pmaidhof

Just trying to keep all the airdales and squids aware that wars are decided on the ground.

Currently on the table is an old gem called Air & Armor, by West End Games. It depicts NATO Brigades/Soviet Divisions, unit of maneuver is battalions, and regiments respectively. The system uses a "step" counter beneath a unit counter to depict anything from a company sized force, up to a nine step motorized rifle regiment. Oh, the fog of war. Time is two hours per turn First scenario I ran was Race for the Bridges. Soviet 20th Motorized Rifle Division racing through a screen of the West German 35th PzG Brigade, for theany undestroyed bridges across the Main river, in the vicinity of Wurtzburg. The Canadian 4th Brigade Combat Group arrives in turn 3 of 5 to hopefully, for NATO hold the river line. First three turns found the 35th Panzergrenadier Bde in a forward defense mode. With only 2 Command Points, and a fairly well spread out force, the first two turns was a challenge for the BW as not to be completely outflanked. The 20th Motorized Rifle Division advanced on two axis. The only contact of the night was a sharp clash between 55th MRR in an unsupported hasty attack on a German force of 2x PzG companies and an AT company in the city of Karlstadt. The Landsers had the support of the brigade arty and in defensive fire eliminated one step of the 55th MRR. The attack forced a retreat of the Germans and they lost the AT company in the process. The only other items of interest is 1x PzG company and 1x Engineer company doubly enveloped in the town of Kuernach, and the Bde HQ and Arty being relatively behind enemy lines in the northern side of the Gramschatzer Wald. The Canadians have raced on board to threatened bridge crossings. Soviet 55th MRR push across the Main by Karlstadt, opening the way for the Divisional Tank Bn and the Engineer Bn (4 steps). North of Wurtzburg, the Soviets got 60th MRR across, but could not exit in the time alotted. In the end, 15 Soviet steps exited the map, four NATO steps were lost. So scoring was 19VP Soviets and 4 NATO VP's (step losses inflicted). The forward defense was interesting in that there is more to do for NATO than sit on their seabags waiting for the Soviets to transit the map unimpeded, but other challenges arose such as only having 2CP's to effectively retreat more than two hexes worth of troops. This led to a number of WG units being virtually left behind, including the Bde HQ and arty bn. Next scenario is "Bear Trap" which is a multi divisional affair where the Soviets in driving for Wurtzburg are encircled by elements of US 3rd Infantry Division and West German 12th Panzer Division. I'll try to keep you posted provided there is any interest. Pete

Wow, while the concept is alarming to think that it either was not anticipated, or not addressed by the contractor, when I read the subject headline I actually thought one was shot down.

Is there any web address where potentially interested parties could familiarize themselves before committing? The old link is no longer availably, not that it was an itel bonanza in the first place.

Of 4x BRDM-2 with a homebrewed ZU-23 mounted on top, and two trucks loaded with a total of 4x SA-7b teams, only one made it to the area of operations and actually set up before eating a hellfire. The two trucks were incinerated en route, and the one BRDM/AAA vehicle that shot down the harrier was one left behind, en route, after being immobilized by one of the cobras.

Forgot one thing from before, an image of the situation at the insertion of the TRAP unit. here.

Brief AAR Scenario Z TRAP AAR Scenario Z (TRAP) Scenario and Map by Nadir Elfarra. The game is a relatively old Avalon Hill wargame called MBT (Main Battle Tank). The was a follow on game called IDF which had the same rule set. A vassal mod has recently been released and the designer has been entertaining a re-release in the near future. Ground scale is 100m per hex. Time is the nebulous 1-5min per turn. Counters depict are individual vehicles/helicopters/aircraft/squads/half squads/weapons teams Scenario here. First Clash Map Modifications: The USMC ground force was changed to 3x Rifle Squad, 1x MG Team, and 1x Team (Assault – SMAW) Opfor Anti Aircraft Platoons were mix. End product was 2x BRDM/AAA vehicles and 1x Lt Truck with 2x SA-7 Teams. Opfor Anti-Air Platoons arrived onboard in the North and in the West. The game opened up with each Opfor Lt Truck and single rifle squad punching out ahead of the platoon main bodies to arrive at the spot where the chute was reported (Hex V20). The pilot did have a chance to E&E across the bridge and into an orchard vic hex R22. I feel that the fact that the pilot was able to end up south of the bridge, help greatly as the Opfor fixated on the chute hex and was intent to search outward from there. The Anti-Air Platoons also entered the board and headed toward center map as to hopefully have an impact in chasing away the expected American aircraft. This notion was quickly wiped away in Turn 2 when the 2x AH-1W and 1x AV-8B arrived on scene and made their presence felt early and often. The anti aircraft platoon arriving from the west map edge was annihilated by the two cobras Snake-Eye and Psycho. The lead squad, on a truck, headed south from Blickheim, and a truck loaded with 2x SA-7 Teams were caught by a cluster-bomb unit dropped by the AV-8B (Ratso). The lead truck-mounted unit from the platoon in Kuppenheim made it to the area where the chute was sighted and quickly began searching the wooded area in the immediate area, vicinity of hexes V21-W21-X21, while the 2x BRDM/AAA combos were attrited in their movement south. One of the AAA pieces finally made it to the search area where it was subsequently killed by a hellfire strike, leaving behind his partner to a mobility kill in W12. Forces arriving in the area from Niederbuehl in the east never made an impact in the battle, basically too far to move within the time of the game. Had the final pilot position end up toward them it may have been different. Same can be said for the dismounted element of the northern platoon. In the final crescendo, the pucker factor increased markedly as Ratso the AV-8B who was planned to make a devastating strike on a number of enemy grunt units moving too close to the hidden pilot – immediately before the ground force insertion in the next air phase, entered the board, turned to line up on the “U” hex “column” and was subsequently engaged and shot down by the BRDM/AAA hybrid during its ingress. Snake-Eye and Psycho did there best to pick up the slack firing rockets and 20mm bursts into the gaggle getting some hits and suppressions on a number of them. The next Air Phase, Elvis and Stinky, the CH-53E’s inserted to hexes P23 and Q24. This alerted the remaining enemy in the immediate area south of the bridge to focus on the insert site and orchard to their west. One enemy got within 2 hexes causing the pilot to panic move right into the advancing USMC platoon reinforced. The Cobras provided continuous suppressive fires while the dismounts accounted for themselves and their cargo, before loading the pigs for their extract flight off the south edge of the map. Opfor losses were 4x Squads, 4x SA-7 Teams, 3x Trucks (0 pts), and 3 AAA Vehicles. Opfor did down the Harrier for 20pts. The pilot was worth 50pts. Per Nadir’s scoring model, it ended 89:20 in favor of the US. Suggestions to possibly make it more interesting: 1. Have an AA platoon already establishing in the area, hey they already downed the first pilot. 2. Possible give opfor a motorized look giving them the ability to get into the fight. 3. Alter the US gunship/aircraft enter turn to 3. The Cobras and Harrier really rocked the world of those AAA assets, both the BRDM hybrids and the truck transported SA-7’s most all caught on the move. This would make for a much-much tighter game. This scenario is relatively short, and bloody. This run-through ended either in the 2nd Air Phase of the 7th or 1st Air Phase of the 8th Turn. It would be a lot of fun as a quick infantry/air dominant MBT scenario for two players or maybe even an umpired one.

The most recent Naval Sitrep (#31 I believe) has the Admiraty Trilogy's new air rules. I read through them and studied the examples last night, and look to run through some harpoon era air engagements over the next few days. Has anyone else read or tried these yet?

Welcome to the King of all Harpoon games!

Hi Herman, Can you, or another of our northern friends give us a brief synopsis of the "Canada First" defence (yes defense with a "c") strategy. Thanks

Per the strike group site at navy.mil in addition to the CVN, there is a CG (57), 2x DDG (73, and 85), and SSN-770. schlaf gut.

Well not GHQ, but Viking Forge 1/2400 Micro. LPD-4 Austin Class LPD Flight Deck - by hand. Kashin DDG Krivak FF Nanuchka Austin escorted by a Spruance

Data Forms are complete for ex-Kidd Class DDG, Type 052C DDG, Type 054C FF, Knox and Perry FFG's (from last scenario), Sovremennyy DDG, Type 074 Yuting LST, and Ka-28. Next is to determine realistic start and end points for the forces.

Sovremennyy DDG Arleigh Burke DDG

I was perusing Sea of Dragons last night and decided to take a general scenario theme and udate the platforms since that annex is close, if not 10 years old. It will be a PRC/ROC engagement. A PRC amphibious task force of 5x Yuting II Class Large Landing Ships headed to Taiwan, fairly heavily escorted by 1x Type 052C Luyang II DDG, 1x Project 956E Sovremennyy DDG, 2x Type 054 Jiangkai FFG's. This force will "hopefully" be detected by a Knox (2x) or Perry (1x) FFG tripwire, backed up by an E-2C just in case. The cleanup hitters will be 2x Kidd class DD and an on call 4x plane flight of Mirage 2000. The ROC forces are expected to have a tough time and will be graded on how well or to what effect they can disrupt the landing force (5x LLS's). Any comments or suggestions to better depict this engagement before it kicks off? Thanks

Everything can and should be tailored to a mission, that said, I'm going with your first proposal as a general loadout. The reason is that I'm filling out a h4.1 data card since I am painting up a Burke mini. Thanks again.

In H4, an Arleigh Burke Class DDG Flt IIA has a F&A(64)1 Mk41 VLS and F&A(32)1 Mk41 VLS with the capability to carry and fire combinations of SM2MR Block III or IV, Tomahawk, VL ASROC, and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM in packs of 4 in each individual VLS tube. While everything can be explained as mission specific, what would a typical/notional loadout be? Thanks

An error is present in my playthrough. It is most prevelent on display in the actions of the Mk13/SM1MR actions during USS Jack Williams defense of itself from the four missile sea killer strike. The Mk13 has a ROF of 3. Despite knowing better and having an authoritative answer penciled on Section 5.2 Rate of Fire in my rules, I played it ROF every fire phase of each engagement turn when in fact Rate of Fire is per Engagement Turn. Sorry for any confusion caused.

Spruance DD Knox FF

Reclaimation project OH Perry Class FFG. Think the circles on the hull were bubbles from when I tried spray the paint on before deciding on brush. In the end I believe an airbrush is required if I intend to continue with this.

Lessons Learned. The StratSim Combat Plotter was the intregal part in being able to conduct a scenario with this many platforms, without an enormous expenditure of manual calculations and brain cells. The GOPLAT's went down quicker that I expected, and before the Iranians could mount any type of coherent, coordinated response. The Iranian response was then sequential and the USN was able to counter each threat successfully. Given the force ratio, that has to be expected and anything less a decisive loss. The initial set-up of Iranian surface forces (Bandar Abbas) prevented them form making an appearance in defense of the GOPLATs. The Joshan (Combattante II) and one Vosper V (Salaban) were only about halfway to the GOLPLATs at the end of the scenario. One Vosper V (Sahand)did charge out of Bandar Abbas and launched a 4x Seakiller missile attack on SAG D, from the Iranian territorial waters (12nm from the coast). The subsequent Sahand vs SAG D, while lopsided did provide for some tense moments as USS Jack Williams SM1MR's were not rolling as advertised. In the end, the four Seakillers were downed for the expenditure of 11x SM1MR's. Harpoons from USS O'Brien did the Sahand in overwelming its ability to sustain damage. The final act was an airstrike on a group of 6x Boghammers from Abu Musa, attacking toward SAG C. Since the USN Mission Objectives of both GOPLATs and one surface combatant destroyed, Simpson_1 (SH-60B) was tasked to close with and warn the boghammers off, which the bogs ignored. The next turn 2x A-6E dropped 3x Mk20 Rockeye each, but missed horribly. The scenario ended at that point. A lot of fun. Many small engagements helping me with my H4 procedures. Could not have done it without the combat plotter.

0832 Significant Events: Commander Middle East Task Force denies surface attack on boghammers after the destruction of Sahand by SAG D. SuWCAP vectored in should the enemy boat still display hostile intent. 0835 Significant Events: SuWCAP acquires boghammers. Simpson_1 warns the warning the boghammers if they continue on their cours they will be sunk. 0838 Significant Events: Boghammers make no change in course or speed. 2x A-6E drop 3x Mk20 Rockeye CBU. Dive Bombing from Low Altitude, with a Computing Bombsight, versus small targets = .23 single bomb. Extrapolated .54, .13, .01. Both aircraft missed with rolls of 83 and 79. The Boghammer occupant got the message and broke off their attack returning toward Abu Musa. US declares mission success.

0821 Significant Events: Simpson_1 (SH-60B) is tasked with investigating/identifying the six small sontacts. SAG C radiates. During the detection phase, I used a literal interpretation of the range between the Boghammers and Simpson_1 is read as 14.23nm in order to give the Bogs another 3min of life, since Small ships are visually spotted from the air at 14nm. 0823 Significant Events: Sahand (Vosper V FF), still within territorial waters, energized its Decca 1126. Simpson_1 spots the bogs at 7.8nm. Distance from bogs to Knox is 16nm. 0826 Sahand energizes its Seahunter FCR. Simpson_1 is within 1.7nm of the lead boghammer Planned Fire Phase: Sahand (Annex A ROF: 4) launches a salvo of 4x Seakiller missiles at SAG C, USS Jack Williams (FFG-24 OH Perry) in particular. Jack Williams detects 4x Vsmall contacts, bearing 148, range 9.6nm. 0829 All units but SAG D and the Vampires moves the full 3min tactical turn. Engagement Turn: 0829.0 1st Movement: Vampires to Jack Williams = 7.5nm 1st Fire: Williams fires 3x SM1MR, USS O’Brien fires 2x Harpoons at Sahand. Detect: 2nd Move: SM1MR’s and Harpoons leave launchers. 2nd Fire: Williams fire 2x SM1MR 2nd Air Attack Resolution: SM1MR ATA5, Seakiller ATA 0.5 +1 (SSC vs SS) +1 (Low RCS) = 2.5. Final ATA 2.5 or 55%. D100’s = 87,83,89. Bad news for Williams. Engagement Turn 0830 1st Move: 1st Fire: Williams fires 3x SM1MR, USS Joseph Strauss is masked by Willams. First Air Attack Resolution: 2x SM1MR vs 3x Seakillers: D100 = 39 (Hit), 57 (miss). 2nd Move: 2nd Fire: Williams fires 3x SM1MR 2nd Air Attack Resolution: 3x SM1MR vs 2x Sea Killer: D100 = 46 (hit), 03 (hit), 73 (miss). Engagement Turn 0831 1st Move Harpoons close (1.5nm) 1st Fire: Only Iranian weapon within range and arc is the Mk8 114mm/55 with a pH of 35% -15% TM – 15% (RCS) *0.5 = final ph of 2.5%. D100 = 23. Miss. 2nd Move Harpoon reach Sabalan Air Attack Resolution: Mk8 misses with an 83. PW/SW GAM B01 20mm/45 cannot hit due to modifiers. Harpoons reach Sahand. Generation 3 Harpoon vs Small signature, no CM Sahand. pH .85. D100 84, and 97. The 45 Damage points exceed the Vosper V’s 43 hit capacity. Sahand is dead in the water, afire, taking on water and beginning to list. The ship will sink in 3D6 Tactical Turns: 4,5,4 or 13 Tactical Turns.

Here is my first 1/2400 micronaut, Bunker Hill (Tico) first in class with Mk41 VLS. Be gentle.

0815 Significant events FF sorties out of Bandar Abbas. Based upon warning from E-2C, SAG C activates radars. SAG C issues warning to inbound Bandits. 0818 Significant events 6x undetected Boghammers sortie out of Abu Musa toward SAG C. USS Wainwright prepares to fire SM2ER. 4x SM2ER fired on a heading of 035. ATA 4.5-1 = 3.5 Msl Gen = 2, 2nd Gen Decoy. = +1 = 2.5 or 55%, 4x D100 = 29, 6, 57, 34. 3x Hits. Both Phantoms downed.