NATO Division Commander - Leadership under Fire

[pmaidhof]

However unlikely...does anyone here own this title and have the interest to take part as a player in a double-blind pbem?

 

NATO Division Commander

 

The monster game of modern warfare, NATO Division Commander is a SPI classic that is probably more studied than played. Described in the rules as a "battalion level simulation of conflict in contemporary Europe", NATO Division Commander gradually introduces players to its complex mechanics through a series of scenarios of increasing difficulty. When mastered, the game is a War College-level education on the conduct of World War III small unit tactics between NATO and Soviet forces.

 

Adding to its uniqueness, NATO Division Commander contains two identical mapboards and rules for Controller play, producing a refereed, double-blind, fog-of-war effect that was lacking in many of the other wargames of the era. Since finding three people (or even two) in any geographic area patient enough to work through the rules is a challenge, the game includes solitaire scenarios as well. With 1200 counters, multiple rule books, and a pile of playing aids, NATO Division Commander was, and still is, the behemoth of World War III simulations.

 

 

C'mon you know you wanna...

[CV32]

The flesh is willing, but the supply clerk is telling me that we don't have that one in stock.

 

Looks fascinating, though.

[pmaidhof]

Looks fascinating, though.

 

It appears quite "chromey" yet terribley intriguing.

[pmaidhof]

Not mine, and I am in no way connected, but this is current and apparently in Canada.

 

NATO Div Cmdr - ebay.ca

[pmaidhof]

Scenario 24.0 Charts:

 

In my initial quest to give this title a go, attached is the data in hopefully an easier to digest format, of the U.S. 8th Mechanized Division, Soviet 7th Guards Tank Division, and Soviet 27th Guards Motorized Division.

NATO_Div_CO_Scn_24_Scanerio_Chart.xls

[pmaidhof]

Due to the Underwhelming response I was able to just start Scenario 24.0 last evening.

 

I abitrarily declared "summer". I rolled precipitation, but no fog. No air CSP involved this turn.

 

I went through the motions for operational Intel, but as there is only the 3/8 US Cavalry Squadron plus 1st Brigade 8th Mech on board (Soviet enter T1 along east map edge), It has revealed that the Soviets can enter the map relatively unchecked and the cavalry will make contact with the lead elements late on T1. I used EW points only and declared sectors adjacent to where the Soviets will initially operate and just forward of the cavalry.

 

The scenario takes place on the southern half of the map. Soviets enter the east map edge on Turn 1 while US 2nd Bde enters the west edge. The remained of 8th Mechanized division will enter west edge on T2. Given the precipitation (rain) it will increase movement costs somewhat for this turn (8hrs).

 

Soviet 7th Guards Tank Division is entering is entering from the northeast corner of the map in division column. The 27th Motorized (not "Guards" Motorized...oops, maybe after the battle) Division is entering with two columns towards the center of the western map edge.

[pmaidhof]

7th Reconnaissance Battalion was leading the 7th Guards Tank Division single division column from the Northeastern map edge an ran into an unknown US Army cavalry unit. Having been successful in changing their mode to Tactical Movement without fatigue and being the first opportunity for going through the combat procedure, the overzealous battalion commander tried to push through the enemy screen. When all was said and done, after surviving the abort roll 7th Rcn scored a 2/2 against the company/troop sized enemy unit. The rest of 7th Guards Tank Division piled up behind their recon battalion. Single regiments swept both north and south of the enemy cavalry elements.

 

27th Guards Motorized Division is learning the hard lesson of moving its two columns winding along in single files through the Vogelsburg mountains.

 

Easily seeing how the soviets were hamstrung trying to switch modes. 27th Recon Battalion suffered two failed attempts and therefore F2 before deciding to push on in Admin Move Mode. Elements of 27thGds Mot. ended there movement just outside of another US Cav unit's ZoC. Now re-reading ZoC's in rules.

[pmaidhof]

Re-set Scenario 24, keeping the precipitation result from earlier.

 

27th Guards Motorized Division, after detecting three units centered on Schotten, entered with two division columns, and ended their turn set up for a posible overhehlming blow next turn.

 

7th Guards Tank Division experienced an Intel failure and ran into enemy cavalry units. While taking considerable casualties, one unit eliminated and multible T/O points lost the cav units did their job in causing the three regiments to deploy in the vicinity Ruppertenrod, with its 4th Regiment stung out along the roadway uncommitted.

 

The combat procedures come along well after a couple of combats. But wow, commander ratings are terrible for the most part.

[pmaidhof]

I have this back on the table after much reading and thought. Looks like I'll have a better go of it. Same scenario, already playing my like I thought it should have last year. Looking to get this on the table, but double blind at the weekely wargame group.

[kcdusk]

(gulp) Your have a weekly wargaming group?!?!

[pmaidhof]

(gulp) Your have a weekly wargaming group?!?!

 

Yeah, a good bunch of guys. Not all like my preferred game topics, but there is room for all.

[pmaidhof]

Subject: Case [24]

It is the end of the Soviet's half of Turn Two. The vast majority of both the 27th Guards Rifle Division and 7th Guards Tank Division are on board. 1st and 2nd Brigades if 8th Mech Division are on board, with the 3rd Brigade expected later this turn.

 

In a bad turn of events for the US in the center of 27th MRD's zone, the cavalry troop in DZ (second southern-most) was collapsed under pressure and two mech battalions still in AM (whoa Staff Points) swung south of the southern most element of US 1st Bde and ran into the 1st Bde HQ, engaging and eliminating that HQ. There will be Command & Control problems for 1st Bde until that HQ gets re-constituted (readings tasker for tonight). The remaining regiments of 7th GMRD are piling up just to the rear of the 25th MRR which is the force currently engaged.

 

7th TD is still tangling with armored cavalry units in the northern sector, and building up combat power for a planned break out.

 

The main clash is coming and we'll see if raw numbers and poor NATO deployment breaks events in favor of the WP.

[zacharyz28]

Hello just got harpoon and want to play it so i came across this site then this discussion. While i don't have division commander per se. I have a .pdf file of all the maps, counters, rules, charts, etc. that i could turn into a functional game. So if you're still interested I have looked over the rules in the past but would need to reread them and construct the game its self, which would take time. However i would be happy to do it.