France '14 by HPS Simulations - Bewegungskrieg in World War I

France '14 (a John Tiller game published by HPS Simulations) is a grand-tactical/ operational level war game that covers the first year of World War I in the Western front.

North German Plain 85 / Steel Beasts ProPE - On Roadblocks and Thoroughfares (PL Mohawk Middle and South)

The enemy invariably attacks on two occasions: when they're ready and when you're not.
From Murphy Laws of Combat

The smoke billows and the sound of tank main guns blasting at the north of the battlefield, made panzergrenadiers elsewhere in PL Mohawk wary about their retreat routes. The few in command of those men wondered how many of those very tanks firing over there would cover their retreat or shoot their rears.

North German Plain 85 / Steel Beasts ProPE - Payback at PL Mohawk (North)

It was like Mars' spear has drawn parts of phase line Mohawk.

North German Plain 85 / Steel Beasts ProPE - The Futility of Battle Position 1

Good commanders lay out their plans from maps pinned to walls, great commanders lay out their plans from the saddles of their horses.

To everybody's relief, the Soviets had planned to move near Coppenbrugge, just where battle position 1 (BP1) was waiting for them. But the cost of the first engagement was to be high ...

Armadillo - Danish FOB in Afghanistan

Saw this documentary in Netflix this afternoon.

It was superb, I am speechless ...
Cheers,

North German Plain 85 / Steel Beasts ProPE - Seeing the Elephant (Part 2)

The men and guns of the 2nd Panzer Brigade needed targets. They got them soon enough, but at this time of battle there were no guns to shoot at them.

The west edge of Coppenbrugge, as seen from the southern edge of battle position 1 (BP1) through a gunner's FLIR .

North German Plain 85 / Steel Beasts ProPE - Seeing the Elephant (Part 1)

Minutes before the demands of battle call him for action, even the toughest veteran soldier cuts conversation, alters his facial expression and gets lost in his thoughts. There is no panic, just introspection. A last minute smoke, an anxious short walk that goes nowhere, maybe a glance of that picture that holds every reason to survive.

It was 0800 and there was no time to waste. There were battle positions and observation post to occupy.

In this blog entry, a pictorial blog entry depicting the first minutes leading to contact. This is a rush post before I leave for the office. More pictures coming up later today.

Graviteam Releases English Version of "Achtung Panzer Operation Star"

"Achtung Panzer Operation Star" is the sequel to "Kharkov 1943". Operation Star has been available in Russia for a year or so and now is out for the Euro/US market via Gamersgate.

Achtung Panzer: Operation Star at Gamersgate.

I'm going to grab this one at a later time. I'm backlogged!

Cheers,

North German Plain 85 / Steel Beasts ProPE - Tactical Plan

Liddell Hart once compared a successful offensive to the flow of a stream of water in a hilly landscape, avoiding points of high resistance and eventually succeeding finding a way through low ground. Two Bundeswehr companies are about to find out how hard is to build a dam in the wide area of operations east of Hameln. So few bricks to engineer such a long wall ...

Victory in tactical combat always leans towards the side that has superior firepower and initiative. During this  damn summer morning, the Germans have neither.

North German Plain 85 / Steel Beasts ProPE - FRAGO

Guarding the eastern flank of NATO forces in Hameln against a Soviet Tank Regiment is not going to be an easy task.

In this blog entry, the tactical plan for an scenario based in HPS Simulation's North German Plain 85 and played in Steel Beasts ProPE. Thanks to Koen for crafting this great scenario!