minmax

Hey all, I need some ROEs for areas like Iraq, Bosnia, Cuba, and Korean DMZ. Is there a link or how can I get a copy? Thanks to any an all who can help out.

Looking at Army and Dept of Defense reports on the use of Artie vs. Armor in the Gulf wars I and II found that sand tended to greatly lessen the effect on Armor. In Central America likewise the soil composition acted like sand in reducing Artillery lethality. That is my personal experience there. Another factor to consider are Skirts used on M113s, Bradleys, and earlier models of the M1s which greatly reduce damage to tracks and road wheels. Check out the Army FMs online that talk about protective countermeasures Armor and Mech can use to reduce Artie hits. Something as simple as laying fallen trees around the vehicle or a single layer of sandbags. Besides the suspension response to a concussion wave that reduces effects. I think I have a paper written by a Major at Amphibious Warfare College about Artie in the First Gulf War and how poorly it performed against Iraqi equipment both entrenchend and in the open. If I can dig it up I will post its conclusions.

Yes that is a next step at my School to build a 10 * 10 km sand box and run some sims with my collection 1/72 US and German Tanks. I am putting together some data on Panzer IVs, Tigers, Panthers, Shermans, 1/2 Tracks with Anti-Tank Guns. The students want to do a battle of Bastogne b/c they can't come to grips with 101st infantry stopping German Armor and Mech Inf. Once I get the Game Boards and Tables worked out I may apply it to Tac Ops parameters when the weather gets foul and indoor wars begin.

I have a Medieval Combat Club that I participate in and some of the kids have me teaching some modern military history including using Tac Ops as a teaching tool. Mostly these kids like to set up WWI style trench warfare so I use Snipers, small squads, Crew served weapons, and mortars. The kids are hell bent to find a way to beat the Marne stalemate. I also teach at an Alternative High School in the City and have some students learning about Mech Infantry. I use Tac Ops to illustrate some of the concepts covered in the Army FMs. These kids really get a kick out of Tanks and APCs in manuever warfare. I am starting a Military History Club at my Local Park District but that is not until October. This club will visit various military sites around Chicagoland and also run different War Games like Tac Ops, Diplomacy, Axis and Allies, and a game one guy invented that uses WWI markers on a sand box that covers about 15 miles of the Marne Front. Yes, sorry forgot about mobility.

Major H, I would like to add an item to the 'wish list' An out of fuel disable feature. I know that it would very from vehicle to vehicle but maybe at it as a feature where a Game Master could designate a vehicle or group of vehicles. My Military Sciences goons are getting a little cocky about Logistics / Resources. Thanks for all you do.

Major H, Sounds like my response to being called a rat bastard. I am NOT a Bastard. Anyway, I understand doing what one must to keep the lights on. The military is getting something decent for its money too bad you don't have a contract to make something better for a rifle. Thanks for doing what you do. Heck I don't know any other game designers that would even bother with a 'wish list.'

Wait a minute Major, I thought you did this b/c of a love for the game and the people who play it. I feel so used.

You know come to think of it FAC would be a real nice addition to the infamous 'wish list'. When using a FAC be able to designate that an airstrike be for anti-troop, anti-armor, or BARCAP (Barrier Combat Air Patrol). I hate when I send a strike against a column of armor only for the jock to drop on a lowly section of grunts. Maybe using a FAC would allow more flexibility when employing CAS or Interdiction strikes. I know and I apologize Major that means more coding but please add that to the list if it is not on there.

Commanche, Thank you very much! I did get up with some old LAV buddies and if your interested the new LAVs still are not able to fire the chain gun afloat.

Simple questions about equipment that I used in the 80s (My God has it been that long ago) 1. The new AAVP when does it officially hit the fleet? Is it Javellin I or II capable? 2. The stabilized 25mm chain gun on the LAV can it fire while the vehicle is fording or swimming? Old debate when the LAV 25 Piranha came out. It did not fire afloat b/c engineers were sure it would cause the vehicle to roll over. Supposedly a set of stabilators were added to the jets to keep it on an even keel if it fired in the water. Just wanted to know. 3. Are A-10s being used as FAS FAC A (Airborne) by the Marine Corps / Army? The common rumor was when Air Force got rid of them (big mistake) the Corps and Army were going to use them to replace the old Mohawk, Bronco, and F/A-18 D. 4. Are the Navy and Marine Corps still using F-16Ns as aggressors? Thank you any and all who are in the know on such items. I am planning some CAXs with students and wanted to know if I could make appropriate changes to orders of battle.

Just to add my un-solicited two cents into this. Realize that according to Marine TO and TOE the Fist team is usually riding with a FAC (G) Forward Air Controller (Ground) affectionately known as the FAG. While Light Armored Infantry is supposed to provide these guys with a C-2 LAV often they end up in Hummers due to radio needs. In my time with LAI as a cavalry scout we often bumped FiST and FAC (G) to hummers or we dropped them off and moved further forward. We were humping the MuLes and our Sat Com gear and felt they only had a couple of HF radios and maybe one UHF for the FAG. If you really want to muddy up the waters ask a LAAD guy where he rode even though before the ADA version of the LAV came out we had them riding shotgun on troop tractors (LAV with turret off and or towing a cattle wagon) Most of the time Marine TO and TOE is like the unicorn, a mythical beast that only appears in the minds of dreamers and staff officers who write that stuff up. In Desert Storm most of the time LAVs were crammed with tons of non-TOE equipment. No LAI grunt would be caught dead without an M-60 in the squad and no one seems to ever miss the extra AT-4 or line charge. Maybe you could answer this question do the Royal Marines have the same reputation for being scroungers? Thank you for tolerating my wild digression,

Major H, Yes, good set of rules to live by. Sounds like your teacher did a good job. My own experience digging holes is from troop days, as an NCO I tried to keep the engineers happy so when it came to excavation they got dirty. Yes, building a real underground hootch takes quite a bit longer. Unfortunately in Central America we never stayed in one place long enough to build luxury accomodations. Tiger Island had some real up-scale entrenchments as long as you did not mind sharing space with large rats. (Anyone want to play a game of rat race?) DHuffJr.- 8 to 10 hours huh? Must have been a Command Bunker with logs on top, 10 feet deep with a good long chicken ramp, lots of sandbags, and pallet flooring. That makes sense. A simple fighting position 8 to 10 hours? Sounds like his peons were very slow. If the soil is to tough then call C-4 I love det cord its like play-do for big kids. The trick with manual labor of any kind is finding the way to avoid sweating. I would be interested to see that episode of mail call. Any way, I have retired from the hole digging and gear humping and Lieutenant / PFC watches to get fat (er), dumb (er) and happy. Remeber in the tropics snakes like holes so poke with stick before you proceed in.

Major H, Who was digging those holes? I can scratch out a decent hide in about 10 minutes given 20 minutes I have a good 3 foot hole. Now a 5 footer with firing step and sump that is about an hour. You gotta get on your prives and lances to work faster than 12 hours. We always brought decent shovels and picks with us not a stinkin e-tools. I have dug in many of the same places as you but I must respectfully disagree on your 12 to 24 hour estimate. I am talking strictly grunts dismounted who have humped into position. Comm trenches and vehicle pits aside. Thanks for the response and next time you dig a hole call me up.

As an old grunt I well remeber humping about 15 klicks and then digging our hole for the night. I was wondering is it correct to assume that it would take say a platoon about 10 minutes to dig fighting positions? I use the entrenchment option but I often wonder if that is a valid use of that option. What are you thoughts Major H and others? "Why are you digging the hole? You are the junior man...Yes it sucks but don't worry FNG we should have replacements in soon after this group gets killed, well then you will no longer be junior."