Speaking about other AGEOD games, as i don't own CW2 still... I have used them sometimes. Mainly to deny the enemy the advantage of capturing guns or supply wagons.
For example a force besieged, with no supply and on the brink of surrender, can destroy/spike his guns and supply wagons so they are not captured by the enemy.
Or a force doing a raid can capture some unguarded enemy guns/wagons deep in enemy territory and thinking too much difficult to escape their pursuers with that burden, destroy the slow units before heading back home.
Never used with troops, as they cannot be captured.
Regards
EDIT: Philippe was faster!
