Introduction

 In this post I'm planning to outline the proposed Battle Generator/Campaign. There are a couple of ways to go with this - a degree of randomisation versus something more deterministic, where more choices are made by the player(s). Currently, what I've worked out so far is more randomised. Many of the components have been worked out but I'm not sure they completely hang together.

Here's the proposal:

This programmed campaign envisages a campaign space of three sectors into which the Soviet hordes will plunge. In each sector is a different NATO combatant, the British Army of the Rhine (BOAR), the US Army, and the Bundeswehr, each seeking to restrain the headlong rush of the Soviets.

The three adjacent sectors, each with three depths or battle spaces, for probably nine battles in total. See the Map below. Each sector has a final objective in the last battle space that the Soviets are required to capture in order to win the sector. These objectives are:

1. Sector 1: NORTHAG – The German Plains – Major Urban Centre
2. Sector 2: CENTHAG – Fulda Gap – Crossing the Rhine
3. Sector 3: CENTHAG – Southern Germany – Pathway to France

The Battle Space Maps overlap. For each battle space, a mechanism be developed to select a 2x3 square space on which to locate the battle. From there the type of battle is determined.

The current plan for deciding the types of battles that occur will be the WRG battle posture system. Each side rolls for a posture – Hasty attack, Deliberate Attack or Defense – the combinations producing the type of battle that results, e.g. Hasty Attack vs Hasty Defense, Deliberate Attack versus Prepared Defense, etc. The resulting battle types will set the ratio of the forces involved in the battle

The chance of any particular posture will be defined by the Strategic State of the campaign. The Soviet hordes may achieve Strategic Surprise, only giving NATO 48-72 hours to respond as the Soviets attack out of barracks. There may be telltale signs that the Soviets are mobilising for a more intense confrontation that allows for a Warning Just in Time. Finally, there is a deliberate and comprehensive build up of forces that allows both sides to fully deploy in a Telegraphed Attack. Also, flowing from the Strategic State will be factors such as the amount of reinforcement available and air action. These will affect some of the subsequent possibilities for future battles.

The Map:

 [The map is roughly based on the hex map for the boardgame Third World War]

So that's the initial plan.

Next I'm aiming to post photos of the Forces I've been painting over the past months.  This will allow me time to continue my research to identify the size and composition of forces in the Western TVD, particularly the Group of Forces, over the period 1976 to 1990. This is not easy.  The importance of this is to allow me to create tables to select the forces or reinforcements for the battles in the Battle Spaces.

cheers