AAR: Ranger/Airborne Short Camp.

[Lt. Ketch]

This is long AAR for a short Campagin.

I still consider myself new to MBT. I’ve only done three PBEM games and it was a mixed experience. In an attempt to explore the world of high mobility, I constructed a mobile ranger/airborne company. Since I’ve played this game over the course of a couple of months and write my AARs at work when it’s slow, I will not be able to supply all the details, of my force make up. Regardless of the details, I’ve learned a fair amount.

I set this up as a small generated campaign, US Army vrs. N. Korea, 2006. My force is core plus minimal support as I want to keep things small and simple. Because of the mobility of my forces, the map is 120 X 120.

Composition (Updated after thrid battle):

HQ
TI Scout APC transport (added after 2nd battle)

Ranger Company HQ
1 60 mm Mortar
2 Snipers
1 LAW Team

The command staff is supported by –
1 APC
2 Hummers with 40mm AGL

2 Ranger Platoons, each consisting of –
3 Ranger Squads
1 MMG squad
1 Ranger Patrol
1 40mm AGL
1 Ranger Law team
1 84mm Recoilless rifle teams

Each of these platoons is supported by –
4 APCs (M113A3)
2 Hummers with 40mm AGL

1 Airborne Platoon comprised of –
2 Rifle squads
2 Airborne squads
1 Javelin ATGM team
1 MMG team

Supported by
2 Chinoks with 2 miniguns (Upgraded from blackhawks after 2nd battle)
2 Blackhawk coppers with 2 50 cal MMGs

The Company is supported by –
2 Apache Attack Helicopters
4 120mm SPMs (added after 1st battle)
2 Sheridon Airborne tanks (added after 2nd battle)
2 Ammo carriers (added after 2nd battle)

Support for first battle troops include –
1 UAV for recon
1 FO
6 120mm SPMs



1st battle – Meeting Engagement.
The map is hilly forest with secondary roads running E-W about 500 meters from the bottom edge of the map and one running SW to NE. The objectives are clustered, one south along the road, in the center in some woods 200-400 meters from the road and in the north on a hillside 200 meters from the road. Visibility is fair, 29 turns.

The Plan:
Running like mad along the south road is a dead giveaway so I decided to focus on the northern and center objectives. There is no clear path through to the objectives. There is a small open space that due E of the N objective that I used as a deployment zone for my ground based troops. From there, the 1st platoon of Rangers planned to strike across some woods and was anticipated to make the objectives on turn 3 and set up a defensive perimeter by turn 4. The Airborne troops, carried in their Blackhawks will fly out to a hill overlooking the center objective, taking up a defensive position from which to strike from and overlooking a clear area N of the objective along the road that the enemy may use for maneuvering armor. The 2nd Ranger platoon will travel down a fairly clear path from the deployment clearing in order to provide the umph needed to take the objective should the enemy make an attempt on it. The Apaches will accompany the airborne as an escort, but maintain a low profile. The FO will all accompany the airborne. The Company commander and his escorts will travel behind the Rangers towards the center objective, but hang back so as to support either the north or the center troops. If the opportunity arises, troops will mount up and move south through a series of clearings towards the southern objectives, but shall otherwise ignore the south. My SPMs were deployed slightly south of center so as to have full range of fire across the board.

What really happened:

Pregame saw my UAV finding several MANPADs and than crashing horribly as well as enemy bombardment in the south. As previously mentioned, I didn’t have anybody down there.

In the South, the enemy seized the objectives early and held on to them the entire game. I never made an attempt on them, deeming them insufficient to risk a mad dash with units that were needed elsewhere.

The Northern objectives were a little less boring only in that they had heavier bombardment land on them (no damage) and airstrikes (again nothing) after I took them, but the units of the 1st ranger platoon never encountered enemy ground units in the area. They were recalled to counter attack the central objectives at the two thirds mark in the battle. More on that later.

The Rear area did see some action as the enemy ran some loaded APCs (a half dozen at most) into my rear. Two were destroyed by direct fire from the mortars which than retreated north then west of their starting position. Two other were destroyed by the Apaches some time later in the battle. As all my units (excepting the HQ) were mobile, I didn’t haven’t anything in the rear area that I needed to protect. I just moved it. My SPMs were never found.

All the real action in this battle took place in the center. The objectives were situated in the trees. My troops landed on the backside of the planned hill and set up the defensive perimeter overlooking the road. There was also an open area several hundred meters from the south side of the hill. The first units spotted were some ATGM teams that I took the MMG to. After two turns of turkey shooting, I scuffled my units south and to avoid bombardment. It came and went with little damage. It was about than that everything broke loose.

Enemy infantry appeared south and west of the objective. I had two units grab flags (they had been right next to them for a couple of turns, hiding) and dig in. While they were able to repel the first two waves of troops, the number grew quickly. I brought the 2nd platoon closer so as to be able to react more quickly and reshuffled my units to cover the two squads retreat back through the trees.

It was when I sent a Blackhawk around the enemy’s right flank, towards the open area to the south, that I saw what was in store for me. The enemy had at least a company of Mech infantry (BP-60s and 80s with troops), a platoon of tanks (Type 62 and 59) and some SPGs (can’t remember but they had a big gun on them). The initial salvo for rockets from an Apache the moved in was able to take out three of for of the AFVs, but I knew it would be hard to get firing solutions on the units because of the hills and forest around the clearing. One Apache tried to go to high altitude for shots, but was fired on by MANPADs from the west. I had to stay low.

My response to this revelation was to dispatch any the units I had seen earlier in my rear area so they couldn’t flank me unexpectedly, move the 2nd Ranger platoon into position on the South east side of the hill and bring bombardment down on the troops in the clearing. The objectives slowly fell to the N. Korean until units from the hill were able to stabilize the defenses and rally the retreating squads. Popping smoke helped to keep the enemy away. They continued to attack the right flank, but APCs, Hummers and snipers were able to keep them at bay with no damage to our units. The defense took a little while to stabilize in the center and left flanks. Bombardment at this time was light or non-existent either because they were reloading or because our lines were very close to each other. The Apaches kept maneuvering for shots, but one was shot down by a BP-80 (with 3% to hit. I wanted to scream). I was able to dispatch all but one of their tanks with the choppers, but was unsuccessful in clearing the SPGs.

After a few turns, a Type 59 tank crashed into the center of my defense and was able to destroy a Hummer and APC before my infantry was able to take care of it. The SPGs followed, losing all their own units, but destroying another APC and killing a small number of men. Other probing attacks with APCs were met with anti-tank weaponry that almost all of my squads carried. It was right after the tank hit the line that I decided I wasn’t going to see anybody in the North, they were all down here. I packed up the 1st Ranger platoon and started them moving at high speed down the NE-SW road.

Fortunately, I was cautious in doing this and when the lead element (a Hummer with a ranger patrol and 84mm RR) came to a small area of trees on the eastern edge of the clearing north of the objectives (where I’d shot up all the ATGM teams) I unloaded the troops before moving anybody else over the hill that boarded the northern side of the clearing. Come to find out, the enemy was launching a counter attack of their own, hoping to come through the same clear space. I was able to maneuver the MMG on the hill and a couple of Hummers and APCs from the 2nd Ranger platoon on the hill to overwatch the 1st Ranger. The hummers 40mm AGL had 5 heat shells and I’ve had good experiences with them taking out lightly armored units.

I moved the remaining APCs and hummer from 1st Ranger into a depression just north of the trees and unloaded one squad to provide limited defense. I still wanted to hit to objects hard and didn’t want to lose momentum to a bunch of counter attacking Korean upstarts. This was a good move as the enemy, on its next turn, tried to move a half dozen loaded APCs through and around the trees. 1st platoon’s hummer accounted for three APCs with three shots (give that guy a medal), the ranger squad and RR were able to account for the rest. The hill positioned units were able to route all infantry in the area, clearing the road for the APCs to come screaming into the objectives after the 120mm mortars had bombarded them the two turns previous. On a side note, I almost forgot to call off the bombardment once my units held the objectives. That would have been bad. Very bad.

1st Ranger and the Airborne connected the line and were able to repel all attacks made on them. The single Ranger squad on the far right flank that supported the RR and hummer was singlehandedly responsible for fending off a platoon worth of infantry. The AGL from 1st ranger was set up over looking the clearing from the north and was helpful in providing support. While there were a few incursions, all intruders were dealt with in a timely and efficient manner. The enemy continued to counter attack from the south with increasing numbers of infantry and even there SPAA units, but all attacks were deflected and destroyed.

The game ended on turn 29 with most of the enemy running and or destroyed. I had lost several APCS, on hummer, and one Apache. I can’t remember the total in men. Final score was just over 4000 for me and about 1500 for the N. Koreans. Marginal Victory.

The battle went a lot better than expected and I was very pleased with my forces ability to fight against a grossly larger forces. I got lucky in that everything ended up in one spot that was easy to defend and that the enemy’s AD was hampered by the terrain. I after fixing my core, I picked up 4 of those 120mm SPMs for my core. The next battle is a lot more open, visibility of 4. I’ll try to follow it more closely.

[Lt. Ketch]

New battle. Same forces. Meeter, so we'll be charging at each other trying to get there first. Because I dealing with 4 visability, I bought a threesome of scouts, a pair of transports and a command vehicial that all have 40 Visability (TI/GSR). Out of my regular units, only the helecopters and the Javalin team have TI. Almost all my infanty have vis of 10 as do the hummers, but the APCs are stuck at 4.

The map is a high plataue with some hills and trees, but mostly open ground. The objectives are North/Center/South with the N and C being closer to each other with the south being more isolated. I'd decided to adapt a similar approach to this as the last battle, targeting the two northern objectives and leaving the south to itself, but that may change. more on that later. The North objective sits in a stand of trees south of an E/W road and on north of an upsidedown triangle of hills. The Center objective is in the open on the western face of the far western hill which runns nw/se. The eastern hill, which is simply a small round point, is just south and a little west of the northern V-hexes, providing an overwatch point for the open area west of of the northern objectiv. The southern hill is larger than the other two and runs NE/SW streaching almost all the way to the southern objective before stoping in a section of trees. The plan was to run the scout cars with their TI teams along the road, reaching overwatch places so we can see what's coming. 1st Ranger platoon would also run along the road, leaving it and cutting through the trees to set up defensive positions around N V-hexs. 2nd Ranger would form a defensive line on either side of the southern triagle hill to prevent the N. Koreans from using the open space there for heavy equiptment. The Airborne troops were to station themselves on the eastern hill as overwatch with the Javalin ATGM and as a reserve. The Apaches would assist in defending the southern flank and take shots of oppertunity against N. Korean units. Since the area was very open, I was warry of MANPADs or Radar guided LAD.

Jump ahead eight turns. The plan has worked for the most part. Although, I realize now that I should have pushed forward as far as I could before setting up a defense. I have no room to fall back under artillary. My troops have owned the battle field with their suppiorer spotting. Most of the N. Koreans don't even have 10 vis while the few units that do are currently buring. Let me start at the top.

My troops were able to delpoy exactly as intended without any problems. While artillary did fall (big 130+ stuff, nasty!) it didn't inpede my deployment. The first units spotted were a could of BP-40s headed for the rear along the northern boarder. Since everything is mobile, I don't have a rear and they're welcome to scout it out. I will keep my rear watched, though. It was shortly afterwards that I saw the first wave of infantry advancing along the road. To date, only one has gotten within 400 meters of the v-hexes, most of them are trapped in a depression along the road, held there by AGLs on the scout cars, MGs on the Blackhawks, infantry fire from 1st ranger and 120mm mortars from my SPMs. While the situation is well under control. I am worried by the fact that my APCs' AAMGs only have an effective range of 200 meters. I used them quite heavely in the last battle and they are wonderful about mass suppression of packed units. The threat of being overrunn by human waves is real here in many ways. I'm working on that.

In the other areas of the fight, (primarily the south), My Apaches have almost used all their ATGMs and guided rockets already. The two coppers have been able to break up two platoons worth of heavy armor that was trying to flank my left (southern) flank well before they got anywhere. Using hit and run tactics is the perfect think for Attack Coppers. The only AD units that I've seen are the 57mm mobile platforms that it looks like they got from the Russians. As it turns out, these AFVs doen't have any additional spotting gear. I've been able to destroy several without any threat to myself. Two sections of these were spotted on the Western triagle hill, two of which have been destroyed by 40mm AGLs from hummers, but I have posisiton a 84mm RR and LAW team close by for the others.

My current sitiation and the facts that are before me lead me to believe that once the situation in the north solidifies, and the enemy is more activly committed, a quick strike with the airborne troops at the southern V-hexes might be possible. My plan is to wait until I have evidence that southern troops have begone moving north to support the fighting there. I'll then be able to slip past their eastern flank (where all the AFVs were blown up) and take the southern objectives with little difficulty. This just might cause their southern units to stall and either reverse direction or seperate to combat my presense in their "rear." I just might get through this without being overrunn. With the number of points my force is worth, I know I can expect a lot, A LOT, of N. Koreans to be trying to dislodge me. While my artillary has more shots than most mobile art units, they will run out. The same goes with my coppers, which are currently my best ally. I should have bought ammo units. In any event, it is very likly to get down and dirty before it ends and I'm working on how to deal with that.

[Lt. Ketch]

Played this last night for an hour or so. Got to turn 13 before compter overheated. Twice. Decided to finally get some sleep as it was about midnight.

A realization has hit that makes an AAR of this battle uninteresting and short. I rule the battle field because I can see the enemy and he can't see me. My choppers are able to move around at high altitude with no threat of MANPADS or Mobile AA units. In fact, the vast majority of the enemys AFVs are those 57mm flak units and despite my being within 500m of them, they are powerless because they can't see. The only chopper that has been damaged was a Blackhawk that took a stupid route over two platoons worth of enemy infantry.

So, the low down on this battle is this - Pressure in the north has lessened due to mortar bombardment and close support of APCs and Hummers with 40mm AGLs. One Apache is out of Anti-armor weoponry and is shooting up about a company's worth of infantry in the south and the other is picking off blind AA units in the middle. It seems I've taken out all of the enemy's heavy armor and recently destroyed a platoon of ATGM mobile platforms. My infantry has taken very light causalties, are moving on the center objective and will be wrapping up the northern enemy forces in the next couple of turns.

The most difficult thing at this point is not to lose my Choppers to stupid mistakes, or get careless. (The first is generally brought about by the second.) I may post again before the end (I'm on 13 of 27 turns), but I may just post a summery at the end. Overall, not the most riviting battle, but then that's what the enemy want's you to think.

[Lt. Ketch]

I was able to finish the battle up last night (was up until past midnight after a 3&1/2 hour drive). It did take an interestering turn for a while and I did learn a few things that should help me in the future.

My assessment of the battle from the last time I posted

Overall, not the most riviting battle, but then that's what the enemy want's you to think.

was a little more accurate than I originally thought. The enemy's northern force was never fully liquidated, but there were very few units left at the end. They also manged to blow up an APC and I lost a hummer to artillary fire. The enemy was dropping 130mm and 152mm off board as well as a couple of 82mm mortars on me and a few times I wasn't able to get out of the way fast enough. I thought my troops did a great job at holding off what was ultimately 2+ platoons worth of rifles squads plus some support, but at games end, I found out that he had over a company of infantry coming in for an unexpected direction that would have overrun the objective. I think I could of minimized damages to myself (I've gotten pretty good at pulling out of an area), but I would have taken a fair amout of damage. Lessons learned - later.

The central area was taken with little difficulty, but the enemy didn't want me to have it for long. A platoon of MBTs came roaring across the map a few turns after the flags fliped. I can't remember the model of MBT, but it was top of the line, EVA, vision of 30, just about everything. They were the only unit that could pose any kind of threat. Luckly, my Apaches (contrary to remember) both had minimal AT weoponary and my javilin ATGM had been loaded into a blackhawk the turn before. I set up the ATGM north of the objective overlooking a clear area west of the objectives. The Apaches went to low altitude, one overlooking the same area from the south, the other circling around behind the tanks. All four tanks were dispatched, in short order. On the AI's turn, the Javalin took out the lead tank, and immobalized another. The Apaches were then able to take out two more on my turn with the Javilin finishing off the immbolized one two shots later (EVA proved a problem). I did lose one hummer to a really stupid move. The second problem arose at the 23 turn mark when a platoon plus worth of infantry showed up, coming from the south. They were part of a company's worth of troops that one of my Apaches found. The only troops I had around the objectives were a RR team, a Law team, a ranger patrol, and a scout section, plus a Hummer and a south APC both armed with 40mm AGLs. I lost the scout ACP (which was really dumb) but was otherwise successful at driving the enemy away with minimal support. 2nd Ranger platoon did come to assist at turn 25 and was able to dispatch two squads and a ATGM team, but four squads were taken out by the ranger platoon, the scouts and the AT teams. I was very proud of those guys.

The souther objectives proved a lot more defended than previously anticipated. Loaded up two blackhawks with elements of the Airborn platoon and made a raid on the objectives around turn 19. The raid consided of an airborne squad, a rifle squad and the MMG team. Initually it was supported by one of the Apaches, but it left to support the middle when the tanks and infantry showed up. While my units were able to take the objectives and disrupt units north of them, it was not to last. The enemy called down 152mm steal rain that landed right on my units. I scattered and one unit blundered into a platoon worth of infantry coming in from the east. The blackhawks were able to pin the enemy and my rifle squad popped smoke to keep them from comming too close. I ultimatly evacuated all of the units, the blackhawks finishing the last of their ammo as they dusted off. The enemy quickly re-took the objectives.

The end result was a marginal victory. I lost 19 men, 2 APCs, 2 softs and an AFV while the enemy lost over 20 AFVs, and over 500 men. I consider it a success agaisnt the AI but fully acknowledge that a human opponent would have made better use of his infantry than a flanking manuever that lasted 27 turns.

Lessons learned
1. My force is too small to spread out over three objectives. Two objectives might even be streatching it. I need to keep it consolidated, or I'll be overrun without any support.

2. As I am limited in ranged anti-armor weaponry, resupply units are important.

3. If I'm going to pull a decisive victory, I need to protect my high point units. I know this seems obvious, but it's something I need to do.

4. My force is high-tech enough that I will always be outnumbered at least 3-1 (closer to 4 or 5).

5. I need to keep moving. As most of my units are mostly infantry and lightly armored, if my units get caught in the open or pinned and victem of several bombardments, they will die.

During resupply and repair, up upgraded a couple of units and expanded into two areas that I lacked previously. I upgraded two of the blackhawks to Chinoks with the miniguns. I did this for two reason: 1. The mini guns will provide better cover than the MMGs 2. I'll be able to evacuate any unit on the map and multiple units if need be with one chopper. I also picked up an offical command vehicle for my HQ in addition to a pair of ammo carriers and a section of Sharedon airborne tanks. I wanted to get some ground support that could deliver a punch. I used the Sharedons before in a PBEM, using two of them as my only armor support to a MECH company facing down a T-80 company. They performed well even though I lost one. I figured they would perform equally as well here as I want highly mobile units that can hit and run and are easy to airlift (with a carry cost of 6, I believe). I toyed with the idea of upgrading a couple of hummers to Bradleys, but I'm afraid that it would put my force value a lot higher than it is currently and I'm still questioning if I'll be able to survive the onslaught on all the units the enemy will be able to buy.

The next battle is another meeter (I'm getting just a little tired of these, but they can teach you a lot) with high visibilty (91) in a moderatly hilly area. My first concern is what the enemy might hit me with. In my first battle, the enemy had A/C that proved annoyance even though I didn't lose anybody to them. As I've embraced my mission of hit and run, any damage to my transports could prove fatal, so I picked up some stinger MANPADs, two for every platoon. They'll be able to travel with the units without needing extra transport. If all else fails, I can airlift them to strategic points and extract them later. I also picked up two ammo cannasters that I'll take with the airborne and twom more ammo carriers. While I'm still planning the locations, the goal is to move the two ranger platoons and set up ambushes along possible routes, than fall back or flank, always moving. I entend to keep everything close, but not too close. The airborne will act as reserve, but if LAD is too thick (which is very possible) they will set up a fluid defensive position with the support elements and 2nd ranger will become the reserve. We'll see how it goes. The goals are as follows:

1. Don't get backed into a corner. Always have a way out.

2. Destroy as much of the enemy as possible.

3. Be constantly moving

4. Overwatch! Overwatch! Overwatch.

If any of you veterans want to chime in, I would love to hear what I can do with a force like this.

I may end up cutting APCs next battle to prevent an outragously valued force.

[Lt. Ketch]

Last night saw approx 8 turns of combat, with the enemy losing units almost every turn. The mission to hit and run has been accomplished to date by the Apaches and to an extent the ground troops. Currently, I am pleased with my progress but fear that I'm currently in a position that compromises my first goal.

An overview of the map is difficult as the terrain is hilly and varied, but the major points are as follows:

The map is hilly with lines of trees as well as small to medium sized patches (200M - 800m wide).

There is a stream that runs N-S just east of center, angling west in the north, and creating a small ravine with impassible/rough sides in the center part of the map.

Primary roads run E-W along the top part and bottom of the map.

Secondary roads run N-S about 800m east of the stream in the south and center but crossing it in the north and E-W on the SE side of the map, crossing the stream than merging with the primary road at a small village crossroad.

There are small clusters of buildings along the N-S road, particularly at the cross roads N and S.

There are several open areas in the south and center on the western side of the map (the Korean side), and a lot of open spaces in on the eastern side (my side).

The objectives were a lot closer to the enemy than they were to me and are located North at the crossing of the roads and stream, in the center in a section of forest on the west side of the ravine and in the south just west of the crossroads.


As I looked at this set up I realized that fighting over the objectives would be suicide for my little force. I wouldn't be able to get to them first and they could be very well defended, particularly in the North and Center. So, I review my personal goals:

1. Don't get backed into a corner. Always have a way out.

2. Destroy as much of the enemy as possible.

3. Be constantly moving

4. Overwatch! Overwatch! Overwatch.

My plan was

… to move the two ranger platoons and set up ambushes along possible routes, than fall back or flank, always moving.

So with this in mind I identified that the south would provide the best place to start. The objectives were the closest to my deployment line, so I could arrive and set up an ambush, hide and move on, future into enemy territory. I deployed 1st ranger south of the pair of roads, and 2nd Ranger north of them, knowing that the AI loves to target roads near objectives for pre-game bombardment. My Sharidons accompanied 1st Ranger for support, since they were likely to engage the enemy first and I would need Anti-armor at the ready. I planned a daring mission for half of my airborne troops that, so far, has proven invaluable. The two Blackhawk choppers were each loaded with one airborne squad, a heavy weapons (one had the Javelin ATGM, the other the MMG team) and a stinger section. I identified a hill located NW of the southern objectives that had a line of trees on it and overlooked a large section of road leading into the village to the south and an open area to the north. The goal was to put eyes on that hill to see what I could expect to encounter. The Javelin would be able to take out any heavies, I didn't want to deal with and the MMG would be able to suppress infantry trying to remove me. The Chinoks, SPMs and ammo carriers were held in reserve, to follow at a discrete distance. Both the Chinoks had a rifle squad and ammo canister loaded aboard, leaving room for units that may need to be moved somewhere else in a hurry.

The opening stages of the operation (turns 1-3) saw a lot more action than I’ve ever had in a game before. As the first Blackhawk was approaching his position, he was fired on by a couple of MANPADs, causing me some unneeded stress, but doing no damage. They were successful and placing their troops on the hill, the Javelin group at the crest of the hill, the MMG group on the SE slope. They were able to catch glimpses of troops moving down the road as they maneuvered for optimal visibility. Besides a platoon or so of infantry, they spotted BMP-1s and T-62s moving up the road at the end of the AI’s first turn. My ground units were slowed getting into position for an ambush, massing on the primary road so not to stir up dust, so I sent the Apaches on, overwathing the secondary road as it exited the village. The following turn the Apaches were able to destroy 7 BMP-1s in convoy along the secondary road. This enabled1st and 2nd ranger and support to cut across the road into a large group of trees to the south of the objectives that same turn.

The second phase of my operation has been to circle around the enemy’s right flank. There is a clear area between the bottom of the map and the trees that provides efferent movement. The clear area comes out on a small hill that looks into a small valley just south of the southern E-W road that the enemy has been moving on. I’m also moving up my HQ units, both battalion and company, along with 2 of the ammo carriers. During this stage of the operation, I set up the Sheridons as overwatch units as my units had to cover some open ground before making it to the trees. They were able to take about a couple of t-62s with HEAT and Shangri-La ATGMs before I relocated one to assist the infantry. My Apaches continued to perform Hit and run on units that my airborne squads spotted moving on the central objectives. While they drew some main cannon and AAMG fire, no damage as of yet. They will need to resupply soon and will do so in the rear by the SPMs. 1st and 2nd Ranger we able to navigate the forest through to the N-S road with no difficulty.

The current situation is of contact with a platoon or so of infantry coming up the hill from the West. My APCs were able to lay down suppressing fire while I unloaded 1st Ranger and began mass fire tactics. I also dispatched a Hummer with a LAW team and a RR team to guard the road in order to keep enemy AFVs and troops from surprising me in my right flank. The enemy was routed and dispersed after a couple of turns and 2nd Ranger was able to move through and take up positions NW of the hill along the trees just south of the road. They are there to intercept any units being redirected by the AI to engage my units on the hill. There was a nervous period when three T-62s that were moving up the primary road NE of our position were spotted by 1st Ranger, meaning that they would be able to bring their cannons to bare on my infantry and APCs from the rear. I repositioned one of the Sharidons and was successful in damaging and suppressing them to a small extent. I then brought in an Apache and was able to destroy one and further suppress the others before pealing off. In the turns previous to this moment, I was worried one of my Blackhawks would be found and destroyed, so I used this opportunity to run the MMG airborne group out and had them return to the Chinoks. Just previous to their lifting off, The Javelin team destroyed a mobile AD platform to help cover their escape.

My plan is to come in and attack the ground pounders the AI always has behind the mobile elements in the south. I should be able to shoot up a couple of squads, bring in some steel rain and get out of there before any heavies show up to stop my ground troops. I’m also hoping to find the enemy’s LAD units so my choppers will have more reign to blow things up and move units around. They will then swing north where they will be able to approach the objectives from the West, as well as take out any reserve/support units. As soon as I’ve cleared out the LAD elements in the south, the Chinoks will come in a resupply the Javelin team as well as anybody else that needs it. Their miniguns will also come in useful for mopping up infantry in the area. So far I believe I’ve accomplished the majority of my goals, however, that does depend on me not getting pinned in while I’m moving past the enemy. The AI has plenty of really big off map guns that, so far, have spend the whole game blowing up harmless buildings and chucks of forest that I’m not occupying or liable ever to occupy. So far so good.

(Note - I just checked the leangth of this thread and it's about 11 pages in Microsoft word. Have I ever mentioned that I am interested in becoming a writer? This may be a start )

[Lt. Ketch]

I got to play a bit two night ago, but wasn't able to post. I got in about 6 turns with a slight change to the overall plan, but no unpleasent suprises.

Since my last post, my force has established a re-supply area and split into two groups. Having cleared the area due west of the southern objectives, I brought in my Chinooks with their ammo supply, rifle squad escorts, and two of the SPMs to set up a re-supply area. 1st Ranger moved on through the area and began advanceing north, to take up position on the west side of a the clearing north of the hill I landed my airborne troops. 2nd Ranger moved up to the road that ran through the clearing and then doubled back towards the objective, intending to take the objective from behind. The company HQ is following 2nd Ranger as they are likely to need rallying and additional support, moreso than 1st. Battalion HQ is staying near the resupply area out of sight.

Combat has been fairly straight forward. The area I've now converted into my resupply was crawling in crews from all the vehicels that I destroyed east of the objectives. I can't wait until I get the CD version of MBT so I can use the Opp Fire filter. The enemy got a good veiew of all the different units I had when their crews started drawing all their fire. Waste.

2nd Ranger encoutered a few squads of infantry as they began working their way in towards the objectives. Mortar bombardment suppressed a few squads and consentrated fire from the MMG squad and APCs proved useful. I've also got a Sheridan accompanying them for close support.

While I have one section of SPMs and ammo carriers east of the stream still, they did come in handy spotting a large number of APC (BTP-40s, and 80s) moving through the north east part of the map. After moving the SPMs towards the rest of my troops, I dispatched newly re-armed Apaches to deal with them. They were not only able to severally disrupt their opperations by blowing the large majority of them sky high, but were also able to kill all MANPAD teams that they may have been carrying. Not bad for trying to hit two guys at 1000+ meters on a moving waepons platform. They also took out two more tanks moving down the N-S road towards the southern objectives.

I didn't want my 2 SPMs too close to my resupply in case the enemy would try to target them for counter bombardment, so I moved them into a group of trees northwest of the resupply area. After they moved there, the enemy did target them with counter battery fire, but rather than firing indirectly, a lone 152mm howitzer was sighting down the barrel at them. While I didn't take any damage, I decided that I had better take care of that pesky gun and the other puffs of smoke in that area. I returned direct fire with my mortars to keep that one quite, than moved my Chinooks in to check it out and remove any other "problems." The first chopper was able to make it overthere without any problems, using cover to hide it from any MANPADs that may be around, and was able to find and destroy two guns, while suppressing two others. I moved the other one over and while he did have a MANPAD shot at him, but he was able to evade and then destroyed two more guns. I'll move them back until 1st Ranger can find that manpad and any friends that might be with him. 1st Ranger was also able to help remove some of the artillary threat by destroying an 82mm mortar they came across.

The plan at this point is to continue in taking southern objective with 2nd Ranger and then have them move up the road toward the central area while 1st Ranger applies pressure (and hunts for LAD) from the west. The SPMs in the east will join with the rest of the group while their western counterparts provide fire with the company 60mm mortar. The Apaches are resupplying again after their APC raid and the Chinooks will retreat back to friendly skies. One Blackhawk is supporting 1st Ranger while the second is comeing back to resupply the Javilen team.

It's about turn 15 of 29, which still gives me some time to aim for two of the three objectives. The enemy has lost a section of its heavy artillary and a large part of it's mobile force has be reduced to burning wrecks. LAD still seems in place in the North, so my choppers will have to move carefully there. Overall, I think I might pull a decisive from this one as the only units I've lost to date are a Stinger team and a 40mm AGL team that was attached to 2nd Ranger. I was upset about the AGL as it was core and veteran with 7 shots and good aim. his counterpart in 1st Ranger isn't as good yet.

[Wdll]

Do you have the options for AI Tank Heavy to OFF? I find it a much better opponent when it is OFF.

[Lt. Ketch]

I'll have to check it, but I generally have Tank Heavy OFF.

[Lt. Ketch]

I was able to finish up the game this weekend and now have time to post the reminder of the battle, so I will do so.

Starting with 2nd Ranger which was moving on the southern objectives from the west. Their conquest was straight forward, by the book. Advance under the cover of APCs and support elements (Namely a Sheridan tank and at various points by the Chinooks and Apaches. The enemy infantry was able to advance quite a ways past the objectives, but ended up turning around as I came up their rear. Unfortunately for them, they were not organized and come in piecemeal rather than a cohesive group. The company HQs snipers accounted for some ATGMs trying to come in from the left flank, but that’s as sneaky as the enemy got. The Chinooks and Apaches that were resupplying had a nice window so they were able to soften up units coming down the road, some squads being entirely eliminated before my ground troops even saw them. APC fire helped soften up those that made it closer and the infantry was able to keep up a steady march into and through the objectives. This was good, because the enemy called down off map 122mm steal rain at points on the objectives. They shifted it, but it was after I killed their AOP. Casualties were light except in one squad that took 50% (5 of 10 men). After the enemy was removed, the Sheridan accompanying 2nd Ranger moved north along the road to help support 1st Ranger in taking the Center objective. He was able to remove two BMP-80s that were trying to come down the road and flank 2nd Ranger. He continued moving north with the airborne MMG team and a hummer from company HQ. Unfortunately, the hummer was jumped along the road by one of the BMPs passengers and the MMG team wiped out.

The airborne troops spent the second half game acting as scouts and supporting the flanks. The Rifle units continued their supervision of the resupply area with no excitement. The MMG team was destroyed, as mentioned above, while trying to support the left flank of 2nd Ranger. The Javelin team resupplied and moved to a rear area overlooking the area west of the north and central objectives in case the AI tried to move any units through there. This was in response to an APC that was spotted earlier in that area. One airborne squad accompanied the Javelin team while the other continued spotting the right flank of 1st Ranger. Three of the four choppers themselves ended up supporting the left flank of 1st Ranger and proved very helpful in the event. More on them below.

The bulk of 1st Ranger successfully moved north and then east into a stand of trees just south west of the objectives which were clustered in a small town along the N-S Road. The support elements (AGL, LAW, RR,) remained behind to cover the rear and left flank. One an exciting note, the hummer supporting the LAW and RR teams spotted the enemy HQ 250m away and opened fire. With the help of the LAW and RR teams, the enemy was eliminated, but sadly, I was not able to vacate the area before I got rained on and the LAW and RR were destroyed in an orgy of kinetic and high explosive death. Again, I was sad to lose them as they have several kills and good experiences. When I bought those units in the beginning, I expected to upgrade them or at least, not use them much, but they have been some of the most versatile units available to me. Anyway, moving on. The squads of 2nd Ranger were able to approach unseen to the road and there confronted a pair of BMP-80s which were soon dispatched with close range LAW assaults. The squads they carried, while being stubborn, were driven away. My troops also found three MANPAD teams which they destroyed with extreme prejudice. This enabled my Choppers more movement and a newly rearmed Apache quickly made its way north to support them. It was able to destroy to SPAA guns soon afterwards it took up station in support. Soon after the objectives feel (around turn 24), enemy infantry started appearing on the road and area north of the objectives. I brought in on of the Chinooks to help suppress with the Apache, not wanting my infantry to engage until closer. I feared that there was still quite a few units coming and didn’t want to waste shots until they would do something. By the end of turn 26, I had both Chinooks, a Blackhawk and the Apache lined up along a row of trees putting down enough fire to outright kill or suppress two platoons worth of infantry and a ATGM mobile platform. Three Type 59 tanks also showed up on the last two turns (the game extended by one turn), and were destroyed by the Apache.

The game ended with a decisive victory for me having lost 27 men and controlling two clusters of objectives to my enemy’s 500+ men, 30+ AFVs and 20+ APCs not including the artillery I shot up. I lost 5 complete teams, AGL, Stinger, MMG, LAW and RR. Which doesn’t make me happy, but that war. The enemy had very few units left over, most of them being infantry that was marooned when I shot up their transports on my side of the map. I don’t think I would have pulled a decisive if I hadn’t of taken the two clusters of objectives as the points at the end were on the edge of the being a marginal.

Lessons learned:
1 – Strike hard and fast and make sure you have support.
2 – Airborne troops make great eyes.
3 – Hit-n-Run is lot-o-fun, when you do it right.
4 – Wait until the end to take the objectives. They’re not going anywhere.

Going back to my objectives:

1. Don't get backed into a corner. Always have a way out.

2. Destroy as much of the enemy as possible.

3. Be constantly moving

4. Overwatch! Overwatch! Overwatch.

I think I fulfilled them very well. I always had a place to go and always did so. The one exception was my ammo canisters. Once I deployed them in the resupply area, they didn’t move. I think I was able to get away with this because I never engaged anything from this area and it ended up being secure. I say “ended up” because the thought did occur to me that if any enemy sneaked around my defenses, he could do some damage with my units in the open like they were. I’ll watch that for next time.

I resupplied and repaired without expanding or upgrading anything. I considered attaching a dedicated recon element to my force, but figured that the cost wouldn’t be worth the points. It would have added almost 2000 points the way I was considering it and they won’t help me wipe out an equal amount of point. Yes, there are many schools of thought out there about the worth of information, but I decided to not put the recon in my core. See one of the many threads on scouting for arguments one way or the other.

The next battle is another meeter. (Does anybody know why 4 of the possible 5 battles have been meeters?) This one is set in heavy hill with large amounts of forest and rough terrain. The clustered objectives are a lot closer to the enemy than me, so it will be a similar strategy. One of the objectives is just off center of a large hill that is formed like a backwards “C”. It raises out of the plains a half dozen levels, effectively making a fort around the objective. Where long range weapons and mobility will be hampered by the trees and rough, I decided to go with a more explosive support. I picked up 3 MLRSs and 4 NG 155mm SPA with 4 ammo carriers to provide resupply. If I have to storm that fort (not likely), then I want there to be nobody left. I’m still working on the plan. I’ve found that my planning mind is asleep after midnight, so I bought my support and went to bed. Wish me luck. I have a feeling this will be my toughest battle yet, and believe it or not, but I’m looking forward to it.

[Mobhack]

Originally Posted by Lt. Ketch

Does anybody know why 4 of the possible 5 battles have been meeters?

Probably because the first 3 battles in a LC will be meeters.

Andy