help with erlenberg scouting fail

[_y_ 0]

i was taken to task on this one (replay link)
so thought i'd ask for some purple advice as i just felt hemmed in with no way to help the team

map is erlenberg, north spawn, standard battle, tier 8-10, many heavies with 3 arties, we are one tier 10 short
our team completely abandons the east (as often occurs) setting up a linear heavy battle along the hill line west of the castle.

i'm platooning with another light who signals he is going to scout the west side.

here's how i see it:

1. 13:51 i start with an east scouting run, yes, i know soloing a flank is a poor idea, but figured a quick scouting run from a fast light would provide some intel, even though i have no supporting guns.
(i'm taken to task on this, mistake or no)
i find only 2 tanks and bail
to my surprise almost the entire enemy team crossed over to our side.  
-was this move a mistake?

2. 13:25 i retreat and try to provide vision for meds covering our rear (north aiming east)
took a hit from a TVP and didn't really add much
so i'll call this a complete fail
i abandon it at 12:04 as 2 TVP's come in and wax our meds
-should i have stayed, pushed, or left?

3. 11:30 crossed over and start circling C-D 2-4 trying to provide some vision and looking for an opening for an arty run or flank, but feel totally hemmed in with no one aiming at what i can light
chased away a light at 11:17
but otherwise failed again; still have a gun for in game
-better move here? perhaps working central buildings?

4. 10:20 we've given up what pathetic map control we had with two collapsing flank
i make a last ditch effort to hold off the TVP and T49 on our northeast/rear flank
only to get shut down ignominiously

any suggestions appreciated

thanks

[nabucodonsor 461]

Ok I am not a purple but this is my opinion. You failed how to play the entire map as scout platoon. First you have to understand what you should spot, what teammates can shoot your spotted targets, then how to. To do so you have to understand that on Erlemberg you must win the  flank where your cap is for better chances of victory. When you scout though see where your team is and plan accordingly. 

Now your team went all east meaning that one of you two should  have spotted the flank, and for how i play the map your friend should have gone to end of D2, close to E2 to spot all crossing tanks. There is bush there and if you get spotted you can run down to the 1 2 line or hide using the wall. 

Now you could have sniped the flank your friend spotted and/or taken out the RU (very very risky tough) or you could spot the other flank. You chose to go to the other flank to spot which is fine. You are the fastest tank in that game after the Ru so you know you can run away easily.

I prefer taking a more aggressive spotting and you can use a ridge in D8 the climb up to the house and use the bush to its left to spot tanks. Like this you will know most of the tanks the enemies have on that flank. If you get spotted early you can use the ridge as cover and run down and either run away or climb the hill more safely and spot trough the bush. 

Then for the rest of the game i do not what to say but your team did not do a great deal so yeah.

[_y_ 0]

thanks for your considered reply and tip on D8, east spotting.  what i was trying to due east was set up a ruse that has worked for me in the past: i knock down trees for my imaginary sniper line, then spot the ridge, occasionally firing from behind a bush in sniper position. 

i've held off a number of tanks with this comical move in the past (old replay may not work).  i bailed on it as the TVP seemed a bit too aggressive and perhaps due to our whining heavy. 

i agree with you on the west spot and would have taken the initial run you describe, but as mentioned initially, my platoon mate said he'd spot west, and didn't do it the way i would have.