1. Basics

Given a group of 15mm heavy infantry based on 40mmx15mm bases and arranged like this:

After one contraction move into a column they will look like this (where A' represents the old location of the element A etc). Note that there is no restriction on the order of single element moves and hence element D can wait until elements H and I have joined the column.

Questions:

1. Is it correct that the maximum distance straight forward the group can move is 150p out of the normal maximum of 160p so that element I can remain part of the group whilst "only moving sideways" as per DBMM p29?

The 150p version is shown as "Option A" above. The 160p move result is shown as Option B. The problem I have with Option B (suggested on the dbmmlist) is that element G is not part of the column and yet it has clearly moved forwards as well as sideways. This does not seem to meet the requirement to "only move sideways".

2. Bizzarely there seems to be a viable option C (illustrated below) which does allow a 160p move because all elements of the original group end facing the same direction and in coner to corner and edge contact with another element of the original group. However in this case I cannot see how the original group still counts as a group for a subsequent group move (eg to continue forming a column) as there is no explicit exception for such wierd groups caused by forming columns (as there is for columns, to allow kinked columns).