CDF Northern Recon 6

I have constructed what may be considered a mission template, this time using CDF (army) forces.  With the latest pronouncement from the MoD, CDF forces are forced to deal with Chedaki military buildups north of Novi Sobor along a line between there and Kabanino.

The enemy force deployment is random:  four infantry squads plus three technicals columns are deployed at seven spots on the map within 750 meters, anywhere within 750 meters. The force deployment had a 50 percent chance of happening.  The only thing a CDF site commander has to go by is the approximate area where enemy forces may be.

The other two random elements of the enemy deployment is the start time and weather.  The constant is the date.  I just change the date and save the game as a new game, but I must also copy an init.sqf for those parameters.

The main force is a CDF BTR recon infantry platoon, four BTR infantry squads which are commanded through Arma's command system.  If need be, I can also add a BRDM platoon.

The CDF commander has a number of support elements available.

1) Two each ground interdiction flights, consisting of two each MiG-21 loaded out for close air support.  Those air craft are deployed out of the airfield in Miroslavl, which means that once the ground commander requests air support, it will take a minimum of 10 minutes for the air strike element to get on station.

2) One air helo air support group consisting of two each Mi-17 transport birds.  They deploy out of Balota airfield and are immediately available to provide additional machine gun fire.

3) A support group consisting of two BRDM scout cars, one transport Ural truck and a medical van.

4)  In Novi Sobor, Vyshnoye and Rogovo, a smal militia squad guards prepositioned equipment.  Two Czech military offroad vehicles and two UAZs with a mounted SPG-9 recoiless rifle.

5) A naval gunfire support element, which do not impact operations in the north but could in future missions along the coast.

Additionally, the ambient combat system is in effect, which means that at any location on the map an enemy unit may appear.

The missions in this template are simple.  Move forces north to get eyes on, deploy air trikes and then retreat.

Sounds easy, but really not so with the ACM in effect.

I have run this system with different parameters, but until this game, none of the random elements.




The time is afternoon around 1600 hrs, and the weather is crappy, i.e. rainy.

The Chedaki flag marker indicates the approximate location of enemy activity.  Friendly forces start at Zelenogorsk, the CDF's main base in South Zagoria.  Two of the BTR squads are ordered to a location south of Novi Sovor.

The last BTR squad I order to a location on  a hill overlooking Kabanino.  In this game I added some ZU-23 trucks to help with enemy helicopters.

You can see the heavy rains as the BTR unit start their road march to their respective deployments.

My squad catches the tail end of an antiaircraft unit's road march.

My unit arrives at the Kolkoz at Kabanino.  Thankfully, no one is home, so I order the unit to dismount, and prepare for the recon mission north.

With a single escort, and the remainder of the squad dismounted and prepared for defense, we head north along with westernmost northbound road out of Kabanino.

At the northernmost area, nothing can be found and to the west the only thing the commander sees are grazing sheep.

The commander calls up his vehicle and the squad, assembles a battlegroup and then patrols west.  Constantly peeking to the north, nothing can be found, or heard.

Nothing to see. Commander continues probing west trying to get eyes on any enemy deployment.

The battlegroup is ordered to go prone as small arms and heavy gunfire is heard from the west.  Commander sees a burning vehicle in the distance, but can't identify it as friend or foe.

Battlegroup continues to press north and east, unable to find any enemy activity or units.

Commander orders his BTR west and then decides to move the other BTR north as well to cover the northern road.  The plan is for the commander's group to continue west while the other BTR covers the northern approach.

One problem.  The other BTR won't answer the phone.  It has been wiped out.

The commander then decides to recall the BTR, load up and get the hell out of Dodge.

On the way back to town, the BTR comes under heavy machine gun fire, but rather than try to engage, the BTR is sped up.

At this point I decided to end the game.  Not a good mission in that there were heavy losses  but no losses inflicted.