Falcon 4 BMS - Targets of Opportunity

Our F-16C flight crosses into North Korea on a battlefield air interdiction mission. The FEBA is ripe with enemy targets. Rifle!

The high number of ways that the Falcon's targeting and navigation systems can be used to accomplish a mission is just amazing. In this short entry, how I used a mark point to acquire targets of opportunity that were not in our briefing.

Iron Front Liberation 1944 - D Day DLC - Infantry Anti-tank Tactics Gone Bad

If you ever read Anti-Tank Weapons (Derek Whipp, 1942), you will be shocked at the suicidal tactics the infantry was asked to use against the iron beasts.

Without any doubt, between 1942 and 1944 (the year of this fictional scenario) many things have changed. The sophistication and widespread use of combined arms, which translates into the concept of accompanying infantry, is one of them.

In this short mission report, you will find out how the accompanying infantry turned out to be more dangerous than the tanks themselves.

Combat Mission Fortress Italy Gustav Line - Notes from the Front

Paratroopers meet paratroopers. German and British elite infantry face off in east Sicily as Operation Fustian starts.

This is the second scenario of a Combat Mission Fortress Italy (Gustav Line module) campaign. This is not a full-blown AAR as the scenario deserves ... Just a quick note on how hard is to fight against well trained troops. Possible spoilers.

Steel Beasts ProPE - AAR - Flank Attack

An American mechanized battalion conducting a fighting withdrawal in the middle of a regiment-sized Soviet attack. In an attempt to take pressure off the American forces, my German panzer grenadier battalion hits the Soviets in their right flank. The main problem? I have only one company available to start this business.

My best and worst moments while playing this great scenario (Flank Attack, stock scenario in Steel Beasts) by LtHenkel. Obvious spoilers. You have been warned.

ArmA 3 Alpha - Vidales, Agia Marina and The Theory of Special Operations - Part 2

Soldiers win battles that can’t be foretold. Scholars foretell battles that can’t be won.

William H. McRaven's theory of special operations. Available from Amazon.com

During the last six months, I've grown a bit distant of my military theory books. It's never too late to catch up with the nerdy side of warfare. And if you can play around (pun intended) with what you read, the better. So here we go with a book that has been unread in my shelf for quite a while and an ArmA 3 mission that was tough to crack.

Levels of Tactical Proficiency: The Advanced Wargamer and Terrain - Combat Mission Battle for Normandy

The advanced war gamer is not only able to recognize key terrain but also places a priority in that such terrain is used to his advantage.
 

After a thorough recon with three scout teams, the advanced war gamer found the main enemy positions (only some of them visible in this screenshot, grey icons) on the left flank. He sets up BAR teams at elevated positions covered by hedgerows (A and B). One additional position (C) will be occupied later by an additional BAR team when the suppressive fire catches up some steam (the position is in the middle of a road with not so good cover). One scout team (D) was left on the left flank to add some firepower closer to the river. Not labeled here but visible in the center foreground, the mortar team is on its way towards a firing position in the left flank. The advanced war gamer has already moved his maneuver teams to the right flank. An explanation for that follows shortly.

ArmA 3 Alpha - Vidales, Agia Marina and The Theory of Special Operations - Part 1

This two entries could be of interest if you play ArmA 2 or ArmA 3 because missions are frequently themed around special operation forces or tactical situations where David (your team) confronts Goliath (an enemy with all the odds in his favor).

Part 1 of this two entries series is how my team and me rescued Vidales. Part 2 will be a short discussion of the mission in the context of the Theory of Special Operations.

Levels of Tactical Proficiency: The Intermediate Wargamer and Terrain - Combat Mission Battle for Normandy

The intermediate wargamer is able to pinpoint key terrain and to understand its importance. At an early planning stage he makes arrangements to ensure that such key terrain will not be used against him.

Realizing that the key terrain (high ground across the river) is not controlled by his own forces the intermediate wargamer splits his squads into teams. Fire support and assault teams will have different missions before crossing the river. The BAR teams from each squad will be used to suppress the enemy forces occupying the key terrain.

DCS UH-1H Huey Beta - Landing the Huey, What I Didn't Listen To and What Nobody Told Me

One entire night without becoming a fireball in the runway. I'm so proud of myself!

The airbase ahead. Since I got this DCS module, this view equalled to "you will die in two minutes".

Fighting the Desant - ArmA 2 Army of the Czech Republic - After Action Report

This is a fictional custom-made scenario of ArmA 2 featuring a platoon-sized Russian heliborne assault across a river. The Czech Army squad under my command is outnumbered and outgunned. For a detailed briefing of this mission please see my previous blog entry.

Under heavy pressure from the Russian heliborne troops, we were lucky to survive.