Real and Simulated Wars

MiG-29's Crummy Radar vs. the Maneuverable A-10 - DCS MIG-29A Fulcrum

2025-11-30T13:50:00.002-05:00

Given the missiles and radar I have, I've been told to close with the ENY and keep the fight within visual range. Unfortunately, against highly maneurable A-10s, this was terrifying. I was lucky to score a kill with an R-27 missile, though.

Cheers,

Flashpoint Campaigns Cold War - Dynamic Orders of Battle

2025-11-21T15:33:05.932-05:00

A video demonstration of how dynamic orders of battle work and how they can be used.

Waypoints/Movement Management - Steel Beasts, THE Armored Warfare Simula...

2025-11-21T09:06:00.004-05:00

Oh boy! I'm rusty with Steel Beasts. Fortunately I'm hanging out with the finest!

Behind the Stick of a Legend: Why the VRS Superbug is the Gold Standard in Prepard3D

2025-11-09T06:41:00.004-05:00

If you've spent any time in the combat flight simulation community, you’ve undoubtedly heard the buzz around the VRS F/A-18E Superbug. This isn't just an aircraft model; it's widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and high-fidelity combat simulations ever created for the Prepar3D (P3D) platform.

Developed by a small team of real-life engineers with continuous input from active and retired F/A-18 pilots, the Superbug faithfully replicates the U.S. Navy's front-line strike fighter. The level of detail is unmatched, from the most minor switch in the cockpit to the most critical flight system.

The Superbug boasts a genuine 3-axis fly-by-wire system, fully custom avionics, and a deep simulation of the AN/APG-73 radar. Everything from the fuel and hydraulic systems to the auto-throttle and custom 12-mode autopilot is meticulously modeled to NATOPS-accurate standards.

But what about the fun stuff—like dropping those GBU-10s? For full combat capability, the Superbug integrates seamlessly with the optional but highly recommended VRS TacPack Combat System. This is the key to unlocking true warfare immersion, enabling functional weapons, detailed AA/AG radar, FLIR, and electronic countermeasures, bringing the F/A-18E to its full potential as a professional-level, fully combat-capable simulator.

If you’re ready to move beyond simple flight modeling and take command of a study-level strike fighter in P3D, the VRS Superbug is the investment you need to make.

Learn More: You can check out the full details and features of this groundbreaking module at the Vertical Reality Simulations website.

VRS Superbug

Cheers,

Tactics of the Seljuks As seen in Crusades: Book I (Wargame Design Studio)

2025-10-27T08:32:00.001-04:00

Featuring new game mechanics like siege warfare (check out my earlier video) and wars that I I never wargamed before (the First and Second Crusades), Crusades is a very approachable and fast game. But, like any other Wargame DS game, the details and food for tactical thought are at a premium.

In the “Battle of the Meander” scenario, I took command of the Seljuk army in order to kick the tires of the game from the tactical point of view. The scenario is just 16 turns or so and presents the Crusaders advance guard’s push to secure a river crossing. The Seljuk army is a cavalry force for the most part, pretty much along the lines of what is chronicled in history. See the screenshot below for the starting positions (green counters: Seljuks, gray counters: Crusaders). Note that full fog of war is in effect.

In real life, the Seljuks were the masters of high-mobility and would fight a raiding cumulative campaign, frequently targeting the rear of the Crusaders forces, with a big emphasis on using horse archers and high mobility. See page 75 of “Crusading Warfare” by R. C. Small.

The game scenario starts with the Seljuk forces on the high ground, and I planned to engage the Crusaders at a range, retreating or feigning it when necessary. I was very conscious that melee combat would favor the Crusaders and I tried to avoid it. Easier said than done …

Our banner in the West descended at high speed and started pelting the Crusader’s rear with arrows. The Crusaders made a good effort to close with us and engage in short range combat. But the volume of our arrows and the strain of moving uphill left them disorganized and uable to engage in melee combat. For a couple of turns I enjoyed seeing the Crusaders trying to cope with the threat to their nortwest flank. This allowed my other two banners in the northeast to deploy and block the route to the crossing points.

The situation evolved to almost encirclement, with the Crusaders sandwiched in between my banners. Their northwest flank was open, uphill and thus unreachable. I thought I had the Crusaders in a panic and prepared myself for how to destroy the enemy force with mostly missile force.

But then it happened: out of nowhere the Crusaders collected themselves and started pushing towards the crossings. A morass of Seljuk archers found themselves unable to retreat from the Crusader’s close assault. There were just too many Seljuk horsemen.

Forces of my West banner started moving towards the tip of the Crusader’s spear, climbing uphill and hoping to interdict the Crusader’s push via their northwest flank. The situation near the crossings was getting ugly. It is incredible what determined heavy cavalry and infantry can do to my Seljuk forces when they close with us. The Crusaders pushed hard and I lost many horsemen in this debacle.

Tha battle ended in a draw, mainly because of our losses. Our greatest asset, mobility in the offense was squandered in a defensive paralysis.

Cheers,

Beyond the Radar: HARM Missiles & Cluster Bombs CRUSH Air Defenses (Falc...

2025-10-14T15:45:00.007-04:00

In my latest mission, documented in the video below, I confront Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD).

The Loadout

In real and simulated SEAD missions, a flight is often limited in the number of AGM-88 HARM missiles it can carry—in this case, just two [00:29]. Since HARMs only target active radar emitters, what happens when the enemy shuts down their system?

I tried this loadout:

AGM-88 HARM Missiles: The primary tool for neutralizing active radar threats.
Cluster Bombs: Added to provide a saturation capability for area denial and destroying non-emitting systems (like command posts or TELs).
LANTIRN Targeting Pod: Critically, the targeting pod was slaved to the HTS (Harm Targeting System) [00:52]. This allowed for visual confirmation and precise targeting of the area that the HTS was pointing at, maximizing the chance of a successful cluster bomb strike even after the radar went quiet.

One of the most compelling features of Falcon BMS is its commitment to realism. The mission highlighted the dynamic nature of enemy threats:

"One of the the great things about Falcon is how the enemy air defenses work. They turn on and off. So it's not like you have a sitting duck over there that just turns on and it stays there waiting for it to be killed." [06:36]

This behavior forces the pilot to constantly adapt, push through the target area, and rely on non-emitting weapons like the cluster bombs when the radar silence sets in. This level of AI complexity elevates the simulation far beyond a simple game.

Mission Constraints and Execution

While the mission was moderately successful—achieving a single kill with the HARM and causing significant damage with the cluster bomb pass [12:42]—it underscored two major tactical constraints imposed by the specialized loadout:

Fuel Limitation: Using the external pylons for bombs instead of fuel tanks significantly limited the aircraft's range.
Target Overflight: The cluster bomb drop necessitated an overflight of the target area [02:09]. Against dangerous SAM systems, this increases exposure and risk, requiring a swift, high-speed exit while hitting the deck to evade incoming fire [02:03].

Despite an early snag where one HARM failed to guide [07:10], the persistent approach eventually paid off, with a successful Magnum launch taking out an enemy emitter [09:10], paving the way for the cluster bomb delivery.

The combination of HARM suppression and the area-denial capability of cluster munitions proved the efficacy of this combined-arms approach against advanced, evasive air defenses.

Watch the full video to see the high-stakes mission unfold:

Cheers,

Flashpoint Campaigns Cold War: The Great, Perfected. A Look at the Highly Anticipated New Cold War Standard.

2025-10-11T15:59:00.004-04:00

The legendary tactical series Flashpoint Campaigns is set to return this year, and if the recent press preview from the Real and Simulated Wars Blog is any indication, On Target Simulations and Slitherine have not just created a new installment, they've masterfully refined an already great formula.

Flashpoint Campaigns Cold War is officially slated for release on November 20th. Here is a dive into what veterans love and what new features will elevate the experience for every wargamer.

The Foundation: Maneuver Warfare and the OODA Loop

For those new to the series, Flashpoint Campaigns is a serious, hex-based ground tactical wargame that focuses on the tense, high-stakes combat of the Cold War. While it is turn-based, it features a core innovation that defines its brilliant command-and-control simulation: asynchronous resolution.

The OODA Loop: The game models the Observe, Orient, Decide, Act (OODA) cycle. Your turn duration is directly tied to the efficiency and agility of your command structure. In the scenario previewed, the British forces had a decision cycle of around 25 minutes, significantly faster than the 35–36 minutes for the Warsaw Pact units. This innovative setup rewards maneuver warfare and clever command choices, demonstrating the very core principle of military doctrine.

Raising the Bar: Two Major New Features

While the core mechanics remain strong, this new version introduces major Quality of Life (QoL) upgrades that make the game far more accessible and engaging.

1. Tactical Air Operations

The biggest feature debut is the introduction of Tactical Air Operations. Players can now command:

Helicopter Landings
Airborne Operations

This massively expands the strategic scope of the game, opening up new vectors of attack and defense that will challenge even the most experienced commanders.

2. Masterful Automation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

One of the most exciting QoL changes focuses on streamlining unit management, allowing commanders to spend less time clicking and more time thinking strategically.

Formation Movement: You can now select all subordinate units within a squadron or regiment and move them together as a cohesive formation. The game engine takes care of the complex movement routing based on the formation type you select (e.g., column, assault).
Preset Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): This is a game-changer for speed and realism. You can now apply pre-defined, comprehensive SOPs instantly to entire formations. These SOPs are categorized by unit type:
- Headquarter Units
- Recon Units
- Artillery Assets (RT)
- Mechanized Infantry
Total Control: You can quickly apply an SOP (e.g., an aggressive "Attack" SOP) and then customize it by removing specific units from the rule set or tweaking individual parameters (like engagement range or movement type).

The Verdict

Flashpoint Campaigns Cold War is truly a game of "enormous quality" that accommodates both playstyles: the detail-oriented player who wants to fine-tune every section and platoon, and the busy dad and grandpa who can rely on automation to brigade/division-level actions in a shorter time.

If you love Cold War-era tactical combat and deep command-and-control simulation, mark your calendar for November 20th. This is shaping up to be the great, perfected.

Cheers,

British Army of the Rhine/Combat Mission: Proper Dismounting from IFVs for the Computer Opponent

2025-10-06T19:45:00.004-04:00

How to program troops from IFVs and how to move them independently has been present in the Combat Mission editor for ages.

Given the FV342s the British bring onto the battlefield, I'm taking a closer look on how to program the computer opponent for their mechanized infantry.

Let's dive on how its done with this video.

Cheers,

FPV 'Suicide' Drones Are Not the Easy Button - Arma 3

2025-09-27T13:05:00.002-04:00

I'm summarizing the key takeaways from my recent video, "FPV 'Suicide' Drones Are Not the Easy Button - Arma 3".

In that video, I explored the disconnect between the battlefield hype surrounding FPV drones and the complex realities of their effective use, both in real-world conflict and in a simulated environment like Arma 3.

Drawing from expert analysis and my own frustrating attempts in the editor, here are the essential lessons I learned:

1. FPV Drones: My Reality Check on the Hype

The narrative surrounding FPV suicide drones often oversells their simplicity and effectiveness. I noted that a combat veteran's firsthand account suggests these drones are "not as good as people are selling them," urging caution against videos that may be part of an information warfare strategy. My main takeaway is that FPV drones are a tough weapon system, not a guaranteed kill.

2. Training and Technique Are Non-Negotiable

Mastery of FPV drones requires significant skill and dedicated training, far beyond the casual use I might be used to in gaming:

Formal Training: Real-world operators undergo structured training, often lasting four to six weeks. It's clear that this technology isn't simply something a soldier is handed to use effectively without instruction.
Precision Maneuvers: Complex flight paths, such as turning left, require a specific sequence of controls—often yaw first, then cyclic—to execute properly, demonstrating that even basic movement has a high skill floor.
Flight Planning: Effective attacks rely on operators mentally plotting their attack route to remain hidden and account for terrain and obstacles, a tactical step I need to incorporate better, as it's often skipped in fast-paced video game scenarios.

3. Targeting is Extremely Difficult

My Arma 3 exercise proved just how difficult it is to score a hit, which aligns with reports from the field:

Multiple Misses: Despite knowing the target's exact location (a trench), my first drone missed its mark entirely.
Lack of Punch: A successful hit on an armored vehicle didn't result in a critical kill. This highlights that the warhead must be matched to the target, and that impact location and charge type are critical factors against hardened targets.
My overall lesson here: it is "very difficult to hit things," especially under pressure, which emphasizes the importance of a good pilot and overwhelming numbers.

4. Kill Chains with Artillery Are the True 'Easy Button'

After my two FPV drone attempts failed to neutralize the target position, I concluded the exercise by switching to a reliable indirect fire solution. The enemy position was finally obliterated using HIMARS artillery called in via the Drongo's Artillery mod.

This simulation reinforced my notion that while FPV drones are a powerful tool, they are only one component of a kill chain. When a direct-fire, specialized munition like the FPV drone fails, traditional heavy weapons—such as long-range, area-denial artillery—are often the reliable solution to achieve mission success.

You can watch the full video of this experiment here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaSkngXn4Lc.

Cheers,

British Army of the Rhine, the New DLC for Combat Mission Cold War, Has Been Released

2025-09-25T21:45:00.001-04:00

The highly anticipated British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) DLC for Combat Mission Cold War has just dropped as a surprise launch. This expansion zeroes in on the potential Cold War-Gone-Hot in Europe during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

This is not a simple unit pack; it’s a well executed expansion of the Cold War tactical gaming battlespace, introducing several iconic, historically significant formations and tactical capabilities.

New Forces and Iconic Hardware

The DLC significantly expands the playable roster, allowing players to command or confront new NATO and Warsaw Pact formations:

British Army of the Rhine (BAOR): The core of the expansion allows you to deploy the UK's mechanized heavy hitters. Command the legendary Chieftain Main Battle Tank, supported by the FV432 armored personnel carriers and reconnaissance light armor like the Scorpion and Scimitar. Crucially for tactical players, the DLC includes dedicated anti-tank platforms like the Swingfire and Striker vehicles, essential for managing the Soviet armored threat.

Canadian 4th Mechanized Brigade Group (4 CMBG): A unique addition for NATO enthusiasts, 4 CMBG brings a distinct blend of heavy and light armor, including Centurions and the Leopard C1 tanks. Most notable for history buffs: this formation fields the last flamethrower units used by NATO forces in Europe, adding a truly niche tactical element to your scenarios.

Soviet VDV/Airborne Forces: On the opposing side, the elite Soviet Airborne forces are now featured. These VDV paratroopers, supported by BMD infantry fighting vehicles, present a fast, highly mobile, and potent new tactical threat that will challenge established defensive doctrines. Desant!

Content and Scenarios

The BAOR DLC is packed with serious content for extensive play and modding:

Three Full Campaigns: Test your leadership across UK, Canadian, and a unique Soviet Airborne “Lost Company” campaign.

New Scenarios: A great collection of standalone scenarios covering diverse tactical challenges of the period.

New Training Grounds: The new British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) region in Canada introduces unique terrain relevant for combined-arms training and provides an ideal, distinct landscape for designing custom “Blue on Blue” training battles and exercises.

The British Army of the Rhine DLC promises an essential expansion to the Combat Mission Cold War experience.

Cheers,

Why the Old War Horse Still Runs: The Enduring Appeal of Classic Combat Mission Games

2025-09-20T20:35:00.000-04:00

For serious wargamers, the name "Combat Mission" conjures images of intense tactical battles, meticulous planning, and the unique "WEGO" system that sets it apart. While the modern CMx2 engine games like Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy and Combat Mission: Red Thunder offer stunning realism and refined interfaces, there's still value in the older, original CMx1 titles: Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord, Barbarossa to Berlin, and Afrika Korps.

So, for the uninitiated or those who've only experienced the newer iterations, what's the enduring appeal of these classic war horses? Why would you fire up games that, graphically speaking, belong to a different era? The answer lies in a blend of design philosophy, content generosity, and a distinct aesthetic.

1. The All-Encompassing Campaigns: A Content Behemoth

One of the most immediate draws of the classic Combat Mission games is their sheer volume of content. Take Barbarossa to Berlin, for instance. This single title comprehensively covers the entire Eastern Front, from the desperate early days of Operation Barbarossa in 1941 right through to the fall of Berlin in 1945. Similarly, Afrika Korps doesn't just focus on the desert; it spans battles from Crete to Italy, offering a vast array of scenarios and units across multiple theaters.

Compare this to the modern CMx2 titles, which, while incredibly detailed for their specific focus, often rely on numerous, sometimes costly, DLC packages to expand their unit rosters and geographical scope. The older games feel like complete, self-contained historical libraries right out of the box, brimming with scenarios and campaigns to explore. For a wargamer seeking maximum historical breadth without a piecemeal approach, the classics are gold.

2. The "Board Game" Come to Life: Aesthetic & Clarity

Let's be honest: the graphics in the CMx1 games are simpler. Much simpler. Units are represented by a handful of distinct, slightly oversized figures rather than the hyper-realistic, fully animated models of today's engines. Yet, for many, this isn't a drawback; it's a feature.

This simpler visual style evokes the feel of a traditional miniatures or hex-and-counter board wargame. The clear, uncluttered battlefield makes unit identification effortless. There's an immediate readability to the action that some players find less distracting than the sometimes-too-granular detail of newer titles. It's a pragmatic, functional aesthetic that prioritizes tactical clarity over photorealism, appealing to the wargamer who appreciates the strategic overview.

3. Different Strokes for Simulation Folks: Abstraction & AI

While both CMx1 and CMx2 engines are renowned for their meticulous simulation, they approach certain abstractions differently. In the older games, an infantry squad might be represented by just three distinct figures, yet the underlying simulation still accurately models morale, suppression, and individual casualties within that unit. This level of visual abstraction, coupled with deep underlying mechanics, resonated with many.

Furthermore, some long-time players argue that the AI in the older games, particularly in quick battles, could feel more dynamic and less predictable because it operated on a simpler set of objective flags rather than potentially complex, scripted paths. While the newer AI is more sophisticated, the old AI often presented a different kind of challenge that is still appreciated.

4. An Accessible Entry Point

Given their age, the original Combat Mission titles are typically available for a fraction of the cost of their modern counterparts (often found on digital storefronts like GOG.com and Steam). For newcomers curious about the unparalleled tactical depth of the Combat Mission series, these older titles offer an incredibly affordable entry point. It's a low-risk investment for a high-reward historical simulation experience.

5. The Unchanging Heart: WEGO Wargaming

Perhaps the most significant commonality, and a testament to the series' enduring appeal, is the "WEGO" (simultaneous turn-based) system. Players issue orders, and then a minute of intense combat unfolds. Both old and new engines utilize this groundbreaking system, forcing players to anticipate, plan, and react to an uncertain battlefield. While modern CM offers a real-time option, for many serious wargamers, the WEGO system is the heart and soul of Combat Mission, and it's perfectly encapsulated in the original games.

Conclusion

While the allure of cutting-edge graphics and refined mechanics in the modern Combat Mission games is undeniable, the older CMx1 titles are far from obsolete. They offer a rich, expansive, and aesthetically distinct wargaming experience that continues to captivate players. For the hardcore tactical simulator, diving back into Barbarossa to Berlin or Afrika Korps isn't just a trip down memory lane; it's an opportunity to appreciate a different, yet equally valid, philosophy of historical wargame design—one where the old war horse still has plenty of fight left.

Cheers

Note added in proof. The GOG version of Overlord has mods that can be optionally installed. The GOG version has some issue with the accessory file used to set up monitor resolution (the game runs fine, but not all the screen is used). The Steam version offers full modern monitor support but no mods are included in the downloaded files.

Concert of Europe - Upcoming DLC for Strategic Command/American Civil War

2025-09-20T13:39:00.001-04:00

I've been granted the privilege of a press and preview copy of "Concert of Europe" (New DLC for Strategic Command-American Civil War, courtesy of Eugenia and Paolo at Slitherine Games. Thank you!

This new wargame offers a unique opportunity to explore Euro-centric strategic warfare during a fascinating period of military transition. The game covers the shift from muzzle-loading rifles and muskets to the raw firepower of breech-loading and automatic weapons. While gameplay is at the strategic and operational level—so you won't see specific tactical actions—you will see how new tactical disruptors impacted the higher levels of warfare. The game reflects this through infantry equipment, which varies by decade and nation, influencing attack and defend values. Additionally, varied road networks across different theaters of operation affect mobility and strategic tempo.

I believe this wargame will be a great addition to the genre, not only for its value in portraying strategic decision-making but also for its exploration of some obscure and under-gamed conflicts.

For additional commentary and gameplay footage, please check out my latest video. I recommend watching it on YouTube for the best resolution.

Cheers,

Falcon BMS 4.38 - HTS Pod on the Lookout

2025-09-11T18:36:00.001-04:00

I continue to enjoy Falcon BMS's Balkans campaign. I'm now using the HTS pod and mission (partial) successes are more frequent now.

It is still tricky to target the enemy SAM sites. The computer opponent has the ability to keep their radar's off, making target acquisition a non-trivial matter.

Smoke bilows in Serbia from successful HARM hits.

Targeting radar near the town of Surdulica. In this case, they were search radars.

The resiliance of integrated air defenses is remarkable. Of course, there are less missiles than targets. But a discernible center of gravity is absent. All we can hope is to blind their systems and then go for the launchers with cluster munitions.

I recently created a practice mission with the in-game editor. Quite remarkably, the placement of assets in the scenario editor generated a mission (!) for the enemy target I placed. It was great to experiment with this mission. Below is a YouTube video I recorded while flying that mission. Please watch in YouTube for better resolution.

Cheers,

Anno 117: Pax Romana Demo

2025-09-06T09:53:00.000-04:00

Great visuals, but the limitations of the demo may be concealing what the actual gameplay would be like.

The so-called "Empire" engine, developed by Ubisoft Mainz is presented in this promotional video.

Even with the demo looking so good and despite the time limit of one hour per session, the economy feels a bit off, the islands are still small and cartoonish. Fanboys are already coming in defense of the economy model, saying the current demo implementation has been "balanced" by the developers for the time limit of the demo (?). The islands, as in Anno 1800, look like a tribute to Civilization VII. Nothing wrong with Civilization VII's islands (they managed to ruin that one with other features anyway) given its scale and scope, but for these type of games has been always a turn-off for me.

The full game releases on November 13th and unless I see something ~~earth~~ island-shattering feature coming to Pax Romana, it's going to be a pass for me.

Cheers,

Campaigns of the Danube - Supply rules

2025-09-06T02:01:00.006-04:00

Campaigns on the Danube

Designed by Frank Hunter
$19.99 at Matrix/Slitherine Games

9 Km per Hex
1 Day per turn
Unit of maneuver: Division

Most common unit of maneuver: Corps

Features include:

Fog of war (adjustable)
Friendly fog of war (adjustable)
Courier system for delivery of orders that include

Objective
Retreat
Unit stance (offensive, defensive, march to the sound of the guns)
Speed of movement

Supply system

A short gameplay video showing the daily turn resolution can be found at my YouTube channel:

(Please open it at YouTube for a better viewing experience).

Handling the supply system is crucial for a success in a campaign. Here is short bullet point summary of how supplies move in this game.

The supply process moves through a few key stages, from the source to the individual units.

1. Supply Source
New supplies enter the game at a designated source of supply.

For the French, this is Ulm in 1809 scenarios and Rothenberg in 1805 scenarios.
For the Austrians, the primary source is Vienna, but if it falls, Pressburg or Olmutz can serve as alternatives.

Every morning, new supplies arrive at the army's source and automatically begin moving towards the Operations Center as soon as possible.
2. The Operations Center (Ops Center)

The Ops Center is a city that serves as the central hub for the army's supply system. All new supplies arriving on the map are directed here. Supplies can only be distributed from the Ops Center to other cities or corps; they cannot be sent directly from one town to another. The player can change the location of the Ops Center.

3. Supply to Corps and Cities

From the Ops Center, supplies can be sent to corps or other cities to create depots. This is managed through the Army Orders Panel by clicking the "Supply Train" button.
When supplies are sent to a city, they remain there until they are used or returned to the Ops Center.
When supplies are sent to a corps, they are assigned to a supply unit that will attempt to keep up with the corps' movements. These supply units move on their own, averaging about 2-3 hexes per day.
The player can also choose to toggle Supply Control to "Computer," which lets the game manage the movement of supply units to corps that don't have separate depots. The computer will not change the Ops Center location.
Supplying Units in the Field

At the corps level, supplies are carried by the corps' intrinsic transport. Corps will automatically pick up supplies they need if they are in the same or an adjacent hex to an assigned supply unit or a friendly city with supplies.

Once the corps has supplies, its staff handles the distribution to subordinate units and divisions. Units are considered "in supply" if they are within one hex of their corps HQ. A unit is considered out of supply if a full day passes without it receiving supplies.

Units without supply face penalties, including a reduced combat strength, a greater chance of surrendering if defeated in battle, increased attrition, and a lower chance of recovering stragglers.

Cheers,

Improved Visuals in Scourge of War Remastered (Beta)

2025-08-31T11:05:00.004-04:00

I enrolled in the beta builds for Scourge of War Remastered (via the Steam page, no code for beta necessary) after I read a game discussion thread about improved visuals.

Although I admit that the trees coverage and terrain look better now, the game'a value proposition that I continue to hold dear since the times of Take Command is the command experience. Anything extra is welcome, of course, and now the terrain doesn't feel as bland as it was before.

Cheers,

Fires Planning - TacOps

2025-08-31T07:29:00.003-04:00

I dusted off my copy of TacOps for this blog entry just to remind myself of how much I neglect the planning of fires on my tactical gaming sessions.

It's not that the tools to do the planning are already in my games. Some games bring these tools up to the player better than others. The most beautiful thing I ever seen is the integration of maneuver and fires in VBS4: you plan an attack by fire mission, plot the target registration point (TRP), plot a phase line for coordination and the friendly AI tactical units automatically figure out how and when to move to their attack by fire positions, all in coordination by the phase line (!). In other games the implementation of TRPs is more overt but it is there. Hell, even the Close Combat series has something for that effect.

But coming back to TacOps, the old and good wargame created by Major Holdridge, the fires planning tools are spartan but very professional.

TacOps has not just the indirect fire planning, but also the direct fire planning tools to have units to fire on targets at a specific location. It is called the Direct Fire Target Reference Point (DFTRP), which is shown below.

Unfortunately, it is left to the player to implement manually the control measures for shifting, lifting and ceasing the fires. The effect on gameplay is minimal because TacOps (WEGO) turns are short.

Cheers,

TWO-ELEMENT COMBAT: BOUNDING TO TACTICAL L - Combat Mission Black Sea

2025-08-27T12:32:00.001-04:00

Many books on military tactics teach you to follow a script, a predictable series of drills. The Special Tactics series, however, challenges you to think critically and adapt.

In "Squad-Level Infantry Rural Combat", the concept of bounding—the leapfrogging movement of small units—is explored in a new light. This book goes beyond the standard, linear approach of bounding simply to close with the enemy. It expands on the classic flanking maneuver, making it more than just a way to hit a weak spot or surprise an enemy.

Flanking is given a driving purpose: the famous tactical L (each half-squad on each "stick of the L", both delivering devastating crossfire upon the enemy) needs to be brought into life with expediency.

In this small Combat Mission Black Sea I explored the baseline of this tactical principle.

Team B (halfsquad, lower bottom blue icon) has made contact with an enemy squad and a LMG team (red icons). Team A (half squad, top right blue icon) is moving cautiosly to its position in the "tactical L".

Team B, keeps firing during team A's approach.

Team B's suppression included all the triming, including grenades.

Team A's approach was hampered by the copious concealment offered by the trees and undergrowth.

Lines of fire: team B. Note the casualty we suffered.

Team A: line of fire. They finally made contact.

Under fire from both team A and B, the enemy pulls back.

After a short time, they surrender.

That scenario was just a taste of what it takes to assemble a tactical L. The real world of combat is far more complicated. My son is currently developing a version with a more realistic enemy force and deployment, and I'm betting it's going to be a punishing challenge.

Meanwhile, I can tell you that getting that tactical L into position was anything but straightforward. In our case, the assembly took too long. We could have been faster if the angle of the L wasn't so sharp, and we also struggled with the treacherous lines of sight in the woods.

It's a stark reminder that in military tactics, nothing is simple. Every variable—from terrain to lines of fire geometry—can change the tempo of execution and turn a seemingly simple plan into a complicated mess.

Cheers,

Command Modern Operations - Magnum! - (We Wargame in Search for Questions, Not in Search for Answers)

2025-08-22T19:47:00.000-04:00

The latest mission that I reported for Falcon BMS, left me aching for a good fight with enemy SAMs. I am full of questions on how to dance with an enemy SA-5. But my problem is beyond battle drill, it is mostly about if I am asking the right questions.

Command Modern Operations (CMO) is a fantastic tool for exploration and a great platform to look for insights. With its great database, it took me less than 10 minutes to set up an scenario at the same area of operations in my last Falcon BMS foray. Down to the villages and small cities plotted besides the AAA, SA-5 and a trustworthy F-16CJ armed with HARM missiles.

The regular vanilla soution to this tactical problem left me very frustrated. Until I started wondering what questions I was not asking myself.

What is the greatest asset of the enemy SAM emplacement?

The SA-5's great asset is its range. Literally a few miles east of the Albanian border and my F-16CJ is wasting fuel dodging missiles. So long for the fuel saved by flying high, it will be burnt in violent maneuvering to loose altitude and make myself a target for AAA. The enemy's strenght becomes my vulnerability. A true recipe for failure.

What is the critical vulnerability of the enemy SAM system?

Having the targeting radar on. By the way, did you know that in CMO the enemy SAM radars go off and on depending on how critical the situation is? It happens also in Falcon BMS too. Anyway, that's something I can exploit by approaching from the south, masking and un-masking my aircraft until within HARM's range. The outcome was greatly in my favor. Approach, pop out, wait until the SA-5 is one, fire the HARM and make sure the incoming enemy missile needs the SA-5 emplacement's radar on. All of the sudden, "I" was commanding that SA-5 site's on and off states.

One my argue, I got answers after all. And that is true. But those answers came only after I asked the right questions.

I didn't come to CMO to figure out waypoints and IPs. How those will work or not is always a question of luck and the many things that can happen in the battlefield. The answers I got have more chances to last no matter how bad things get.

Cheers,

Panzer Campaigns Orel '43 - Breakthroughs Without the Tears

2025-08-22T17:00:00.001-04:00

Panzer Campaigns Orel '43

This scenario portrays the offensive of the Russian 63th Army in the southernmost edge of the Bryansk Front. The objective is to break through the German defenses in a sector defended by General Rendulic's XXXV.ArmeeKorps. It is one bonus scenarios that were deployed along the latest patch for Orel '43.

Not the strongest of the German defenses, but it is not short of obstacles and minefields controlled by the fields of fire from the Germans entrenched on the hills.

Since I started playing Panzer Campaigns I was of the practice of first moving the engineers to clear a path so the infantry could move into contact during the next turn and assault the enemy defenses. It was a long and gruesome process, engineers would get disrupted and not clear the humblest of obstacles or minefields. When lucky, I would get the infantry forward just to, in turn, get disrupted and unable to assault. Massive casualties mounted.

As of late, I have been amassing all the troops needed for the obstacle clearance and assault during a single turn. The resulting hex is an enemy fire magnet and moving troops into minefields is not devoid of simulated cruelty. But it gets the job done. The next turn I'm assaulting with good results.

In this screenshot, engineer units are highlighted with a red/yellow border. Note the selected hex, with one engineer company and everybody else getting ready to face the monster.

At Khoteyevo (north extreme of this screenshot), the breakthrough was clean and the Germans are being pushed to the East.

Needless to say, abundant air support (IL-2s are great!) and indirect fire are crucial to accomplish this. To make the clicking less aggravating, I make extensive use of this game tool (see below). This tool is available in the AI menu. Just make sure you push the "Indirect Fire" button otherwise all your eligible units will spend their action points.

Breakthroughs without the tears. Mine at least, my soldiers have a different opinion.

Cheers,

Falcon BMS 4.38 - DEAD, Balkans Theater of Operations

2025-08-20T08:45:00.005-04:00

HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile) in HAS (Harm as sensor) mode. If there acronyms for my case, HAS would be for laziness to re-take the in-game extensive training BMS has ready to offer.

I have just installed the Balkans Theater of Operations (official version distributed by BMS) and started a campaign in it. My first chosen mission was a mission against a SA-5 site. I decided to go with HARM missiles and use them in HAS mode.

I planned the mission as thoroughly as I could, but I kept screwing up by not marking AAA gun positions that a previous intelligence report has indicated. After an uneventful takeoff from Casale/Brindisi airport and transit through the Adriatic Sea, we swiftly passed through the coast of Albania. Bound for a "destroy of enemy air defenses" (DEAD) mission in south Serbia.

Mudhen7 (DEAD)
Package #: 3107 (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses)
Pkg-Mission: Strike enemy air defense assets
Target Area: over Surdulica Town.
Time on Target: 11:55:00z
Sunrise: 03:58:29z(04:58:29l)
Sunset: 18:01:30z(19:01:30l)

Acquiring the enemy radar was tricky and required a low altitude to take advantage of the mountain terrain. The threat of enemy AAA threat kept us on our toes.

Going on an off, the enemy radar was elusive and I shot one HARM which seemed like it hit the ground. The second HARM was tied to a hung store, when it rain it pours.

We eventually ended up too close to the target area. A SA-5 missile was coming our way and we took evasive maneuvers. In the distance, I see a smoke bilow over Surdulica. Is that the SA-5 site

I can still detect the enemy radar, we have failed to destroy it.

The return route's first leg flown low to avoid enemy AAA got me through apprehension of those guns. The thrill of zooming through valleys and peaks was ironically rewarding.

Arriving into Albania, just short of the Adriatic, we zoom up to gain altitude and save fuel.

Arrived safe at Brindisi/Casale. Mission not accomplished.

Cheers,

Strategic Command WWII - From Blue Water to Shallow Seas: The Limited Range of Carrier-Based Land Attack

2025-08-17T09:20:00.001-04:00

I'm playing Strategic Command WWII as the Axis and the fight in the far east is far from decisive. The Chinese have a good hold on their country and their defenses are a tough nut to crack. Desperate to break the stalemate and win some decisive victories for Japan, I brought carriers to litoral waters neighboring the two land-based points of main effort.

The Kaga carrier, near present-day Zhanjiang, supports I Corps. The defenses of the Chinese forces are very strong. The balance of combat power is not in my favor, despite the naval carrier-borne airpower.

In the northern flank, the Soryu and Akagi are in support of the 17th and 6th Armies. Their support range is impressive, but the area of operations is so far-flung!

Cheers,

Birth of America 2 - Campaigning Without the Micromanaging and Bean Counting

2025-08-16T11:57:00.004-04:00

Back in the day when AGEOD appeared in the wargaming arena, it was the start of an era. AGEOD's engine, WEGO-based, featuring command and control, dynamic orders of battle, clear maps and emphasis in military decision making, AGEOD games became almost an obsession to me.

Another AGEOD's title I remember is the ages-old Rise of Prussia. It was great to command, and not to obssess on how many pounds of sausage my forward detachment had. This level of logistics was abstracted to a degree that keeping your fielded forces fed was important but did not steal the show. Nowadays, if I compare AGEOD's American Civil War II with that other game that I was kinda of social-pressured to like (said game was a heroic effort that only barely missed the mark of total failure), I would take the old AGEOD any day.

So, today I bring you back Birth of America 2, on sale at Slitherine. Ready for your enjoyment, in the Pequot war scenario, an alliance between the Massachusets Bay and Plymouth colonies, the Narraganset and Mohegan tribes go against the Pequot people. I am throughly enjoying this scenario because the history of the Plymouth colony has been a staple in decision-forcing-case scenarios led by the author of The Tactical Notebook.

Cheers,

Age of Longbow Volume 1 by Wargame Design Studio - Azincourt: Chaos as a Mechanism of Defeat

2025-08-16T09:41:00.000-04:00

Wargame Design Studio is on a roll. Yesterday, the first installment of Age of Longbow was released. This marks the third game in the Sword and Siege series.

Age of Longbow is a turn-based wargame featuring early gunpowder units alongside other period-appropriate weaponry like the longbow. The game uses a hex-based map, with scenarios scaled at either 100-meter hexes with 15-minute turns or 40-meter hexes with 10-minute turns. Units represent companies, and the game includes individual leaders and artillery. The graphics have been updated with new unit images and 3D models, offering players a choice between graphical icons, NATO-style icons, and block-style 2D views.

Upon installation, I quickly started a solo game for the Agincourt/Azincourt scenario as the English. The context of the battle:

Following the capture of Harfleur, King Henry V marched his exhausted army toward Calais. The French blocked his path, forcing him to cross the Somme River at a different location. On October 24, 1415, the English army found a massive French force blocking their route.

Despite being heavily outnumbered, the English had several key advantages:

Terrain: Their flanks were secured by dense woods, and the muddy battlefield slowed the French advance.

French Disadvantage:

The overwhelming size of the French army worked against them, causing chaos and confusion as soldiers struggled to reach the front line. The heavy French armor also proved a liability in the mud, tiring the soldiers before they could engage the English.

Properly, the scenario features a muddy chokepoint with hopelessly disordered and bunched up heavy French cavalry and dismounted Gendarmes. Our archers deployed their defensive stakes (included in the game engine/rules!).

Waiting for the righ moment to pounce on the French.

Cheers,

Effective Reconnaissance Requires Fighting - Combat Mission Shock Force 2

2025-08-15T05:39:00.003-04:00

While revisiting Combat Mission Shock Force 2 in single player mode, I felt compelled to try again at the ATGM Ambush scenario. In command of a US Army reconnaissance troop (mix of HMMVs and M3A3s) I was quickly reminded of an old paper from the The Institute Of Land Warfare (Trading the saber for stealth: Can surveillance technology replace traditional aggressive reconnaissance? by Major Curtis Taylor).

Published 20 years ago, still resonates in my mind because of many reasons, in this case fighting for information and the pace of operations.Combat Mission is not the right tool to envision operations, but it can show how different equipment and tactics can acomplish a mission that supports the high tempo of an operation.

A tightly enclosed area with not much concealment, it was not suited for the use of HMMWVs. They are fast, but can't hide in places like this.

The use of M3A3s was in itself somehow challenging.

Early on, I lost one M3A3 to an anti-tank missile. In the screenshot above, the dismounted troopers move ahead to avoid an enemy artillery mission. Tragically, the only crew of the M3A3 that survived the missile was killed by enemy indirect fire (vehicle in the left).

But to make contact, the dismounts were the kings. They could spot the enemy and supress it until I could move up the M3A3s to provide real firepower. Not stealthy, but a mix of eyes and rounds.

The hills and folds in the terrain required a careful approach, but the cavalry fighting vehicles managed the task very well. All the enemy units were infantry.

Tight vehicle-infantry cooperation worked well up until the main enemy weapon systems (ATGMs and recoilless rifles) were located.

Targeting the enemy ATGMs was tricky. The enemy hid them well, but once the enemy teams were destroyed, my troopers kind of ignored the regular infantry and dashed towards the objective. Ironically, the objective offered a great defile to my troops.

In conclusion, the scenario shows why cavalry's fighting capabilities are important. Reconnaissance is, as Maj. Taylor said, a combat operation.

Cheers,