The "Move to the left/right flank of" is a tricky command to use. What we would like to do is order a brigade to the flank of another brigade and have the two actually form one continuous line. Unfortunately, it's not easy to do if the brigade we are moving to support is already in combat.
SOW thinks of each unit, (regiment, brigade, division, etc) as one unit, occupying a box that has the overall dimensions of the formation it is currently in with the commander as the center of the box. The axis of the box aligns, with the current facing of the commander. This last point is VERY important. When the 'move to the flank of' is given, the moving unit will put the boundary of it's box next to the box of the unit it is joining to.
So, if the commander of the brigade we want to join to is facing 90 degrees from the facing of his troops, then the brigade that is to move, will move to a point that is 90 degrees off from where we would expect them to be. Likewise, if the commander of the brigade we are moving to is at one end of his unit, our moving brigade will align on the set distance from that commander which may cause a large overlap or a large gap. Read what I've just written a few of times and you can appreciate the problem.
I actually use this order in almost every battle. All is not lost.
There are two ways to minimize these problems.
1. The easiest solution is to form on a regiment that is on the flank you wish to move to. This will minimize the overlap/gap between the brigades as a whole. Just be sure to give the moving brigade a formation command BEFORE you give it the 'move to the flank of' commande. That will set the size of the box of the moving brigade.
2. If I can't see the regiment at the end of the line, (playing HITS), I do this. I issue a courier order to the brigade I am moving to such as {1. face your unit in this direction; 2. change to this formation}. This will set the shape and facing of the box I will join to. Since the brigade is in combat, the units won't actually move much, they have more important things to do. But the box will be shaped by the order nevertheless. Next, I give the commands to the moving brigade. These are the same as in solution #1.
But, as the bumper sticker proclaims, "s**t happens." The moving brigade sets it's destination on the position and facing of the unit it is joining to, when it receives the order to move. If the regiment or commander of the brigade we are moving to, moves or rotates before the moving brigade gets it's order, that brigade will form up on that new position. Likewise, if the unit we are moving to, moves or rotates after the moving unit gets it's orders, it will still move to the original destination. It will not adjust to the new circumstances. Nothing can be done about that. I just chalk it up to part of the chaos of battle.
I hope that was clear enough so everyone has a better understanding of how to use this order and it's limitations. :huh:
