A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-Batin
 

The Battle of Wadi Al-Batin ("Fright Night") (not to be confused with the 1st Cav probing action a few days earlier, already a scenario in the game) was the closest Iraq came to winning a battle in the Gulf War. Using a reverse-slope defence, the Iraqi commander suckered the Americans into a close-quarter duel, disabling two Abrams tanks (the only ones lost to enemy fire in the whole war). Only seven Abrams tanks were hit during the whole war, making this battle the closest America came to defeat. It was a small, short, but intense encounter. As the Iraqi commander, can you decisively defeat the American advance and save the day for your country?

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

Come on, I know it might not be the most interesting scenario in the game, but taking artistic license comes at the cost of historical accuracy. The battle only lasts 10 turns, and the real encounter took only a few minutes. It was very short, intense, and unsophisticated, which is what this scenario is supposed to be. What are your comments?

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

I tried the scenario.

The idea is brilliant. I have one comment that not all VHexes are deployed on the map. If you wish to place low value VHexes you can do it by setting their value to 5 or 10 each.

I played it to a draw, slightly more points to the Iraqi side but I hope I will do better next time. I like this scenario very much but it neads tweaking.

Good work!

Artur.

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

Well, I made it in about 30 minutes so I'm not surprised if it isn't perfect. The game (M1 Tank Platoon II) I based this on gave a good map and OOB for each side, but I have no way to check whether it's accurate or not.

I placed the VHex there just to give the AI something to advance on. It's low value because I don't want to give the Iraqi player points for just delaying the enemy.

And about the tweaking, can you be specific? It's about as historically accurate as I can get it, so I'd rather not mess with it too much, but do you mean it's too easy, to hard, too boring or what?

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

Three things that came to my mind.
- Deploy all VHexes. Make them with value od 10. Spread on the two ridges to give the AI a hint where to go.
- Dig in the iraqi tanks. I would put them all on the reverse slope, and dig in.
- Dig in Artillery too they are in good place ready to be evaquated if needed.

Again, this is a very good idea!

Artur.

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

Yes - NEVER have any V-hexes off map, it can cause the AI to have navigation fits trying to drive to -1,-1. (Any not needed you can give 0 value and lay on top of one with value).

Also - very low value V-hexes may simply be ignored by the AI, perhaps those under about 25 points. So 5 or 10 point V-hexes therefore are probably not that good an idea.

Cheers
Andy

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

Well I always learn something http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. Mustang, make the VHexes worth 30 or 40.

Artur.

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

The attachment at the first post has been updated. All I did was dig in the Iraqi tanks (I'm not sure, but they were likely in sand berms) and I also placed all V-hexes on the map. Also, the artillery has now been placed in a retreat hex so that it's off-map and safe.


I think I only really need one V-hex. The Americans realistically just layed down artillery and charged over the ridge. It was a very simple strategy, and they paid for it. It's enough to just put one V-hex on the ridge, because that's enough to tell the AI where to go.

At the beginning of the scenario, the tanks are deployed as they realistically where at the start of the battle. You have one turn before the Americans come on-map, giving you a chance to redeploy the way YOU want them.

I updated the first post now, and the artillery has been placed in a retreat hex so that it withdraws off-map. Apparently, the SO-122s and mortars can still fire even when retreated.

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

Onmap artillery continues to fire after retreated offmap? Sounds like a bug to me!

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

Well, at least it dosen't hurt in this scenario. You never noticed that?

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

Hi,

Very nice scenarios. I managed to kill 5 to the historical 3 for the loss of my entire group.

In terms of changes. You may want to shift where your Iraqi HQ is. Its a bit too convenient for the US to kill it. You might also look at fields of fire for the Iraqi's. I realize your objective is reverse slope but at the same time you want to given them fields of fire in the reverse slope (if that makes sense).

Overall great job though. Keep it up and I'll keep playing them.

Mike M

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

Good job. I played it three times - first was a draw (all my tanks destroyed, but i managed to score some hits. Second time i tried some manevouer warfare - result was massacre of my units - i scored no hits, and all my forces were destroyed http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif. Yankees fired smoke dischargers after one or two my shots, and then shot my tanks like sitting ducks.

Last try - i backed off my front units to a cover, stacking two or three tanks on one hex, taking them off the main course of american attack, and waited.

When M-1s appeared, they were attacked from both sides. I managed to kill three of them, then their MLRS salvo hit their positions, killing two more. Then it was easy job of finishing retreating survivors. Result - marginal victory,
7 tanks and 3 APCs lost.

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

What kind of cowardly commander are you? The commander's place is at the front. If its really a problem, remember that you have 2-3 turns before the Americans actually come over the hill, enough to move it north or south, out of the way of the main US assault.

According to accounts of the battle, the Iraqis were deployed at the foot of the ridge. I see what you mean- you want them moved up the ridge. But I have them deployed the way they really where.

Thanks, whenever I first made this scenario I thought it was going to be a flop (its my first historically based scenario, after all). It's nice to hear that people have bothered to play it 2-3 times, because that's when you know they're not just complimenting you to be polite.

You CAN get a decisive victory. All I can say is that MacGalin is on the right path (it's also funny that giving the AI MLRS actually hurts more than helps them). Attacking from both sides will expose the Yankee rear turret armor. Most of the killing will be done in one or two turns, so make good use of your slight number advantage, and try to pick off individual enemy as they come over the ridge by making good use of flanking fire.

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

Hi,

No I'm not a coward although I have played them in a few wargames http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

When people post AAR's in response to playing your scenario it would probably help you to be just a touch less combative. Less you get none no more. Besides you might find something interesting (or not) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: A view from the other side-Battle of Wadi Al-B
 

It was a joke, I'm sorry if it offended you. Do you really think I was calling you a coward?