Scourge of War: Brandy Station - Review

Scourge of War: Brandy Station, by NorbSoftDev
Published by Matrix/Slitherine Games
Boxed edition: U$19.99 (includes digital download)
Download edition: U$ 9.99

This is an expansion pack that requires ownership of Scourge of War: Gettysburg.

The Battle of Brandy Station (also known as the Battle of Fleetwood Hill), is frequently cited as the biggest cavalry engagement ever on American soil, the unique cavalry-only (almost) battle of the American Civil War and the start of the Gettysburg campaign. Trivia and connection to something bigger aside, you military buffs out there will recognize that this battle holds a special place in military history for who, why and how it was fought. Right after the defeat at Chancellorsville, the Union commander of the Army of the Potomac (Joseph Hooker) grew very uneasy about the threatening deployment of a strong Confederate cavalry force in Culpeper County (northern Virginia). Hooker's assessment was that the Confederate cavalry was about to raid the Union supply lines, and he ordered  Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton to conduct an spoiling attack across the Rappahannock River. Pleasonton, commander of the relatively new Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, engaged the command of the legendary Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart with a daring two pronged attack that threw the Confederates off balance for a while. Undaunted by the bravery, skill and stubbornness of each other, both Union and Confederates threw themselves onto a battle of sabers, pistols and carbines.

DCS Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent 8 - Basic Doppler Navigation - Flight and Landing

After taking off from Beslan airport and starting our doppler navigation system over the initial point, we start a climb towards the Caucasus Mountains.

The view from the pilot's seat. The co-pilot's place and his dashboard are visible in the foreground. Note the transition from flat terrain to the mountain range.

To reach our second waypoint, we needed to fly with a course of 210 degrees. Our doppler readings should be  58.11 Km south and 33.8 Km west when we get there.

Combat Mission Market Garden Module - Screenshots from the Dreijenseweg

I have leftover screenshots from my Combat Mission blog entry of yesterday. Who wants to see them?

A halftrack burns after being knocked down by a British anti-tank team.

Combat Mission Market Garden Module - Sharpen Up Lads, We are Light Infantry Against the Rest of The World!

What a pleasant afternoon for a fine Combat Mission scenario, gentlemen!

As a farewell for the lazy hours of yet another great weekend, two very short points on tactics.

DCS Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent 8 - Basic Doppler Navigation - Flight Plan and Departure

I am about to cross the Caucasus Mountains with my Mi-8 and the fun started way before I strapped my virtual self into the cockpit.

As you may know, the Mi-8MTV2 has no fancy avionics, glass cockpit or GPS. Navigation is accomplished via a doppler system which is fed with data by the co-pilot/navigator. In the only two references that I have about the use of the doppler system, this gadget is fed on-flight so planning becomes a necessity. Manual, pen, paper and a calculator ready ... I never felt so flight-sim-nerd as tonight!

The Lion Route - The Sharp End Gaming's Scenario for Command Ops

I'm sure you are following Chris' "The Sharp End Gaming" blog. This entry is to remind you that his recent Command Ops Highway to the Reich scenario is ready to download.

This historical scenario features the British 1st Parachute Brigade, in the delicate tactical situation of being dispersed and fighting to re-group around the Arnhem road bridge. Right click and open on a new tab or window for a better view.

I like this scenario because it is of the right size (one brigade, 1 day 19 hours of simulated combat) and it's a relevant tactical snapshot of operation Market Garden. Please make sure to grab the map, map-cache and scenario files from Chris' blog entry.

Touch Panzer Campaigns Tunisia '43

The first installment of the Touch Panzer Campaigns has been released yesterday. It is available for Android-based devices right now, but we will likely see the iOS version out soon.

Combat Mission Battle for Normandy - The Market Garden Module is Out!

What a pleasant surprise! The Market Garden module for Combat Mission Battle for Normandy has been released. Just in time for the weekend …

Main attractions for this module are: greatly detailed maps (including "master maps" covering a great portion of the main historical battles), some tweaks in game play (for urban warfare), bridges like we have never seen before (yeah, the famous big ones off course but also check out the new overpasses), included scenarios are bigger (a continuation of a great trend we started seeing with the Gustav Line module), new building types and ...

Steel Beasts ProPE 3.0 - Mortar Section Supporting a US Cavalry Troop

Back in July, I posted this:

Thanks to the magic of desktop simulation, it is possible to experience or just try out stuff your read in your military books. This weekend, after going half way through Warrior's Rage by Douglas McGregor, I wanted to go to the desert and command a US Cavalry troop. 

The particular topic that interested me is the use of a mortar section (two tubes mounted in M113 vehicles) in support of the troop. In page 26 of the printed version of Warrior's Rage, there is a mention of the use of this mortars to mark the enemy's position for the other platoons and to suppress the enemy while the troop maneuvers into a firing position.

This mission is in the desert, against the Iraqi Army. The original map is El Alamein (by manteuffel at the downloads section of SteelBeasts.com) slightly modified with some shrubs. Kilometers of open terrain, ideal for an armor battle.

I was about to play this custom-made, solo play mission in Steel Beasts ProPE version 2.654, but was reminded by blogger reader Koen about the imminent release of version 3.0. This newer version of Steel Beasts ProPE has proper M113s with functional mortars, and now is prime time to try this mortar support thing.

Command Modern Air/Naval Operations - Report of Action for May 25, 1982 (Malvinas/Falklands War)

In this Command Modern Air/Naval Operations (CMANO) scenario (Sea of Fire) the Argentine Air Force (two flights of three A4 Skyhawks each) and the Argentine Navy (one flight of two Super Etendards) attack the HMS Coventry (type 42 destroyer) and the HMS Broadsword (type 22 frigate). Both British warships are on radar picket near the north mouth of the San Carlos Bay.

Right click and open in a new tab/window for an expanded view. The initial situation. It's 14:00 local time and the weather is clear. The blue icons are Argentine flights and the yellow squares are radar contacts. The two Super Etendards are armed with one Exocet missile each. The two flights of A4 Skyhawks (to the left of the screenshot) are armed with free-fall bombs.

I played this scenario with the v1.01 beta version of the game. The screenshots are from the game's recording tool. Spoilers ahead.