Featured in this Issue * Cambrai - British tanks on the offensive * Balaclava - more British incompetance in the Crimea * Warlords Replay - at last we've actually done it... Trout triumphs! * Saipan - an old favourite revisited * Plus a look at what's new!
RunS Issue 18
Editor's Chance 2 Notes, W_?rk in progress... The Q Store 4 Have a look at our special offers ... Letters 4 Thanks for the memories ... Cambrai 5 The first tank breakthrough Balaclava 21 (More) Incompetence in the Crimea Warlords Replay 33 Illuria up for grabs ... Trout triumphs! Saipan 37 An old favourite upgraded r
Editor DISK Step~en Hand SUBSCRIPTIONS EDITOR'S Editor Emeritus Ian Trout Disk subscriptions are now available for IBM and Macintosh. The cost is the CHANCE Contributing Editors same for all formats. Roger Keating IBM users must tell us whether they NO MORE EXCUSES ... prefer3.5" or5.25" format.Ifyoudon't Gary Makin specify a format, you will receive the Well here I am, the new editor of Run 5, 5.25" diskette. If you wish to switch for better or worse. As of this issue Ian Gregor Whiley disk subscriptions from one machine is going back to what he does best, Malcolm Power format to another, just let us know. designing great games and I'm the one Mark Holman When we find the time, we intend to who's going to get the blame for the upgrade all the scenario disks from magazine not coming out on time. Andrew Taubman back issues into the new formats and I was looking at the advertisement I allow new users to acquire them or answered in Run 5 Issue 17 and I have U.S. Operations current users to upgrade to them. John Gleason We'll keep the cost as low as possible; come to the conclusion that I must be it will depend on how much time it II experienced, talented, punctual and Illustrator takes and how many scenarios we can tolerant"!, with, II an abiding interest in fit onto a disk. strategy games". Boy, have I got these Nick Stathopoulos guys fooled! Mentor Readers will find that this issue sticks Ken Trout pretty much to the tried and true Trout formula, though as I progress I intend Colour Artwork to put my own stamp on it. One change John Mockridge that you may notice is that I have tried Graphus Pty Limited UPGRADING TO to answer some of the many letters we get here at SSG. I reckon that if you take Printing NEW MACHINES the time to write to us you deserve at John Heron least some chance of getting ~n answer We have received a large number of to your queries. You might even want Pty Limited requests from our users to upgrade a particular title from one machine to to write and suggest ideas for Run 5 Run 5 is published 4 times per year articles and scenarios. by Strategic Studies Group Pty another. In response to this demand, we have decided upon the following Limited. All Rights Reserved. © This issue's scenarios are Saipan, policy. SSG 1993. Cambrai and Balaclava, battles from Any title from our range may be up WWII, WWI and the Crimean War re Australian Office graded from one machine to another spectively. All work well, showing the P.O. Box 261, Drummoyne, NSW. for a cost of half the retail price of the flexibility of the Battlefront and Decisive 2047. Tel (02) 819-7199. Fax (02) new version. You must send us the Battles systems. I would appreciate your 819-7737. original program disk and the front feedback on these topics; there are pageofthemanualfrom that game. We plenty of good European battles which American Office will send you a complete copy of the could be done with DB and many of the P.O. Box 30085, Pensacola, FL. new version of the game. 32503-1085.Tel(904)469-8880.Fax more mobile WWibattles which would For example, if you wish to upgrade a (904) 469-8885. make good subjects for Battlefront. C-64 version of Halls of Montezuma to Don't worry, the next ten issues won't the IBM/Tandy version, you should be Verdun, the Somme and Ypres (1, II ISSN 0816-7125 send us the original C -64 disk, the front page of the manual and the appropri and Ill) etc. Online Addresses ate cheque, money order or MC/Visa Next issue I intend to return to the Compuserve: Strategic Studies number. American Civil War with two scenarios Group-72040,34 North American users must send their dealing with the battle of Perryville in Applelink: Strategic Studies components and funds to our US Of 1862. The Battlefront scenario will be Group-AUST0161 fice. Everybodyelsemustuseour Aus on Operation Pegasus, the relief of Khe tralian Office. GEnie: SSG Sanh Marine Base in April1968. There will be some interesting variants for Carriers at War scenarios (and per- 2 CURRENT VERSION NUMBERS FOR ALL chance a replay of· Keating's second penses paid' jaunt to America if we consecutive defeat!) and some design have the game ready so it probably will SSG GAMES notes on our 'soon to be released' War be! Reach for the Stars lords II. Japan Sweeps South (IBM and Mac). This Ail (3.01), C64 (3.01), Mac (3.1), IBM will be a second game in the Carriers at (3.0), liGS (3.1), Amiga (3.1) CARRIERS AT WAR War series featuring another six his Carriers at War torical (and hypothetical) clashes from All (1.1), C64 (1.1), IBM (1.0) CONSTRUCTION KIT (IBM) theWar in the Pacific. The first scenario Europe Ablaze will explore a hypothetical clash be As you read this the Construction Kit Ail (1.0), C64 (1.0) tween the American and Japanese bat for Carriers At War should be just about Battlefront tle fleets in 1936, when tensions first on the shelves. In a\idition to the very All (1.0), C64 (1.0) ran high between the two comprehensive creation, graphics and countries. Both sides will have plenty Russia intelligence routines, you'll also get of battleships ... and bi-plane aircraft All (1.0), C64 (1.0) three new scenarios (Wake Island, aboard their flat-tops. I've been wait Battles in Normandy Guadalcanal and Tarawa), upgrades ing a long time to work on this! Other All (1.0), C64 (1.0) for the existing scenario, graphics and scenarios will include the initial Japa Halls of Montezuma intelligence files, more scenario vari nese attacks on Malaya, the Philippines All (1.0), C64 (1.0), Mac (1.33), IBM ants and finally an upgrade for the and the Dutch East Indies (including a (3.2*), GS (1.1), Amiga (1.2) game program itself. more effective British response), the Decisive Battles of the American In particular, the Midway, Eastern Japanese carrier raid into the Indian Civil War (Vol I) Solomons and Santa Cruz scenarios Ocean and the attacks on Australia and Ail (1.0), C64 (1.0), Mac (1.2), IBM (2.2) have benefited from map realignment. finally the American invasions of the Rommel Sometime after the release of the origi Philippines and Okinawa (with lots of All (1.0), C64 (1.0), Mac (1.33), IBM nal game, it occurred to me (IKT) that Kamikazes). Nick Stathopoulos, our (3.2*) the reason for the cramped deploy resident artist, has produced superb Decisive Battles of the American ment areas in these scenarios was sim cover art, a section of which has been Civil War (Vol II) ply the positioning of the playing area! used as the cover for this issue of Run 5. All (1.0), C64 (1.0), IBM (2.2) I still can't believe that it took me that Decisive Battles of the American Civil War long to realise ... so much for lateral MacArthur's War (Amiga). It has taken us so long to thinking. Anyway, the new scenarios All (1.0), C64 (1.0), IBM (3.2*) produce the Amiga version of our are much more flexible. Decisive Battles of the American popular Civil War battle game, that we Civil War (Vol III) have decided to package all three games All (1.0), C64 (1.0), IBM (2.2*) into one volume. The package will also CARRIERS AT WAR Fire King include a conversion program that will (MACINTOSH) C64 (1.0), IBM (1.0) allow you to convert an IBM scenario to the Amiga. There will be no WarPlan Gold of the Americas The Macintosh version of Carriers at Mac (1.2), IBM (1.01), GS (l.i), Amiga kit with the package. War will be released at the same time as (1.0), Atari ST (1.0) the IBM Construction Kit. We are re MacArthur's War(Mac). Both color and Panzer Battles leasing it for color Macs (or 256 color B&W machines are supported. All (1.0), C64 (1.0), Mac (1.2), IBM grey scale) only. Decisive Battles of the American Civil War (3.2*), GS (1.1), Amiga (1.2) Vol III (Mac). Both color and B&W Warlords IN THE WORKS machines are supported. IBM (2.1), Amiga (2.1), Mac (1.0) Rommel (Amiga). At last! As always, SSG plans to attend the Origins Gaming Convention, to be held Notes this year in Dallas/Ft Worth from July SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES * The difference between the .2 and .1 1st through July 4th. versions is the addition of the + and - It seems as if we have to make an an We expect to have ready the following key functions which allow you to vary nouncement under this heading every the speed of the unit animation with titles. issue. One consequence of our reluc- "Full Map" graphics. This is especially Warlords II (IBM). If you were even useful with fast 386 machines. vaguely excited by the original War lords, you will be delighted by this re Continued on p. 50 lease. Everyone at SSG gets an 'all ex- 3 THE Q STORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Editor, RUNS RUNS RunS,
SUBSCRIPTION RATES BACK ISSUES I have supported your company for (4 issues) IN AUSTRALIA many years. Your approach towargame IN AUSTRALIA design is excellent, and none of your Single Issue = $AUD 6.00 products have ever really failed to de Magazine/disk ·sub. = $AUD 65.00 Plus $AUD 1.00 shipping (max.) liver the advanced simulation concepts Magazine only su~. = $AUD 20.00 IN NORTH AMERICA they've promised. Your Run 5 maga zine is a fine after-sales medium that, IN NORTH AMERICA Single Issue = $USD 6.00 despite harsh commercial realities, Magazine/disk sub. = $USD 65.00 Plus $USD 1.00 shipping (max.) manages consistently to persuade us Magazine only sub. = $USD 20.00 ELSEWHERE that you're not just after our money. Well done. ELSEWHERE Single Issue = $AUD 6.00 (Surface Post) Plus $AUD 2.00 surface shipping (max.) or I should like to take issue, however, with the partisan style you adopt re Magazine/disk sub. = $AUD 80.00 $AUD 4.50 air shipping for the first maga zine and $AUD 2.00 for each subsequent garding the British. You really must Magazine only sub.= $AUD 35.00 magazine. stop this porn-bashing. For an interna (Airmail Post) tional company specialising in military Magazine/disk sub. = $AUD 90.00 simulations, it is totally unprofessional. Magazine only sub. = $AUD45.00 As a Kiwi serving in the British Army, I know only too well what you're on To subscribe, consult the schedule of fees about. Nevertheless, I have suspended above and make sure you include your RUNS my subjectivity and perhaps you might computer type (IBM or Mac) with your do the same? cheque or money order if you want a disk SCENARIO DISKS Take, for example, your recent scenario subscription. A disk subscription entitles (Apple 11/C64/IBM or Mac Format) "Malaya- a very British catastrophe". you to however many disks are necessary to The tone of your campaign write-up complement all the scenarios in the maga IN AUSTRALIA leaves one in no doubt about who SSG zine. Single Disk = $AUD 15.00 ea. feels responsible for the defeat. To some For those of you who don't want to spend 2 or 3 Disks= $AUD 12.00 ea. extent you are correct. The reasoning of this extra money ... don't worry. All the data 4 or more Disks= $AUD 10.00 ea. Percival and his subordinates may have necessary to build the magazine scenarios Plus $AUD 1.00 shipping (max.) been flawed and one would be hard will be provided for you. IN NORTH AMERICA put to describe his leadership as inspir ing. Nevertheless, there are two sides Single Disk = $USD 15.00 ea. to every story and I cannot believe it Customers in North America should 2 or 3 Disks = $USD 12.00 ea. would have been to your commercial send their Visa, Mastercard, cheque or 4 or more Disks= $USD 10.00 ea. disadvantage to balance the argument. money order to - Plus $USD 1.00 shipping (max.) You could have said, for example, that Strategic Studies Group Inc. ELSEWHERE Bennett's peppery aggressiveness was just as damaging to the Commonwealth P.O. Box 30085, Pensacola, Single Disk = $AUD 15.00 ea. cause as Percival's diffidence and that FL. 32503-1085 2 or 3 Disks = $AUD 12.00 ea. at least the British commanders did not 4 or more Disks = $AUD 10.00 ea. USA. scuttle off to safety at the last minute Plus $AUD2.00 surface shipping (max.) or leaving their soldiers to rot in Changi. (Tel: 904-469-8880; Fax: 904-469-8885) $AUD4.50 air shipping (max.) This last is a little harsh on Bennett, but Customers in Australia and Elsewhere it describes his actions with the same can dial direct (Tel: 02-819-7199; Fax: sort of bias that you have been apply 02-819-7199) for Visa and Mastercard orders or send their cheque or money order ing to anything British for some time to- (European Customers should note that Eurochecks are not acceptable) now. Strategic Studies Group Pty Ltd Continued on p. 20 P.O. Box 261, Drummoyne, NSW. 2047. AUSTRALIA 4 THE · BATTLE OF CAMBRA! "Through The Mud and the Blood to the Green Fields Beyond" November 20-22 1917 A Scenario for the Battlefront Game System
\ by Stephen Hand
In the early summer of 1917 the Third Army of the B.E.F. Armed with detailed plans Byng once again approached Haig who approved received a new commander. This was Julian Byng, the general the idea. III and IV Corps with tank who had masterminded the successful attacks of the Canadian support were to break the Hindenburg Corps at Vimy Ridge.in April. Before Byng took command of the Line south-west of Cambrai. Once the St. Quentin Canal had been breached Third Army GHQ had put forward a plan to penetrate the at Masnieres the Cavalry Corps was to Hindenburg line south west of Cambrai. sweep around Cambrai capturing Iwuy and the crossings of the Canal du The defences of the Hindenburg Line the Tank Corps, Lt. Col. J.F.C. Fuller, la Sensee. in the Cambrai sector were formidable. proposed that the Corps be pulled out In the final stages of the battle IV Corps The outpost zone consisted of a series of Flanders and be used in an attack on was to attack the rear of the units facing of strong-points behind a swathe of Cambrai. Support for the plan was VI Corps to the north while a reserve of barbed wire 100 yards wide. The for gained from Brig. Gen. Elles, the com infantry passed through the gap to re ward trenches were over twelve feet mander of the Tank Corps, the head of lieve the cavalry. wide, designed as a tank obstacle. This General Haig's operations section, was repeated in the battle and rear Maj. Gen. Davidson, and General zones, the whole defensive network Byng. The plan was not approved as it being nearly four miles deep. was thought that the army could not The Cambrai offensive was initially profitably fight on two fronts at once. designed to be a diversionary attack by The problem remained of how best to six divisions. The attack was intended carry out diversionary attacks in order to draw reserves away from Flanders to support third Ypres. Brig. Gen. Tu where Haig's Third Ypres offensive dor commanding the artillery of 9th (commonly known as Passchendale Division, IV Corps proposed to con after the last, and least successful, ceal a build up of artillery by using the phase of the battle) was about to begin. new method of "silent registration". The initial plan had limited geographi Rather than have each battery adver cal objectives, primarily the Flesquires tise its presence by using ranging Ridge. shots, the new system used precise sur Bynghad shown at Vimy Ridge that he veying to lay the guns. was a meticulous commander who Byng liked the idea. With no gun firing made every effort to reduce casualties until zero hour, the prospects of sur among his men. His dissatisfaction prise were greatly increased. Coupled with the original plan and the frustra with the tanks the chance of a break tion of the Tank Corps with the increas through existed and Byng saw the pos Kron Prinz Rupprecht of Bavaria ingly unsuitable conditions around sibility of using cavalry to exploit such Acknowledged as one of the most Ypres led to a revised concept for the a breakthrough. competent German commanders of diversionary attack. The senior ADC of the war 5 The British attack swept on almost un opposed until it reached Flesquires where the reverse slope of the ridge was held by resolute defenders, both infantry and artillery, firing at the tanks over open sights. Poor coordina (OnTumS) tion between the tanks and the infantry Secortd !Vffi:Y?I resulted in the loss of 16 tanks for no Rupprecht gain. IE4~¥ 1 As IV Corps attack ground to a halt in Byng front of Flesquires, III Corps were en countering no such problems. By noon elements of III Corps had reached the St. Quentin Canal at Masnieres. The poor bridges across the Canal held up the advance of the tanks, but several battalions of infantry managed to get I Gouzeaucourt I 0 across and engaged the defenders in ~ street fighting. At 4PM B squadron of the Fort Garry Horse broke through a gap in the de fences and proceeded to attack and destroy a German infantry column and a small field battery before retiring. Elsewhere the cavalry was prevented from crossing the Canal by the
SCALE (Km) --- FRONT LINE unforseen defence of the 107th Divi Nov. 20th 1917 2 . 5 sion. As night fell, the only point east of the Situation Map for Cambrai Canal in British hands was Masnieres. With Flesquires still untaken, though The attack at Cambrai was always in The area of the attack at Cambrai was almost surrounded, Byng considered tended to be subsidiary to Third Ypres. held by three German divisions, halting further attacks and consolidat The possibility of taking ground and though the main weight of the attack ing the day's gains. In consultation inflicting casualties was secondary to would fall on the 54th Division. Unbe with Haig he finally decided to renew drawing German reserves away from knownst to the British, the Germans the attacks on the morning of the 21st, Flanders. Byng, however, was not pre had a hint that an offensive might be IV Corps attempting to secure Bourlon pared to carry out the attack in a hap launched in the area and on the 19th of Wood and the town beyond, while III hazard manner; As with the successful November the 107th Division arrived Corps attempted to create a gap for the attack on Vimy Ridge the planning was from Russia, ostensibly for the pur cavalry south of Masnieres. highly detailed. Possible problems pose of relieving the 20th Landwehr Meanwhile, the German commander, were identified and solutions pro Division on the 25th of November. Crown Prince Rupprecht, had recov posed. At 6.10 AM on the 20th of November ered from the initial shock of the attack It was just as well that Cambrai was the tanks started forward, drowned and had ordered three divisions tore treated as a serious offensive by those out by the noise of over 300 planes of inforce Cambrai. taking part in it. On the 12thofNovem the Royal Flying Corps. At 6.20 with The morning of the 21st opened well ber, eight days before the attack was th~ attacking force starting to move for the British as they found that the due to take place, the Third Ypres of over no-man's land the artillery bar Germans had retired from Flesquires fensive was halted. The collapse of the rage erupted over the German posi during the night. IV Corps advanced Italian Front at Caporetto prompted tions. The suddenness of the bombard steadily throughout the day but were British Parliament to send several divi ment, coupled with the appearance of unable to capture Bourlon wood which sions to Italy. Third Ypres could not be the tanks behind the creeping barrage was heavily defended. III Corps cap continued, but Haig was determined was too much for the majority of the tured no further ground on the 21st as that Cambrai would go ahead as defenders of the outpost zone, who German reinforcements trickled in to planned. fled. man the defences on the Canal line. 6 CAMBRA! Map 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 20 21 22 23 24 25 0 0 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13· 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
0 OPEN @ WOOD ~ CITY QcANAL ® VILLAGE TRENCH @ FORT QFRONTLINE RIDGE C) SWAMP aBRIDGE
7 to heighten fears of a German attack in the area. It was therefore a complete surprise when a bombardment commenced at 6AM 30th November at the base of the salient in the south. At 7AM infiltration troops began overrunning the front line of the 55th Division and by SAM the attack had been extended north along the front for about a mile. By mid-morning the attack had reached to the outskirts of Gouzeaucourt. At 8.50AM the northern attack struck. Given thatthe bulkofthe British heavy artillery had been deployed against Wire: the Infantryman's Nightmare just such an attack the Germans made A MKIV Female Tank ofF Battalion training for the attack at Cambrai little progress and casualties were high on both sides. That night Haig called off the III Corps Corps to recover Bourlon Wood. Byng reacted rapidly to the German attack but decided to allow the IV Therefore the build-up for the north advances in the south. He threw the Corps attacks to continue around ern pincer was obvious and took the Guards Division and the 2nd and 5th Bourlon. The high ground of Bourlon attention of the British generals away Cavalry Divisions into the gaps and Wood was of strategic importance, from the far larger build-up in the ordered an immediate counterattack giving command of the area west of south. with the 4th Cavalry Division and two Cambrai. On the 30th III Corps was holding a far brigades of tanks still in the area. GHQ The 22nd was quiet with both sides longer section of the line than IV Corps arranged for rapid reinforcement by digging in along the III Corps front and and was therefore more vulnerable. British and French divisions. only localised attacks around Bourlon. On the 28th Bourlon Wood was At dawn on the 1st of December the By the end of the 22nd the initial phase flooded with gas which merely served cavalry and tanks attacked along with of the Battle of Cambrai was over. The second phase of the battle, the costly battle for Bourlon commenced on the 23rd. In a series of attacks and counterattacks over the next few days, the British took most of Bourlon Wood but failed to take the town. On the evening of 27th November Byng halted further attacks and gave orders to dig in in anticipation of a major counterattack. A counterattack was exactly what Crown Prince Rupprecht had in mind. Two new Corps had been formed from the reinforcements that had arrived in the Carribrai sector, many of the divi sions trained in the new Stosstruppen infiltration tactics. The counterattack was set for the 30th of November and was intended to strike both flanks of the British salient cutting off the bulk of the divisions in the nose of the salient. The Only Arm of Exploitation Rupprecht correctly perceived that the British were expecting an attack on IV B Squadron of the Fort Garry Horse which penetrated into the German rear areas and inflicted considerable casualties 8 the Guards and blunted the German advance. No more gains were made by the Ger mans. With the salient considerably narrowed, however, it was decided by Haig that Third Army should retire to a more defensible line. Byng therefore withdrew his divisions on the north of the salient to a line corresponding with the Hindenburg Support system. The withdrawal was carried out from the 4th to the 7th of B~cember and was completely successful. The Battle of Cambrai was over. The most common perception of Cambrai has been as a fleeting success with no clear understanding of why it failed. The cavalry are popular whip ping boys, due to their failure to exploit the breakthrough. Stuck in the Mud Certainly the cavalry were tardy in "Hyacinth", a MKIV male tank ofH Battalion stuck in a trench near moving up to the front and the success Flesquires, 20th November 1917 of the few troops that got into the Ger mitted the dire situation the German's man rear shows what could have been. Tanks: The Myth of "The would have been in had Third Ypres The failure of the cavalry, however, still been in progress. War Winning Weapon" was at least in part, due to the fleeting nature of the gaps produced. The Brit Lloyd George stripped Cambrai of re ish plan had not taken into account the serves to send divisions to Italy, but the In 1918 Churchill called the tank "in presence of the German 107th Divi requirements of Cambrai stopped the vincible". He and other proponents of sion. Germans flow of fresh troops to Italy the invincible tank myth claim that the for two weeks after 20th November. The successes of the German counter allied commanders threw away the This enabled the Italians to stabilise attack resulted in a complete sweeping advantage bestowed by this wonder their front before any of the British out of Third Army. Both III and IV ful weapon by constantly misusing it. divisions actually arrived in Italy. Corps commanders were sacked. The They conveniently ignore the limita most obvious deficiency though, was Cambrai showed the shape of the sub tions of what was, after all, a weapon in infantry minor training of junior of sequent 1918 offensives, gone were the barely two years old by the end of the ficers and NCOs. The commanders of massive preparatory bombardments war. the two divisions responsible for and human wave tactics of the Somme The Mk IV tanks used at Cambrai had blunting the northern attack had both and Third Ypres. Massed tanks, a top speed of 3.7 mph, a range of 35 placed great emphasis on rifle and massed ground attack aircraft, silent miles and broke down on average machine gun drills and on personal registration of artillery, and hence sur every 20 miles. The 0.5" armour was initiative. The basic training given to prise bombardments, and storm barely bullet proof and under fire, new units prior to being thrown into troops using infiltration tactics. All crews were sprayed with lead slivers, the trenches was simply not up to the were used for the first time on the the so called "bullet splash" which ne requirements of mobile warfare. western front at Cambrai and all fig cessitated the wearing of helmets with ured heavily in the final year of the war The battle was certainly a missed op mail aventails. The 8-9 crew members and indeed in the second world war. portunity, it had been designed as a were grouped around the engine with Cambrai can therefore hold its place in diversion to Third Ypres, it had been theconvenientlyplacedinternalradia history as the first truly modern battle. designed with fresh divisions spear tor which raised the temperature to heading it and adequate reserves. Both intolerable levels. Hindenburg and Ludendorff spoke The reality of the tank is that it was an highly of the operation and extremely limited weapon, still in its Ludendorff's head of operations ad- infancy. Therefore it shows remark able flexibility of mind that the French
9 HEADQUARTERS DATA FORMATION HQ (XXX) HQ 1st Div. 2nd Div. 3rd Div. 4th Div. HQI~D. [8] Caudry 79RDiv 183R Div 54 Div 9RDiv UNIT TYPE [8] Infantry Infantry Infantry Infantry Infantry ,,,. H(2ADMIN 0-7 4 ' 3 3 3 3 LEADERSHIP 0-7 4 4 4 4 6 HQSUPPLY 0-7 4 [ > 4 4 4 4 BRITTLE 0-1 1 0 1 1 1 MOVEMENT 0-31 20 ' N/A N/A N/A N/A ARRIVAL 0-99 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A ,,,. I LQCATION (x,y) 18,14 N/A N/A :''' N/A N/A BATTALION DATA FORMATION II/X 1/1 2/1 3/1 4/1 1/2 2/2 3/2 4/2 1/3 2/3 3/3 4/3 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4 1/- 2/- 3/- 4/- tJNITHD1 [3] 316 317 318 79A 184 418 440 183 27R.. 84 90R 54 A 6R 19R 395 Ar1 LOCATION (x,y) 13,24 16,25 13,26 18,24 14,22 14,20 16,19 19,21 11,14 12,13 16,14 13,13 12,16 12,18 17,15 20,12
GLASS .. ,. 0-13 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 13 MODE 0-3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 EQUJ~MFf 0·31 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 5 MOVEMENT 0-31 8 8 8 20 8 8 8 20 8 8 8 20 8 8 8 16 A.RRIYAL 0-99 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MAXSTREN. 0-15 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 1,,, 4 INIT.STREN: 0-15 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 RATING 0-15 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 1 1 1 5 RAN 10 BATTALION DATA 11 HEADQUARTERS DATA FORMATION HQ XXXHQ 1/Div 2/Div 3/Div 4/Div HQlD. [8] Reserve 214 Div 3Gd Div 30 Div 107 Div UNIT TYPE [8] . Infantry Infantry Infantry Infantry Infantry .· HQADMIN o~7 5 4 7 4 4 LEADERSHIP 0-7 5 4 7 4 4 HQSUPPLY 0•7 7 ? 7 7 5 BRITTLE 0-1 0 0 0 0 0 1:} ... •.:.:...... I~(JVEMENT 00:31> 20 N/A N/A N/A N/A ARRIVAL 0-99 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A 1 LOCATION (x,y) 21,10 N/A N/A N/A N/A BATTALION DATA FORMATION III/XX 1/1 2/1 3/1 4/1 1/2 2/2 3/2 4/2 1/3 2/3 3/3 4/3 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4 1/- 2/- 3/- 4/- I· UNITI~D. [3] 50 58 363 214 GF Lhr 9Gr GAr 99 105 143 30A 52R 227 232 107 KG LOCATION (x,y) 25,9 25,9 25,9 25,9 25,13 25,13 25,13 25,13 25,13" 25,13 25,13 25,13 21,11 23,11 22,12 22,11 25,13 CLASS 0-13 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 13 0 MODE 0-3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I EQUIPM'T 0-31 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 4 1 1 4 4 1 1 1 4 1 MOVEMENT 0-31 8 8 8 20 8 8 8 20 8 8 8 20 8 8 8 20 8 ARRIVAL 0-99 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 5 MAX STREN. 0-15 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 INIT. STREN. ·} 0;;;15 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 RATING 0-15 - 1 1 1 3 5 5 5 5 2 2 2 3 0 0 0 3 5 .RANGE 0-15 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 6 0 FATIGUE 0-7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 5 5 5 5 7 EXPERIENCE 0-7 4 4 4 4 . 7 7 7 7 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 ATTACHM'T 0-4 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/AN/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 4 12 BATTALION DATA 2/1 3/1 4,2 3,1 0 0 0 0 1 1 8 8 0 0 5 5 5 5 2 2 2 0 0 0 FATIGUE 7 7 7 7 EXPERIEN€E 4 4 4 4 ATTA€HM'T N/A N/AN/A N/A N/A 13 Nationalit 1stlri.d BRITISH ~ ~~~~--~--~IL~==~ ···· 2ndlri.d ~ ...... -- .... 4tliEliv ...... ,....,....-...... I 2 Cav ____ _,E]1stDiv 2nd Bde -----~ 3rd Div -----~4th Div -----~ HEADQUARTERS DATA FORMATION HQ XXXHQ 1/Div 21Div 3/Div 4/Div HQliD ~ [81 IQ>Corps 1 In£ 2 In£ ,,, 1 Cav 2Cav UNIT TYPE [81 Infantry Infantry Infantry Cavalry Cavalry JIQ , ~QMI~ 0-7 5 4 4 3 2 LEADERSHIP 0-7 4 4 4 2 3 HQ-SUPl'LY 0-7 7 7 7 7 7 BRITTLE 0-1 0 0 0 0 0 MOVEMENT 0-31 20 N/A N/A N/A N/A ARRIVAL 0-99 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A LOCATION (x,y) 7,19 N/A . ,:: N/A N/A N/A BATTALION DATA FORMATION III 111 211 3/1 4/1 1/2 212 3'/2 4/2 1/3 213 3/3 4/3 1/4 214 3/4 4/4 11- 2/- 3/- 4/- lJ:.Nl'I'IiDl ·- [3] 241 24A 551 55 A 121 l2A 291 29A 5Cv. 5HA 2Cv 2HA lCv lHA 4FC 5FC Arl Ar2 Tkl Tk2 LOCATION (x,y) 10,25 5,25 11,21 10,20 10,18 10,21 8,18 7,16 6,19 8,19 3,17 8,16 0,17 9,18 9,26 9,24 8,20 9,19 11,18 11,16 CEASS 0-13 I< 0 13 0 13 0 13 0 13 5 13 5 13 5 13 5 5 < 13 13 11 11 MODE 0-3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 EQJ{IPM!T 0-31 1 4 1 4 1 4 1 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 2 5 5 3 3 MOVEMENT 0-31 8 20 8 20 8 20 8 20 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 16 16 16 16 ARRIVAL ,, 0-99 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 95(0) 95(0) 0 0 0 0 MAXSTREN. 0-15 15 5 15 5 15 5 15 5 12 4 12 4 12 4 12 12 15 10 8 8 ·'''' INI"f. STREN. 0-15 15 5 15 5 15 5 15 5 12 4 12 4 12 4 12 12 15 10 8 8 15 15 RAriNG ..•. 0-15 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 5 RANGE 0-15 0 7 0 7 0 7 0 7 0 5 0 5 0 .5 0 0 11 13 1 1 FATIGUE 0-7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 1 ::4 EXPERIENCE >·-· 0-7 i 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 7 7 ATTACHM'T 0-4 N/AN/A N/A N/A N/A N/AN/A N/A N/A N/AN/AN/A N/AN/AN/A N/A 2 2 2 2 14 HEADQUARTERS DATA FORMATION XXXHQ 1/Div 2/Div 4/Div HQI.D. IV C:orps l'I'ank 2 '['a.ftk. French UNIT TYPE Infantry Infantry HQADMIN 5 4 5 LEADERSHIP 4 5 7 4 HQSUPPLY 7 7 7 BRITTLE 0-1 0 1 1 MOVEMENT 0-31 20 N/A N/A ARRIVAL 0-99 0 N/A N/A LOCATION (x, ) 6,16 N/A N/A BATTALION DATA FORMATION III 1/1 2/1 3/1 4/1 1/2 2/2 3/2 4/2 1/3 2/3 3/3 4/3 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4 1/- 21- 3/- 4/- UNIT J.D. [3] 201 20A Tkl Tk2 61 6A Tk3 Tk4 51! ,51 A 621 62A Frl FAl Fr2 FA2 !Arl FA3 .< ·.···· LOCATION (x,y) 10,16 9,16 9,14 10,15 9,15 10,17 7,12 7,13 7,14 6,15 6,12 6,11 6,20 5,20 4,19 3,18 7,15 2,18 CLASS 0-13 0 13 11 11 0 13 11 11 •····· o 13 0 13 0 13 0 13 •....• 13 13 MODE 0-3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 EQUIPM'T 0-31 1 4 3 3 1 4 3 3 1 4 1 4 1····· 1 4 1 2 5 5 MOVEMENT 0-31 8 20 16 16 8 20 16 16 8 20 8 20 8 20 8 20 16 16 0 •··· ARRIVAL 0-99 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 95(0)95(0)95(0)95(0 I 0 95(0) MAXSTREN. 0-15 15 5 8 8 15 5 8 8 15 5 15 5 15 5 15 5 15 15 .. INIT. STREN. 0-15 15 5 8 8 15 5 8 8 15 5 15 5 15 5 15 5 15 15 RATING 0-15 4 4 15 15 5 4 15 15 3 3 4 4 3 2 3 2 7 5 ··.· RANGE 0-15 0 7 1 1 0 7 1 1 0 7 0 7 0 5 0 5 11 7 __. FATIGUE 0-7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 EXPERIENCE 0-7 4 4 7 7 5 4 7 7 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 .. 5 4 ATTACHM'T 0-4 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/AN!A N/A N/A N!A N/AN/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2 4 15 2 0 2 0 CAMBRA!- Terrain Effects Chart TERRAIN COSTS PER HEX ATTACK EFFECTS 7 7 6 6 7 7 5 5 2 2 7 7 N.A. 5 5 1 4 3 7 5 16 CAMBRA!- Objectives & Miscellaneous Factors I.D. · Name Map Loc Div. De£. Start End Pts/T Pts/E [11] [x,y] (0-3) (0-1) (1-99) (1-99) (0-30) (0-255) 17 D had a top speed of 18 mph and a range of 200 miles. By First World War standards it was a wonderful weapon. The problem was that only one Me dium D tank was actually completed by the end of the war. The best tank actually on the battlefield was the Medium A ("Whippet") tank. This had a pedestrian top speed of 8.3 mph and a range of only 80 miles. In the absence of an efficient arm of exploita tion, advances necessarily occurred slowly and stepwise through the intel ligent application of combined arms. The tank became an integral part of combined arms operations but was no more the weapon that won the war than any other. Spoils of War A tank brings in a captured German 5.9" gun near Flesquires, 20th November 1917. Note the relaxed m·anner of the British soldiers within a mile of the CREATING THE fighting SCENARIOS If this is the first time you have tried to High Command ordered 400 Of the 378 fighting tanks in action on transfer a magazine scenario onto a Schneider tanks in February 1916 and a the first day of the battle, 199 were still save-game disk, we recommend you further 400 St. Chamond tanks soon available on the morning of the second follow these directions. The letters in after. Remember that this was seven day (although only 65 had been parentheses after each heading refer to months before the first Mkis saw ac knocked out by the Germans, the oth the corresponding section in any of the tion on the Somme on September 15. ers had broken down). Obviously with Battlefront Game System manuals. rates of attrition this high the tank was Immediately following that action Note that if you are building up the not a weapon for long, drawn-out bat Douglas Haig asked for 1000 more scenario on an IBM/Tandy version of tles. Either a breakthrough had to be tanks. Obviously the tank, as limited as the game, there are a couple of addi made in the first few days or not at all. it was, was perceived by the generals as tional data entries to be made. These Cambrai showed that tanks were very a possible means of breaking the trench are noted where applicable. Further good at breaking into a system of de deadlock, and hence worth using. more, there is some additional infor fences but breaking through the de Why then did Haig deploy his tanks mation for IBM users at the end of this fences was another matter entirely. before Cambrai in "penny packets". section. Be sure to read it, especially if Quite simply he did so because that What was lacking was an efficient arm you have an EGA/VGA card and want was all he had. 49 tanks took part in the of exploitation. It is ridiculous to re to take advantage of our "full map" first attack on the Somme. By 31 July gard the Mk IV and its equally snail graphics. Issue 14 of Run 5 contains a 1917, at the start of Third Ypres, there paced predecessors as weapons of ex detailed guide on the use of" full map" were still only 136 tanks available to ploitation. The only arm of exploita graphics on the IBM. tion possessed by any army in WWI fight, a figure that had risen to 378 by Macintosh users should follow the in was cavalry. The fact that the cavalry the start of the battle of Cambrai on 20 structions in their game manual. In was ineffective does not change the November 1917. Cambrai was the first Issue 15 of Run 5, there is a detailed fact that it was an arm of exploitation time massed tanks were used because guide on WarPaint™ for Macintosh and that it was the only arm of exploi it was the first time they were avail users. able. tation the generals had. IIGS and Amiga users should follow The medium series tanks were obvi The key to understanding the limita the instructions in their game manual. ously designed to overcome this defi tions of the First World War tank lies Most of the hints for Macintosh users ciency but the first tank which can be not in the number of tanks available on are applicable to IIGS and Amiga us regarded as a real weapon of exploita the 20th of November but the number ers. available on the 21st of November. tion was the Medium D. The Medium 18 Equipment Map Size [5.11]. Enter the data from the Map Size table. Define Terrain [5.12]. Enter the data from the Terrain Effects Chart. If you are using a HOM/ROM/MW /PZ master disk on the All or C64 or any IBM, Mac or IIGS master disk, you can use WarPaint™ to create the custom ised terrain icons of your choice. Define Miscellaneous Factors [5.13]. Enter the relevant factors from the Mis Preparing the D\~k [3]. Boot up the Master Disk and · 'select 20 The Battle of Balaclava ."Into the Valley of Death" October 25th 1854 A Scenario for the Decisive Battles Game System \ By Stephen Hand The name Balaclava has become synonomous with the charge of the Light Instead of attempting to relieve Silistra Brigade. It is associated with gallantry and elan ofthe highest order. Has the they remained near the port. undoubted bravery of the men who! ode "into the valley of death" obscured While sickness raged through the the real battle ofBalaclava? What military significance, ifany, did it really camps of the sedentary allies the war was effectively finished by the inter have? Should the charge'of the Light Brigade be remembered as a glorious vention of the Austrians. Austria was episode in British military history or rather as an example of the gross concerned about the Russian presence incompetence of the hidebound British officer class that resulted in the on the Danube and threatened to join senseless destruction of an entire brigade of cavalry? the allies if the Russians did not with draw. The Russians consequently For nearly a hundred years, from the The fact that Britain and France be ended their costly siege and retired question of Greek independence in 1829 came involved in the eventual war be from Moldavia and Wallachia. to the assassination in Sarajevo of Arch tween Russia and the Ottoman Empire With the Russians repulsed from the duke Franz Ferdinand, precipitating had little to do with supporting the European portion of the Ottoman Em the First World War in 1914, Europe Turks against an aggressor. Rather the pire, surely the allies had achieved their was troubled by a series of Near East British and French were not prepared aims. Everyone could pack up and go crises. to sit by while Russia became the domi home with the status quo preserved. Whatever the permutations of any nant land power in Europe. Alas, governments are not known for given crisis, they all had the same root The Turks seemed quite pleased by the making sensible deci$ions which will cause. The crises revolved around the prospect of war, it was going to come leave them with egg on their c9llective collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the sooner or later, and it was better to be face. The bumbling generalship of both "sick man of Europe". facing Russia with the support of Eu Raglan and St. Arnaud had resulted in For several hundred years the Otto rope's two greatest military powers. the allies sitting idle while the Turks mans had controlled the entire Bal When war eventually came,· the allies did all the fighting. What's more, con kans, a substantial part of Southern seemed unsure of where to send their siderable numbers of men were dead and Central Europe. The slow breakup forces. Eventually a British force under of disease without ever having fired a of the Empire led to a power vacuum in Raglan and a French force under St. shot. the region, one which Russia was only Arnaud landed on the Gallipoli Penin To recall the armies from the Black Sea too happy to try to fill. sular. The allies reasoned thattheTurks without having engaged the Russians The Crimean War was nominally about would soon collapse and they would would have been disastrous for the the rights of Christian nations to have be needed to defend Constantinople. prestige of both British and French gov some control over the holy places of As it turned out the Turks were doing ernments. Jerusalem and Bethlehem and the rights rather better than expected. The unsuc Just as today, governments are quite of Orthodox Christians living within cessful Russian siege of Silistra, on the unwilling to make hard decisions that the Ottoman Empire. The reality, how Danube,lasted from April 14th to June will cost them votes, however logical ever, was that Russia wanted control of 23rd. On May 29th the first of the allies those decisions might be. Therefore, the Balkans and Constantinople. reached Varna on the Black Sea coast. the Russians had to be attacked. Where they were attacked did not really mat- 21 Campaign Map of the Crimean War (September 1854- March 1856) 30 000 men at Odessa who could not reinforce Sevastopol until the allied intentions were made clear. Menshikov nevertheless got his army together to block the allied advance at the Alma River. The Battle of the Alma was fought on the 20th of September 1854 (see issue #16) and consisted largely of a frontal assault by the Brit ish on prepared Russian positions. The Russians broke but the allies were too exhausted to mount an effective pur suit. After Alma it was decided that Sevastopol should be approached by way of a flank march. The main city and the dockyards lay on the southern side of a large bay and it was thought necessary to attack them directly rather than from the north. Upon reaching the city the British re established their naval supply lines at Balaclava Harbour while the French, further to the west were supplied through Kamiesh Harbour. With the Russian army reinforced and some where east of the city the British supply lines were vulnerable to sudden attack. All this would have been a moot point if the allies had assaulted the city rather than laying siege. St. Arnaud, the French commander had died during the march to the city. His replacement, Canrobert was not will ing to risk an assault. He was sup ported by John Burgoyne, illegitimate son of the general who surrendered to the Americans at Saratoga in 1777 and commander of the British Engineers. Burgoyne favoured a siege saying that an assault would result in at least 500 casualties. In hindsight, the allied deci sion not to assault Sevastopol must be regarded as one of the worst examples of false economy in the history of war ter, as long as the allied expeditionary have caught the public imagination.On fare. Given that the Sevastopol defences force was seen to have achieved some the 14th of September the allies landed were almost non-existent when the al thing. at Calamita Bay north of Sevastopol. lies arrived it is hard to see how they It was decided to invade the Crimea The Russians were unsure of the allied could justify a formal siege. with· the aim of taking the Black Sea intentions. They still feared an Aus The efforts of the Russian's chief engi portofSevastopol. Sevastopol was near trian invasion and hence the only troops neer, the German Colonel Todleben to Turkey, an attacking army could be available to oppose the 60 000 strong improve the defences were nothing landed and supplied by sea and prob allied army were 30 000 men under short of astounding. Between Septem ably just as importantly, it happened to Prince Alexander Menshikov and the ber 27th when the allies set up camp 22 BALACLAVA - Map 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 0 0 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 16 16 17 17 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 QoPEN ~VILLAGE ,0'ROAD QRIVER · @wooDs 8 ~ggE¥~ Q'rFORD HARBOUR ····. HEIGHTS r7\ BRIDGE FRONT ~ 0 LINE @REDOUBT 23 manned each of the next three redoubts to the west. The redoubts were also equipped with nine 12lb naval guns with British crews. The head of the Balaclava gorge was dominated by the town of Kadikoi which was defended by the 93rd High landers and another battalion of Turks. Behind them were the inner defences manned by infantry and artillery of the Royal Marines. The static defences of Balaclava were commanded by Maj-Gen. Sir Colin Campbell, a capable Scot. The mobile defences consisted of Lord Lucan's cav alry division consisting of the heavy Brigade under Scarlett and the light brigade under The Earl of Cardigan. Command problems within the cav alry division were exacerbated, firstly by Lucan's incompetence and, secondly by the fact that Lucan and the even more incompetent Cardigan were not on speaking terms. Even Scarlett was an amateur, although he, as it turned out, at least had a good grasp of mili tary practicalities. Turkish Soldiers Should a strong Russian attack necessi The Turks were generally despised by the British and French; feelings which were tate the detachment of troops from the not altered by their failure to hold the redoubts at Balaclava allied siege lines, the first units to rein force Balaclava would be the British 1st outside the city and October 17th when allies began to realise that they were in and 4th Divisions and the French Corps bombardments commenced, the city for a long siege. Which brings us back de Observation, all up consisting of six was ringed with earthworks. Todleben to those vulnerable British supply lines. infantry brigades and the two cavalry brigades of the Chasseurs d'Afrique. press ganged the population into dig The British siege lines were on the west ging almost around the clock. He also side of the Sapoune Heights. Stretch Opposing these forces the Russians stripped the blockaded Russian fleet of ing east from the Sapoune Heights were planned to attack Balaclava with 25000 all its guns for the walls. Menshikov the Causeway Heights which separated men. The force, under Lieut-Gen. was so pleased by these defences that the North and South Valleys. On the Liprandi, consisted of slightly less than he reinforced the city to 38 000 men and southern side of the South Valley was 20000 infantry, 5000 cavalry and 78 341 guns by the time the allied attacks Balaclava Harbour. Any Russian ad guns. The overall Russian commander, began. vance on Balaclava must come from Prince Menshikov, realised that to con In comparison the allies had only 126 the north or north east over the Cause trol Balaclava he needed to occupy not guns on land, although they had con way Heights. Therefore the defences of only the Causeway Heights but the siderably more guns in their fleet. It Balaclava were based around a series village of Kadikoi. was only the land-based guns, how of six redoubts built along these heights. Once in possession of Kadikoi no Brit ever, that counted. After the first un At the time of the battle only four of the ish supplies would be able to leave successfulnaval bombardment the fleet redoubts had been completely finished Balaclava. The allies would be forced took no more part in the reduction of and were manned. to raise the siege of Sevastopol and Sevastopol, wooden ships were simply The troops manning the redoubts were attack the Russians to re-open the sup no rna tch for stone forts and Turks of Omar Pasha's expeditionary ply line. earthworks. force. A full battalion of 600 men Even a brief lull in the siege would give After the first couple of days bombard manned the easternmost redoubt on the defenders the opportunity to im ment and counter-bombardment the Canroberts Hill and a half battalion prove their fortifications and build up 24 British Army Bosquet's Division Espinasse' s Bde (Esp; 2000 inf, supplies. Russian victory at Balaclava no guns), Vinay's Bde (Vin; 2000 could have extended the siege by six General F.J.H. inf, no guns) months. Somerset, Baron The attacking force was divided into a number of infantry prongs supported Raglan by cavalry and artillery. The columns Russian Army of Gribbe, Semiakin, Levutski and Attached to Army HQ Skiuderi were to attack the eastern Maude's Bty (Mau; 300 crew, 6 Lt. Gen. P.P. most three redoubts while Zhaboritski guns), 1st Marine Bty (MAl; 200 was to take the fourth redoubt and crew, 14 guns), 2nd Marine Bty Liprandi protect the right flank of the attacking (MA2; 200 crew, 12 guns) force from the m~in allied force on Attached to Army HQ Sapoune Heights. Balaclava Defences 1st Dnieper Bde (Dnl; 2600 inf, Once the infantry columns had cap Maj. Gen. Sir C. Campbell 10 guns), 1st Ukraine Bde (Ukl; tured the redoubts on the Causeway 1st Turkish infantry (Tul; 600 inf, 3100 inf, 8 guns), Odessa Bde Heights the cavalry reserve under 4 guns), 2nd Turkish infantry (Ode; 1900 inf, 12 guns), 2nd Ryjov, between 2000 and 3000 strong (Tu2; 300 inf, 2 guns), 3rd Turkish Ukraine Bde (Uk2; 1500 inf, 12 was to capture Kadikoi. infantry (Tu3; 300 inf, 2 guns), 4th guns) The plan was cautious, relying on the Turkish infantry (Tu4; 300 in£, 2 cavalry to capture the vital objectiye guns), 5th Turkish infantry (Tu5; Semiakin's Division while preparing the infantry to receive 600 inf, no guns), 93rd Highland Azov Bde (Azo; 3100 inf, 6 guns), the pllied counterattack. The weakness Rgt (93H; 700 inf, no guns), 2nd Dnieper Bde (Dn2; 1900 inf, of the plan was in its under-utilisation Marines (Mar; 800 inf, no guns) 4 guns) oftheinfantry. IfKadikoididnotfall to the cavalry, there would be no allied Cavalry Division Zhaborits' Division counterattack and 20 000 infantry Lord Lucan Sousdal Bde (Sou; 2300 inf, 6 would be $itting idle on the Causeway Heavy Bde (Hvy; 600 cav, no guns), Vladimir Bde (Vla; 2300 Heights. guns), Light Bde (Lgt; 600 cav, no in£, 4 guns) As the 25 000 Russians gathered to guns) strike at Balaclavaon the evening of the Ryjov's Division 24th of October an allied spy brought 1st Division 60 Don Cossack Rgt (60D; 400 news of the imminent attack Unfortu Lt. Gen. HRH The Duke of cav, no guns), 53 Don Cossack nately for the men in the redoubts the Cambridge Rgt (53D; 500 cav, no guns), Guards Bde (Grd; 2_000 in£, no Lancer Rgt (Lan; 600 cav, 4 guns), Highland Bde (Hig; 2000 guns), Ingemanla Rgt (Ing; 900 inf, no guns) cav, 6 guns), Cossack Rgt (Cos; 800 cav, no guns), Kiev Rgt (Kie; 4th Division 1200 cav, 6 guns), Uhlan Rgt Lt. Gen. Sir G. Cathcart (Uhl; 600 cav, no guns) Goldie's Bde (Gol; 3000 inf, no guns), Torrens' Bde (Tor;2000 inf, no guns) allies had heard these rumours before Canrobert's Corps and Raglan decided to take no action. At 5 AM on the 25th the signal flag for (French) "enemy advancing" went up in Re doubt No.1. Lord Lucan sent Maude's d'Allonville' s Brigade horse artillery battery to support the 1st Chasseurs d'Affrique (lCh; Turks and he was in position when the 800 cav, no guns), 4th Chasseurs bombardment began at6AM. The horse artillery was withdrawn after a brief Maj. Gen. Sir Colin Campbell d'Affrique (4Ch; 800 cav, no guns) exchange when a shell struck the com The commander of "the thin red manding officer's horse, literally ex line" ploding within the wretched beast. 25 BALACLAVA Brigades ~~~~=L?~ Azov orue:., 2 ' ~~ •I Vh>d~m" w r!:oo 53 O:ncoo . U..::~~' c~"k> :.: ":j ~;' ~':[@t k~iJJ~~"P~ ' (Abbihl ·,,: (anl :i:i~:·:-~/i~&~~:,,~;:,:;,,_::,·: Dt\2 ~_~: 1 ~''':\sou ,·,. ·c:. Vlli · .· 6oP '~:>·,, ~ sai:t , ,, Lan, ~ -, Ing·,: ,, Cos ,, 1 ' Kie linn ~IT~D W ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I:MA:et~9:A.mi~N : I <~y) { : t ~Jr~ , I 12/ 9 1 4;~ i sJw > r 14Jz i i 7{ 6 . _- 6}'4; > I r7;p,,,. ~ 9;s , ._· _·, a:r~ ; :\:t ta;s CORPS 0-15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IRiff§~t;iN . >: 0;39 < _:_ < ~ f a a .,,,,,, 3 .a - i . ·: 3 {,, ARRIVAL 0-95 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I'UNi'llTYFE :. o;;j_ .. Q 2 2 ...... 2 . . . 2 2 . . 2 .. 2 I OBJECTIVE 0-23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ISMA'ttiARM:S 1 m31 2: · 2 · 2 a - 3 4 _4 · -- a 3 _· 4 > 1 ARTILLERY , 0-31 .. _ 1 _ 1 2 2 0 0 3 3 0 3 0 ·.··.····_. 23 ·... •. 23 4.·. ' g ma.ocu:~ smll:"ENi ; ;;~o:-al ali ___ ·. :19 -... - . 5 .,.,.· ... ,.,., ,.,., .. 8 12 MOVEMENT 0-15 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ~~~~Y;$-TR~ > rn-1'5 > ? :. ---_ 2 · __-,. -..- g ·· · z -_· o -· ·_ o ·- 2 > _,:··."' a _.• ARRIVAL...... 0-95 . . ...0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0·. 0 0 .•.•.. ,,, ..•.,.,, I. . ••/•0 .• ,,,,,, .... U!!ii'fTY,PE .. -· · . · -· o~a 1 1 a ·. · . o . o · ...... o . o ·. · o o .· .-._ .. o o o I t o OBJECTIVE 0-23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SM~P:AitMS JF~l t 2 . ·. 2 .. ·. . 2 < } 2 . 2 . . 2 2 .. w li 1 . / I i > ARTILLERY 0-31 1 1 0 0 0 i9 •... -.• _.. -. ···•· a -·••, • 6 rslfiwN:d r m~t~ 2& .-··-··. ··--· --_ •• .- ·• aJ · · 3, MOVEMENT 0-15 3 3 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 l 1; lluiiTTI· ~· ~E~~R~¥~ ;j :~siT~R~u t(i.. <~~ ~ •••··•u~•;t.1· lmm4ts~; 1[ 1v··>,_•••••••-••-•·••·•••·•·•·• :~s~ ••·•·•••-•;•• i ll i~\ii\1;_~4 •·1 iiii l ~11··••••• ~6\ ·[_.;.·-~-~ ~;~ ;;; :6~~;;;~;~ l i1il-'-i.~ g2 ·;_;··; 1 1 1 Hig 1 Tor 1 ESp . . . 1 % ~~$ ~~~HA._'Phd .. [alt f{y¥ Lig bri:i ' G~l < 1cfi 4i:m. . . . Viti M~U'' 1Jl\l.!.! ~IZE _ _ . _ [3] . _ Bde . . . Bde _· Bde Bde Bde Bde Rgt Rgt Bde Bde Bty ~t ~~TION (Xjy) I 7111 I 2j8 0/ 7 O{Z I 0)14 Qfl4 I orz or7 0/.7 o; 7 ' id/~ I CORPS 0-15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ~~V~lQN o4a9 I / 21 ... 21L. . 22 22 . 23 .· i3··._· ...·. 24 z4 ' 2S···i -25 > :r > > o •··•• o ····· 3 i OBJECTIVE 0-23 0 0 5 5 6 6 5 5 5 5 0 sM':AlitAI{Ms m3i 1 i 3 . · . a 1 . - ·. · 1 . 2 2 3 . 3 , i ; > 1 , i 3 < ARTILLERY 0-31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 . ijto(i)~STREN~ I m~i i i6 . 6 ·-.io _.· .20 30" _·_· ·.20 · ·a ·s· 20 · 20 ),-i<> 3 .. > MOVEMENT 0-15 4 4 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 4 ~~TTER)\STR" < oi15 t i 0 _ · . ·- o / o...... · 0 .. · · . ·· o ..· ._ 0 0 .· 0 il i 0 3 SHATTERED 0-1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 LEAI)ERS"HIP . o;;z < 3 ·· i .· s ·.·_.·. · 4 .. 4 •· >. 4 ·. s -· ···_ s i · 4 .. / 4 4' .••••. COHESION Q-7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 EXPE~IENCE 0+7 I 6 > 6 . . .. 7 . 5 . ·,. ·. 4 4 5 . i 5 ········ 4 i> > . 4 .... ·•" 5 •············ ,;-:::Dtt::l 0:0;~ ;i;ft~&~ ~ . : . ·~ .· . : )EE> lEi " .... i ~t:i:i! t ic. \ : > 7 c]' 26 Brigades (Cont.) The Turks on Canroberts Hill put up a Smoothbore muskets were ineffective spirited defence but the smaller garri at anything over 200 yards. Charging sons of Redoubts 2,3 and 4 fled before cavalry would take approximately 25 the infantry assault struck them. On seconds to cover the final200 yards at Canroberts Hill a brief melee ended at the gallop. Therefore a well drilled in 7.30 with the surrender of the redoubt. fantry unit could loose off a volley at On hearing of the capture of the 200 yards and j.us.1 have another one redoubts, Raglan and Canrobert or loaded in time to fire at point blank dered immediate reinforcements to range. Most commanders didn't take move down into the valley. They would chances and simply held fire till the not arrive, however in time to have cavalry were within 50 yards. much influence on the battle. With rifled muskets the 93rd were able The Russians spent approximately an to fire a volley which had some effect at hour moving troops up onto the Cause 600 yards, reload and fire another, more way Heights to defend the redoubts effective volley at 250 yards and could against counterattack. Then at 8.30 AM still have reloaded in time to give them Ryjov's cavalry descended into the hot stuff at point blank had the Rus South Valley towards Kadikoi. sians not broken. COHESION Campbell, at Kadikoi, had deployed Having retreated before the "thin red EXPERIENCE the 93rd Highlanders on a knoll in front line" the Russian cavalry was not fin of the town with a battalion of Turks on ished. Indeed half the cavalry had not his right. Another Turkish battalion even been engaged as yet. Ryjov moved was formed from fugitives from the west up the North Valley, crossing the redoubts and these were placed on Causeway Heights just west of Redoubt Corps Campbell's left. As the Highlanders No.4. co'RPSNUM::···· came under artillery fire, Campbell As the cavalry moved towards Kadikoi withdrew them onto the reverse slope. they were surprised to see 300 men of CORPS J.D. This unfortunately coincided with the the Heavy Brigade move across their MAP LOCATION commencement of the Russian cavalry line of advance and form up. The Rus TYPE attack. Thinking that the British were sian force paused to dress its ranks ARRIVAL retreating, the Turks fired a volley at before charging. Scarlett saw his op the ridiculous range (for smoothbore portunity and ordered the charge. The ORDER muskets) of 800 yards and promptly Russians were taken completely by sur OBJECFIVE !/~ fled to Balaclava. prise and were unable·to countercharge. As the cavalry approached, the High The Heavies broke clean through the landers rose from behind the crest and Russian lines and where in danger of DAILYCOMM. loosed off two volleys which broke the being cut off and surrounded. At that LEADERSHIP Russian cavalry. It is interesting to note moment the other 300 of the Brigade STAFF that with the new Minie Rifle, infantry arrived, striking the Russians in the did not even have to form the tradi flank. Already in a disorganised state STRENpTH tional square, being able to rout cav the Russian cavalry routed towards LIKELIHOOD alry by their musketry alone. the safety of their batteries on the heights. BALACLAVA Divisions DIVISION I.D. CORPS TYPE ORDERS OBJECTIVE #1 OBJECTIV~##2 27 Armies the Light Brigade to advance and re eithersideofthevalley.Enduringgrape cover the guns. This order was given to at point blank range the remnants of Captain Nolan who delivered it to the Brigade swept over the Russian Lucan. artillery and into the cavalry and infan Lucan, not having Raglan's vantage try behind. After a brief melee where point could not see any guns and hence the Brigage was finally destroyed as a misinterpreted the order to mean that unit, the survivors fled back up the the Light Brigade should attack the North Valley. Russian guns at the eastern end of the The return journey was made easier by North Valley. By 11 AM when the Light the charge of the 4th Chasseurs Brigade be&an to move down the val d'Afrique which silenced the Russian ley the infantry had arriveq and was battery. firing from the Fedioukine forced to sit as idle spectators as Rag Heights on the north flank of the Val lan, Lucan and Cardigan conspired to ley. destroy a brigade. When the Light Brigade mustered in As the Russian cavalry fled, Cardigan Liprandi saw the start of the advance the safe shadow of Sapoune Heights was urged to charge into their rear and, fearing an attack on the heights, only 195 men of the 673 who were with the Light Brigade but refused on he withdrew his army from their posi present for duty that morning re the grounds of two hour old orders. tions in redoubts 3 and 4. The Light mained. Several observers later stated that ha:d Brigade passed Redoubt No.3 without The battle was not quite over. In the Cardigan used his initia#ve and at wheeling, to the amazement of onlook early afternoon the British First Divi tacked, the Russian cavalry could have ers on both sides. sion, along with French zouaves sup been annihilated. Unfortunately, Car As the Brigade advanced further, they ported the attack of the Chasseurs on digan had no initiative, he was the came under fire, not only from the guns the Fedioukine Heights, clearing it of worst sort of British officer. He had they were charging, but from guns on the enemy and the Fourth Division purchased his command, had almost no military experience and thought he was a brilliant commander because his brigade dressed well and looked good on the parade ground. When the Russian cavalry had retired to the safety of the North Valley the battlewaseffectivelyover.Althoughit was still only 9.30 AM Liprandi was not prepared to advance into the South Valley again. He feared a counterat tack which was exactly what Raglan planned. The 1st and 4th Divisions were moving down towards the Causeway Heights with the aim of retaking the redoubts. The Chasseurs d'Afrique were already positioned at the western end of the North ValleyandFrenchinfantrywere ready to move down onto the plains should they be required. The infantry was still half an hour away, however~ when Raglan saw the Rus sians beginning to remove the guns from the redoubts. Whether it was his own decision or whether he was prompted by the redoubtable Harry Before Flashman as George MacDonald Fraser A selection ofBritish soldiers at the start of the Crimean campaign. Their uniforms would have us believe, Raglan ordered were woefully inadequate for the Russian winter 28 BALA~LA VA- Objectives BALACLAVA- Terrain Effects Chart the Russians failed in their objective and the battle must therefore be re garded as being an allied victory. Clearly, too, the allied victory was not a result of good generalship, at least not at the top. The steadiness of indi viduals, like Campbell and Scarlett off set the lack of direction from. Raglan BALACLAVA- Artillery and the incompetence of Lucan and which they could ill Cardigan. afford and they had Liprandi failed to press his initial ad to use a slightly vantage and let the allies beat him back longersupplyroute from Kadikoi with a handful of men. because of the prox Considering the opportunity of dam imity of the Rus aging the British, his failure to press sians. The Russians home the attack is inexcusable. had captured the Ultimately the truth about Balaclava is allied outer defences, including eight a story of supply lines and of attempt deployed across the Causeway Heights guns, and required the British to de ing to raise a siege .. It is far from the and exchanged a few desultory long fend Balaclava with nearly half their glamorous idea of war suggested by range volleys with the Russians. Nei army. Tennyson's epic poem. But then the ther commander, however, was game charge of the Light Brigade was for • to throw the full weight of their infan The question of who finally won must most, a glimpse of a romantic world of try against the other. ultimately come down to the aims of each side and how well they achieved chivalry which was never more than a So who won the Battle of Balaclava? those aims. The Russians were trying Victorian construct. In the squalid real Neither side could claim a clear cut to cut the British off from their supply ity of the Crimean War the British pub victory. The allies had taken losses, base at Balaclava and the allies were lic needed a bit of 'Boy's own paper' particularly amongst their cavalry, trying to avoid being cut off. Clearly warfare. The soldiers on the ground, 29 WarPlan™ manual for the location of the different design routines. Title [Sc]. There are three lines of text for the title: Balaclava "into the valley of death" 25th October 1854 Go back to Menu J and re-save the game in the same location. Map Size [Sa(i)]. The top leftsectorisO. The bottom right sector is 4. Macintosh dimensions are 18 x 18. Define Terrain [Sa(ii)]. The accompa nying Terrain Effects Chart lists the details of the active terrain types for After this scenario. Select (or paint) the icons Once the suffering of the men in the Crimea became apparent to the British of your choice to represent the seven populat~on, warm clothing, some, like this, being distinctly non-regulation, terrain types. flooded znto Balaclava Harbour. For many men though, the warm clothing was too Create Map [Sa(iii)]. Select the late NOTES FOR IBM USERS IBM users with CGA, MCGA, Tandy or Hercules graphics can create the sce nario using the advice given above. Cornet John Wilkin, 11th Hussars There is a minor change in the weapons Wilkin is seen here in the full dress uniform worn by his regiment during the data base. You do not have to set limits charge of the Light Brigade of which it was a part. He became Cornet after he for weapons. Thereisspacefor31 weap survived the charge, there being a number of vacancies ons of each type. IBM users with EGA or VGA cards Re-boot the program (this time with size of the .Ibm file. To do this, use the must first create the game map with the the "full-map" graphics enabled) and 'Page Size' function to alter the height "full-map" graphics disabled. To do use the "full-map" WarPaint™ tool to of the file. this, run the program as DB2 f (or DB3 for DB1 f) which will by-pass the "full build up the map. In other words, the The Decisive Battles program reads the map" graphics. Select a scenario as a "full-map" graphics are only graphic size of the .Ibm file on loading and template as explained above and save images and do not affect the play of the adjusts the WarPaint™ values auto it in a save-game location. Build up the game. matically. If you don't want to worry map in the usual way and save when about manipulating .Ibm files, choose a scenario with a 250-hex .Ibm file as finished. The rest of the data for the A NOTE ON .LBM FILES scenario may be entered with the "full the template to build the new scenario map" graphics either disabled or ena The .Ibm files contain the graphic im on. bled. There is a full explanation of "Full ages. DPaint2™ from Electronic Arts When saving an .Ibm file, a temporary Map" graphics in Issue 14. can be used to manipulate the file. Up file is created first. When the tempo to 250 hexes can be created but rary file is successfully saved the origi DPaint2™ must be used to change the nal is deleted and the temporary file 31 renamed. This mepns there must be Andy, you make some fairly strong Dear Roger and Ian, enough space on the current disk to comments about the last couple of is I purchased "Carriers at War"3 weeks hold the temporary file. sues of Run 5. I guess we never ex ago and was greatly impressed by the Macintosh users will find no such com pected to get a letter from an individual increase in graphics used in the game plications when it comes to creating complaining about how his unit was over the C64 version I had 3 years ago. scenarios. Follow the directions given rated in one of our games. I liked the individual ships vital statis in the design section of any Decisive The vast bulk of our feedback from the tics and profile display, and the erratic Battles game manual. gulf came via US sources and so it's not composition of enemy taskforces spot surprising that we have been given the ted as well as their location. The dis impression that the Americans won playing of each squadrons current ac PLAYER'S NOTES the War single handed. You may well tivities and how aircraft were lost was British. The key to,yictory is Kadikoi. be right about your comparative capa excellent. The user interface was up to You must form a line from the marine bilities and in any case feel free to alter your usual high standard. redoubts, northwest through Kadikoi. the data base and give yourselves bet There are a number of things I felt Unlike the actual battle, Liprandi will ter stats. should have been included. The origi attack towards Kadikoi with his infan Constructing a scenario is a complex nal game had a hexagonal grid super try. Your troops, well handled, should task and there are no simple formulas imposed over it which helped with be good enough to stop him dead. As for the conversion of hardware and range evaluation, and while the new your reinforcements arrive feed them fighting capabilities to game stats. Ulti map looks better it is not as helpful. into the line where it looks like break mately you have to make your best While the sequence of heavy AA fire, ing. If you lose Kadikoi, fight like hell guess, bearing in mind that the game and then either bomb hits or torpedo to get it back. With good management should, on average, give a historical attack looked good at first, it slows the you should be able to launch a counter outcome. gamedownconsiderably,especiallyin attack near the end of the game with As to the matter of who's fault the large scenarios. To most garners this the possibility of recovering the defeat in Malaya was, that is a matter of would not matter but serious redoubts. some current controversy. The recent wargamers want strategy not arcade Russian. As mentioned above the key release of Field Marshal Wavell's re sequences. Yes it gives valuable infor to victory is Kadikoi. You must attack port blaming the defeat on Australian mation but only reported bmnb or tor with all your forces and take Kadikoi "cowardice" is, like most such attempts pedo 'hits' should be an option for full before it is reinforced. Do not attack to blame soldiers for general's mistakes, or partial reports. Balaclava directly unless you are al absurd. The Australian 8th Division Surface combat has some problems as ready winning by a large margin. The suffered the highest casualty rate of my 30 knot cruiser force has spent hours marine artillery has been positioned to any division in the campaign and were chasing a force of 10 knot transports chew up just such an assault. Once you in position facing the Japanese when alone in daylight, picking off a few take Kadikoi, Raglan will have to coun they were ordered to surrender. I each time.lt is inconceivable under any terattack. Make him pay dearly and thought Ian summed it up quite nicely daytime condition that this could oc even if the town is retaken, you can when he said "There are no bad sol cur. afford the losses while he can't. Re diers, only bad generals". Surface combat is also not allowed in member, there are plenty more Rus A quick glance at the articles in this port hexes. Why would a vastly supe sians where this lof came from. issue will show, I hope, a. balanced rior force not take combat to the en treatment of two British battles. If we emy. Shore batteries should be included here at SSG occasionally engage in the LETTERS ••• (from p. 20) I as a disincentive but combat should I Australiannationalsportofpom-bash still be allowed. It also appears torpe ing, you must forgive us. Unlike the does cannot be used by torpedo carry strate that your parochial, knee-jerk, Americans who rebelled and got to ing aircraft against ships in port except "British must be worse" attitude is not beatyouina war, the only opportunity for Pearl Harbour (even at short range). always justified. we have to get back at you for colonis More than one plane per task force ing us is when we invariably thrash should be allowed to be assigned. This you at cricket. Yours etc. would be important when you areal Andy Brown Ed. most certain of the enemies bearing. B Officers Mess BFP040 UK Continued on p. 50 32 WARLORDS REPLAY Illuria up for Grabs Edited and Hotly Contested by Stephen Hand Yes we know we promised you a Warlords replay in the last issue but it was lost sons. I take my third city, ho-.hum. Ian in the dark abyss of Ian's computer. Not that this could have anything to do with takes Jessarton and Zhoran bringing the fact that Roger claims to have won the aforementioned replay. Trout denies all, himintodirectcontactwith the dwarves his angelic face leaving everyone conVinced who at least one of the danger men will but twice fails to capture Cragmorton, be in the upcoming game •. . so much for Vicksburg being the Gi braltar of the west! Roger takes his first city south of the mountains. The arguments begin before the game Turns 2,3 and 4 Turns 9 and 10 has commenced, Roger proffering four It is vital to get off to an early start curiously marked straws to choose against opponents like this. By the end Cragmorton has been taken by the sides. He is loudly outvoted and dice of turn 4, Roger has taken his 3rd city, Horse Lords so I try once again to cap are rolled instead. The result; Gregor Ian and Gregor have 2 each and the ture it. Some things are not meant to be Whiley-Storm Giants, Ian Trout heroic dwarven legions have been and as the shattered bodies of the Selentines, Roger Keating-Lord Bane, slaughtered in front of Cragmorton. Chasseurs of the Guard (minimum Stephen Hand-Grey Dwarves (a fitting height requirement 4'6") are carried Turns 5 and 6 position for this lowly editor). Combat from the field Gregor suggests I take is intense and the other players are set The action begins to hot up as along some milk crates for the next to enhanced Warlord level, can't make Aethelstan ambushes his elvish coun attack to help me get over the walls. My things too easy for Roger. terpart, an action guaranteed to bring hero, meanwhile, visits the seer of the about swift retaliation. Gregor's ela Turnl river receiving a vast sum of money for tion is short lived, however, as he is his trouble. Ian takes another two cities Across the land of Illuria new heroes diced by the occupant of the next ruin. and wonders why the other players all emerge, immediately venturing forth The second Dwarvish zouaves launch hate him. Roger captures Dethal and to do battle with lesser races. A few of another unsuccessful assault on Paynor bringing him into contact with these brave souls are worthy of men Cragmorton. No-one seems impressed the Orcs of Kor. tion. Selling his services to the Storm when I suggest that the program might Turns 11 and 12 Giants is Aethelstan who quickly re be malfunctioning. Things begin to look covers the fabled Spear of Ank. The up, though, when Ramjet is joined by a Gregor takes another two cities but is dwarves unanimously declare their dragon who takes Needleton for me. discomforted by the elvish capture of idol, Roger Ramjet to be "Hero of the Ian is looking more and more danger Ohmsmouth in his rear. My new found nation" and are far from disappointed ous as he takes another two cities and wealth attracts a second hero, the re when he slays a devil and finds the recovers the Crimson Banner. Roger is doubtable Daffy Dt.ick with a dragon. Horn of Ages. In the northwest the joined by a ghost and now controls all The Orcs declare war on the Sirians militaristic Selentines proclaim their five cities within his mountain fast while the Elves and the Horse Lords Hero, Napoleon, Emperor of all Illuria. ness. both declare war on Ian's Selentines. The other nations suppress a snigger. Turns 7 and 8 Last and unlikely to be least is Killer Keating, right hand man of Lord Bane Gregor's expansion is curtailed by the Warlords is now available for IBM , and proud owner of the secret control elves capture of one of his cities, forc Macintosh and Amiga. keys. ing him to start thinking about garri- 33 r Turns 16,17 and 18 minute now the cry of Vive Gregor introduces L'Empereur would echo across the Illuria to the concept battlefield and he would be expected of human wave tactics to jump up and run to the wall where as he loses an 8 stack men would throw boiling oil on his unsuccessfully attack head. Maybe this time he would get to ing one elven city and climb up the ladder and leap spec the better part of two tacularly into the moat as someone stacks capturing an pushed it away from the wall. Pierre other. I begin to be wished he had stayed at home and come quite unpopular become an accountant like mother as I get my fourth hero, wanted. Ook the Ape Boy and Ian and I begin two races, one to take out After the death of Napoleon Ian be the Horse Lords and came quite dejected and suggested that another to colonise it was all Roger's fault. Ian's Pegasus, Wizard's Isle with our however reached the Island before my flying armies. Roger Dragon and took a city. captures another heav Turns 21,22 and 23 ily defended Orcish After losing his first hero on turn 6, city. For some unex Gregor has had to wait till now to get plained reason they another, aptly christened Sir Later. don't especially dislike Despite getting to the Island second I him for this. Accusa defeat Ian's Pegasus. In a fit of picque tions of"cheating" and Ian moves vast armies towards my "secret control keys" forces in Maridun. I respond by send fly thick and fast. ing a dragon on a lightning raid deep The situation at the end of Turn 11. Turns 19 and 20 into Ian's territory. I lose. He laughs. Keating and Trout are emerging as the Gregor finally suc He also takes Dhar-Khosis, his foot early danger men. ceedsin taking the city hold in the south. of Ohmsmouth in his Meanwhile Lord Bane's evil forces cap Roger suggests that" at least they know rear and looks covetously at the elven ture the last of the Orcish cities north of who's winning". Killer Keating shows lands to the east. There are general the river. Ian is getting desperate, "I no mercy to the Orcs as their first city looks of disbelief when I get my fifth don't believe it," he says "you've let falls to Lord Bane. At the end of tum 12 hero which, in all fairness I feel con Keats win again". Things indeed look the Storm Giants have nine cities, the strained to call Dumb Luck. All I need ominous as Roger leans over and whis Dwarves only five, the Selentines a very now are some armies. Sir Douglas Haig pers "Gregor, I'll come across and get dangerous 13 and Lord Bane a quiet in charge of an" A" stack takes Maridun you, Ah! Ah!, I mean help you." Oh but significant 12. and Dunethel from the Horse Lords yes! Turns 13, 14 and 15 but loses a dragon in the process. Current score-Storm Giants (Gregor)- After five turns of attempting to per Ian finally gets his second hero whom 12 cities, Grey Dwarves (Steve )-8 cities, suade me to attack Lord Bane (and thus he christens Napoleon II. Obviously Selentines (Ian)-16 cities, Lord Bane allowing him to become the unopposed feeling that this development requires (Roger)-18 cities leader) Ian shows his true colours by him to lift his game, Napoleon I as Turns 24, 25 and 26 attacking my capital saying "I had to saults Maridun. He has +3 in com mand. Unluckily for him the city is Day 2 of this epic struggle commences do it". When public opinion sways with Roger and Gregor conceding de against him for this act of blatant ag- defended by Daffy Duck who has just been blessed and has +4 in command. feat and turning their forces over to • gression he puts on his best innocent computer control. Sources close to schoolboy expression and pleads "but Roger claim he was emotionally I'm not the enemy". Everyone is dis Pierre sat dejected, adjusting the strap drained by the contest and unable to gusted when I get my third hero, Sir on his helmet and wondering for the continue. The editorial team, possess Douglas Haig and Roger, his second, lOOth time what the mystic words ing the stamina common to all the great Killer 2. "Made in Taiwan" really meant. Any generals of history are determined to 34 Turns 30 and 31 twice, the Orcs are wiped out. Ian at Ian'shugearmybegins tacks Maridun and loses an 8 stack of to mass on my borders traitorous dwarves. He now decides to and international rela bypass the city. Finally the Sirians de tions are not helped clare war on Ian and Lord Bane de when some of my clares war on me. jumpy border guards Turns 39 and 40 accidentally spear one In a lightning raid I sally forth from of Ian's lightly guarded Maridun and kill Napoleon II along heroes. A huge battle with two 8 stacks of Ian's. His remain erupts between Lord ing men in the area take Dunethel, Ian Bane and the Orcs, the saying III'mnot sure who's city this is". latter taking Illnyr and He immediately raises the defences to Herzag which is 9, thus making it almost impregnable. promptly retaken. The elvish ht'fl) adrift in the north cap Roger's commitment tures Tal just as I get another hero, to his southern front Gustavus, with two devils just down allows me to take the road at Pareth. Ian's fleet takes Minbourne in the Ohmsmouthfrom the Storm Giants and north. he bushwhacks a Sirian hero foolish Current score-Storm enough to be by himself. Ian also takes Giants-12 cities, Grey Vernon from the Sirians, though not Dwarves-13 cities, before losing Napoleon IV, a victim of Selentines-15 cities, mismanagement as he is sent to attack Lord Bane-16 cities the city single handed. I take Deserton Turns 32, 33,34 and 35 from Lord Bane but already large forces are moving up to retake it. I take Tirfing from Lord Turns 41 and 42 Turn 23. All four human players in solid Bane who appears positions ready to utterly destroy the hap more concern~d when I retake Tal from the elves with my new less computer. an elvishhero I dragon hero, Ian retakes Dhar-Khosis from the take Deserton. Ian and Sirians and Lord Bane retakes Deserton press on regardless, victory at all costs, the elves take one and three Storm Gi from me. In moving forces to the north, death to the inferior races of Illuria. ant cities respectively in an unprec Lord Bane has left his southern cities vulnerable and I take Illnyr and, my I have three good turns as I take the edented blitzkrieg. The Storm Giants first city inside Bane's mountain strong remaining two cities on the Island, get are now reduced to four cities! Ian gets hold, Argrond. The Sirians launch an another hero, Siegfried (with a ghost), two more heroes, you guessed it N apo immediate counterattack at Dhar find the staff of might and fight off leon IV and V. Ian has mobilised his Khosis and recapture it killing Napo Ian's first attack on Maridun. Ian loses navy to attack the Storm Giants while I leon V. The Elvish onslaught against Dhar-Khosis to the Sirians but gets an begin moving my quicker ~nits south the Storm Giants has run out of puff as other hero imaginatively named Na towards Illnyr. they lose three cities. poleon III. Ian builds a tower next to Turns 36,37 and 38 Maridun and sits down to starve me Lord Bane has massed a stack in Current score-Storm Giants-7 cities, out. Zaigonne which he uses to retake Grey Dwarves-16 cities, Selentines-20 cities, Lord Bane-15 cities Turns 27, 28 and 29 Deserton from the Elves. This, how Turns 43 and 44 Gregor and the elves trade cities at a ever, allows me to take Zaigonne, mutually destructive cost in men. though I go on to lose Siegfried attack My conquest of Lord Bane's territory Meanwhile I take the Horse Lords last ing Deserton. The elvish hero moves stutters as I take Ungor and promptly two cities, Fleymark and Derridon but west across the river into my territory lose it back. In the south, however, I fail to dislodge Ian's besiegers at looking for a ripe city to take. move across the river into the old Orcish Maridun. The Orcs pitch into Roger In the south, Lord Bane and the Sirians lands and take Herzag. Ian captures with an II A" stack and appear have been squeezing the Orcs between Derridon from me but is forced to beef unstoppable. This does not, however, them and finally, in a tum that sees up several of his cities in the interior stop Lord Bane from taking Illnyr. their last city, Illnyr, change hands when one of my II A" stacks enters his 35 those who claim I'm cities were rapid counterattacks. A only ahead of Ian be human player, if he suspects the com cause I have more puter may be targeting a city for cap· money, what do you ture will vector massive amounts of pay your troops, glass production into that city or beef up the beads? cities defences. So who would win if Even if a human player is moving we continued the game troops towards a computer player's past this point? Well, city the computer will rarely vector even reverting to hu more troops there and will sometimes man control I can't see even move men out of the city. Roger or Gregor com So Ian and I didn't conduct a full scale ing back from their cur war because our defence was so good rent positions. The that to do so would be to conduct a Sirians under human brutal war of attrition and let the com control could pose a puter win. Essentially humans are more threat, they aren't too sneaky and more suspicious than the far behind myself and computer. Ian. Realistically, The computer conducts a good one though, the winner. front war but is vulnerable to sneak would have to be ei attacks and rarely launches unexpected ther Ian or myself.' attacks itself. The exception is where So what mistakes did the computer has a flying hero and will the computer players often send him deep into enemy terri make? Why were Ian tory as the Elves did in this game. and I able to overtake Lord Bane once the computer took over Continued on p. 50 Turn 48. The fabulous kingdom of the Grey from Roger. These are Dwarves stretches as far as the eye (of a person with very poor eyesight) can see. territory. As Ian's forces gather to at my thoughts, bearing in tack the Sirians in Dhar-Khosis they mind that I didn't write raze the city and retreat to Galin. the program. Roger may Turns 45, 46 and 47 have other ideas. G'\Vinn ln 6S "Rfio 1! CU1't' ent (~ r:J.ftea d Ian takes Galin from the Sirians and I Firstly, despite the tone c 1 CD take Malikor, Pa-Kur and Bane Citadel of this article neither Ian from Lord Bane whose counterattack or I made any real at ing armies are utterly destroyed. The tempt to take territory Sirians attack Ubar taking it from Ian. from each other. Com ,, T r T T, T r T T, T r T T, T r T T, T r T T, T r T T, T i As my armies advance on Derridon to pared with Ian's attack wrest control of it from Ian he treacher on the Storm Giants and ously razes the city thus ensuring that the Sirians and my attack as we end the game he has one city on Lord Bane we really more than me. treated each other with At this stage we decide to call it a day kid gloves. and write up the replay. The final score Secondly, and linked to in cities is Selentines (Ian)-20, Grey the first point, human Dwarves (Steve )-19, Sirians-14, Lord players defend more in II DoAe II Bane (Roger)-11, Elvallie-9, Storm Gi telligently than the com ants (Gregor)-4,razed-3. I prefer to look puter. The vast majority The Victory screenat the End of Turn 48 at the winning screen which clearly of successful computer Glorious victory to your humble editor and overwhelming shows a Grey Dwarven victory. To all attacks on human held proof that short is better. 36 THE BATTLE OF SAIPAN Beginning of the End June-July 1944 A scenario for the Battlefront Game System . \ by Ian Trout, Roger Keating and Stephen Hand By June 1944 the Japanese in the Pacific had been pushed back to their inner The American landings were to coin defences. The arc of the Philippines and the Marianas provided a series of cide with a large scale carrier opera tion, which came to be known as the mutually supporting air bases, preventing the movement of carriers close Battle of the Philippine Sea or alterna enough to attack the Japanese homeland. These base were, however, a two tively the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. edged sword. Their capture by the Americans would allow land based ltwasthoughtthattheJapanesewould bombing of Japan. Add to that the fact that the Marianas had a substantial risk their navy in an attempt to prevent Japanese population and the scene was set for one of the bloodiest confron the landings and this proved correct. The naval battle is covered more fully tations of the entire Pacific War. in Carriers at War. The land operations were commanded by Lieut. Gen. Holland M. (Howling With the exception of Guam, the expected attacks on several interven Mad) Smith who was given one army Marianas Islands had been Japanese ing islands before the Marianas. Con possessions since they seized them from sequently the process of fortifying Germany in 1914. By the outbreak of Saipan was only partially complete by war the Japanese immigrant popula the time the Americans landed. The Read This Before You Play tion outnumbered the natives. Saipan, force defendingSaipan was jointly com and its neighbour Tinian, were the key manded by Vice Admiral Nagumo, of Those of you who have been play points of the Marianas. The islands were Pearl Harbour and Midway fame, and ing SSG games since you were important supply bases and with two by Lieut. Gen. Saito. To defend the young fellas will recognise this as airfields apiece a large proportion of island the Japanese had two divisions, one of the original "Battlefront" the planes defending the Marianas were one, the 43rd, a regular army division scenarios released for the Apple II based on either Saipan or Tinian. and the other a scratch division con and the C64 all those years ago. Any attack on Saipan had to come from sisting of militia and individual battal They were good scenarios then the west, the east coast being domi ions from several army divisions. The and they still are which is why we nated by cliffs with jungle coming right Japanese force totalled approximately have chosen to bring "Saipan" out down to the water in many cases. The 22 000 men. of mothballs and upgrade it to the west coast was cultivated and offered The sole plan for defeating an Ameri IBM,MacandAmigaformats. Tell long flat beaches backed by fields, the can invasion consisted of rapidly coun us what you think, if we get a perfect area to land a large force.lt also terattacking any landing force. No pro favourable response to "Saipan" offered near perfect fields of fire for vision was made for a drawn out de we may drag other old scenarios any Japanese guns on the mountains fence, the only factor in favour of the out of Roger's C64. On the short up the centre of the island. Japanese should they fail to quickly list at the moment are Bastogne, The Japanese completely misread the defeat a landing was the fighting quali Crete, Stalingrad, Arnhem and a American island hopping strategy and ties of the individual soldier. whole host of others. 37 SCALE (Miles) 0 2.5 5 ---- visions were ashore, along a 10 000 yard front some 1500 yards deep. Dur Marpi Airfield ing the night the Japanese, as expected, launched a series of counterattacks. These were not well coordinated and ~~~~l!l~ ~Qt;RS merely resulted in heavy Japanese casu Smith alties. One Japanese tactic worthy of note was their use of a group of civil Tanapagu ians to shield their advance. The ma ~ rines held their fire and could have (OnTurn1) been overrun were it not for a ruthless marine lieutenant who called in an ar ~ tillery strike on the attack. (OnTum2) Garapan On the morning of the second day the IFifth Base Forcel marines commenced a slow push land ~ ward while their artillery support be (OnTurn3) Saito gan landing behind them. During the night the first unit of the 27th Division came ashore and at 3.30 AM the Japa nese launched a concerted counterat Charankanoa tack on units of 2nd Division which included the committal of 44 tanks. After some initial success the attack was stopped by bazooka, artillery and (OnTurn1) _ naval gunfire. By the dawn of 17th June the 4th Ma ~ rine Division had made significant (OnTum2) progress against the weaker resistance FRONT LINE-on the night of 1~1 in the south while the 2nd Division had (On Turn 13) 1516144- barely added to its gains of 15th June. ~ 1716144- ...... (OnTurn3) The 2nd, however, had planned an at 2116144- ~ 1~1 tack for 7.30 AM on the 17th. Coming (On Tum 17) 2 616144- 11111111111111111111111 as it did on the heels of the repulsed 3 0 I 6 I 4 4- 'I.I.I.I.I.I.I.JUIL Japanese tank attack this pre-planned 1~1 417144- (On Turn 19) assault suddenly became a counterat 617144------tack. The attack met with success all along the line and resulted in the 2nd Situation Map for the Saipan Scenario Marines more than doubling the size of their beachhead. On the 4th Marines front the resistance was light and steady and two marine divisions to take the ground. This gave the Americans total progress was made to the outskirts of Island. The plan was simple. The 2nd air superiority, or as one Japanese NCO Aslito Airfield. and 4th Marines would land north and wrote while under bombardment "The The fourth day of the battle for Saipan south of Charankanoa on the 15th of enemy holds us in utter contempt. If was another day of slow progress for June. The 4th Marines would secure only we had a hundred planes or so". the 2nd Marine Division. As the 4th the south of the island while the 2nd Air strikes continued until the 15th and Division pushed east against slacken pushed north towards Marpi Field. The were aided by shore bombardment ing opposition the 2nd began to swing 27th Infantry Division, ultimately to from the ships of task force 58. to the north, pivoting on their left flank. become the garrison of Saipan was to At 8.40 AM on the 15th of June the first By nightfall on the 18th, elements of the be landed as soon as the marines had wave of landing craft went ashore. 4th Marine Division had reached the secured the beaches. Fighting during the day was confused east coast at Magicienne Bay splitting On the afternoon of the 11th of June a and individual units took heavy casu the Japanese force in two. Also on the surprise air strike destroyed 150 Japa alties from artillery fire and tanks. By 18th the Division captured Aslito Air nese planes, many of them on the nightfall, however, the two marine di- field, a major prize. The Japanese had 38 SAIPAN -Map 0 1 2 . 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 0 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 ' 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 OCEAN @ ~Etci'ZE ·.·. JUNGLE ~ ~~~NTAIN OsEACH @ CULTIVATED@ AIRFIELD ew~~~E -~~~~ MOUNTAIN @)VILLAGE 39 The weak link in the American ad vances was in the centre with the 27th Division. The fact that they were the least experienced troops and were at tacking over the worst terrain did not impress General Smith who promptly relieved the Divisional commander (an other General Smith) and replaced him with General Jarman, a more aggres sive commander. The troublesome pocket of Japanese defenders on Nafutan Point refused to give up during this period of the battle. What's more, they launched a breakout on the night of 26th June which luckily for the Americans was quickly con tained by reserve marine units. Stubborn Japanese defence on the 27th Marines advancing through Garapan and 28th prevented what began as a promising turning operation from be ing a complete success. Pivoting on their left flank, the Americans at been unable to destroy a~y of the air greatest gains were made on the Ameri field's assets and among materiel cap can right where the 4th Marines pushed tempted to roll up the Japanese left and push them in to the sea around tured by the Americans was an oxygen along the north coast of Magicienne Tanapagu. While the 4th Marine Divi plant, a power plant and a reservoir Bay and then fanned out to capture the sion on the outside of the turn attacked containing a million gallons of fuel. entire Kagman Peninsula and threaten into a vacuum the troops nearer the 19th June saw all units of the 4th Ma the Japanese left flank. rine Division reach the east coast. They now swung north to fall into line on the right of the 2nd Division. The remain ing mopping up in the south was left to the lead elements of the 27th Infantry Division. By the evening of the 21st the remaining Japanese defenders in the south had been pushed back toNafutan Point where they were placed under an almost constant bombardment from land and sea. One battalion was left to clear Nafutan Point while the remain der of the 27th Division moved north to participate in the slow grinding push up the Island. Progress up to the 22nd was reason ably rapid but as the Americans ap proached Mt Tipopale and the rugged series of gullies known as Death Valley they ran into increasingly stiff Japa nese opposition. From the 23rd to the 26th the 2nd Marines advanced to the outskirts of Garapan. The 27th Divi sion lost contact with the right flank of the 2nd and made agonisingly slow Japanese Dead progress through Death Valley. The This trench was thought secure until it was enfiladed by a tank 40 west coast failed to ,keep pace. By night on the 27th of June. the men of the 4th had reached their objective line but by the same time on the 28th they were still way ahead of the troops on their left. The one bright spot for the Ameri cans on the 28th was the final clearing of Nafutan Point in the south. !he lasttwo days ofJuneweretaken up man attempt to straighten the line, an attempt by the 27th and 2nd Marine Divisions to cbqle level with the overextended 4th "Marines. Progress was again slow and looked to continue that way into early July. On July 1, however, Japanese units were seen to be pulling back in front of the 27th Division. At first the pursuit was h~nta tive, no one wanted to be the first to ':alk into a prepared defensive po~i tlon. Then on July 2nd withdrawals were observed all along the line. The advance began in earnest. Why the Japanese withdrew is not known; it is surmised that they feared King Kong being pocketed by the rapid advance of American tanks proved invaluable on Saipan. The few Japanese tanks to see action the 4th Marines. Had General Smith been more willing to allow a gap be were hopelessly outclassed tween divisions this is what he might have achieved. On the 1st of July pa The 2nd Marines were kept in reserve. The charge was directed towards trols by marines of 4th Division pen The remaining Japanese were low on Tanapagu across the coastal plain. At etrated up to 1500 yards in front of their food and water and in many cases had 4.45 AM on the 7th of July approxi lines without any contact. But Smith little or no remaining ammunition. mately 2000 Japanese soldiers crashed preferred the cautious approach of Despite this it was not in their psyche into the American line. Despite horren keeping all his units in contact with one to think of surrender. dous Japanese casualties the forward another. The assault was renewed at noon on positions of the 105th Regiment were As it was, the left flank began advanc July 5th. Tanapagu and the area in overrun and the attack was only halted ing faster than the right, although front of 27th Division was heavily de amidst savage hand-to-hand fighting progress was rapid all along the line. fended and apart from the village little in the Regiment's rear areas. The 1st By dark on the 4th of July the 2nd else was taken on the 5th or-the 6th. In and 2nd battalions of the 105th lost 650 Marine Division had advanced to the front of 4th Division things were com men on the 7th of July and effectively north coast and found itself pinched pletely different and as resistance col ceased to exist. Another banzai attack out of the fight. Rapid progress was lapsed an advance of some 3000 yards was made the following night but had also the order of the day in the centre was made on the 5th and 6th, capturing little effect, approximately 1000 Japa where the 27th Division almost reached the summit of Mt Petosukara. nese being killed in exchange for negli Tanapagu. Pushing due north, rather gible losses to the defenders. than northeast up the axis of the island, As his forces crumbled around him By the morning of the 8th of July the the 4th Marines found themselves tak General Saito gave his last order. Rather extent of the slaughter had become ing over almost three quarters of the than defend doggedly to the north tip apparent. Although a significant mop American frontage. of the island he decided to throw his ping up operation was yet to be carried Before further advances could be made lastunitsintoonefinal"banzai" charge. Having given the order, Saito calmly out, the suicidal attacks had resulted in the 27th Division had to take over ~ the destruction of all remaining Japa- portion of the 4th Marines' frontage. committed suicide. 41 r BATTALION DATA 42 BATTALION DATA ATTACHM'T 43 HQ :XXHQ 1/RHQ 2/RHQ 3/RHQ 4/RHQ [8] 27XX 105 106 165 [8] Infantry Infantry Infantry Infantry 0-7 5 4 4 '4 4 3 2 7 7 7 0 0 0 12 N/A N/A 15 N/A N/A 6,20 N/A N/A BATTALION DATA 4/1 1/2 2/2 3/2 4/2 1/3 2/3 3/3 4/3 1/4 2/4 3/4. 4/4 1/- 2/- 3/- 4/- 249 6,21 13 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 5 1 1 5 6 12 8 8 8 12 8 8 17 19 19 19 19 13 13 12 12 12 4 12 12 12 4 6 6 6 10 12 0 0 0 0 15 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 4 4 N/A N/A N/A 1 2 2 44 HEADQUARTERS DATA BATTALION DATA 2/1 3/1 16,7 17,6 0 4 13 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 11 1 6 0 6 4 6 4 10 4 RANGE 0-15 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 0-7 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 0-7 6 6 7 6 6 6 5 ATTACHM'T 0-4 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2 2 3 2 45 HEADQUARTERS DATA BATTALION DATA 46 SAIPAN - Briefing RELIABILITY (0-3) RATING (0-15) SAIPAN - Terrain Effects Chart TERRAIN COSTS PER HEX ATTACK EFFECTS 47 SAIPAN - Ob ·ectives and Miscellaneous Factors I.D. : Name Map Loc Div. Def. Start End Pts/T Pts/E [11] [x,y] (0-3) (0-1) (1-99) (1-99) (0-30) (0-255) 7'5 5 50 63 20 75 63 6 50 63 3 25 29 63 3 25 I7 63 4 75 63 3 50 63 3 100 25 I 25 5 25 I 35 5 25 I II 5 25 25 5 IO 35 5 25 0 I 40 5 25 0 I 35 3 50 0 1 45 3 25 0 47 5 25 0 63 5 25 0 I 63 5 25 VICTO&¥ EIDINTS EER MAE ST&ENGTH EO INT SIZE EUIN1l (0~15) NON AC&OSS MECH MECH (0-2) IT] AXIS IT] IT] DOWN (0-3) ALLIED [I] [I] w 48 Equipment CREATING THE SCENARIO The very rugged nature of the terrain Rather than repeat the information re will make American progress slow and quired to create the scenario we refer costly once you adopt a defensive strat you to the equivalent section in the egy. Resign yourself to losing the south;_ "Cambrai" article. The Minor Combat ern objectives eventually. You should Effects are as follows. The Fort En be able to hold onto Tanapagu and hancement values are 2. The City En Marpi Field. hancement values are 0. The General United States. You have a lot of units Enhancement values are 6. and you need room to move. Hit the PLAYERS NOTES beaches hard and establish a rear area into which you can cycle tired or out of Japan. For the first few days after the supply formations. Once you have se initial landings, the Americans will be cured your landing sites you must be at their most vulnerable. Use this op gin an assault along the narrow north portunity to constrict their perimeter. ern arm of the island. Use one regiment The regular army division is mostly from each division at a time while cy very good; the composite formation is cling assets and air support for maxi ofmixedquality. Youmustwatchyour mum effect. You must keep the Japa casualties and fatigue state. There is nese under constant pressure. If they plenty of room at the northern end of are given too much leeway to refit their the island for resting worn out battal troops, you'll never get near Marpi ions. Field. nese units. A few individuals still waited in ambush and a significant number committed suicide. On July 9th marines captured Marpi Field and the north tip of the island. 14 000 Ameri cans and over 22 000 Japanese had be come casualties, the Battle for Saipan was over. With the loss of Saipan the Japanese mainland was within range of land based bombers. This and the fact that it was Japan's first prewar possession to belost,convincedmanyinformedJapa nese that the war was as good as over. As Fleet Admiral Nagano later stated, "When we lost Saipan, Hell is on us". Flamethrower Tanks As unpleasant as these weapons were, they saved an enormous number of American lives in attacks on places like this cave 49 quicker than sending a letter. If you're dropped form 5 to 3 (given its useless WARLORDS REPLAY already online, why don't you drop us gun against other tanks). The Grant Continued from p. 36 a line. If you're not, think about it. had a 75mm gun so it should be at least Apart from being worthwhile it's also equal to the Crusader at 7 not 5. The great fun. German 37mm was inferior to the US As the game went on I increasingly 37mm and 2pdr so should rated at 3 not hemmed in Ian's forces until they had Compuserve- Strategic Studies Group 5. The 2pdr should be rated at least 3 only two ways to go, south over the -72040,34 not 2 even considering its lack of HE mountains or through me, either one a Applelink - Strategic Studies Group - ammunition. The 6pdr should be raised tough proposition. Had Ian and I been AUST0161 from 5 to 6 or 7 even with its lack of HE further apart things may have been MCI Mail - Strategic Studies Group - different. · ammunition (given its ability to de 384-8467 stroy Tigers). P.S. since writing'the rest of this replay Genie- SSG It would have been nice to require divi I have set all remaining players to en sional HQ's to get supply from a map hanced Warlord and let the computer edge to allow cutting off supply to a play out the game. Against all expecta whole corps. This would create greater tions the Elvallie won, capturing the LETTERS realism. last Dwarven city on tum 255, so much Continued from p. 32 for my predictions. I would also like to echo Gregory Smith's comments from Run 5 issue 17. Long range CAP of distant taskforces While it is interesting to find out other or bases should have been included as peoples thoughts the letters section EDITOR'S CHANCE in SSI' s game. Obviously operating less unless the editor answers the question Continued from p. 3 efficiently. of suggestion raise by the writer. Ships should be able to change from I designed a scenario of the Syrian at one taskforce to another when in the tant decision to undertake no new de tack on the Golan Heights in 1973 but it same hex as in SSI's game. This would velopment for Amiga machines will be does not work as expected after re mean one torpedoed ship will not slow the cancellation of Amiga subscriptions peated alterations. The Syrians refuse from Issue 21. Current Amiga subscrib down an otherwise fast group. to attack when they greatly outnumber ers can swap their subscription to an Transfer through missions even when the Israelis and they have been beefed other machine type at any time or re cancelled result in an annoying trans up to veteran status with fair to good ceive a full pro-rata refund. Further fer through on the way home, even administration, good leadership and more, Amiga (and IIGS) users may when the distance is small. excellent supply, non brittle. Reinforced tank and infantry regiments refused to swap any magazine scenario disks they The game is a definite improvement on attack a single strength point (look already have for another machine type the earlier version but I hoped that out/ fort) with inadequate weapons at no charge. some of the things I have mentioned even when allocated high objective would have been included. A We are very sorry that this has hap points await behind the front line. They randomisation of start positions would pened but it is beyond our control. are combined arms and ranges, well have been nice but possible difficult to I guess there's just IBM and Mac left. supported by artillery. The computer program. refuses to attack, only delaying and I have been eagerly awaiting the re ONLINE UPDATE eventually getting through. I played lease of the magazine scenarios for "Bat the Syrians and inflicted an early blitz tlefront" in IBM format. Of special in We have been very pleased with the krieg each time. The Israelis have no air terest are Anzio, Seelowe, and Battleaxe. response to our online connections, power for the first couple of days (simu Of all your games I enjoy the Battle especially on Compuserve. We've had lated by clearing rain). Israeli reinforce front series best. long discussions with end users, been ments arrive on day 2 and 3 and kick able to offer immediate product sup I agree with most of your ratings but the Syrians back. My big question is port and also let people know about feel you have been a little generous to how do I get the Syrian computer to new SSG products. the Germans and miserly to the British attack????? Please advise. for some weapons. Compuserve libraries contain sce I was extremely dissapointed that your narios, most created by end users and The Matilda's thick armour defied all improved Russia plans were buried. also demo versions of our games for but the 88mm until 1941 so its rating SSI' s Second Front had great detail but downloading. We log on about every should be a minimum of 4 (given its took to long and had a few problems two days, so response time is much slow speed) not 1. The panzer II such as infantry units being able to 50 r walk from Berlin 'to Moscow in a week ing "what-if" situations. programs are available for that ma (albeit being very tired). Please don't Two years ago a friend of mine, who is chine. I am still keeping my C-64 abandon plans for your European game an army major, and I designed a com though, to be able to use the SSG games nor the Warlords upgrade. pletely new scenario using Battles in I already have. Keep up the good work and all the best Normandy. The reason for this was that for the future. my friend who is also a long time gamer, Sincerely Yours faithfully is serving as an instructor at the Com bined Armed Forces Staff College where the instructors had started talks Sten Eked.ahl Glenn Smith about using computers when studying Major, Royal Swedish Air Force New Lambton operations and tactics. Sweden NSW My friend and I decided that we should offer to give a demonstration for the instructors of what is possible using a Glen, from the sounds of your Battle simple computer like the C-64 and a Dear Sirs, front problem you have failed to assign commercially inexpensive "off the individual objectives to senior HQs. In shelf" program. battle terms you have not ordered your I have never written to praise a product men to advance. Get into the objectives Since our offer was accepted we sat before, but I am now. menu and where it asks for a division, down for a couple of evenings and Some comments. I really love CAW type the number of the formation you designed a contemporary scenario set and play it often, even though I don't wqnt to advance to that objective. A in northern Sweden, using one Soviet have enough scenarios. After the abys number of objectives can be assigned mechanised division and three Swed mal AI in Harpoon the AI inCAW is a to each formation, the computer will ish brigades. real change. You have every right to attack the nearest one first and then When we demonstrated the program brag about it. decide which objective it should tackle we pointed out that it was not suitable The interface is wonderful too. I like next. for use "as is" at the school, but we the "3-D" feel of the buttons and out The ratings of various weapon systems wanted to show just what can be done lines. And the graphics are superb, es are ultimately subjective so feel free to with the commercially available soft pecially the seaplane bases. change them if your favourite piece of ware and inexpensive home comput A few suggestions for the next release hardware has been marked down by ers. of CAW: the designers. The instructors particularly liked how 1) Allow Dauntlesses to be placed up As for work in progress, suffice it to say the program portrayed losses and fa on CAP at player's discretion. This last that my arrival has freed up Ian to tigue not only with units active in op ditch defence was sometimes used in work on all sorts of goodies we're sure erations but also those adjacent to en the war, though not often. you'll love. emy units. These two areas are other wise easily overlooked by some stu 2) Allow the player to create his own Ed. dents. task groups and forces, so damaged ships can be sent away under escort Even though they could point out some flaws in the simulation, e.g. the limited 3) Place a limit on the number of air Dear Sir, graphics and the inability to correctly craft, rather than squadrons, I can use Three years ago I bought my first com portray certain types of units, they were at a given base. Would Henderson Is puter, a C-64 with a disk drive. my impressed by the program and it gave land really have been able to only purpose for this was to use it for the school ideas for continued studies. accomodate the 160 aircraft I off-loaded games and simulation programs. since onto it from my carriers during the Since our demonstration, I have been Eastern Solomons campaign? I have been a wargamer for 20 years I told that the college has studied both wanted to use it, among other things, Carriers at War and Europe Ablaze dur 4) Change the computer instructions for playing wargames. I was lucky to ing the past two years. so that it doesn't do anything stupid find and acquire several SSG programs like fly planes on a strike transfer from from the start and I can easily say that Recently I came across your magazine a safe base to a carrier that has already they are among the very best on the Run 5 and was able to buy the first three been sunk. Like the carrier's escorts market today. They have given me issues (now valuable collectors items haven't already informed the base not countless hours of enjoyment. I espe Ed. ). I was deeply impressed. Since I to send off the airplanes since there's cially like the "edit" facilities which bought a new computer (Amiga 500) I no place to land?! (Very annoying dur have enabled me to try several interest- would also like to know which of your ing the Midway campaign!!). 51 5) A base shou~d vanish once enemy of your games for the IBM and your presence of cavalry close to enemy in troop transports have been successful efforts at "guerilla marketing". I have fantry should slow infantry movement in landing troops there, or at least have long maintained that SSG produces the and decrease infantry firepower some probability of being converted to best military simulations on the mar (they've all formed square). Also, it the other side's use. Not that this hap ket. should make infantry better targets for pened all the time in the war, but it Of course, like most admiring fans, I artillery (squares are hard to miss). would constitute a real punishment for want something. Of the military game Cavalry should also be permitted to the players. One sees the makings of a systems which you have produced, I charge 2 or 3 hexes, and to shatter serious campaign type game, in which feel Decisive Battles to be the best. Cer infantry which is in poor shape or is one is assigned forces and chooses sites tainly Carriers at War, Battlefront and surprised. to land against and ... Russia have their merits, but Decisive Second, the range of small arms (other 6) Speed time up somehow, nights get Battles stands head and shoulders above than rifles) should probably drop to 1 dull. " the rest in both simulating history and hex. 7) Add a command so you can specify in letting home-grown scenario design Third, the varying skirmishing capa at which time you will want the com ers (like me) create their own history. bilities of different units must be simu puter to interrupt the passage of time. Several features of the system contrib lated - possibly through the "number 8) Player, not computer needs to select ute to this. First, the command/ order of regiments" factor. armament. How else can Nagumo's structure in a definite role: Com Well, that's the meat. Here's the gravy. error at Midway be repeated? Also, mander-in-Chief. Combined with the In addition to being rated for leader readying times need to be known, so leader values and the hidden move ship and staff, leaders should be rated the player can factor them in. ment routines, it gives the player real for aggressiveness. Blucher may not insight into the options and limitations Thanks for reading. No need for a re have been as good a leader as Napo of command on the pre 1900-s battle ply. I know you have heard all these leon, but he was at least as aggressive. field. before, but I figured , the more that Similarly, some of the Emperor's mar write, the more chance changes will be The movement routines are master shals were comfortable in a defensive made. fully done - far superior to the usual fight. To simulate strategic movement, "move 'em one at a time" mechanics of Once again, you have a wonderful permit players to designate the entry other games. Brigades realistically product, for which the scenario editor points for off-map units. As the entry march (or fail to march) to their objec better be out damn quick. points draw to the enemy's rear, the tives. chances of the reinforcements being Finally, the many design options (such delayed increases. Leaders should also Sincerely as unit objectives, entrenchment flags have an effect on this. Michael A. Turton and relative combat values) permit Whatever you do, good luck! Arlington, VA unrivalled flexibility in designing see~ USA narios. Very truly yours, Well, what do I want? A Napoleonic Decisive Battles. The only entries in the Leonard R. Heinz Michael, field are from SSI - and they are not 16 Altadena Drive Never satisfied to rest on our laurels very impressive. The topic affords great Pittsburgh, P A scope for multiple volumes. Large we are always looking to improve our USA products and as you've already read in groups of garners and history buffs are the editorial the Construction Kit will interested in the period. include an updated CAW program. I Upon analysis, not much has to be Thanks Leonard, the Napoleonic pe can't reveal just how Roger and Ian changed to adapt Decisive Battles to riod certainly holds a fascination for have improved the game but I can Napoleonic warfare. (Yes, I also work many of us here at SSG. I guess that's guarantee you'll like it. with computer programmers, and I why we want to get it right before we do a Napoleonic game. I wouldn't hold Ed. know that "not much has to be changed" is a phrase that causes faint your breath though, there are still only ing and hysteria.) The scale, (brigade 24 hours in the day and the computer Dear Sirs, level), is right. The weapons interac programmers emancipation league has Based on Run 5 back a couple of issues tions are basically correct. Here is what, threatened to picket us unless we allow ago, I was pessimistic about SSG's con in my opinion, changes. Roger to eat and sleep. tinued existence. I am now a lot more First, the interaction between cavalry Ed. optimistic, based on both the purchase and infantry must be elaborated. The 52 How to Purchase. In North America, call SSG Inc. on 415-932-3019 (fax 415-933-4327) for VISA or Mastercard orders or write to SSG Inc, 1747 Orleans Ct, Walnut Creek, CA. 94598. Elsewhere, write to SSG P /L, P.O. Box 261 Drummoyne, 2047. Australia