Suez Campaign (LCG) - AAR

[Jason Petho]

With the 1.02 UPDATE getting built for release, I thought I would take some free time (HA!) and develop an After Action Report on one of the Linked Campaigns included in the Middle East game.

This is being played with the 1.02 UPDATE.

I will be playing the Suez Campaign, which puts you in command of a tank battalion in 1973 on the Sinai front. The campaign will play through a series of historical battles (not totally, as this battalion didn't see all the battles being portrayed), but will give a good idea of the different types of battles that will be experienced.

After the preview screen, I am taken to start the campaign.



My tank battalion will be my core unit. That means that any losses incurred over the course of hte campaign will be carried over from one scenario to the other. Of course, I will have opportunity to replace some of my losses, but I may not receive enough points to replace all my losses. Obviously, taking care of my force is essential!

Let us review the battalion:




The Tank Battalion consists of a Headquarters Company (which includes some reconnassaince elements and other support weapons), three tank companies (with Sho't Kal (Centurions)) and a Mechanized Infantry company.

A decent sized force with a good mix of weapons.

After reviewing the troops, I'm off to start the campaign. Here is the first mission:



Commando's.

Crap.

[Jason Petho]

Turn 01: Suez Campaign.

After pressing OK above, I have the options to select.  I am going with the default options.

Just a reminder, that while I am playing without Variable Visibility, if I was to play this again, I may chose that option to mix up the action a bit.  




Here are my initial position, the southeast of the map along the hard surface road. The battalion is spreadout and marching towards the front.



Same view, but the 3D view of the above. You can see my headquarters company in the lead (with the reconnaissance elements), followed by the three tank companies, the mechanized infantry company in M113's and the headquarters coming up the rear.




Here is the a 2D zoom out view of the map. The main hard surfaced road moves mostly east-west and passes through Rumani. There is an airfield on the west side of the map. There are a couple of Objective locations; one at Rumani and the other at the Airfield. Note the exit location at the southwest portion of the map.



Here's a 3D view of Rumani and the location of my troops at the end of the turn. No contact yet, and that's OK.




As my force consists of Sho't Kal tanks, here is how they measure up. Each company has a headquarters section of 2 tanks and three platoons of three tanks. This image is using the Unit Viewer (F3) and displaying the Weapons Range Chart for the primary weapons. You can see the gun is capable of firing out to 4 kilometres, but at that range, it isn't going to destroy much. Even still, the drop off to range is quite slow, that should give me an advantage against opposing tanks.




I also have a 120mm Self-propelled Mortar platoon (M3 Mk. D) There are four vehicles in this platoon. It is capable of indirect fire or direct fire. This platoon is found in the Headquarters Company.



Lastly, I have a 81mm Self-propelled Mortar platoon. There are 2 vehicles in this platoon. It is capable of indirect and direct fire. This platoon is found in the mechanized infantry company.

[Jason Petho]

Scenario 01, Turn 02

The Egyptian turn went by without any action. Here are the starting positions for the turn.



As I am familair with the designer, I have decided against the obvious route along the hard surfaced road and decided to try and find the path of least resistance through the desert. Since this terrain is littered with other terrain types besides desert, I should be able to cross without too much trouble.

Unless, of course, there are commando's lurking.

Here are the positions at the end of Turn 2

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

With Rumani still being Israeli, I would have chanced the paved road.

[Jason Petho]

Scenario 01, Turn 3.

My cruise through the desert continues. No contact yet, my plan seems to be working. It will be slow going, trodding through the desert, but should reduce my overall losses.

Here is the end of turn 3.

[Jason Petho]

With Rumani still being Israeli, I would have chanced the paved road.

The designer probably thought of that, giving you a false sense of security... 

Muhahahaha

[Big Ivan]

Be careful Jason!

I have a bad feeling and its a little too quiet, death is close by and listening to your tracks and engines!

Be careful, Be careful!!!

[Jason Petho]

Scenario 01, Turn 4.

No contact.

Here is a 2D view of the route ahead. I hope to skirt just north of the Wellington Plateau label towards HILL 42.0



Here is a 3D view of my column. Notice  that I am leading with the tanks. If there are Commando's lurking around here, I don't want them to wipe out a platoon of infantry while loaded in the M113's, so they are bringing up the rear.

[Jason Petho]

Scenario 01, Turn 5.

Contact. Crap.

I have been ambushed by some Sagger's. I lost a Sho't Kal, forcing the rest of the platoon to retreat.



But since it is only one group of Sagger's, I'll risk bringing up the rest of the battalion and assault the position next turn.

Here is a 2D shot of the move.



Here is a 3D shot of the move.




During HAL's turn, the Sagger teams weren't as successful in their targetting, fortunately.

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

With Rumani still being Israeli, I would have chanced the paved road.

The designer probably thought of that, giving you a false sense of security... 

Muhahahaha

True.  But that is another of the things about replaying scenarios just to have the fun of doing something different each time you play.  I have done that many times throughout my wargaming over the years, even knowing that I would already lose the scenario, but wanted the fun of doing it.  :)