Fungwu
Member
This is my fourth time playing the excellent hypothetical scenario Deep battle.
In brief, it pits the armies of red and blue against each other in a campaign using 1930s era equipment. Each country is separated by enemy minor countries along its borders. The minor countries consist of several cities and capital cities garrisoned by small fortified units. The minor countries are important because the cities lie along the only lines of supply and also capturing them gives a boost in equipment.
The idea is to take over the enemy minor countries along your border, aid your allied minor countries along the enemy border, and defeat the enemy army while doing so. Each army mobilizes more troops over time, so the battle escalates.
Additionally there are several beaches along the coast that can be equipped with supply points with a TO and used to land troops behind enemy lines.
In this game I am red. To make my battle plan I first do an analysis of the terrain. My focus turns to an area in the NE part of the map. On two sides are sea areas, all along the border is a series of lakes and rivers. Across the river and to the north is the blue border. Here is one of only two rail lines crossing from blue territory into the middle of the map. The other rail line is much further north. The area in question is occupied mainly by the country of white, which is allied to me. The terrain here has perked my interest for several reasons.
First, with all the rivers and lakes this is an easy area to defend against attack.
Second, using this area as a jumping off point I can launch an attack on the biggest supply line for blue forces. In a certain spot lakes and flooded marshes create a bottle neck where blue's rail line passes through an area only 3 hexes wide. If I can capture this, I can fortify this small frontage and seal off the main part of the map from blue supply and reinforcement.
Third, from the area within the lakes I can launch counterattacks against the flanks of blue forces marching toward my own border, possibly cutting them off and encircling them. My counterattacks will benefit from the lakes and rivers covering their flanks against counter counter attacks.
Fourth, to reach the area in question my line of march passes along a rail line, so I can ensure good supply and reinforcements to my troops.
Fifth, my line of march passes through two enemy objectives, the capitals of green and grey. In this case I can capture some important cities while fulfilling my larger strategic objectives.
Sixth, the main beaches available for sea landings are located just west of my line of advance. This is dangerous in one way because blue could cut my supply lines, but I think it is an advantage because I will be able to fortify the beaches before he can make a major landing.
Seventh, by advancing my forces I can protect white capital from capture by blue.
So, I have picked a spot to send my main force that is easy to defend, has a well defined and defensible supply line, and provides several opportunities to counter attack enemy advances, whether by land or sea, to threaten enemy supply lines, and ultimately carry the advance into the enemy home land.
On the right side of the map is another tactical objective for me, brown capital, located in a mountain range. I will send some minor forces here to capture the city, and then use the mountains to my advantage and anchor the defense on my right flank.
In the middle area is the biggest threat from the enemy. It is a relatively open area leading to my border. My plan here is to advance a little bit and capture a few minor cities that lie across my border and then switch to the defense. If the enemy attacks, my forces in the lake area to the east can counterattack into the enemy rear area and break up his attack. Additionally my border is quite closer than the enemy border here so I can send reinforcements in faster than he can if a situation develops. Additionally my forces have the option of falling all the way back to my own border which is more defensible, although this would complicate things alot for me.
I hope my diagram here is self explanatory.
In brief, it pits the armies of red and blue against each other in a campaign using 1930s era equipment. Each country is separated by enemy minor countries along its borders. The minor countries consist of several cities and capital cities garrisoned by small fortified units. The minor countries are important because the cities lie along the only lines of supply and also capturing them gives a boost in equipment.
The idea is to take over the enemy minor countries along your border, aid your allied minor countries along the enemy border, and defeat the enemy army while doing so. Each army mobilizes more troops over time, so the battle escalates.
Additionally there are several beaches along the coast that can be equipped with supply points with a TO and used to land troops behind enemy lines.
In this game I am red. To make my battle plan I first do an analysis of the terrain. My focus turns to an area in the NE part of the map. On two sides are sea areas, all along the border is a series of lakes and rivers. Across the river and to the north is the blue border. Here is one of only two rail lines crossing from blue territory into the middle of the map. The other rail line is much further north. The area in question is occupied mainly by the country of white, which is allied to me. The terrain here has perked my interest for several reasons.
First, with all the rivers and lakes this is an easy area to defend against attack.
Second, using this area as a jumping off point I can launch an attack on the biggest supply line for blue forces. In a certain spot lakes and flooded marshes create a bottle neck where blue's rail line passes through an area only 3 hexes wide. If I can capture this, I can fortify this small frontage and seal off the main part of the map from blue supply and reinforcement.
Third, from the area within the lakes I can launch counterattacks against the flanks of blue forces marching toward my own border, possibly cutting them off and encircling them. My counterattacks will benefit from the lakes and rivers covering their flanks against counter counter attacks.
Fourth, to reach the area in question my line of march passes along a rail line, so I can ensure good supply and reinforcements to my troops.
Fifth, my line of march passes through two enemy objectives, the capitals of green and grey. In this case I can capture some important cities while fulfilling my larger strategic objectives.
Sixth, the main beaches available for sea landings are located just west of my line of advance. This is dangerous in one way because blue could cut my supply lines, but I think it is an advantage because I will be able to fortify the beaches before he can make a major landing.
Seventh, by advancing my forces I can protect white capital from capture by blue.
So, I have picked a spot to send my main force that is easy to defend, has a well defined and defensible supply line, and provides several opportunities to counter attack enemy advances, whether by land or sea, to threaten enemy supply lines, and ultimately carry the advance into the enemy home land.
On the right side of the map is another tactical objective for me, brown capital, located in a mountain range. I will send some minor forces here to capture the city, and then use the mountains to my advantage and anchor the defense on my right flank.
In the middle area is the biggest threat from the enemy. It is a relatively open area leading to my border. My plan here is to advance a little bit and capture a few minor cities that lie across my border and then switch to the defense. If the enemy attacks, my forces in the lake area to the east can counterattack into the enemy rear area and break up his attack. Additionally my border is quite closer than the enemy border here so I can send reinforcements in faster than he can if a situation develops. Additionally my forces have the option of falling all the way back to my own border which is more defensible, although this would complicate things alot for me.
I hope my diagram here is self explanatory.