ArmA 3 Tactics - Slicing the Pie

In its infinite wisdom and optimism, FM 17-15 (Tank Platoon) explains the concept of "battle space":

... battle space is the three-dimensional area in which the platoon can acquire enemy forces and influence them with effective fires.

I briefly introduced this concept to you back in February of 2010. The concept of battle spaces also applies to infantry tactics.

The intricacies of tactical combat in built up areas revolve all around the treacherous quick changes in the layout of the battle space around every single soldier.

DCS: MiG-15bis by Belsimtek

This was released as a beta last week. I've been waiting for it for quite a while and finally I can get my virtual hands on this aviation classic.

The Mig-15bis flies like a dream if you treat her well. Belsimtek has accomplished a virtual flying experience that mimics exactly what the books say about the real deal.

Welcome to Ukraine - AAR Part 3 - Combat Mission Black Sea

The Russians pressed on to different degrees of disorganization, personal courage and good old misjudgment. For the odd second that we got a glance of them, we did see they held in more regard getting back in line than getting there in one piece. In fight or death, their heads up, rifle butts pressed against body for dear life.

The treeline is getting populated by Russian vehicles and men. This BMP stayed out of sight for the rest of the fight thanks to the small rise in the terrain.

Armored Deja Vu - Steel Beasts ProPE - Battle Report

This is a Steel Beasts ProPE single player mission I edited to get some practice time with the Leopard 1A5

German armor surrounded by Soviets. It happened a thousand times in the previous World War. Brothers in arms are ready to break into the pocket. Some things do not change.

BB Wars (Airsoft) - No Such Thing as Too Many Toy Guns - Tippmann M4 Carbine Airsoft, First Impressions

In a previous post I mentioned this hobby of airsoft that kicks butt and wallets alike. I am glad that I can practice this thing with my son. That little guy can now mention every piece of a modern infantry man's kit by its real name. He also learns the value of cover, concealment, suppression and other essentials so lost in suburbia kids ... Like how to walk in rough terrain.

Arsenal of replica toys. Guns, from top to bottom: G&G CM16 Raider (M4 CQB replica), Echo1 Barret JP40 Rec7 (M16 RIS Sniper DMR Rifle replica), Tippmann M4 (M4 carbine replica), CYMA CQB M4 (M4 carbine replica). Other items shown: Condor CPC (plate carrier replica), replica fast helmet (right) and another helmet replica on the right.

We are upgrading our "arsenal" and we thought of getting one of those new M4 carbines from Tippmann. We didn't get disappointed.

Welcome to Ukraine - AAR Part 2 - Combat Mission Black Sea

The ebb and flow of combat is pretty much like pushing heavy furniture through a bare floor. You push really hard and nothing happens. A short time thereafter, the slightest touch will jolt the heaviest load with ease. Predicting when one of those jolts will happen and how much it will last is impossible. In such posture my Ukrainian forces find themselves: how long and how much of the enemy pushes can we sustain?

The ATGM team in our right flank gets greedy and takes aim at their third T-72 tank.

Welcome to Ukraine - AAR Part 1 - Combat Mission Black Sea

The drums of war never start in hushed tones. The birds of summer gone from the sounds of exploding ordnance and the roar of engines of fighting vehicles. The smell of crops blown away by cordite and dug-out dirt. The sights of disemboweled normalcy, cement and flesh alike in forced communion.

Just a couple of kilometers from the Maksimov-Novoazovs'k border control buildings, the Russians were forced out of the road to search for shortcuts within the country-side.

This is game play from the recently released Combat Mission Black Sea. In this solo scenario I am commanding a mix of Ukrainian forces (blue) of infantry (platoon) reinforced by ATGM launchers, a recoilless gun and 3 heavy mortars. The Russians (red) have fielded 4 T-72 tanks and two platoons of mechanized infantry.

Tank-Infantry Teams - Steel Beasts ProPE

You can complain all day that the infantry is under-developed, but at the end of the day the war tales of tanks and dismounts working together in Steel Beasts are pretty much what a tanker should take home.

In this custom-made, single player scenario, I am in command of two platoons of Bradley IFVs and one section of M1A2 Abrams tanks (US Army). The objective is to secure the river crossings along a South Korean town. The ENY forces are a mix of dismounted and BMP infantry, a missile team and one or two tanks.

Command Modern Air/Naval Operations - Soviet Diesel Submarine vs NATO Convoy

I had this one stuffed in the hard drive for a year or so (!?). It is a simple scenario for you to practice submarine attacks against surface targets (playable only as the Soviets) and with some degree of randomization maintaining a high chance of a productive encounter.

Please grab the scenario from my support website at:

http://realandsimulatedwars.yolasite.com/soviet-diesel-sub-vs-nato-convoy.php

Just click on the link on the name of the file.

Cheers,

DCS Su-27 - The Ultimate Argument Campaign

This payware campaign is certainly well delivered. The voice overs, the virtual environment and the narrative is quite good.

The Ultimate Argument reminds me a lot about the missions of Flanker 2.5. The increased complexity and challenge at each mission, the sense of accomplishment whenever I complete one. It's all there again. For ten bucks, it's quite a bargain.