From the never ending battles over Thorpe Bridge, the following report is of a short skirmish using the GDW Assault (circa 1983) rules (as I describe as a manual TacOps).

 

For those not familiar, the overall scenario was derived from a USMC Tacical Decision Game "problem found in the Marine Corps Gazette. The actual problem can still be found on the MCA's website. MCA TDG 99-4. Thorpe Bridge can be located on the center right of the TDG map.

 

My hand drawn map of the environs around Thorpe Bridge is here. Hexes are 250m each. The bridge is centermass but partially obscured by flash on scotch tape..., damn scotch.

 

Since Assault was US Army-NATO centric Marines never made an appearance if you discount the Royal Dutch Marines in a module called Chieftan. I homebrewed my LAV-25's and AAV's after comparing like vehicles from the rule's author's later game called Sands of War, TacOps, and other sources. I came up with a frontal armor of 5, Flank armor of 4, and Movement Allowance of 4, so 5-4-4. The gun perfomance was that of the M2 Bradley's 25mm chain gun which appears in the game.

 

The opposing force is an OPFOR Regimental Reconnaissance Company of two platoons of BMP-2 and two platoons of BRDM-2. They approach in combat formation along Highway 9, from the north. The USMC LAR Company consists of three LAV-25 platoons and a section of LAV-25 (Company HQ), and enters along Highway 9 from the south.

 

Turns are 5 minutes long and are essentially Move - Spot - Fire - Move - Spot. During the phasing players movement turns, the non-phasing may conduct opportunity fire provided they have assumed a "Cover"ed position their last movement turn.

 

The first turn saw both forces enter the map, each proceding toward Thorpe Bridge.

 

Turn 2 had the USMC move in its first movement phase and then spot one stack of OPFOR consisting of single platoons of both BMP's and BRDM-2 at a range of 2,750m. OPFOR has not yet spotted the LAVs. The second Movement Phase had two platoons enter into cover, while the third platoon and HQ moved to the west, up onto the lip of the high ground on Leon Ridge.

 

During OPFOR's first movement, it gets to a range of 1,750m when the two platoons in cover open up, destroying the two steps of both the BMP and BRDM-2 platoons (each platoon consists of 2 steps, HQ or sections have only one step). The remainng OPFOR recon spot the firing LAV's, and in the ensuing Fire Phase the BMP platoon fires ATGMs and Small Caliber AP (SCAP) rounds missing with both (targets were in cover). The BRDM-2 fires wildly with its pea shooter, also missing.

 

Since the Fire Phase is for both sides and considered simultaneous, the LAVs that moved to the hill now see the firing OPFOR and fires up the two platoons of BMPs and BRDMs respectively, at a range of 2,250m.

 

I look forward to finding the time to now have the remainder of the OPFOR Regiment arrive, pushing south along with some Marines from the south. Who knows. All in all, rated enjoyable.

I've recently purchased Boots and Saddles as this game in the Assault series add helicopters. I'm about to play the beginners scenario (one M1 tank company vs two T-64 companies).

 

I plan on updating counter stats for correcting the 1985 ones in the game and trying out current and near future units in the game. The problem I have is Assault had the designer notes on the armour scale.

 

Could someone post this please?

Peter,

 

I have the set, I'll see what I can send you tomorrow.

 

Pete

Peter,

 

You have mail.

I've recently purchased Boots and Saddles as this game in the Assault series add helicopters. I'm about to play the beginners scenario (one M1 tank company vs two T-64 companies).

 

I plan on updating counter stats for correcting the 1985 ones in the game and trying out current and near future units in the game. The problem I have is Assault had the designer notes on the armour scale.

 

Could someone post this please?

 

Peter,

 

Anything come of this...?

 

Pete

PG_H4, were you looking for the bit about what armour thickness equals what game rating? I may have those notes lying around somewhere ...