Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)s in the "Totally Unofficial" Battlegroup Cold War Rules

Currently I'm writing the army list for the US 9th Infantry Division (Motorised) the High Technology Test Bed force for the US Army in the 1980s.  They either had, or kind of pretended to have, a lot of very cool bits of kit for the day and worked up these disparate bits and bobs into a well functioning motorised brigade which performed well in various exercises and tests.

As I've been reading about this division, I came across a few references to their use of UAVs - specifically one called "Mercury Green".  It appears this UAV was used to provide long-range surveillance, route reconnaissance and more - even some limited EW tasks.  Information from the UAV could be down-linked, processed and digitally reported to appropriate users in real time.  All the elements could be carried on HMMWVs.

Previously I had not considered UAVs to be part of a tactical battle as represented in Battlegroup.  My information on at least what I could see as the more prevalent UAVs of the day such as the Canadair CL-289, showed they had more of an operational role - flying pre-programmed routes, recording data onto something like video tape and then delivering the whole package back to base once it had completed the whole mission.  The tape was then analysed and the intelligence would be used primarily for planning purposes - rather than real time intel that could be used to direct artillery for instance.

Mercury Green appears to be well ahead of those other systems - but so far I've failed to find anything else about it.  I think therefore, it may have been a code name for the Lockheed MGM-105 Aquila, seen here. 

This UAV fits into the timeframe, and was part of a target acquisition, designation and aerial reconnaissance platform which was what I imagine was a low-light TV camera and a laser designator - specifically to lase targets for Copperhead rounds.

Interestingly, after the success of Israeli UAVs over the Beqaa Valley in 1982 the US Army pushed for Aquila Lite, where all the UAV assets could be fitted to HMMWVs, unlike this standard Aquila being launched from a 5-ton truck:

The other option of course is that Mercury Green was a cover name for the IAI Scout or the AAI RQ-2 Pioneer, seen here on the back of a 5-ton truck:

That's all academic in a way - as now, after ignoring them, if I wanted to properly represent this cutting edge motorised division, I needed some rules for them.  So here's what I've come up with so far - it's a little like the EW rules in that you'd get a bunch of options but you have to choose 1 to be used once per game.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UAVs are Restricted and Unique.  Taking a UAV allows a player to employ it once per game.  When employed the player must roll a D6.  On a roll of 3+ they can then select one of the following UAV options to take: 

• When your opponent has rolled for reinforcements, you may choose the enemy units to be placed on the edge of the table
• Just before the first turn of the game, once both sides have  deployed you may change the aiming point of one of your Timed Barrages.
• For one turn the UAV acts as a Forward Observation and Lasing Team and may direct one Copperhead PGM round.
• Add +2 to your own side's counter-battery fire

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So that's my current thinking.  I'd be very interested in any additions or subtractions you make from these rule ideas and any feedback such as what you'd think this would be worth points wise.

Please note that I'm only really considering this for the 9th ID (Motorised) at the moment, so it's not like this will significantly shake up the game.

Thanks as always

Richard

The Grumble Hunt - Part 1 - Background

Well it's been some time since I last posted an After Action Report here.  To scared to look it up to see just how long ago!  Anyway - last weekend I got to play the scenario I had published in Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy Magazine Issue 107.  I played the Soviets guarding an S-300PS (known to NATO as the SA-10 Grumble) battery site in Northern Norway.  I had 5 players - Andrew and his son Alex, Ben, Gareth and Liam - taking on the roles of an SAS patrol, a SAS sniper team, a Royal Marine Mountain & Arctic Warfare Cadre patrol and a Norwegian Home Guard scout. I would play the Soviets.

BACKGROUND

It’s been 11 days since World War 3 began, and in a series of well-coordinated amphibious and airborne assaults, Soviet forces have side stepped or smashed all serious Norwegian resistance in the north of the country.  Lakselv, and the strategically important Banak Air Station fell quickly.  Now the Soviets are using the air base, which greatly increases their own fighter’s range into Norway and allows Soviet Naval Aviation aircraft to cut across northern Norway as they seek out NATO convoys and the Atlantic Strike Fleet. 

Four days ago a NATO air group attempted to stop air operations out of Banak.  Those that broke through the CAP were quickly engaged by the Soviet long-range air defences.  With no significant SEAD systems currently in the Arctic area, CINCNORTH has decided to use his only available strategic assets to take out the SAM sites immediately prior to another, even larger raid on Banak.

Lucky for Norway, elements of the 22^nd SAS’ A Squadron (Mountain Troop) were already in Norway before hostilities broke out, conducting a joint security exercise in Trondheim.  When 3 Commando Brigade deployed, it included  elements of the Royal Marine’s Mountain & Arctic Warfare Cadre.  Normally they play a critical reconnaissance role for the Brigade, but now, along with the SAS squadron they are the only in-theatre NATO assets capable of undertaking this mission.

The mission takes place in the area at the tip of the red arrow.  This map also shows the limit of the Soviet advance through Norway at this date:

The Soviets have deployed two SA-10 battalions, split into four batteries within 20km of Banak, with the primary air search radar and command components within the perimeter of the airfield.  The Marines and SAS operators have been split into four assault teams each lead by a local guide from the Norwegian Home Guard.  They are to raid each site simultaneously.

We'll be focussing on the northernmost battery shown here, along with its proximity to the primary radar and command components at the airfield.

All the SA-10 (S-300) batteries are mobile, however NATO EW and INTEL assets have been constantly tracking their movement and now have a developed an accurate picture of where each battery will spend the “night”.  

Our team was dropped by a helicopter  within 10km of the SAM site, and has moved quietly to the target area on foot.  After crossing the river, they are now lying in the scrubland overlooking the large field which contains the battery.  

This is a satellite view of the battery, annotated to show all the battery elements and surrounding scrubland.  Here is the key to the map:

A - 5N63S Flap Lid B Engagement Radar

B - 5P85S Transporter-Erector-Launcher (smart TEL)

C - 5P85D (dumb TEL)

D - 5P85D (dumb TEL)

E - Air Defence Command Post (a Ural-375A Office Body Truck)

F - 2 x ZSU-23-4

G - Military Police Checkpoint

1-3 - Various civilian structures - farm buildings

4 - Camouflage netted area

It's mid-summer in Norway.  Here in the Arctic Circle, this means the sun doesn't set, so although the mission begins at 3am it's not that dark.  Just for context here is a more modern photo of a couple of guys sitting at the river, probably about 500m from where the battery was situated, at 3am.

Lucky for the NATO troopers, it's lightly raining - so visual ranges are somewhat limited.

THE TABLE 

Here's how my table compares to the satellite image

It's obviously not exactly the same, but good enough for me!  You can see the boundary between the paddock the battery is situated in, and the scrubland surrounding it.  In reality the scrubland looks more like this google earth image I snapped of the E6 at the battery location.  It's autumn in the picture but I think you get the gist:

THE NATO MISSION

Ideally the assaulting teams must now sneak up to each TEL and the Radar Acquisition Vehicle and attach timed demolition charges between the missile tubes or under the radar section.  The figures have enough C4 to deal with any other vehicles the team chooses to target.  All the vehicles on site play a role in making the SAM battery function so anything destroyed is useful, however the TELs and Radar vehicle are the primary targets and must be destroyed.

The assault team must then exfiltrate the site and move to the extraction point for pick up.  If all goes well the emplaced explosives will explode at 3.50am, 15 minutes before the NATO aircraft raiding Banak begin their attack run on the airfield.  

The aim is to achieve all this without firing a shot, however the sites are known to be guarded by Soviet Motor Rifle Infantry and Military Police.  It should be possible to slip past them and execute the mission.  If considered necessary the team may engage the Soviet’s and the British troops have been kitted out with a number of suppressed weapons in addition to their more standard small arms.  

NATO FORCES

Royal Marine Mountain & Arctic Warfare Cadre  - The Royal Marine M&AWC troop has Normal Supply levels, High Confidence, TQ - D10 and Morale - D10.

Each M&AWC member is also armed with HE grenades, smoke grenades, fighting knife and demolition material. The patrol is made up as follows:

• Robert "Tazzer" Thopson - Mountain Leader (MP5SD3 & M16A1) 
• Arthur "Lobster" Neumann - Signaller (M16 & LAW AT Rocket) 
• Eric "Florry" Higgens - Medic (M16/M203 & LAW AT Rocket) 
• Armand "Cloggy" Hendriks - Weapons Specialist (L4 LMG)

Special Air Service (SAS) – A Squadron (Mountain Troop) - The SAS Patrol has Normal Supply levels, High Confidence, TQ - D12 and Morale - D12.

SAS operators are Stealthy. Each operator is also armed with a suppressed Browning pistol, a LAW AT Rocket, HE grenades, smoke grenades, a fighting knife and demolition material. The patrol is made up as follows:

• Harry "Boss" Catterall - Patrol Leader (MP5SD3 & CAR-15) 
• Johnny "Scaley" Anderson - Signaller (M16A1) 
• Adrian "593" Jones - Medic (M16/M203) 
• Jimmy "4 Fingers" Robertson - Demolitions Specialist (M16 & M79)

SAS Sniper Team is made up as follows

• Joel "Stinky" Crownley - Sniper (AW Covert Sniper Rifle & CAR-15)
• Brian "Baz" Smith - Spotter (M16/M203)

Norwegian Heimevernet (Home Guard) Guide - The Home Guard guide has Normal Supply levels, High Confidence, TQ - D8 and Morale - D10.

"Sven" - Guide (Designated Marksman AG3)

All NATO troops must start the game in the scrubland, but not within 6” of any Soviet equipment or troops.

INITIATIVE

NATO troops have the initiative for the stealth component of the game and for the first 2 turns if the game turns into a firefight.  From the 3^rd turn onward, roll initiative for each side.

NATO VICTORY CONDITIONS

Each Soviet soldier/specialist KIA: +0 points
Each Soviet Primary Target with a charge laid/destroyed: +8 points
Each Soviet Secondary Target with a charge laid/destroyed: +5 points
Each Soviet Other Target with a charge laid/destroyed: +2 points
Not a shot fired during entire mission: +10 points
Every Primary Target has a charge laid/destroyed: +10 additional points

THE SOVIET MISSION

It's pretty simple for the Soviets.  Patrol, guard and defend the battery.  Immediately call for reinforcements if attacked.  Defeat any enemy action aggressively allowing the SAM technicians to carry out their primary Air Defence function.

SOVIET FORCES

Patrolling Guards - A Motorised Rifle Squad has been assigned to provide a roving patrol for the SAM unit.  The squad has Normal Supply levels, High Confidence TQ - D8 and Morale - D8.  The squad is made up as follows:

8 man Motorised Rifle Squad (7 x AK-74, 1 x RPK-74).  They have left the RPG-7V in their BTR-70.  These guards can be deployed in pairs, anywhere on the table that is not scrubland.

Their BTR-70 is parked within the Batteries confines.  Its 2 crew (gunner and driver) are on board.  They will have to start the BTR-70 to get into any fight.

Military Police - A small Military Police detachment is attached to the S-300 unit for road control.  They have a UAZ-469 MP Jeep and have set up a checkpoint on the E-6 highway.  The MP's have Normal Supply levels, High Confidence TQ - D8 and Morale - D8.

The MP detachment is made up as follows – MP Leader (Makerov & AKS-74U) 3 x MPs (AK-74).  The MPs and the UAZ-469 must be placed on or within 6” of the E-6 Highway.

Air Defence Specialists – Shift 1 - There are 12 specialists on duty in the various AD vehicles.  They are currently unarmed by can arm themselves in one turn with AKS-74Us held in each vehicle.  They are working as follows:

5N63S Flap Lid B Engagement Radar - 6 Specialists

5P85S Smart TEL - 2 Specialists

Air Defence Command Post - 4 Specialists

Air Defence Specialists – Shifts 2 and 3 - Three shifts of specialists are required to properly man the site for 24 hours.  Typically that means there is another 24 men off-shift at any one time.  At least 12 of them will be sleeping, whilst the other 12 will be repairing and testing equipment, on guard duty, getting some political training, eating or playing cards.  The off-duty specialists can be situated in any of the structures on the table or in the back of any of the trucks.

Four of the specialists have been given an AK-74 and put on guard duty to support the Motorised Infantry.  All the other men are currently unarmed but can arm themselves in one turn with an AK-74.  The specialist guards must each be placed next to one of the four primary assets.

Drivers and other crew - Each unmanned vehicle on site, except any UAZ-469 Jeeps has two drivers/crew dedicated to it.  These must be added to the Soviet’s personnel pool.  1/3 of the drivers and other crew have been given an AK-74 and put on guard duty. 

All the other drivers and crew are currently asleep in any of the structures on the table or in the back of any of the trucks.  They are unarmed. They can arm themselves in one turn with an AK-74.  The driver/crew guards must each be placed next to one of the secondary assets.

The specialists, drivers and other crew have Normal Supply levels, High Confidence TQ - D6 and Morale - D8.

REINFORCEMENTS

The Battery Quick Reaction Force is based at Banak Air Station.  It can reach the northernmost SAM site within 10 minutes of receiving a distress call.  The QRF has the same stats as the Motorised Rifle Squad patrolling the site.  The QRF is made up as follows:

2 x BTR-70 APCs – each with an 8 man Motorised Rifle Squad (6 x AK-74, 1 x RPK-74 and 1 x RPG-7V).  One squad can replace one AK-74 with a SVD Sniper Rifle if you choose.  The QRF will arrive from the south on the E-6 highway. 

Once the shooting begins, start counting turns.  At the beginning of Turn 4 roll a D6.  On a roll of 5 or more the QRF has arrived.  If the roll is failed, at the beginning of Turn 5 roll a D6.  On a roll of 4 or more the QRF has arrived.  Turn 6 the QRF arrives of a 3+.  Continue rolling each turn until the QRF has arrived or the Assault team has left the table.

SOVIET VICTORY CONDITIONS

Each NATO soldier WIA: +1 point
Each NATO soldier KIA: +3 points
Each NATO soldier captured: +5 points
Each Soviet Primary Target to survive attack: +10 points
Each Soviet Secondary Target to survive attack: +5 points

Each Soviet Other Target to survive attack: +2 points
Guard successfully raises alarm: +5 points
Every Primary Target survives attack: +10 additional points

GENERAL RULES

At the beginning of each turn and anytime a unit fails a reaction test by rolling a 1, draw a random event card.  I'll include these in a later post.

That's it for the preamble - next up will be the actual game itself.

Thanks

Richard

Updated Canadian Lists and more...

 I said I was going to do this a few weeks back and have finally gotten around to it.  Although I am working on a new Cold War game with a completely different way of building forces, I have made some minor changes and edits to both the Canadian 4CMBG and CAST Brigade lists for my totally unofficial variant of the WW2 Battlegroup game.  For completeness here, I've also included the AFV data table.

Here it all is

4CMBG Battlegroup List

CAST Brigade Battlegroup List

AFV Data

I will also update the links of the NATO lists Tab at the top of the page.

Someone posted this Youtube clip on the Canadian Division Reconnaissance Regiment up on Facebook today - I watched and enjoyed it and thought I'd put it here as well.

It's been a while since I've done this so I hope it works!

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - UPDATE - New and Edited French Lists

Time for another update.  It's been a while I know but I've recently completed my revision of THREE French lists and I now feel they are in much better shape than they were when I first published the French Armoured Division Battlegroup list.

So here are the revised and new lists for the French:

French Armoured Division Battlegroup

French Infantry Division Battlegroup

French Rapid Reaction Force Battlegroup

I believe with these lists you should be able to replicate almost any French force from the mid to late 1980's - even possibly the first Gulf War.

The French have some awesome kit - certainly the best Armoured Cars (like the AMX-10RC) of any of the other lists, and also some pretty old and funky stuff (like the AMX-13).  I just need access to a complete range of French infantry options and then this is on my "to complete" list as I've already been putting away the odd bit of French kit for years.

Anyway - I think I have the Czechs still to do and then I'm largely calling the Army Lists complete.  Also as Battlegroup NORTHAG is coming closer - and will not be compatible with any of my stuff I won't be doing any more on this project.

As NORTHAG has gone in a slightly different direction I've decided to take the work I have done and work it into something different again, with my take on a Cold War game.

More of that in the future.

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - UPDATED - New AFV Data Tables

Hi Everyone

Another quick update - this time with four new AFV Data Tables for the Norwegians, Belgian, Polish and East Germans.  The Norwegian table has been updated to match the new version of the army list while the Belgian, Polish and East German AFV Data tables are brand new, and should (hopefully) cover everything in each of those nationalities lists.

If you can spot any problems with the tables, please let me know.

Here they are

Norwegian AFV Data

Belgian AFV Data

Polish AFV Data

East German AFV Data

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - French Armoured Division Battlegroup List

Finally.....

Its been a long time coming and involved a fair amount of effort, but today I'm pleased to post up a French Armoured Division Battlegroup List:

French Armoured Division Battlegroup

Many, many thanks to Paul Cziganj and Jerome Bons without whom this list would either not exist or if it did, it would be seriously wrong!  It seems even the French find French Army TO&Es a little confusing!

I'd appreciate any feedback including errors etc.  Any mistakes in the list are purely mine, not Jerome or Paul's.

You'll note that there is a new French specific Special Rule re: Rifle Grenades as part of the list.  I am trying to show the heavy, doctrinal use of rifle grenades by the French Army.  Any better ideas for dealing with this would be appreciated.

So in the next month or so, I hope to add 2 more French lists (which will be much easier now this list is done) and I'll work on the French Vehicle Data and Weapons information.

It's been a fairly bad year hobby-wise as we planned to be moving overseas about now.  That has all been put on hold for a while so hopefully next year will be rather different and a bit more time for painting soldiers and playing games.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone.

Thanks for your support

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - West German Panzer Battlegroup List Updated

Just a very quick note to let you know the West German Panzer Division list has been updated.  The links at the top and side of the page have both been updated.  Mostly simple changes and corrections based on feedback.  Most dramatically Leopard 2 units are no longer veterans and are now a little cheaper points-wise.

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - Polish Airborne Brigade Battlegroup List

So finally I'm able to publish the last Polish list - the 6th Pomeranian Airborne Brigade.  This is another useful list if you want to game out the Battle for Denmark.

So here is the list

Polish Airborne Brigade Battlegroup

Still had no real feedback on these lists - so if you're interested in the Poles and you've had a look at the lists, please point out any errors or areas where we've missed something out.

As I said this will be the last list for the Poles - now we'll be moving to some French lists for a change.

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - Polish Naval Landing Brigade Battlegroup List

So today I'm posting up the third of the four Polish Lists that we have planned.  This list can be used to create a force from the 7th Luzycka Naval Landing Brigade - a very useful list if like me you'd like to play out a Battle for Denmark Campaign.

So here is the list

Polish Naval Landing Brigade Battlegroup

We haven't really had any feedback on the Polish lists so far, so please have a look at them and let me know what you think.

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - Polish Armoured Division Battlegroup List

Sorry - I had to pull the list and sort out a couple of small errors.  That is all now fixed

So here is the next Polish list - their Armoured Division list.  Not really that much different to the Motorised Rifle list - but now with T-72s!

Here it is:

Polish Armoured Division Battlegroup

As always - please let me know what you think - good or bad...

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - Polish Motorised Rifle Division Battlegroup List

Well this has been some time in coming, but I'm very pleased to be posting up today the newest list for my unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War.  This time around it's the first Polish list - focussed on the Polish Motorised Rilfe Divisions of the Pomeranian Military District - the ones that would be primarily involved in heading towards Denmark (with the 15. MRD being assigned the role of the main force to come ashore on Zeeland as the follow-on force to Soviet and Polish Naval Infantry.

Anyway - here it is:

Polish Motorised Rifle Division Battlegropup 1.1

Once again the speed by which this list appeared and most of the heavy lifting is all down to Paul Cziganj whose immense help has meant you are getting this now, not 3 years from now when I could have gotten around to it by myself!  So thanks Paul, once again.

So please have a look for yourself.  Download, let me know of any errors or omissions etc and I'll be happy to go back in a revise.

Oh yes - I'll now also be adding the Belgian list to the side bar for easy access.

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - Belgian Mechanised Infantry - Armoured Battlegroup List

Sorry it's been a while - but "Real Life" is raging pretty hard at the moment and after completing a bunch of painting commissions all my gear has been packed away.  So the only thing I have to work on, is army lists.

So today I've finished a draft Belgian List.  I think it's reasonable accurate, but will be updating it once I get any feedback.  So here it is:

Belgian Mechanised Infantry - Armoured Battlegroup

So please have a look and let me know what you think

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - East German Paramilitary Battlegroup List

So it's taken a while to get here, and rather than jump on the Polish lists like I thought, instead we've completed an East German Paramilitary Battlegroup list as something a wee bit different.  Once again this  would not have been possible except for the extensive research efforts and help provided by Paul Cziganj (as known as Kirill_GV001 on the Battlegroup forum). 

The primary idea behind this list is to provide opportunities for players who want to run some games set in Berlin to have access to some of the units that would have been at the forefront of the battles - excluding frontline NVA or Soviet troops.

So the list includes units from Wachregiment "Feliks Dzerzhinsky" of the Stasi, the Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse or "Combat Groups of the Working Class" and Grenztruppen (or Border Troops) - all of which had a role in Operation Stoss - the planned capture of West Berlin.

So here is the East German Paramilitary List:

East German Paramilitary Battlegroup

I still have to finalise the East German AFV data.....  

Sadly for the Poles they are getting put off yet again, so the current plan is to deal with the Belgians next.  So we'll see what actually turns up!

Let me know if you have any questions, comments, suggestions etc - here or on the Battlegroup forum.

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - East German Motorised Rifle Division List

Well it's taken a long time, but finally I can upload a Warsaw Pact nation list other than the Soviet Union!  I can honestly say it would not have been possible but for the extensive research efforts and help provided by Paul Cziganj (as known as Kirill_GV001 on the Battlegroup forum).  Paul and I will be collaborating together to produce a number of other WARPAC lists over the next few months, so look forward to more East German lists followed by several Polish lists and then who knows what will come next.

Anyway - here is the first East German List

East German Motorised Rifle Division

Hopefully the East German Panzer Division list will be up sometime next week (I hope) along with the East German AFV Data Table.

So please have a look at the list and if you have any questions or comments, please let me know

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - Some new rules and BAOR AFV Data Cards

Morning everyone

Over the past few weeks I have been looking at the feedback I have been getting from players on their Battlegroup: Cold War games.  Everyone seems to be really enjoying their games - which I'm very chuffed with - but there seem to be a couple of points that some questions have been raised about.  These points reinforce some of my own concerns that have come up in our games.

1.  Soviet Orders
Many people feel like the Soviets have far too many orders - especially when you are playing larger games and take a company of Tanks and/or Motorised Infantry.  Each company gives you 4 officers, so before you roll any dice for orders you can automatically have 8+ free orders.  If you are then adding 3D6, and using Stal! Stal! Stal! you can get a whole lot done.  All the orders mean that Soviet units don't have to really act like Soviet units - which doesn't quite give the right feel to the game.

2. NATO Shooting
Quite a few people - generally NATO players - have commented on how crappy their shooting has been - especially when trying to take out Soviet tanks at long range.  In an age of stabilised guns and all sorts of fire control wizardly this does not sit well.  Some have called for all NATO units to always be +1 to hit.  I've long felt that this is a swing too much in the other direction, especially when you are using top of the line NATO tanks, which often have +1 to observe, +1 to hit and ignore a number of other die modifiers.

Anyway - I've been thinking about this for a long time and think I may have come up with some rules to better reflect both, give the game a bit more flavour and hopefully strengthen the game-balance and feel.

So please have a look at these new orders rules and new special rules and let me know what you think.

New Orders Rules and Special Rules

Without going and editing all the lists (at this stage) I suggest the following.  Soviet Officers only count for orders if they come from the Forward HQ section of the list or are Company Commanders elsewhere in the list.

NATO units with the Proficient Crew special rule are any unit rate Regular or better.

Finally I have just received the next set of AFV Cards from Greg (Chairborne) and again he has done a really lovely job and I appreciate him letting me post them up here.

BAOR AFV Cards

 I'll be printing these off and using them soon.  More will follow soon, I'm sure.

So thanks everyone and I look forward to your thoughts on the new rules.

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - Final Dutch 1(NL) Corps List and Dutch AFV Data

Morning all

Just letting you know I have "completed" the Dutch 1(NL) Corps Army List and the Dutch AFV Data Table for your viewing pleasure.  And here they are:

Dutch Armoured Brigade Battlegroup

Dutch AFV Data

As always I'm interested in any feedback, errors etc.  I'm also sure there are better pictures out there, but these are what I could find.  Some are people personal pics posted up on the net, and I mean absolutely no disrespect (quite the opposite in fact) by using them.

So - please ignore the Draft list now and use this one instead - and go buy some Dutch stuff and get a  game in!

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - Draft Dutch 1(NL) Corps List

Just a quick update today with an army list so new I'm putting it out there in a very vanilla format with no pics or glossary.

So here is the draft list:

Dutch Army List

There are a number of Dutch wargamers (some ex-veterans of the Dutch Army) who have been waiting for this list, so I'm releasing it in this format so they can go over it with a fine-toothed comb and pick up on all my errors!

In the meantime I can work on the Dutch AFV Data Table, pick some photos and finish off the glossary - so we can have a final product asap.

Thanks and let me know what you think

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - Soviet AFV Data Cards and Four Covers

Well here's a very nice change in pace for my blog.  Nothing you see here today was done by me!  I've been very pleased with people especially in the UK and United States giving the Battlegroup Cold War playtest rules a bit of a go, and generally I've had very positive and useful feedback.

Greg (also known as Chairborne on the old Guild) has very kindly spent some time making some Soviet AFV Data Cards for the game.  He has also allowed me to share them here:

Soviet AFV Data Cards

I'm really impressed by these and it's my understanding he'll be working on some BAOR cards next.

I was then contacted by Jason (owner of the Twilight 2000 Miniature Wargaming Blog - amongst many other things) who has decided to print off the various lists etc and make up books out of them.  He also decided to create covers for the books and like Greg has allowed me to share them here:

Cover for NATO Armies

Cover for NATO Weapons

WarPac Army Lists Cover

WarPac Weapons Cover

So thanks to them both and to all that have tried the game or provided me with feedback.  It's all considered.

I'll be adding these to the sidebar and the the Battlegroup Forum later today.  Hopefully the draft Dutch list will be up for comment later this week.

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - VDV AFV Data

Just a very quick update today as I it was pointed out to me that I had not uploaded the VDV's AFV Data.  I went back and had a look at what I had done a while back and realised I had not gotten around to finishing it - so not it is finished (as a first draft) and ready to be shared.

Here is the link:

Soviet VDV AFV Data

I'll also be updating the VDV list to version 2 later today.

Thanks

Richard

My Unofficial Battlegroup: Cold War - Helicopters!

Hi All

Tonight I'm posting up my first hack at a decent list of helicopters.  I would suggest that this list should supersede the list in the unofficial rulebook.  Here they are:

NATO Helicopter Data Set

WARPAC Helicopter Data Set

Like I said - they are a wee bit of a hack so I'd be interested in any feedback on thinks like IR Jamming, Countermeasures etc.  Those plus size, speed etc add together to create the Combined Defence Rating and can have an impact on Damage points.

Anyway - let me know what you think.

On another point - I've revised the following:

NATO Gun Data Table
Soviet Gun Data Table

UK AFV Data Table
Soviet AFV Data Table

UK Armoured Division Battlegroup List
Soviet Tank Division Battlegroup List
Soviet Motorised Rifle Division Battlegroup List
Soviet Leningrad Motorised Rifle Division Battlegroup List

The gun data tables should look a bit cleaner and have a couple of changes within them.  The AFV data tables have been adjusted a little with the T-64B and BV made a bit better - about equal to a slightly downgraded T-72 equivalent.

The UK Armoured list has been adjusted as per some feedback, as have the Soviet lists and I've adjusted some of the points costs for tanks in the Soviet lists.

Thanks

Richard