Modern War - Start Scenario hardest ever?

[Rabbit]

Yeah, that 80 protection factor is a bummer isn't it. :)

As Alan mentioned, the biggest key to this scenario is getting your infantry into the protected buildings without taking major losses. Your arsenal is very limited in terms of what can penetrate the buildings, so you will have to get in as tight as possible in order to assault the Iraqis if you want to have any hope of dislodging them.

To do that, you'll need lots of smoke while taking a careful path. It helps to enable "Visible Hexes" and then clicking in each of the industrial hexes where the enemy might be hiding to get an idea of what hexes they can see.

This is definitely a tough scenario, but it is an excellent one for helping you to develop some good habits when assaulting fortified positions. I got my butt kicked the first time I played this because I got sloppy in my approach. That caused me to analyze the situation a lot closer, forcing me to determine the best manner in which to approach the buildings, evaluate what weapons I had at my disposal and how best to use them.

Even once you reach the buildings, it is still a tough battle to reach the Objective hexes. The final assault against the Objective hexes is next to impossible if you cannot first pin or disrupt the units in there. But again, think about what you have available for resources and how best you can utilize them (e.g., this is where SMAWs, followed by smoke, 40mm cannister, and then finally just bodies will get you through).

And don't give up hope. I'll be happy to get more specific and less general in my suggestions if you are still having trouble.

Best,
Rabbit