I've been pushing cardboard lately. Using the long defunct Game Designers Workshop Assault series. Basic NATO-WP fare. Units are platoons and sections. Hex scale is 250m per hex. Turns are 5min per turn. Mid 80's US, GB, FRG, Dutch, and soviets are all represented. Armor, Infantry, on and off board artillery, transport and attack helicopters, close air support, air defense, combat engineering all represented.

 

The following is a cross post of mine from CSW.

 

OK, The venerable US Team Bravo +, 9th Tank Bn, 91st Recon Company, Alpha Battery 5th Artillery Bn, (1 bty of S-152 "off map"),and some assorted air defense assets (a ZSU-23/4 and SA-9) met again on Maps A&B.

 

This time I paid much more attention to sequence of play, including inherent delays in fire support, morale, and ammunition limitations. I gave each side a 20% chance of close air support showing up each friendly air mobile phase.

 

The scenario lasted 15 minutes (3 complete turns) and Team Bravo was essentially defeated.

 

Due to Command Point limitations (9th Tank=2 and Team Bravo=1), the Soviets moved in company stacks, A, B+HQ9th, and C. Being able to move only two stacks per phase lent itself to two companies moving while one company provided overwatch.

 

US mobile forces, the M1-A1 plt and two sections of M-901 forces, aware of enemy indirect fire capabilities utilized primary, alternate, and supplimental positions not to fall prey to enemy artillery concentrations.

 

Due to ATGM ammunition limitations, the two TOW sections and dismounted infantry platoons were overwelmed. Soviet tanks platoons aborbed their hits and those of the M1-A1's, took their losses, recovered from the suppression, and moved on.

 

A-9th Tanks lost 2 steps of T-64's, Charlie 9th Tanks lost two steps as well. 2R-91 and 4R-91 also were lost in battle.

 

The US lost an infantry plat to an 152mm artillery strike and the M1-A1 plt and M-901 section to concentrated T-64 125mm fire.

 

Close Assault was exercised by a BRDM-2 section of 91st Recon Company attempting to overrun a US dismounted infantry plt, in cover. This close quarter battle went on for about half of the telapsed time. On the good side it kept this platoon from interfering with the armored advance, on the down side it seemed like it would not end.

 

The shortness of the US resistance limited indirect fire to one salvo each of 122mm and 152mm. 122mm was ineffective (NE), while 152mm was devastating (E).

 

US did roll for CAS in their Turn 3 friendly air phase. The A-10 was detected by the ZSU-23/4 radar and engaged by the the SA-9. The A-10 took a hit, but was not downed. It then suppressed a T-64 plt with a Maverick hit, even with the -2 Roof Armor Mod.

 

Scenario was called after three turns as the Soviets had penetrated the US position. The US was out of ATGM's, lost their tank platoon, an M-901 section, and an infantry platoon. The second infantry platoon was decisively engaged in close combat.

Interesting stuff, Pete. Thanks for sharing it.

Interesting stuff, Pete. Thanks for sharing it. 

Didn't want you think that I fell off the wagon.

Pete, you know as well as I that playing any wargame other than Harpoon is grounds for being sent for therapy (except Silent Hunter III, of course ... oh, and Red Orchestra ...)

 

Well then either I go to the shrink or you get a copy of Assault.

 

By the way, many people see the similarity of TacOps to Assault. And how long have I been humping TacOps and its relative seemless transition into harpoon to you guys.