AAR: Divided Ground, Valley of Tears "Opening Round"

[bootlegger267]

Historical notes..."The Israeli tank crews gunnery skills (especially those of Ltc Nafshi's Bn who had recently won the top award for said skills) was a huge factor during the opening phase of the battle. Besides their uncanny ability to engage enemy targets at ranges over 2500m's, they also fired three rounds for every one by the Syrian's."

The heavy losses the Syrian's are taking follows historically with what occurred along the AT Ditch. Even with the losses, the huge disparity in numbers was allowing the Syrian commanders to finally find routes that utilized the dead ground leading towards the Israeli positions.

[bootlegger267]

Game Note...I'm curious, why are 'all" the units showing on the map no matter if they are in a LOS or not? What am I missing?

[bootlegger267]

Syrian Turn 5....The Syrian attack continues to develop. Although Israeli forces have turned the roads and crossing points into a deathtraps, the Syrian's overwhelming numbers, and a lack of Israeli artillery, are now being noticed..

[budd]

All i can think of is you didnt check FOW when you started the game.

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 5... The first crisis as an isolated OP3 calls in their FPF mission.

Historically...The Syrian's had found seams in the Israeli defenses, and attempted to exploit them with a determination the Israeli's had never seen. It was about to get worse....

[bootlegger267]

Opponent choices and Rules Options when you start a scenario...."Manual" "Computer" and "Computer with Fog of War". Optional Rules include Extreme Fog of War.

I did a quick test by starting a new scenario (same one) and even with Extreme Fog of War selected, all units are still visable no matter which sides turn it is... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[berto]

I have done a quick H2H test with the "First Attack on the Bloc" scenario. Unit concealment, visibility, LOS all seem to be WAD. In other words, from one phase to the next, one side cannot see the other side's forces. Follow-up in the Tech Support forum.

[bootlegger267]

Syrian Turn 6...Ltc Al-Dassari, the Cdr of the 3rd Rifle Bn, led his lead Co into Kuneitra. The Bde had discovered a route that was concealed from the Israeli guns that led into the town. That same ground was being used as the jump off location for the 85th Bde's attack to dislodge the enemy from the position over looking the valley.

The first phase of the Syrian attack was complete with securing of 4 breach points across the obstacle.

The second phase was almost complete as forces were about to clear the enemy OP. Reports came through that all the Israeli tanks defending the position were burning.

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 6...Observing the Syrian infantry starting to advance out of the wadi north of Ahmadiyah, Cpt Inbari orders his Co forward to beat back the attack. The Israeli's are starting to report low ammo status' across the line.

The defenders of OP3 have been lost.........

[Crossroads]

Ooh, I like the bold forward movement of the IDF in the middle sector! Their right flank seems to be in a bit of a pickle though, will be interesting to see how they hold out

[bootlegger267]

Historical Notes....All along the front, Israeli tank Plt's and individual tanks were stumbling upon Syrian units as they moved from position to position, some as close as 100m's away.

Syrian Turn 7...The assault on Booster and Ahmadiyah...

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 7...The defense of Ahmadiyah and Booster Ridge....

[budd]

Man o man, after reading the book on this battle the visual on what your showing its just amazing that Israel survived this and prevailed. Didn't that forward bunker complex hold out or am i thinking of another spot.

[berto]

Note that regardless of how this particular scenario run plays out, by means of customized .ai files -- customized on a per scenario basis -- one could craft an .ai file for this scenario giving the Israelis more than their usual edge, and the Syrians more than their usual maluses. So if this scenario doesn't play out as it did historically, you could tweak the scenario .ai file to that purpose.

Of course, it is also possible that the game (and its .ai files) is "correct", and the Israelis won this battle by sheer miracle.

(By the hand of God? )

[bootlegger267]

Syrian Turn 8....Without regard for losses, the Syrian's continue their advance upon the enemy positions. Israeli tank casualties begin to mount.....

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 8...They kept coming. The crews and Plt's continued to engage enemy tanks, then APC's... But the numbers were against them.

[bootlegger267]

ORIGINAL: **budd**

Man o man, after reading the book on this battle the visual on what your showing its just amazing that Israel survived this and prevailed. Didn't that forward bunker complex hold out or am i thinking of another spot.

A few held out along the Purple Line.

And yes, based upon my research, this OP did hold out and was credited with over 30 tanks destroyed.

Since I'm playing this "Historically" vs as a gamer, I'm also enjoying the visible representation as it puts me that much closer to really understanding what the Israeli forces accomplished in the opening hours....

The next Valley of Tears" scenario will be done the same, except this time I will add more historical narrative and have the damn options set right!

[bootlegger267]

Syrian Turn 9...Assaults against Ahmadiyah are repulsed but enemy casualties are now mounting.....

[budd]

and to think they were also getting hit by the Egyptian's at the same time....just wow.

[bootlegger267]

Israeli Turn 9...After repulsing numerous assaults, the tanks pull out of Ahmadiyah only to find Syrian armor along the slopes of Booster Ridge. Realizing that this was no "Battle Day" incursion by the Syrian's, Ltc Rattes orders his left flank Co to displace to support the defense of the ridge...