" is based in:

1-penetrate
2-isolate
3-disrupt
4-assault

If you want that the defender battalion be destroyed you need attack from 2 different points, with a previous movement to cut-off enemy retreat route and searching disrupt the defenders.

In the situation you describe i do this:

1-find how i can isolate the defenders.
2-before move units use arty to try disrupt defenders (you can move to enemy with less chance to be fucked by defensive fire).
3-wait next turn to have an enemy defender isolated+low ammo and with a little luck disrupted.

With this you destroy complete battalion in 3 assaults or less but after first assault the defenders become a 0 combat value unit that best thing can do is pray to somebody open a route to escape.

I imagine the USA unit was a B or C quality unit, germand B or C.. well, notice this, if you isolated the defender they lose 1 quality level C-D.

If in the defender turn they shot in next turn they lose another quality level because they become low ammo status, D-E.

And if you disrupt defenders they lose another level E-F and defend at 50% of their strenght.

Even could be worst for defender if acumulate enough fatigue, could be F-no morale.

Frontal assaults with no preparation even when you can mass 1000 soldiers VS 300 not allways are a success, the chance to suffer a defeat is high more if terrain helps defender.

If you dont have time and need the defenders position ASAP because they defend points... try only disrupt defenders and give them a scape route because when are assaulted they escape and you take the hex.

EDIT: in FWW series is a rule used in Prusia14 title that is going to be ported at least to France40, this rule says that if an assaulted unit lacks a retreat hexafter be defeated in an assault is totally destroyed in the assault.