"Northag - 1000 point Escalation Scenario" Topic

Last night we played our largest test to date on my 6 x 5 table. This is the 1000 point level game, using the Escalation scenario and a classic charge up the table at a BAOR force dug into the ridge.

The defence was a classic forward infantry platoon dug in to foxholes, supported by dug in Chieftains and behind them on the tree line some Swingfires. A few British fire teams occupied the flank of the hill and the village with an SAS team pushed out into no man's land to observe the enemies advance, while a sneaky sniper team set up in the enemies rear. Soviet forces went for a heavy Forward Screen with infantry dug in as far forward as possible supported by AA defence and BRDMs plus dug in AT4 and sMG.

The Soviet force probed forward with mortar fire annoying the defenders, and little happened except the Soviets secured their 'Vital Objective' and the sniper team engaging a dug in Soviet Forward Observer – a duel that would last the whole game. The resultant chits however brought up a Gunship in support and that began a duel with the AA defences with the SA9 Gaskin scoring a near hit that sent the chopper scurrying for some cover although not shot down. It eventually returned and loosed off its last TOW to little effect.

As the Vanguard and then the Main Force arrived a tank battle began around the village and the Soviets took a beating. The entire T64 company would be knocked out, and the arriving T80 company hit a minefield and was forced to reconsider their advance. A second BAOR gunship arrived and managed to destroy the Shilka as well.

It all looked good for the BAOR, but the T80s, forced off road now ended up screened from much of the fire and British losses mounted. Two BMP platoons arrived and raced forward to secure the line of cottages outside the village, and despite losing several BMPs, poured fire into the BAOR infantry dug in along the path and poplar trees.

British vehicle losses mounted and the pressure mounted on both sides as the tanks slugged it out up close, but the T80s turned their fire onto the lighter armoured support vehicles and in short order put out of action virtually all the ATGM carriers. With things clearly on a knife edge, the next British turn proved to be one of just rolling ones… and in the following Soviet turn they managed to break the enemy as a Chieftain finally blew up to close range 125mm fire.

It was very close in the end, the BAOR slowly built up chits, the Vital Objective being crucial, and despite the Soviets losing three-quarters of their BR in 6 turns, they held on by luck to secure victory with only 3 BR left…

10mm Miniatures by Minifigs, Timecast and PSC

Mat by Cigarbox.

Nice!

Smaller than FOW/TY by fully 33 percent, and yet the accursed "parking lot syndrome" still persists.

28mm Fanatik, yes it does, disappointed to see,

Tally Ho!

Parking lot?

Those are wrecks with another one using them for cover…

The T80s were close.together to run the road… and I paid for my stupidity in grouping up so close.

So it was a player error that I paid for by running into a minefield.

But feel free to make incorrect assumptions on a set of rules not out yet that you haven't played… seems par for the course these days. ;)

Oh yes reading through a set of rules before you critcise them is soo last year! As for being so uncool as to actually playing them through a couple of times before sounding off – OMG! Yah I knooow!

Thanks for a tantalising preview – despite the brickbats its helped this wargamer be patient…but more please Sir!

Piers my only criticism of your game is that it makes everything I do look ordinary.

I look forward to seeing more.

Rules set I'm most excited for by a very large margin. I've invested a bomb into 15mm cold war, shame as the 10mm range looks very good. Hope some of the range makes it to 15!

Yeah, I'm also looking forward to BG Northag, though we will be playing in 15mm.

Certainly haven't played the rules so have no opinion to offer on that.

But- I don't think it was too unfair to point out that the spacing of the Russian MBTs in these photos is pretty close- almost TY style.

One of the rather difficult things to recreate the value of in a set of rules is that of the reserve/follow up echelon. It becomes tempting in many sets of rules to pack as many weapons into range as possible. Don't know at all about this set- but it does slightly have that appearance in these particular photos.

Reserves/second echelon troops should have some advantages/or maybe be cheaper in points than those of the ground at the beginning. The longer they are off table, the better they should perform once arriving/cheaper they should be.

They should be able to move more quickly into position once they arrive, and probably be somewhat better at acquiring existing targets on the battlefield, get artillery on target more quickly (at least if attacking), etc because they would be benefitting from the recce, observation, contact reports and general battle management work done in the early part of the engagement. That is one possible way of creating a counter-incentive to piling everything forwards into effective direct fire range asap.

Again though- I haven't played these rules so maybe they do generally give that sort of incentive to avoid getting too many toys on the table too quickly. Certainly wish them well and I expect they will be a success on the basis of their antecedents.

Having read part of the Rules and painted up a few tanks and infantry . I think 10mm scale is ideal . I will get the illusion of space on an 8 x 4 board. Artillery is all off board as it should be and also mortars. As the ranges would clearly over shoot . I do like the small units as well like the SAS .

As I already play Battlegroup then for me these rules fit like a glove

Its interesting the Parking lot appearance depends on the ground scale. Assuming its linear, if its not then realism has been sacrificed for whatever reason the designer gives. That aside it seems that generally a spacing of 40m is the bare minimum not to make a juicy (easy to hit repeatedly) target. How do you judge, rifle range is even now 250 to about 300m. So without making an easy target tanks need to be spaced about 6 or 7 over the length of rifle range and preferably a bit wider. so it would be interesting to know what the ground scale is for this game. Of note my maps of the British sector put villages less than 2km apart and field boundaries about 300 to 600m apart.

Interestingly you seem to have found a sector with minimal field boundaries or, and I do it sometimes omit field boundaries when I want a very simple terrain to explore the effects of formations at its very basic level.

These are things that can justify or deny the validity of the comments made ReallySameSeneffeAsBefore without even reading the rules.

The other check is that a GPMG on a tripod should be about 5 times rifle range (300m vs 1200 to 1500m).

Another simple check is based on the US analysis that a SAW is no more effective closer than 400m so it should not get better from a bit beyond rifle range.