"Durango Valley" Up!

[HotTom]

New scenario stolen shamelessly from Armor magazine.

For many years, Armor, instead of a crossword puzzle, published "Tactical Vignettes." They were small unit (usually company level) tactical problems for armor giving the situation and asking, "So, what are you going to do now, captain?"

Armor officers sent in their solutions and the best were published in a later edition.

I've converted (or tried to) a TV into an .sce with three parts. The first part is the Situation with map and overlay but no solution for your company team. You figure it out and send your platoons into battle. You can even write a FRAGO to go with it.

The other two .sces are the solutions the magazine liked best. They are very different and both work. They're scripted -- so you don't have to design the tactics -- but jump in and ride along to see how they play out. There's also some challenging gunnery in the broken terrain.

Feedback would be appreciated.

They are in one download called Durango Valley in Single Player SB Pro.

HT

[smithcorp]

This is a very cool idea - I'll give them a try.

[enigma6584]

Wow...thanks. I'll check them out.

[Wildfire]

Once again, u did an excellent job. Very well done indeed.

[IrishHussar]

Hi HotTom
I played out the scenario blind as you suggested. My plan seemed to work in that I only lost the one tank. I did find it hard, though, to keep up with the main blue task force once it got moving. My plan involved setting up an ambush position facing north centred on pos 1. The big key to this was to have eyes on the main axis of the enemy in order to trigger the ambush. In addition to that it was also a requirement to pay a lot of attention to guarding the exposed left flank as it is never certain as to the exact route the red force will take.
One the main advantages of my plan was that as the enemy were destroyed I was able to fight through and resume the advance on the main axis that the task force was taking. On observing the "DS solutions" my plan was similar the 2nd, albeit that my ambush posistion was a bit further the east. I wanted to make sure that I had enough time to get into position before the enemy appeared in my killing zone.
The idea of posting these ("Tactical Vignettes") is absolutley fantastic. It would be much more rewarding, in my opinion, to play these as small multi player games in order that the commander is freed up for the command and control effort.
Please keep them coming as I for one will take great pleasure and learning from this facility.

Irish Hussar

Mente et Manu

[CharlieB]

I have not had chance to download and run the scenario, but I would whole heartedly agree with the IrishHussar in that the concept of this is spot on.

I guess that some of the proffessional users of this software will be developing their own scenarios in order to train their commanders and crewman.

It would strike me that the software has a second useful aspect in that it can clearly be used for the development of doctrine at unit and sub unit level. I would also assess that civilian, untarred by our military training, may come up with some interesting and inovative solutions to military problems.

Only of use if plans and results were posted after playting the mission.

Just a thought!

[HotTom]

Thank you!

I plan to do some more based on the Armor magazine vignettes. The hardest part is finding maps that are similar enough to the ones they drew for the vignettes.

One of the nice things about being retired is I have plenty of free time. I'm also considering writing a whole campaign based on the Israeli 7th Armored Brigade's epic defense of the Northern Golan Heights in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Syria, Iraq and Jordan lost 1,450 tanks, Israel lost 250 tanks and won the battle. I've ordered some books to see if there is enough material on company-level actions in that battle to do it.

I really believe SB works best at platoon and company tactical level. Too many scenarios have so many units to maneuver they become overwhelming (and boring) IMHO. Battalion scenarios force the player (student in eSim-speak) to spend the whole mission moving units around the map instead of fighting the tank. I've been both and, while being a battalion commander is very challenging and rewarding, being a company commander is the best job in the world :).

Now, if I could only get eSim to provide me with a mortar platoon and a track for the company first sergeant...(hint, hint)....

Thanks for the feedback. Please keep it coming.

HT

[chappy]

mate i just played out your tactical problem (without looking at the DS solution first) and that was a blast. Fantastic work.

My plan was similar to the first DS solution except (like irish) a little bit further east.
One problem.. and this may have been my inexperience with FIST in the sim, i couldnt get the 'support' menu from any vehicle so as to lay Fires.

[HotTom]

(Bangs head against concrete wall) Doh!!!

I checked and I only gave all units the ability to call arty fire in one of the solutions but not in the situation or other solution. You can't imagine how many times I tested the routes and never the artillery. Nice catch!

I just sent a version 1.1 to fix it (also swapped out the AI M113 FO for a FISTV, which the player can man, but you can now call fire from any vehicle -- and so can the Reds).

It's doubly ironic because the .sce that went up today -- Dogwood Crossing -- can't be won without lots of calls for artillery as targets are spotted. I'm pretty sure it works in that one :).

Sri about that! Geezer moment...

HT

[cobrabase]

Man! Some of those elevation differences REALLY show how inaccurate the Abrams fire control system can be without a human in the loop!

Rolling hills and distant shots DON'T MIX WELL!!!

[Jaguar]

I really believe SB works best at platoon and company tactical level. Too many scenarios have so many units to maneuver they become overwhelming (and boring) IMHO.
I heartly agree. And to come up with these 'Tactical Vignettes' is a brilliant idea, sir!

[Wildfire]

Cobrabase, i mentioned that very problem a few days ago. I think it may have something to do with the map. Also, try NTC gunnery practice (on the move). That sce for some reason the ai gunner, or human gunner for that matter cant hit anything.

[Koen]

Funny thing is, I also created an SB1 sce. based on the Durango TV (sce. was called "Advance Guard Company").

Maybe one day I'll clean it up for Pro-PE.

Rgds,

Koen

[smogover]

I remember your scenario Koen, & also remember that I enjoyed it thoroughly :)

[Koen]

I remember your scenario Koen, & also remember that I enjoyed it thoroughly :)

THX !
(feedback : manna for each sce. designer !)

K

[cobrabase]

Cobrabase, i mentioned that very problem a few days ago. I think it may have something to do with the map. Also, try NTC gunnery practice (on the move). That sce for some reason the ai gunner, or human gunner for that matter cant hit anything.

AMEN TO THAT!!!!!!!!!!! I thought I was crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it a fluke or are the elevations on the map simply so wild?

I'll search back in the threads for your comment.

[JamesT73J]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's up there with 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' for me (one of my favourite SB scenarios) - an interesting lesson, and above all, serious fun.

I thought straight away that I will get in there and hit the main guard force in the flank - a bit reckless but what the hell. I took all my tanks and headed at full speed for the little atoll in the NW, that overlooked the road. I decided I would position the Brads in the saddle just to the east, to pick up any stragglers that I would inevitably miss.

Things got a bit sloppy in positioning. I was in the command tank, and I got to the hill just a bit before everyone else. It reminded me of that scene from 'Crossroads' in 'Band of Brothers' when Cpt. Winters runs up over the Dyke to see a huge force in front of him.....

The M1 got pretty heavily pounded, but was undamaged. By this time, the others had arrived and I got to work shooting away. Again I find my gunnery lacking on fast moving APC's at range, as well as the TC's odd habit of pulling me off tanks and onto APC's as he spots them.

My force took the only blue casualties - 5 vehicles in all - but only two red MBT's made it further east. Most of the AI units were reloading, so I decided - sod overwatch - to take the remaining tanks down onto the road and run east to catch up with the main force. In the event this was unnecessary, as the allied units had killed everything that remained.