"Place unit on alert" command

[Leon Trotsky]

May a unit attack more than once during an opponent's turn?
Can artillery units be placed on alert? If so, are duels to the death?
What about aliens? Do they recieve their 3:2 benefit as usual?
Do probe teams in bases perform Preemptive strikes?
Can missiles be placed on alert as well? How well do they perform? Would a Planet Buster triggered in this fashion cause unrest among the council members?
May an interceptor shoot down an incoming missile (a la spitfire pushing a V-2 wing)

As you can see, I'm fairly new to this command. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[Kirov]

Actually, "place unit on alert" works in a completely different way. What it does is simply "waking up" your unit whenever other player's unit passes by (gets into your ZOC). Or when your unit is healed completely, if has been previously damaged. It does not provide any attacks during your opponent's turn.

The only situation when your units can attack enemy's forces during their turn is when tactical planes scramble to defend your units. IIRC, you have to put them "on alert", I'm not sure if they attack when "on hold".

[Leon Trotsky]

Originally posted by Kirov
Actually, "place unit on alert" works in a completely different way. What it does is simply "waking up" your unit whenever other player's unit passes by (gets into your ZOC). Or when your unit is healed completely, if has been previously damaged. It does not provide any attacks during your opponent's turn.

I read this somewhere in this very forum:

PLACE UNIT ON ALERT

Orders a unit to hold in the current square until an enemy unit comes within its movement range, then attack automatically. Air interceptor units automatically attack air units, Bomber units attack land and sea units, and naval units attack naval units and transports. Land units attack adjacent land units.

The only situation when your units can attack enemy's forces during their turn is when tactical planes scramble to defend your units. IIRC, you have to put them "on alert", I'm not sure if they attack when "on hold".

I don't think that's quite accurate. Fighters which have just returned from their duty will intercept incoming threats the next turn, and skipping a fighter's turn doesn't disable them from doing so.