AAR: Ranger/Airborne Short Camp.

[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.