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

[wulfir]

Ok, just for laughs - I started a small generated campaign...

US Army vs Iraq,
Feb-March, 1987
10 battles
Starting core of 5000 battle pts.
I will use only computer generated scenarios, no editing of number of turns, VH locations etc (being a bit lazy).

World War III has broken out in Europe. The Western Powers, spearheaded by the USA launch an offensive in the Middle East, one operation is against Iraq having sided with the Eastern Block. Most of the deployed western units are reserve formations, one such unit is the 81st Armoured Brigade (seperate), fielding mostly older equippment it arrives on the battlefield somewhat understrength...


81st Brigade, Washington Army National Guard...

Task Force Whulff:

TF HQ Element
Bn HQ
Forward Observer (leg)
Humwee Section

TF Recon Platoon
Patrol (3 Scout Teams)
Recon Humwee Element (6 Humwees, 3 of them armed with Mk19)

Alpha Company
Tank Company (7 M48A5 Patton tanks)

Bravo Company
Tank Company (7 M48A5 Patton tanks)

TF Support Element
Mortar Battery (4 81mm Mortar sections, 4 trucks)
AT-Platoon (2 TOW Jeeps)
Mech Pioneer Platoon (3 Eng Squads, 3 M113 tracks)
Supply Platoon (2 ammo trucks)
Medical section (1 truck)
MP Platoon (.50 HMG, Sniper, Humwee)


Now let's see what those M-48A5s can do...

[Imp]

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

Done this for you hope it helps
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/showthread.php?t=48276

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by wulfir

Now let's see what those M-48A5s can do...

First battle done...

The map generated was hilly with a lot of rough terrain.
View distance 17, my Aux inlcuded a leg National Guard Rifle Co(-), a scout Helo and two 90mm RR teams. No strike elements or other arty.

The M-48A5 tanks can deal with T-72s at a reasonable distance, but won't stand up to much punishment from the Russian 125mm guns.
I lost two M-48s on a hill to Iraqi tank fire, and one was ambushed by some die hard enemy infantry with RPG-7s. Lost two M113 to 122mm artillery. I opted for the hardest repair setting, might not be able to fix all the damaged stuff...

In this scenario the hardest fighting ended up being inf vs inf around three VHs located in what seems to be a stony, dry, riverbed...

[wulfir]

second battle done...

Reparied my damaged units, and added a National Guard Mech Co(-) (HQ and two platoons)...

Assault mission,
the map generated was again hilly, with quite a lot of rough terrain and no roads. Republican Guard infantry and T72s were dug in, mostly behind a stream I had to cross..., 26 turns.

Purchased mostly Air and Arty for support, along with some engineer capability...

The sneaky AI played like a real Iraqi. I encountered mined VH flags and the AI kept pounding my advance element with arty and mortars. Lost quite a few units..., including all but one of the Recon Plt Humwee's..., and two M-48 tanks killed..., with two more damaged. The recently added National Guard Company(-) took a lot of losses, squads heavily reduced and 3 M113 lost.

I did not manage to capture all VHs..., here Abrams tanks would have been much welcomed!

[DRG]

Maybe the comment should have been ....."An army equipped with vintage M-48 tanks could beat the Iraqis but casualties would have been MUCH higher"

The thing is.... it's a game, and if this experiment produces challenges then that's "a good thing" (tm)

Don

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by DRG

The thing is.... it's a game, and if this experiment produces challenges then that's "a good thing" (tm)

Indeed. I like the games that become a bit of a struggle...

[wulfir]

third battle done...

meeting engagement,
visability 24, turns 17..

Refitted the core and added a SP-arty battery (M109).
Bought air strikes for the aux pts.

The low visability helped greatly, lost no tanks, but some infanterymen and a M113 to a lucky artillery hit. Most of the enemy tank fleet were T72s and all but three were killed by M-48s.
Failed to take the last VH...


I would say that the M48A5 does the trick vs the Iraqis.
Low visability helps when faced with dangerous kit like the T72, Sagger and RPG teams...

[Suhiir]

You could try with M-48A3's

[shahadi]

Unfortunately, the Iraqi RG units did not follow the example of the Egyptians in the '73 war at the Chinese Farm where Egyptian tank hunter/killer teams ambushed Israeli tanks with a devastating swarm of Sagger anti-tank missiles, Israel had just suffered its' worst defeat at the hands of the Arabs. History may show that the Tawakalna Mechanized Division of the RGFC should not have stood and fought straight up, but instead used the example of the Egyptians at the Chinese Farm.

What I've been able to read is that the RPFC units did not properly prepare for the Coalition attack as they had in the war with Iran. Maybe because their commanders did not fully appreciate maneuver warfare, with it's speed, depth, and audacity, they did not bury their tanks up to the turrents, lay sufficient mines and barb wire as an example.
source: http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/ar...p/t-13712.html.

So, it is true an Army with M48's would have mopped up the Iraqi units. But an Iraqi force deployed in proper defensive positions with hunter/killer teams of ATGMs may have put a very big bite in the 2d ACR.