Being broken removes OW.

OW/cover save/assault: If infantry on OW are attacked, they can elect not to fire in order to keep the cover save during the assault. I've seen this done in a game when the defender felt the firepower would be ineffective against the attackers.

OW/Countercharge: After looking it over, a formation can countercharge and not remove OW. The only reason I can think of to do so would be if the firepower would be ineffective AND you had a need to move. I've never seen it.


Lsrwolf: "So a unit in transports on overwatch can be charged, can counter charge 10cm, unload, battle, win, consolidate and remain on overwatch?"

That's right. A formation could countercharge, dismount, fight, win and consolidate and still take a normal action. That's no more of an "activation stretch" than when it involves OW. The OW formation would almost certainly suffer some BMs and lose OW firepower, so it's not like they'd come out unscathed.

On large board every chance to get movement downfield is taken. 8-)

But doesn't it say that a counter-charge follows the rules of an engagement charge and if you make an engage move THAT removes overwatch...

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~Laserwolf

Yes, we know, the game was intended to be played in the 2000-5000 points range...

Taking an Engage action removes OW because it's an action. The charge move does nothing in and of itself.