MCab

In english class, I was taught that what you write may make sense to you and not to others. Hoo boy, I'm seeing that now. What I mean is that given that OPFOR has no thermal imaging, what are some tactics that OPFOR can use against TI-equipped blue forces? I noticed when I play against OPFOR without TI, my tactics hinge around smoke. I just have to watch out for air support and arty. Peace, MCab [ 12-09-2001: Message edited by: MCab ]</p>

Given that OPFOR has no TI in a scenario, what are some ways around this? I've been wanting to try to spread my units out, although I have yet to try this out. I think what this will do is increase the probability that the firing unit could be spotted or bypassed outside of the smoke, although there would be some situations where this wouldn't happen. Plus, closing with the enemy as quickly as possible or reaching the objective and sticking to whatever path you've drawn for your units. I've noticed OPFOR gets smoked when they meet resistance in a smoke-assisted ambush and try to change directions, causing more dead reds. What do you all do? Peace, MCab

Here's a link to the site of sites for BHD: http://www.philly.com/packages/somalia/nov16/default16.asp The show will premier on the 18th of January. Peace, MCab

For the most part, a good movie. I wanted to mention this because there's some really cool scenes of BMP-1s, T-72's (running and KO'd), and even a T-34 (ko'd). Plus, I think an SAM-6 (looked like a gopher), a twin mounted 57mm (methinks), and lots of AKs. The action scenes were very good, but used the SPR shaky camera technique a little too liberally. There's a really cool urban warfare scene that is par excellence, and shows why MOUT is just so nasty. Speaking of MOUT, did anybody catch that CNN special showing the 101st AB in urban warfare training. It was very well done. The .50 caliber was music to my ears. Plus, I liked watching the story about the buck private who went army to get out of the hood. Finally saw the trailer for Blackhawk Down. I've been dying to read the book. I really like that Ridley Scott is directing it and looks like it'll be a winner. Has anyone tried making a TacOps scenario on that battle? Peace, MCab

I've heard that drugs have been used to enhance a soldiers' ability to fight since antiquity. I've been wanting to do a presentation in my class on this subject, but have been running into dead-ends. Does anybody have any resources on this? Thanks a lot. MCab

All righty . . . Size: Small to medium Side: OPFOR, but I may want TI, depending on the scenario Email: mcabrer6@bellsouth.net ICQ:2018304 AIM: Stargrunt6 (I prefer this one) Whatever : Interested in using older units to simulate Arab-Israeli conflicts (Yom Kippur, Peace for Galilee) Peace, MCab

I'm aware that when Opfor is on the offensive, blue force can usually make it unsporting by moving into contact with the map edge that opfor's coming into. I have an idea. How about when making maps another copy is made, except with a horizontal line of misc. LOS blocks about 1km from whatever edge of the map Opfor is to enter? What do you all think? Peace, Mark

Unless I'm getting this confused with Team Hall, this is the one where the US has one Mech Co. with Tank Platoon and they have to clear out an area with an OPFOR BTR platoon with Tank Platoon. I'm having a doozy with this one. I'd start out all right, with my tank platoon split into two two-tank sections. They'd lead the Mech Inf Co down the road, then branch off into that open area facing the forest in the northern half of the map. Using smoke, I'd move my mech inf co. to assault the southern half of the forest, while keeping the arty going on it. The tanks serve as overwatch. Well, I took some losses, but things didn't get bad until I tried to attack the northern half. That's where everything came out. I use HE and Smoke. I try to save ICM for those tanks that are hidden. I've only won this semester once (a BTR left the area) and that was with 70-80% casualities. What do you all do/think? Peace MCab

Minmax, are telling me that there is a woman out there who is interested in wargaming? Did you get the last one? "Starlight, star bright . . ." Peace, MCab

Minmax, I know the game was not a wargame, but only a piece of propaganda. My point was just to show how the debate of gaming and society isn't all that new. Peace, MCab

Minmax, I have a story for her that is about gaming and society. When I went to the Jewish Heritage Museum in New York City, one of the things in display was a boardgame in Nazi Germany where the object was to kick out all of the jews in the town. The counters used to depict the jews where these cone-shapes that had these ugly characatures drawn on them. It's both shocking and disturbing to know what some people tolerate and even find palatable. Peace, Mark

When I wargame, I try to make decisions as if it were in real life. In other words, although I could brashly sacrifice a tank crew that just ditched its tank so I could recon/draw fire/whatever , but I'd rather keep them retreating and let them hide out somewhere. About wargaming and violence, I think problems are in the person, and usually not in the game. The problems I notice is when there's too much emotional attachment and there's an inability to separate fantasy from reality (these two problems are probably one and the same). How many of us know of a sore loser/winner in our local wargaming circles that show this problem? Peace, MCab

I think the LAV is not suitable for the job they want. If I'm not mistaken, it's got a high profile. It's wheeled, so cross country mobility won't be as good as tracked. Therefore, it can't provide a mobile defense, especially without stabilization. Also, since it doesn't have stabilization, you can rule out the effectiveness of a spoiling attack while on defense. Also, it's underarmored, so it'll be a coffin in close terrain. An RPG would make short work of it. Do they plan on making these airborne? If so, then the high profile will probably get in the way. Whatever happened to the Stingray? This all seems to be another budget cut attempt. Mis dos centavos. Peace, MCab

Given the title, would it be safe to assume that there are none? Do they really just march right up and get mowed down, hoping the other platoons get close enough to overwhelm the enemy? And also, do their tactics really mirror their society, where the whole and cooperation are more important than individuality and initiative? And what about their field manuals, is there a place (virtual or otherwise) to get some? Peace, MCab

I saw the LAV-AGS on the cover of Popular Mechanics yesterday. From what I understand, this is nothing more than a cheap way to get some more firepower to the light brigades. I've also heard it has no stabilized gun. What do you all think? Is there a better way to get tank-killing ability in lighter units? Peace, MCab

What is the US Army's policy on taking a sabbatical from duty? In case this question sounds silly, I'll go hide behind some rocks over here. The reason why I ask this is because I plan on being a physician in the Army, but I am considering taking some time to use my medical talent in mission work. I know I'd have 30 days vacation, but what if I needed more? Thanks, MCab

The Sandanistas were chuckin' slugs at you? How'd you get tangled with them? Yes, my generation and the ones below need to take the course "Real World 101: Why life is so so mean." Peace, MCab

What's wrong with the SAW? I've read through field manuals, and it can be a little confusing sometimes as to how LMG's are employed. Do all members of a fire team always stick together or do they sometimes split off teams for special purposes (in this case, LMG teams)? How are bases-of-fire handled below platoon level? Is it similar to the company level? Peace, MCab

I've watched a movie and read in a fiction book about the point man in a squad during vietname was NOT the automatic rifleman (heavy barrel, Pig, etc). Is this true? Peace, MCab

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: wargaming is the only thing in life that's better than the real thing. I can't say this from experience, but I know I won't get killed if I lose a game of TacOps. She's got a problem with people who simulate killing? What if we were training to kill Nazis/Soviets/Borg? (to all you Star Trek fans out there . . .) Peace, MCab

I dig CC, but what ticks me off is the people who put it together. For instance, the MG42 and other weapons are listed as firing 9mm. The MG34 sound is used when firing the MG42. Some scenarios are tank-heavy, defeating the purpose of CC being a light/heavy sim. But my biggest beef is this: THEY STILL HAVEN'T COVERED THE PACIFIC WAR! You figured the PTO was as close combat as you could get, but nooooooo, they're going back to Normandy again. I think they are doing that to appeal to a broader audience with SPR still fresh in the back of their minds. And yes, I know there's a PTO mod for CC, but still . . . Peace, MCab

Here's a http://www.fredoneverything.com/Claudia.html Peace, MCab

1) On the US Basic Training Scenario, the missle fired on the BMP (don't know which one), my friend noticed that at the smallest range listed on the weapon databasethe hit percentage it 60% Is this because of the time to activate the missle? 2) He also wanted to know what that sound was before turns! He thought it sounded like a UFO! Thanks, MCab

I think the main issue with films/books with everyone here is that there is a question of how close must be the plot and the setting. The one war movie that I had a huge discrepancy between the plot and the setting was "The Green Berets." Not that I'd been in combat, but I've never heard the Vietnam experience been described like this moving-comicbook of a film.