Another one from Facebook for Simon :)
Hammy asked - "if a supporting file is engaged in combat does that mean that a SUG in edge contact with a TUG can be expanded into and unable to respond?"
Replies:
Quote from: nikgaukroger
arg, trying to recall a discussion on this with Richard Jeffrey-Cook and Simon Hall - think it came down to that if you expanded a TUG into a SUG in the Movement Phase the rules on pushing back enemy SUGs would apply and that part of the rules talks about Combat and not Engaged Bases.
Quote from: Hammy
I had this at the weekend, I expanded into a SUG and I let the SUG run away.
From memory the rules used the words engaged in combat but then I am old and my memory is poor.
Quote from: nikgaukroger
"if they are in close combat"
My view: If the supporting file is in close combat then it cannot be pushed back so a MF1 move results in the SuG being engaged frontally by the TuG. As there has been no charge the SuG is not destroyed.
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A similarly related issue is if two opposing TuGs are lined up. One UG charges the other which decides to evade. The evading UG has a SuG in side edge to side edge contact with it. If the charge direction is directly ahead: does the SuG count as being charged?
My view is because there is no front edge to edge or corner contact the SuG has not been charged. The SuG is not destroyed. It could choose to move away in the movement phase.
If it remained in edge contact then in the following turn movement phase, the TuG could turn 90 and end up engaging the SuG in melee combat.
Richard