I can't remember one flag, where artillery is necessary. So
For some flags it is useful, but far from necessary.
In many cases artillery is even far from useful, in cases when the whole squad including SL is teamkilled with 1 single artillery shell.
Any flag on pretty much every NA map. A round without artillery on NA is a total waste, and it's the reason why everyone "hates" the NA maps. Because without artillery, you're not getting anywhere there...
Sidi Rezegh is a classic example. Without securing a necessary amount of artillery (the Blockhouse) it's almost impossible to push the Germans off the Airfield, if they know what they're doing. Almost the same situation when the tables turn, although the Germans do have an advantage of not being easily blown to bits by long 88s on their approach.
You are mixing things up . There is a difference between arty beeing necessary or being helpful. Right, on Sidi Rezegh it is good for taking out the 88's to help the advance, but in FH2 arty has only an assisting/supportive role and not the impact that infantry has. There are only a few examples where the addition or removal of arty had/has a big impact. There are maybe three maps (Siege of Tobruk, Brest and Sidi Rezegh) where arty
can play a critical role. All other 37 maps (including meatgrinders like Omaha) are won by infantry capping flags. Now put that into relation and you know what Gotkai and I are talking about. Infantry comes first, then tanks and after that airplanes/arty and the commander is on the same level of uselessness as the medic kit. Just look how far you will get on Gazala without infantry, though this map is especialy tank and airplane dominated.
Funny thing is that all this stuff applies in the real world aswell except the commander and the medic. You won't capture an area just with arty shelling, tanks, planes or airforce bombing it. The infatry is the backbone of every army.
I for one take the arty when I want to drink a beer, but not to have an intense game. It is nice that it is there, but this game lives from other aspects. The thing is that you can't take out any of the combat vehicles including arty etc without f*cking up the immersion and a strong selling point of FH2. It is all a piece of the puzzle and the big picture that makes FH2 unique.