Sunday, October 26, 2014

Armor Battles Around Naftchah - Graviteam Tactics Shield of the Prophet - Day 1, Afternoon and Early Evening

This is an AAR of the first day of battle between the Soviet Union and Iran, which in a fictional setting are fighting for control over Afghanistan.

A Soviet T-55A of the 24th Guards Tank Regiment, has its crew working on a hull-down position.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

ArmA 3 - The Implicit Value of Movement

J. F. C. Fuller's three essentials in fighting, move, strike and protect, seemingly can't be executed at the same time. An army moving can't strike before being deployed and is more vulnerable to be struck because its defenses are not prepared.

This is single player game play from a custom-made mission in ArmA 3. A squad of regular, light infantry (my command) has to clear OBJ Snake, a rebel-held observation post. Two other squads and a light reconnaissance vehicle are in support.

Crash Dive - Mobile Tactical Submarine Game Reviewed at Subsim

Two stories for this very short blog entry.


First, the game itself. Games for mobile that make any sense are rare. This one is very well designed and has a lot to offer. Get it here:
Crash Dive for Android
or here:
Crash Dive for iOS

Second, the review of Crash Dive at Subsim is fantastic. For some reason some in the mainstream media are under the impression that mobile games deserve reviews as nimble as the device they use to play those games. Fortunately, there are exceptions. Subsim's founder Neal Stevens gives a class in journalism with his deep (no pun intended) review of Crash Dive.



Crash Dive review at Subsim.


Cheers,

Friday, October 17, 2014

Battles of Kursk, Southern Flank - Order of Battle Navigation

With my operations going from bad to worse at this virtual battlefield by John Tiller, I started to mix and match my units to form kampfgruppen to expedite my attacks as the Germans.

For a better view, right click and open this image in a new tab. A tank company was selected and with the use of the "highlight organization" you now can distinguish all the units in the same organization because every single of them is highlighted within a yellow frame. 

Monday, October 13, 2014

DCS MiG-21Bis (beta) - Bombing and Straffing

I should be working in the preview I started last week. But every time I sit in the cockpit of the DCS MIG-21Bis, some new capability catches my attention. This time, the oddest role this aircraft has played in the history of combat aviation: ground attack.



In this custom-made scenario, a Russian MIG-21Bis attacks US ground forces which are trying to cross a bridge.


Sunday, October 12, 2014

Graviteam Tactics: Zhalanashkol 1969

A mouthful to pronounce, a maddening interface, a users' manual that reads like the notes from the deathbed of a delirious warrior. Yet, the genius combination of turn and continuous time based game play, the un-compromised foundations of scale and tactics and the universal language of a good damn shootout it's what keeps me getting back to Graviteam's portfolio.



Sunday, October 5, 2014

DCS MiG-21Bis (beta) - Preview: Takeoff and Navigation

Not even the sound of our engines dares to catch up with us. The exhilaration of supersonic flight and the adrenaline rush stab my flight suit into submission against the ejection seat. The "Balalaika" takes off, aching for a fight. May the top of our wings be lenient of our errors of judgement and pilotage. May the weapons under those very wings find their way to the harms ahead of us. We hold no grudges but to non-destroyed targets and the law of gravity.


DCS Mig-21Bis (beta), by Leatherneck Simulations. A DLC for DCS World (Eagle Dynamics).

Recently released, this DLC is Leatherneck's first project. Featuring a thorough study of the Cold War's iconic interceptor, this DLC is the only and best hard core simulation of the aircraft.

In this entry, a preview of the module delivered in the form of a debrief. The purpose is two-fold. As a preview, to show what is so remarkable about this module. As a debrief, to show what an interception mission feels like from the cockpit of the Mig-21Bis.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

East Prussia '14 by John Tiller Software - Death by a Thousand Bullets (Part 1 of 2)

One of the most under-gamed theater of operations (Eastern Front, WWI) got the deep and thorough treatment it deserves. East Prussia '14 (John Tiller Software) is an operational/grand tactical war game that I have been waiting for ages.

War in the early machine age was unforgiving, a beast hungry for blood and limb. The firepower was there, deadly as no man have seen before. The tactics to cope with it were neither complete nor ubiquitous.

How Germany ended up fighting a two front war is irrelevant for the landsers, jaggers and dragoons I will be commanding. For them there will be death today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Few will see the end of the campaign. Even less will shake off their minds the nightmare of thousands of Russian rifles taking aim at them, just below the bright morning sun.

The initial situation at the Stallupönen scenario of East Prussia '14. The German forces are the grey counters with green and blue details.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Operation Wajbah, Civil War in Iraq - Steel Beasts ProPE, AAR

This AAR is from a fictional custom-made, single player scenario played in Steel Beasts ProPE. No political or moral statement is intended other than the tactics and weapons used in real conflicts here and there. You have been warned, this one hits home in time and space closer to real life. 

The plan for breaching through the minefield is quite simple: our tank platoon (1 M1A1 and 2 T-72M1s) will move to the edge of the obstacle and engage enemy threats to our breach team. Once the breaching team is through the minefield, the tank platoon will cross through the breach and engage any remaining targets around the objective. Having achieved the destruction of such targets, our soft units (infantry in trucks) will move up to clear the objective.

Tempo: Firing the Right Stuff at the Right Time

If this post entitles me to the Leonhard's fan-boy tag, so be it.



Today, a quick note of Leonhard's concept of tempo using ArmA 3 and DCS Flaming Cliffs as examples.