Strategic Bombers
In a divisional level game it is quite possible that strategic airstrikes can occur over the table, especially after the 1990s. Before that they would have to be pre-planned or scenario-specific. High altitude bombing occurs in the normal aircraft phase, but with certain differences. They are only vulnerable to high-altitude SAMs and AA guns of 95mm+. All have DEF 4, bomb 2, and some may have SB 2 or ARNO- Each Stand has a beaten zone 12″ long by 21/2″ wide, but the number of targets attacked is doubled, i.e. HE bombs lit the first two targets and the following four soft targets Smart bombs attack first four targets, ARM attacks two AA targets. If more than one bomber Stand is attacking then the beaten zones are either placed side-by-side creating one large box, or all are separate attacks on the same target point. However the beaten zone doesn’t always land where it is desired. Place the beaten zone at the targets location, and then roll 1D6:
4-6 = hit, do not move beaten zone
1-3 = miss
Add one to the D6 if a FAC (or AGC as the rules call it) is guiding the strike (usually a SF Stand acting as FAC). If a miss roll an arrow die and 1D6, the dice indicating how many inches the beaten zone is moved and the direction. An arrow die is a D6 with an arrow painted on each face (blank D6 are available from Table Top Games amongst others). The rectangular pattern stays parallel to the original desired pattern, but the start point alters as per the dice.
Bomb Live Unit 82 Daisy Cutter
This is a 15,000lb (6.8 tonne) blast bomb, very similar to a FAE bomb, but of enormous dimensions. Recently used in Afghanistan_ it is in fact an old weapon, first used in Vietnam, and then in the Gulf War. It can only be dropped by a C-130 special forces Hercules (DEF 2, inbuilt ECM mission, TI). Dropped as if strategic bombing as above. It is laser guided to some went_ so counts 3-6 to hit. It has the same effect as a nuclear bomb (see rules 17.3 page 38) but without the radiation_ The area of effect is 1’h” x 1½” beaten zone, 6″ blast radius_ Attack Number 3 against soft and bunkers. Attack Number 5 against AFVs. No modifiers apply. The beaten zone will clear trees and kill all targets.
Data Cards
I have come across a lot of minor anomalies, and am not sure of the rationale behind them.
Milan-III doesn’t exist except perhaps on paper. Conqueror and M103 have less range than the tanks they were intended to support’ Change AT range to 21″ British infantry don’t carry Milan, change ATGW factors to 3-6″ if Carl Gustav S.550, 4-3″ if LAW80. Bear in mind that in many armies the ATGW teams are held at battalion level, rather than actually carried by the infantry themselves. This is why in some data charts as written the same weapon has different factors, the dedicated teams having one higher factor than integral ATGW. This represents the fact that within the infantry platoons there may not be a full 4 weapons, only one or three usually, whereas the dedicated teams are based on four weapons and dedicated crew. I think this is a good idea and allows for differences between doctrines.
T-90 CED 6? I doubt it, considering it is 20 tons lighter than the Abrams/Challenger, even allowing for the anti-missile systems built onto the tank and various prototype T-80s.
Soviet infantry have ATGW of 3-3″ with RPG-7, 4-3″ if RPG-16. 4-6″ if RPG-26/29.
Israelis: Magach C (or 7) has DEF 11/4, CED 4.
M113/HVMS is prototype only.
The T-55 APC refers to an early field modification, and not the Achzarit, which is DEF 11/4 CED 4.
Why Chieftain IX, XI have more armour than Mk. V I don’t know, especially CED upped to 4 from 2. Suggest Stillbrew is 11/5 with CED 4 and what they call Chieftain Stillbrew is an over-estimate of Stillbrew ability, actually being Chieftain 900 prototype.
Mil-8 and Mil-17 can carry two infantry platoons per Stand, not one, whereas Puma should be one platoon per Stand.
CH-47D Chinook in real life carry 44 men officially and unofficially up to double that in an emergency. As each Stand represents four helicopters, it should be able to carry 4 platoons, not three. Similarly for the CH-53E, this can carry 55 troops or well over 200 men in four of them.
Some SAM ranges are suspect, e.g. SA-7 to 90″ (9km) which outranges many other better quality missiles. Although in theory it can fly that far, combat range is much less, and I have the following SAM ranges:
SA-7: 56″, Stinger: 48″, Redeye: 30″, SA-14 48″, SA-16: 70″. Chaparral: 60″, Rapier: 65″
Looking at the defence value of the Leopard 1 series in Spearhead, they seem over armoured, even allowing for factored in doctrine, smoke dischargers, acceleration and speed. Given that the Leopard I has not much more protection than a WW2 Panther tank at 13cm equivalent of vertical steel, a DEF of 7/3 CED 2 for Leopard 1A1 and 1A2 (and AMX-30 for that matter) seems more reasonable. Bare in mind that the M48 has about 22cm equivalent frontal protection and has been given DEF 9. Leopard 1AlAl should be DEF 8/3 but CED 3 (extra spaced armour around turret – track links on hull front). Leopard 1A3 and 1A4 should be DEF 9/3 but again CED 3 for built in spaced armour.
Some artillery ranges are a bit out, reading the various text books, e.g. M125 81mm mortar carrier should be 45″, M106 56″, with ERHE (RAP) 68″, 155mm M114 howitzer 146″, but I am being picky I think.
John Moher, one of the authors, commented on some parts of this article in the SOTCW’s Journal 48 (Christmas 2003) and you can read his reply reproduced here in Thoughts & Responses.
Mark Bevis continues his discussion above in his subsequent article in the SOTCW’s Journal 46 (Christmas 2002/January 2003) and you can read that reproduced here in More Suggestions.
Contributor: © 2002 Mark Bevis.