"Tactical Forge: Mobile Defense" Topic

Ben over at Tactical Forge threw this little gem out on Friday, and it's a very interesting walk through on how to conduct a mobile defense. The scenario appears to be a single US rifle squad being assaulted by the dismounted element of a motor rifle platoon, sans the 'Bronegruppa'(ie,the AFVs). The rifle squad is just too small to have a real decent chance of fighting off the attack, so they perform a retrograde by elements to keep the OPFOR off balance and to preserve the fighting power of the squad. Some interesting stuff to say the least.

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What seems to make this work is the ability of the defender to break contact before being decisively engaged by the OPFOR. The defender sticks around for enough time to get a quick lick in and force the enemy to reorient. As REDFOR organizes to assault, the defender falls back to another set position. When the REDFOR hits the old position, the other element of the defender's force, who's been in overwatch the whole time, engages and forces the REDFOR to reorient… again, and hopefully carry out the same routine. Rinse and repeat until the REDFOR loses momentum due to attrition in troops and material.

Great in real life if you can pull it off, but nearly impossible to pull off in a miniatures game where both sides can see what's going on. Now maybe if there's hidden movement and maybe a referee?

Some interesting links, pics, and my wargaming musings on this at my blog:

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Sometimes the Germans in WWII would open fire on advancing Americans, forcing the Americans to deploy from their vehicles and organize an attack, which was all the delay the Germans wanted – they would fall back before the Americans could launch the attack.

The US did that trick in the Philippines with the War Plan Orange delay lines during the Luzon 1941 Campaign.

Also, IIRC at Gettysburg, 1863. The Union's 1st Cav Div setting up a screen. Forcing the lead elements of the CSA to deploy and become decisively engaged. Something that Lee told Heath, whose units were in the lead, to not let happen. As the CSA was still awaiting the rest of their forces to get into the area.

Beauford commanding the Union 1st Cav Div, knew he could not let the CSA get the high ground.

Great in real life if you can pull it off, but nearly impossible to pull off in a miniatures game where both sides can see what's going on. Now maybe if there's hidden movement and maybe a referee?

Pretty sure you can do that in the NUTS WW2 skirmish system.