The Next Main Event

[Cobalt]

I would like to offer an alternative solution.

Mad_Dog and I have spent considerable time constructing a workable CM operation. The Campaign chosen was Gazala Libya 1942 (Tobruk).

I will briefly describe the mechanics involved and if interested I will elaborate. In its simplest form:

The key to making this work is the battlefield coordinator (me for the 1st few).

There are 2 Commanders each dictating the tactics of the campaign.

They have the order of battle

The fixed positions and mobile forces at 2100 May 26, 1942.

I provide the Commander with a map of where all his forces are located.

The map is an old school hexagon battle map (each hex numbered). Each hex is 3000m by 3000m.

Each Commander assigns officers to major forces in the theatre.

The commanders have the map, the units, the officers for the units, and the goals.

The Commanders can move the units per turn. This information goes to the Battlefield coordinator.

The Battlefield Coordinator will report to the Commanders what their recon units air/ground were able to locate.

When the forces move into the same hex the Battlefield Coordinator selects that hex map and sets up a setup zone depending on which direction they entered and the time and sends it to the two commanders of those units.

They than set up their units, start a battle, or 1 side may decide to retreat.

Our system has not been tested but there is not much to test, you moved 50 tanks here 100 there and fought a battle. Dead units do not regenerate they stay dead. Although Elite Tank crews can reenter in a reinforcement tank, if saved from death.

The Battlefield Coordinator will place the reinforcements as per history.

The fuel/ammo supply is handled by “when the next battle starts all units enter supplied.”

This works quite well but limits the “fight till all dead” type of battle because those 42 tanks you lost taking a sand hill are not coming back.

The last hurdle will be implemented by Sunday this week, the problem is time.

In other words a battle starts and 15 minutes of CM passes so 100 tanks cannot enter from an area 4 hours away from the battle map.

I am thinking of handling that by using the hexagon map scale as time (hours) and am able to tell who entered the hexagon battle area at what time. Therefore, I can move both forces to a setup area within ten game turns of each other without them having to transgress over a 2-mile area to fight.
I do not want to slow the large map game by waiting for the hexagon map battle to complete. However, a Commander needs to know the results of a battle before he moves forces. I am working on a proximity time decompression solution. It will be worked out very soon.

Two Commanders fighting with exact historical forces. Not set battles but battles and forces they pick. The Battlefield Coordinator (me) has the hard job.

Phase one of the 4 phase Gazala battle will be ready by the end of the month.

Everyone here that posted can be an Officer of one of the two Commanders.

It works and adds a new degree of fun.

Cobalt ... Clay Massi