Steel Beasts ProPE 3.0 - Hunter-Killer Capable Tanks: The M1A2 SEP

After a very bad online combat performance this past Friday, I've been sent back to the virtual armor school. Although most of my virtual command (a platoon of computer-controlled M1A1s) displayed good gunnery, I've been told that not everything in armored warfare boils down to the amount of rounds on target. The choice of targets is where I failed.

It was a very entertaining discussion and an additional post about the bigger picture will follow soon. While talking about engagement areas and fire control with an avid Steel Beasts fan, he pointed out that people usually get the "massive fires" thing wrong. This was after a mission where frequently different platoons were shooting at the same enemy tank. Sigh. :) So, to learn about targeting priorities, he suggested to go and practice against overwhelming odds with a single tank. For some reason, he suggested the M1A2 SEP. And I am here today to tell you that the target acquisition and fire control goodies that this tank packs are really impressive.

DCS A-10C - Gun Runs Practice

I wished for a more exciting title for this entry. Like "tank busting" or something in that line. Alas, killing tanks with the A-10C's gun has proven a bit more demanding than what I thought. I didn't want to shoot fish in a barrel either (trucks and other thin skinned vehicles), so I chose some BMP-2s as targets. These IFVs have cannons and if you are not careful, they will do some serious damage to your A-10C. To add a bit more of a challenge, I flew my mission during the early hours of the morning, which forced me to use the pod for target acquisition.

The early morning is perfect for a practice mission against tanks BMPs.

The legendary GAU-8/A 30 mm gun/cannon of the A-10 needs no introduction. Let's hop into the cockpit and do some killing.

Steel Beasts ProPE 3.0 - The Battle for Tskhinvali: A Humble Foothold (2 of 2)

The anticlimactic detour to make up for lack of punch and alternatives to get back into cover. They call it a flanking maneuver ... We were just not in the mood for euphemisms.

This a continuation of a previous entry. A platoon of 3 Georgian T-72M1 tanks, part of a forward detachment has found itself too close to Russian tanks near Tskhinvali and undertook a wide flank maneuver to regain distance and engage in better terms.

Combat Mission Fortress Italy - Scenario Making: Darby's Rangers and the 39th Combat Engineer Regiment at Gela, Sicily 10 July 1943 -

The fight conducted by US troops at the northeast extreme of the city of Gela during the morning of 10 July 1943 is twice remarkable. At 0900, with the beach head still not completely secured, a small contingent of the  Italian Mobile Group E launched a so-called "counter attack" (most likely a diversionary attack) against the US forces in Gela. The first remarkable action was from Colonel Darby, who took a jeep back to the beach and commandeered an anti tank gun which was used to fight off the Italian armor. The second remarkable fact was that a good portion of the US forces at this location where green combat engineers.

Making an scenario inspired in the actual fight has been in my to do list for a long time. I think I have a reasonable starting point. I play tested the draft version and still needs some work on the AI. 

DCS, Updated to Version 1.2.7 - Now Featuring Deadly AI Door Gunners in the UH-1H

I was anxiously waiting for this official update because I heard that -finally- the AI door gunners of the Huey were given brains, eyes and trigger fingers.

I loaded a Huey with two gunners and miniguns and took off for target practice in the skies of Georgia.

ArmA 2 - The Battle for Tskhinvali: Firefight for an Underground Cable Inspection Station (Part 1 of 2)

Near Tskhinvali, day one of the Second Russia-Georgia War. The strategic Roki tunnel, which connects Russia with South Ossetia, is fed with electric power and carries communications through and from underground cables converging from both countries. Almost every war plan from the Georgian Armed Forces included some sort of infrastructure-related offensive or defensive action. The certainty of a Russian contingent arriving through Roki was overwhelming and, no matter how nimble, every effort was to be made to interdict the invading force.

This is a custom-made, single player scenario played in ArmA 2 modified with the Georgian Armed Forces mod and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation mod.  The real location of this firefight is somewhere in Bukovina, the intention being to portray a location a few kilometers south of Tskhinvali. The narrative is in the first person, so brace yourself for some cheesy literature  and an ESOL downfall.

DCS Flaming Cliffs 3 - The Battle for Poti: Last Shots of D1

1820, local time.  Senaki, day one of the Second Russia-Georgia War. After the gruesome losses of the previous hours, there is still a fight in the Russian Air Force. One last stubborn attempt to dent the Georgia-USA Patriot missile batteries at Senaki is met with no less resolve.

John Tiller's Modern Campaigns - Mideast '67 is Out for Android

Awesome news, fellows! According to John Tiller's website, the first installment of the Modern Campaigns for mobile is out. http://www.johntillersoftware.com/

That being said, I forgot to bring my Android tablet to work today. What are the odds?

Posted from my (useless) iPhone.

Cheers,

HistWar Napoleon - The New 3D Models are Marching Up to Battle

Have you seen this picture?

This is an example of the new 3D models to be deployed with the next patch. They look absolutely fantastic.
http://www.histwar.com/

Cheers,

Command Modern Air and Naval Operations and its Great Scenario Editor

What a well-thought set of tools and what a wide range of options available for the scenario makers. I've spent all my weekend gaming time allowance making an scenario, testing it and just having fun with it.

The scenario is a single player, submarine vs. convoy action. A Soviet, (not so) Cold War era diesel submarine (player) against a NATO convoy (four tankers and escorts).