Red Thunder II 1988 - NATO

[MikeJ19]

This is a larger scenario than I am used to and I look forward to giving it a try. The scenario has some really interesting aspects and I hope to show some of them as I go through this.

Here is a nice picture of the Warsaw Pact (WP) plan.

[MikeJ19]

As usual, the attacking player gets a chance to move before the defender sees the battlefield. I'm starting to get used to that. Here is the situation after the initial moves by the WP.

[MikeJ19]

NATO relied on reforger sites. Here is some info on them within the game

[MikeJ19]

Some information on the War of the shipping lanes, Austria and what happens when capitals fall...

[MikeJ19]

This is the first time I am trying a scenario with the overextended supply threshold. I'm looking forward to seeing how this plays out.

Does anyone know what they Movement bias level means?

Hopefully, the shock levels balance out soon!

[MikeJ19]

A review of overextended supply threshold

[MikeJ19]

Here a look at the terrain - playing at this level is a big difference when looking at terrain...

[MikeJ19]

Here is a view of the initial moves by the WP. You can see the main effort seems to be in the North.

[MikeJ19]

I find it hard to look at my forces in this game (overall not just the scenario). I'm impatient by nature and going through to find this info is time consuming. I'm glad I did it this time...

At the same time, this is a great game.

[MikeJ19]

Here is a look at my air force. I have a lot of units

[MikeJ19]

My vital area is in the SW corner of West Germany. This is the home to the reforger sites. I need to hold them, at least until the units arrive!

The air war is very important. I want to get air superiority early and then keep it.
Attack the WP airfields
Keep air units on air superiority
Maybe focus on the WP air force in the centre first – this should reduce their strength and create holes in the coverage.

Interdiction is also important – this will hurt the WP supply situation and attack their units.

I need to watch carefully that I keep units in the same formation together. I have lots of units from different countries and will suffer cooperation penalties if I’m not careful.

I need to keep reserves. In each of the areas of the battlefield and maybe one in general.

I have not played at this level before. I need to take more time and plan before acting.

Rivers remain important, but I have to be careful, some units can cross easily where others can not ...

I get a lot of reinforcements the first few days, this will help plug holes.

Disrupt

Use interdiction to slow WP movement

Attack WP’s air force with my rockets, removing it will give me more freedom later

Look for WP rockets and try to take it out

Take out some of the bridges in depth – slow down reinforcements and supply

Dislocate

Look for opportunities to isolate the attacking columns

Look for gaps to push through and affect WP supply

Prempt

Get them off balance – maybe use airmobile units to attack in depth and then fall back

Remove their air force from the equation early on

Here is a look at my first option

[MikeJ19]

Second option

[MikeJ19]

Option 3

[MikeJ19]

I decided option 1 makes most sense.

[MikeJ19]

Here is a close up on 4 Mech Bde (Canadian)

[MikeJ19]

Two units I will try to look at on turn 2 to see how their supply situation affects them...

[MikeJ19]

A look at the battlefield as I finish my turn

[larryfulkerson]

I finally cleaned out the American garrison in Berlin so that the way is clear now for the supply to flow freely. I'm hoping the supply levels will increase a little bit now. Now that I've cleared out my backfield the Americans are going to drop some paratroops or something.

[MikeJ19]

Larry,

Not sure you meant to post that to this thread... In my game the soviets are still trying to capture Berlin.

Have a good day,

[MikeJ19]

Here is a look at the two units that I'm watching their supply situation.