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

[wulfir]

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.

[DRG]

Still, zero points for the AI is quite an accomplishment and something neither Andy nor I have seen before.



Don

[wulfir]

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]

---- 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.

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

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

Interesting, in my game most hard targers were taken out by the M-48s or artillery. Bradley TOW knocked out one bunker and a T-55, IIRC.

Progress in the wadi was slow, and a bit risky because of the mines. I never made it to the Iraqi mortar positions, though I targeted them with 155mm HE....

[DRG]

So it would appear the original comment that sparked this experiment was fairly accurate. Third string armour will accomplish what needs to be done against the Iraqis( with a little help....).

I trust though that the second scenario was at least a decent challenge and from the comments it shows that with this game, there is always more than one way to accomplish the mission


Don

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by DRG

So it would appear the original comment that sparked this experiment was fairly accurate. Third string armour will accomplish what needs to be done against the Iraqis( with a little help....).

Probably..., but against a human opponent, not neccessarily. There are some really good, very experienced players out there.

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by wulfir

Interesting, in my game most hard targers were taken out by the M-48s or artillery. Bradley TOW knocked out one bunker and a T-55, IIRC.

Progress in the wadi was slow, and a bit risky because of the mines. I never made it to the Iraqi mortar positions, though I targeted them with 155mm HE....

For the most part my M-48's had like a 15% hit probability displayed when I selected a potential target (due to range, movement, and mostly the Iraqi's being dug-in lick ticks). That BRDM-2 was taken out by just such a low probability shot because it HAD to be at least suppressed, I got lucky. Mostly the M-48's fired (semi-intentional) suppressive fire since they couldn't actually hit anything.

Most of the stuff I got immobilized was when they entered rough terrain as their final stopping place for a given turn, wanted the rough terrain defensive modifier. I long ago learned there (seems) be be at least a 25% probability of being immobilized in rough/swamp terrain, jumping to (apparently) 50% if you add a slope, so I avoid such terrain like the plague it is whenever possible.

I pounded on the trenches with the 155's, as the first 3 turns of Iraqi mortar fire was way off target. Tho in the end ignoring them bit me when they killed my HQ.

And I agree that vs a human opponent that scenario would probably be un-winnable, mostly because they'd be likely to adjust the firing range of their units to wait for a better shot rather then waste ammo firing on sight.

Try "73 Easting" with M-48's and you probably won't get far.

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Most of the stuff I got immobilized was when they entered rough terrain as their final stopping place for a given turn, wanted the rough terrain defensive modifier.

I used smoke to hide behind. That would be dangerous against a human opponent who could mass Z-fire into the wadi, and like you said would adjust his arty assests better.

I doubt 12 turns is enough against an experienced player to really make use of the superiority in US kit and support.

I had only one mobility kill, due to volcanic ash.

Think I'll try the '73 easting setup, or similar. hmmm

[DRG]

One nice thing about ScenHack is substituting a unit like that is simple.

Don