"An army equipped with vintage M-48 tanks ......"

DRG · #1 January 25th, 2012, 04:49 PM

While digging around for info I came across this quote on the net....

"An army equipped with vintage M-48 tanks would have devastated the Iraqis......."

So I thought ..OK, lets test that theory but for obvious reason I do not have the time.

Attached as a modified Tutorial scenario with the Abrams replaced by M48's. Let me know how that works out.

Don

Suhiir · #2 January 25th, 2012, 07:27 PM

---- USA --- Iraq
Men....1......212
Art......0.........0
SV......0.........2
APC....0........2
AFV....1.......46
Score
USA = 9218
Iraq = 285

M-48
3 x SO-152
1 x BRDM-2
4 x T-55
1 x T-72
Most of the Infantry

M-48 hit rate vs vehicles while stationary or slow moving was about 15% till they got within 150m of targets (3 of their 4 T-55s were killed the last turn of the game)

wulfir · #3 January 25th, 2012, 07:30 PM

Against the AI it's a massacre. American firepower and 40 vis units still rule the battlefield.

Most Iraqi units were killed in their forming up point by Air and Arty.

DRG · #4 January 25th, 2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wulfir

Against the AI it's a massacre.

I love it..... Iraq zero. I cannot even say that's the score to beat! The Swedish Scythe strikes again.

Don

wulfir · #5 January 26th, 2012, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRG

I love it..... Iraq zero.

I did play it cautiosly, hiding behind smoke during the advance.
I was lucky though, one AH-64 took some ZSU fire when I popped up some to have a look-see...,bit risky, but the ZSU didn't hit. Zapped the AA with Mavericks and let the arty get to work. I used M-48s mainly against the infantry wave, although they did bag one M55 and one T72 (head on from close range). Cautious advance cost me time though, I did not have enough turns to finish off all the Iraqi units. Suhiir had a greater number of kills than me.

Suhiir · #6 January 25th, 2012, 08:30 PM

I'd more say the TOW/Hellfire rule.
While the vision DOES help the range, accuracy, and sheer number of ATGM launchers make it a classic turkey shoot.

The one M-48 I lost was to an RPG while they were mowing down infantry.

DRG · #7 January 25th, 2012, 08:32 PM

Well, I did give them the DU ammo version...

Yeah I figured given everything else in that tutorial it might not make all that much difference. You could probably win without the tanks at all

Don

DRG · #8 January 25th, 2012, 09:20 PM

OK, I see some need a bigger challenge.

Try this for fun.

M48's and no air support.

Have a nice day........

Don

wulfir · #9 January 26th, 2012, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRG

OK, I see some need a bigger challenge.

This one was trickier...

BRDM-2 Sagger's managed to get a Bradley and shoot down one of my choppers. I lost another chopper to AAMG fire and had a third retreat off the map after taking light damage. Had one Bradley get stuck in the wadi and one take some damage from a 100mm hit. Almost ran out of time. Had to load an ATGM team into my last remaining helicopter to get the flag in the far right corner of the battlefield.

Suhiir · #10 January 26th, 2012, 01:53 PM

---- USA --- Iraq
Men...29......336
Art......0.........8
SV......1.........0
APC....1........0
AFV....2.......26
Score
USA = 4150
Iraq = 960
Marginal Victory

Scenario end
HQ (which was immobilized) Destroyed by last Iraqi mortar barrage
1 x OH-53 damaged
1 x M728 CEV put in for silver stars (and new ear drums) as they had been hit at least 6 times by T-55s before a T-62 nailed them
1 x Vulcan immobilized
3 x Bradly immobilized
2 x M-48A5 immobilized

Iraqi mortars destroyed by Bradley s firing MGs as they were out of 25mm
Most still mobile US vehicles were down to MGs only at end of scenario
Last Iraqi VP hex seized last turn of game by Bradley

Use of fire filters was a MAJOR factor in being able to complete this scenario. I set my units to fire only point-blank (250m) range with anything but TOWs, as firing at distant dug-in positions is nothing but a waste of ammo.
Most Iraqi armor/fortifications fell to TOWs as the dug-in Iraqis were virtually impossible to hit or suppress by anything but artillery/TOWs.

I believe the only vehicles the M-48 got was 1 x T-55 and 1 x BRDM-2.

Recommendations:
Court martial the idiot that sent armor/Bradley s with virtually no infantry support into the worst possible tank terrain vs a well dug-in and camouflaged position.
The ONLY thing that allowed even a marginal success was lack of Iraqi fire discipline, they fired as soon as our units were spotted and often at extreme range.

I note Wulfir did far better in this battle then I did.